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Monument to the Letter Ў, Polotsk

Monument to the letter Ў in Polotsk: a metal stele with the cut-out letter and words containing it, on a cobbled boulevard
Photo: Globustut, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free, outdoors
Hours
Open 24/7 — it stands on an open pedestrian boulevard
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
15 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Where
Pedestrian boulevard of Francysk Skaryna Avenue, about 3 minutes' walk east of Freedom Square
Time needed
10–15 minutes, on the way between the Upper Castle and the avenue
Artist
Ihar Kurzhalau, a Polotsk artist — per Russian Wikipedia, Nasha Niva and vgtk.by
Payment nearby
The monument is free; for buses and cafés cash in Belarusian roubles (BYN) is safest, foreign cards work patchily
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
55.48511, 28.77066YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

2003unveiled in September for the 10th Day of Belarusian Writing, held that year in Polotsk
3 sourcesRussian WikipediaKnow Your Land (my-places.by)Nasha Niva
Skaryna Avenue boulevardthe pedestrian strip of Polotsk's main central street
3 sourcesRussian WikipediaKnow Your Land (my-places.by)Tonkosti Turizma
22ndletter of the Belarusian alphabet — the “non-syllabic U”, sounding close to an English w
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaTonkosti Turizma
Ihar KurzhalauPolotsk artist who made both the original monument and its rebuild
3 sourcesNasha NivaRussian Wikipediavgtk.by
“From Euphrosyne, from Skaryna, from Polotsk the world began”a line by the poet Ryhor Baradulin, carved in Belarusian on the stele
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaNasha Niva
2014the monument was badly damaged — vandalism, careless snow clearing and weathering
3 sourcesCharter 97Know Your Land (my-places.by)Nasha Niva
2016rebuilding finished by 1 September, paid for by the city
2 sourcesNasha Niva (2 September 2016)Know Your Land (my-places.by)
Sun and moonFrancysk Skaryna's printer's mark, set inside the letter С of the word “святло” (light)
2 sourcesNasha NivaKnow Your Land (my-places.by)
Еўфрасіння, Браслаў, слоўнікwords with Ў in different typefaces on one face of the stele
2 sourcesNasha NivaKnow Your Land (my-places.by)
Only one in Belarusmonument to this particular letter
2 sourcesCharter 97vgtk.by

Where is the letter Ў monument?

It stands on the pedestrian boulevard of Francysk Skaryna Avenue (prospekt Skoriny), the main street of central Polotsk. From Freedom Square (ploshchad Svobody) it is about 3 minutes' walk east; from St Sophia Cathedral on the Upper Castle hill, around 10–12 minutes.

In a map app search for “Letter Ў monument Polotsk”, or drop a pin on the Skaryna Avenue boulevard just east of Freedom Square. If your search keeps throwing up Ulyanovsk, that is the monument to the Russian letter Ё — a different city in a different country.

The “Polotsk — Geographical Centre of Europe” marker stands on the same boulevard, and walking tours usually stop at both. That makes the Ў an easy stop on a walk between the Upper Castle, Nizhne-Pokrovskaya Street and a stroll along Skaryna Avenue.

What does the letter Ў mean?

Ў is the 22nd letter of the Belarusian alphabet, called “u nieskladovaje” — the non-syllabic U, often nicknamed the short U. It sounds much like an English w: воўк (vowk, wolf), слоўнік (slownik, dictionary), Браслаў (Braslaw). Russian has no such letter, which is why Ў has become a small symbol of the Belarusian language.

Polotsk was the obvious place for it. It is usually called the oldest city in Belarus and was home to Euphrosyne of Polotsk, an early patron of learning, and Francysk Skaryna, the first Belarusian printer. In 2003 the city hosted the 10th Day of Belarusian Writing, the country's main festival of books and language, and the monument was made for it.

It is the only monument to this letter in Belarus. Nobody travels to Polotsk just for it, but if you are curious about how Belarusian differs from Russian, it is a short and surprisingly clear lesson.

A short history: 2003, 2014, 2016

The first version went up in September 2003, designed by the Polotsk artist Ihar Kurzhalau. A round slab on the base carried the alphabet and a line by the poet Ryhor Baradulin; the faces of the stele showed the letter itself, its place in the alphabet and everyday words that use it.

By 2014 it was in a bad way, with several letters damaged. Local reports blamed vandals, careless snow clearing and the metal simply deforming over time. The city spent a long time looking for the money and even opened a charity account for donations.

