Bezhetsk

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Coat of arms of Bezhetsk
Coat of arms of Bezhetsk

Bezhetsk (Russian: Бежецк) is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, located on the Mologa River at its confluence with the Ostrechina River. Population: 28,643 (2002 Census); 29,000 (1967).

Bezhetsk was first mentioned as Bezhichi in the 12th century, when it was owned by Novgorod. In the early 15th century, the district of Bezhetsky Verkh was annexed by Muscovy. Bezhetsk is the birthplace of a writer Vyacheslav Shishkov, historian Nil Popov, and pathologist Alexei Polunin.

The oldest building in Bezhetsk is the white tent-like campanile of the Vvedenskaya church, which was built by Yaroslavl masters in 1680-82. The church itself was destroyed during the Soviet years. The Vozdvizhenskaya church goes back to the turn of the 18th century.

Bezhetsk is home to Dorokhovo, a major military air base.

Coordinates: 57°47′N, 36°42′E