Pytalovo

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Pytalovo (Russian: Пыта́лово, Latvian: Abrene) is a town in Pskov Oblast, Russia, the administrative center of Pytalovsky District. Latvia disputes the jurisdiction of the area which it calls the Abrene region. Population: 6,615 (2004 est.); 6,806 (2002 Census); 7,166 (1989 Census).

[edit] History

Pytalovo village by 1878 had population of 57 and belonged to Ostrov uyezd (district) of Pskov Guberniya. It grew into a town after becoming a railway station by a newly constructed railroad branch.

By Latvian-Soviet Riga Peace Treaty of 1920, part of Ostrov uyezd, including Pytalovo was passed to Latvia and the town was known since then by its Latvian name Jaunlatgale (until 1938 when its official name was changed to Abrene). During the interwar period it was the capital of one of Latvia's districts.

After the World War II, the Soviet Union transferred Abrene together with the eastern part of the Abrene District from Latvian SSR to Pskov Oblast of the Russian SFSR. Most of Latvian inhabitants were forced away of town and the town renamed back to Pytalovo. This change of jurisdiction has been a matter of Latvian-Russian disagreement since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Pytalovo is the largest town in this disputed region (see Abrene region).

[edit] Places of interest

Among places of interest in town Pytalovo there is a modernist style railroad station building built in the early 20th century, the wooden building of the functioning St. Nicholas Church built in 1931, the post office building (early 20th century) and the house of merchant Ilyin (built in the 1920s) located at 9 Pushkinskaya Street.

[edit] External links

	Cities and towns in Pskov Oblast
	Administrative center: Pskov Dno \| Gdov \| Nevel \| Novorzhev \| Novosokolniki \| Opochka \| Ostrov \| Pechory \| Porkhov \| Pustoshka \| Pytalovo \| Sebezh \| Velikiye Luki