Oshmiany - an ancient city, built on the river Oshmyanka. First mentioned in 1040 in connection with the attack on the town of Grand Prince Yaroslav. In 1341 Oshmiany entered the legacy that left his son Prince Gedemin Evnutiyu.

Oshmiany glorify its inaccessibility. Double menacing Teutonic Knights attacked the city in the end of the XIV early XV century and both times received a fitting rebuff. Few can boast of such a fortress brilliant victories.

I did the defeat and destruction of the city. The first time it was destroyed in 1384 by Polish-Lithuanian royal forces led by Vladislav II Jagiello. After Oshmiany became the property of the kingdom and received significant trading privileges, the city began to develop rapidly, and rebuilt. Second defeat Oshmiany militant Muscovites learned from that leveled the city to the ground in 1519, but in 1556 the town was rebuilt and prospered so much that received Magdeburg Law.

In the XVI century it became a refuge Oshmiany Calvinists and Calvinist most famous city in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The city was built Calvinist Collegium.

During the November national liberation uprising in 1831 Oshmiany were burned by the Russian army during the punitive expedition against the rebels. Since then, the city has not been able to recover from the loss and became quiet provincial town and forget the days of his greatness. As such it appears before our contemporaries.

Today you can still see the magnificent ruins of the old Franciscan church and to assess the scale of the once famous temple. This church was rebuilt in 1822 from the ruins of the ancient gothic church. Ašmiany Church of St. Michael the Archangel - the current Catholic church, built in 1900 on the site of a Franciscan church built in 1387. This church is a recognized masterpiece of Vilnius Baroque style. In 1990, the church was restored and is now in perfect condition.

It is quite another, but also leaves a very strong impression of the Resurrection Orthodox church. Built in the style of Russian retrospective in 1875, the temple gives the impression of reliability and firmness of the foundations of Orthodoxy.

In Ashmyany preserved in good condition, one of the few synagogues. Built in the early XX century, it was closed in 1940. Inside preserved color murals. Unfortunately, the synagogue used as a warehouse.

In the ancient city there are three cemeteries: Calvary Catholic with old wooden crosses, mossy tombs and graves of Polish soldiers, Jewish and Orthodox.

Not where you can see real working water mill in such good condition as in Ashmyany.