The rebuild was finished by 1 September 2016, again by Kurzhalau. Baradulin's line moved from the slab onto a face of the stele, now with the poet's name, and the big Ў on another face became a smaller italic one.

What to look for on the stele

  • The letter Ў itself — the centrepiece, shown in italic on one face.
  • Words with Ў in different typefaces: Еўфрасіння (Euphrosyne), Браслаў (Braslaw), настаўнік (teacher), слоўнік (dictionary), дзеяслоў (verb) and more.
  • Baradulin's line “Ад Еўфрасінні, ад Скарыны, ад Полацка пачаўся свет” — “From Euphrosyne, from Skaryna, from Polotsk the world began”.
  • Skaryna's mark — a sun and moon overlapping — hidden inside the letter С of “святло” (light).
  • The round granite base, which lets you walk all the way round and photograph each face.

How to get to the letter Ў monument

Tap a route to highlight it on the map.

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

More tips

  1. Polotsk railway station and bus station stand side by side, east of the centre. Take a city bus or a taxi west along Skaryna Avenue (prospekt Skoriny) to Freedom Square (ploshchad Svobody) — about 10 minutes. On foot it is roughly 30–35 minutes along the same avenue.
  2. From Freedom Square walk east along the pedestrian boulevard of Skaryna Avenue — the monument is about 3 minutes away, in the middle of the boulevard.
  3. Coming from St Sophia Cathedral on the Upper Castle, walk up Nizhne-Pokrovskaya Street to Freedom Square (7–10 minutes), then the same 3 minutes along the boulevard.
  4. Pay for buses and cafés in Belarusian roubles (BYN) — the monument itself costs nothing.
  5. Carry on along the boulevard to the Centre of Europe marker, or head back to the cathedral and the Boris Stone. Only the Euphrosyne Convent, 2.5 km north, is worth a bus or taxi.

Is it worth it?

Yes, if you are already in central Polotsk. It is free, on the main street, and takes 10–15 minutes. It is not worth a special trip: this is a small stele, not a museum.

You will get the most out of it if you read Cyrillic or are interested in languages — the words on the stele show at a glance how Belarusian spelling differs from Russian. Otherwise, a photo and a minute spent finding the hidden Skaryna mark are enough.

Children tend to like it as a puzzle: spot the letter that Russian doesn't have and try to sound out the words. It works well as a short break between the cathedral and a walk down the avenue.

Paying in Polotsk as a foreign visitor

Carry cash in Belarusian roubles (BYN). Visa and Mastercard issued abroad usually work at ATMs, hotels, supermarkets and chain restaurants, but small cafés, kiosks and city buses may want cash, and some banks block payments in Belarus altogether. Russian-issued Visa and Mastercard do not work. When a terminal or ATM offers a currency, choose BYN.

This is unofficial and changes with sanctions, so check with your bank before you travel. Nothing is needed for the monument itself — it is free.

Before you go: checklist

Ready: 0 of 5

Letter Ў monument, Boris Stone or Skaryna Avenue?

Letter Ў monumentyou are hereModern stele about the Belarusian languageFreeBoulevard by Freedom Square10–15 minA photo and words with Ў
Boris Stone12th-century carved boulderFreeBeside St Sophia Cathedral10–15 minA 12th-century inscription
Skaryna AvenueMain street of the centreFreeFrom the station to Freedom Square30–60 min walkMonuments and the boulevard

All three are free and outdoors. Short on time? Pick the Boris Stone — it is far older and sits next to the cathedral. The Ў monument is best seen in passing as you walk the avenue.

Historic Polotsk: compare and choose

Historic sights in Polotsk rated by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

Jesuit Collegium4530 minCourtyard free, gallery 5 BYN7 min walk
Boris Stone4515 minFree14 min walk
Monument to the Letter Ўyou are here4415 minFree—
Skaryna Avenue4430 minFree3 min walk
Nizhne-Pokrovskaya Street4430 minFree3 min walk
Epiphany Cathedral and Printing Museum4445 minChurch free, museum 8 BYN3 min walk
1812 War Memorial on Freedom Square4420 minFree4 min walk
Geographical Centre of Europe Monument4415 minFree6 min walk
St Sophia Cathedral431 h8 BYN, concession 4 BYN13 min walk
Convent of St Euphrosyne411 hFree entry to the grounds38 min walk

Old Polotsk in half a day

St Sophia Cathedral and the Boris Stone on the Upper Castle, Nizhne-Pokrovskaya Street, the letter Ў and a walk down Skaryna Avenue — all on foot. YesGo sets the timings and walks.

