Surazh

Surasch (Russian Сураж ) is a town in Bryansk Oblast (Russia) with 11,640 inhabitants (as of October 14, 2010 ).

Geography

The city is located about 175 km south-west of Bryansk Oblasthauptstadt at the Iput, a left tributary of the opening into the Dnepr Sosch.

Surasch is the administrative center of the homonymous Rajons.

History

The place was first mentioned in the 17th century as Kirchdorf, later craft and trade settlement ( Sloboda ) Suraschitschi documented.

1781 the municipal law as an administrative center of a circle ( Ujesds ) under the name Surasch was awarded to the Iput ( Surasch -na- Iputi ). As of 1797 the additional name was omitted.

During World War II Surasch was occupied on August 17, 1941 by the German Wehrmacht and recaptured on 25 September 1943 by troops of the Bryansk Front Red Army.

Demographics

Note: Census data (1926-1939 rounded)

Culture and sights

Surasch has a local history museum.

Eight kilometers from Surasch are located near the village Ljalitschi the remains of the palace complex of Count Pyotr Sawadowski, of a favorite of Empress Catherine the Great, built in the 1780s to 1790s, designed by the Italian architect working in Russia Giacomo Quarenghi.

Economy and infrastructure

In Surasch there are companies in the wood processing (box), textile and food industries.

The city is located on 1923 consistently opened railway Orsha - Krytschau - Unecha and the regional road Krytschau - Unecha, where connection is made to the highway M13 Bryansk - Belarusian border.