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Lepiel

Lepiel
Lepel
Лепель
Flag of Lepiel
Flag
Official seal of Lepiel
Seal
Lepiel is located in Belarus
Lepiel
Lepiel
Coordinates: 54°52′30″N 28°41′40″E / 54.87500°N 28.69444°E / 54.87500; 28.69444
Country Belarus
Voblast Vitebsk Region
Raion Lepiel Raion
Mentioned 1439
Population (2011)
 • Total 17,280
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Area code(s) +375 2132
License plate 2
Website [1]

Lepel (Belarusian: Ле́пель Lepiel; Polish: Lepel; Russian: Ле́пель, pronounced [ˈlʲepʲɪlʲ]) is a town located in the center of the Lepiel Raion (district) in the Vitebsk Province of Belarus near Lepiel Lake. Lepiel is situated at about 54°52′N 28°40′E / 54.867°N 28.667°E / 54.867; 28.667 and its population in the 1998 census was 19,400.

The coat of arms of Lepel incorporates the Pahonia symbol.

There are three theories about the origin of the name Lepel. The first is that the name 'Lepel' come from the word "lepene" which means "lake between the lime-groves". The second is that the name comes from the Belarusian word "лепей" meaning "the best place to live in". The third theory for the name Lepel is that it derives from the Belarusian word "ляпiць" meaning "well-developed pottery".

The first known mention of Lepel dates back to 1439. In the 15th century, the town belonged to the Lithuanian Grand Duchy. In 1439, thanks to efforts of a Roman Catholic priest, Kucharski, Grand Lithuanian Duke Sigismund Kęstutaitis' son Michael gave Lepel to the Vitebsk Roman Catholic church. King Sigismund I the Old subsequently confirmed the gift and in 1541 by approbation of pontiff, the townlands were given to the Vitebsk Cathedral.


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