Valozhyn

Valozhyn, Vałožyn or Volozhin is a town in the Minsk Region of Belarus. The population is 11,500 . Before World War II about half the town’s population were Jewish but they were murdered during the Holocaust. It is located 75 km northwest of Minsk, on the Valozhynka river in the Neman River basin, and the beginning of the Nalibokskaya Forest. Average temperatures are −6.5 °C in January and 17.5 °C in July with 659 mm of annual rain.

The town was built on the main road leading from Vilnius to Minsk. It is divided into two sections: the "lower neighborhood" along the river and the "upper neighborhood" toward the hills. Half of the town square is framed by the remains of 12th century buildings, including a bell tower, a palace, and a monastery. Most of the other remaining impressive buildings in the town are from the 19th century.

Wikipedia