Losk. Castle Hill.

In the village of Losk, Volozhin district, there is a Castle Hill and several other monuments of architecture and antiquity.

The place itself was first mentioned in written sources in the 14th century and at the same time a wooden castle was built. A castle was built on a natural hill between the small rivers Vereska and Kozlovka, which flow into the Berezina River. Fortifications were built in the form of walls made of log cabins, which were called gorodnya, and there were defensive towers between them. According to the inventory of the castle in 1621, there were ten three-tiered towers.

There was a two-tiered gate tower at the entrance to the castle. The gate was closed by a lattice Girsa. Gorodnya had combat galleries with loopholes, which were covered with a gable roof covered with shingles.

There were 2 palaces in the center of the snake, one of which was in the Renaissance style with a tower and a clock. On the ground floor there were 9 rooms with tiled stoves. The second palace had 42 rooms. There was also a kitchen inside the castle. And behind the castle there was a brewery and a sauna.

The Castle Hill, which measures 160 by 75 meters, and reaches a height of 15 meters, has been preserved to our time. The archaeological monument was studied by famous archaeologists: L. Alekseev, Ya. Zverugo, M. Chernyavsky and others. During the research, many interesting historical finds were found: ceramic floor tiles of the 11th - 13th centuries, glass rings and beads, bracelets, tile fragments, knives, spurs, silver crosses and much more.

The first settlement here has already existed since the 11th century. Since 1505, the estate and the castle belonged to the Kishka magnates family, who were supporters of the Protestant faith. A printing house was established in the castle and the famous Belarusian educator and humanist Simon Budny, who took an active part in the Protestant movement, came here. S. Budny lived in Losk from 1573 to 1583 and his several books were published here. Among other things, they wrote "An epigram on the coat of arms of Yan Kishka."

The castle Hill has the status of an archaeological monument of national importance and a memorial sign is installed on it.