  1. St Sophia Cathedral1 h · 8 BYN, concession 4 BYN
  2. 3 min walk from the previous stopBoris Stone15 min · Free
  3. 15 min walk from the previous stopNizhne-Pokrovskaya Street30 min · Free, open 24/7
  4. 3 min walk from the previous stopMonument to the Letter Ўyou are here15 min · Free
  5. 3 min walk from the previous stopSkaryna Avenue30 min · Free

5 places · about 2 h 54 min with walks · 24 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Skaryna Avenue

Polotsk, Belarus

30 min · Free · 3 min walk

Nizhne-Pokrovskaya Street

Polotsk, Belarus

30 min · Free, open 24/7 · 3 min walk

How to do it right

  • Try reading the words aloud — настаўнік, слоўнік, дзеяслоў — and you will hear the Ў as a soft w.
  • Hunt for Skaryna's sun-and-moon mark inside the word “святло”; most people miss it.
  • Combine it with a stroll down Skaryna Avenue and the Centre of Europe marker on the same boulevard.
  • If you are short of Cyrillic, photograph the faces and read them later with a translation app.
  • Belarus entry rules depend on your passport and route — check them before booking.

Questions

Where is the letter Ў monument in Polotsk?

On the pedestrian boulevard of Francysk Skaryna Avenue, about 3 minutes' walk east of Freedom Square and 10–12 minutes from St Sophia Cathedral.

Is it free?

Yes. It stands on an open boulevard, with no ticket and no opening hours.

What does Ў mean?

It is the 22nd letter of the Belarusian alphabet, the non-syllabic U, pronounced much like an English w — as in Браслаў (Braslaw). Russian has no such letter.

When was the monument built?

In September 2003, for the 10th Day of Belarusian Writing held in Polotsk. After damage in 2014 it was rebuilt in 2016.

Who made it?

Ihar Kurzhalau, an artist from Polotsk. He designed both the original and the 2016 rebuild.

What is written on it?

Words containing Ў in different typefaces, such as Еўфрасіння and слоўнік, and a line by the poet Ryhor Baradulin: “From Euphrosyne, from Skaryna, from Polotsk the world began”.

How long do I need?

10–15 minutes. It fits neatly into a walk between the Upper Castle and Skaryna Avenue.

Is it worth visiting?

As a quick stop in the centre, yes — it is free and right on the main street. It is not worth a separate trip on its own.

How do I get there from the train station?

Take a city bus or taxi west along Skaryna Avenue to Freedom Square (about 10 minutes), then walk 3 minutes east along the boulevard. Walking the whole way takes 30–35 minutes.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Russian Wikipedia, article “Pamyatnik bukve Ў” (Monument to the letter Ў)
  • Wikidata, Q18907668
  • Nasha Niva, article on the monument's reconstruction, 2 September 2016
  • Know Your Land (my-places.by), page on the Ў monument in Polotsk
  • Charter 97, article on the restoration fund, 7 April 2016
  • Vitebsk State Technological College (vgtk.by), Vitebsk region sights
  • Tonkosti Turizma (tonkosti.ru), page on the Ў monument
  • Sputnik8 walking-tour descriptions for Polotsk — position of the Centre of Europe marker
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedThe monument has no official website: it is outdoors and free. The year is checked against Russian Wikipedia, Wikidata, Nasha Niva, Know Your Land and vgtk.by — all give 2003, not 2004; the exact September day varies between sources, so we give only the month. The artist is named by Russian Wikipedia, Nasha Niva and vgtk.by. The 2014 damage and its causes come from Charter 97 and Know Your Land, the rebuild finished by 1 September 2016 from Nasha Niva. Sources disagree on the material — Russian Wikipedia says bronze, Charter 97 a silumin base to be replaced with cast iron, vgtk.by granite — and agree only on the granite base, so we simply call the stele metal. We found “the only one in Belarus”, not “the only one in the world”, so we don't claim the latter. The Centre of Europe marker on the same boulevard comes from walking-tour descriptions; one guide puts a marker near Lake Sho instead, so we give no distance to it. The walk from the station follows the city's layout; we give no bus numbers. Card acceptance for foreign visitors is unofficial and based on travel-money guides. There is no English Wikipedia article.

Top YesGo picks: Polotsk

Jesuit Collegium

Polotsk, Belarus

30 min · Courtyard free, gallery 5 BYN

Boris Stone

Polotsk, Belarus

15 min · Free

St Sophia Cathedral

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1 h · 8 BYN, concession 4 BYN

Convent of St Euphrosyne

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