The administrative centre of the Gomel oblast. The population is 518,000 people, the second by size in Belarus. Telephone code 8-0232.
History
First mentioned in 1142 under the name of Gomiy. It was a part of the Chernigov Principality, since 1335- part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1772 after the first partition of Rzech Pospolita, Gomel was incorporated into the Russian Empire. Following that, the Russian Empress Catherine the Great presented lands in the city to the hero of the Russian — Turkish War Marshal Rumyantsev who initiated the construction of the Palace-Park Ensemble.
Places of interest
Rumyantsev-Paskevlchy’s Palace — Park Ensemble is a fine specimen of the architecture of the 18th-the beginning of the 19th century; includes the Peter and Paul Cathedral, a chapel and the Pashkevichy’s tomb. There survived a 18th century wooden Ilia Church, a bridge across the river Sozh (1857), and others. The Museum of History in the town of Vetka (18 km off Gomel) is known by its unique collection of old icons and manuscripts.
Map of the city of Gomel
Hotels
Gomel — Privokzalnaya 1. Tel. 55-32-45,55-12-97
Sozh — Krestyanskaya 16. Tel. 53-81-73,53-37-61
Oktyabrskaya — K. Marxal. Tel. 55-21-03
Tourist — Sovetskaya 87. Tel. 57-48-77
Restaurants
Belarus — Lenina 2. Tel. 53-74-20
Gomel — Privokzalnaya 2. Tel. 55-93-57
Centralny — Communarov 6. Tel. 53-58-10
Sozh — Sovetskaya 14 Tel. 25-35-54
Zhuravinka — Kochnaral 1. Tel. 56-11-59
Ivushka — B.Khmelnitskogo 90. Tel. 48-19-72
Lagal advice
Inter Lex 246000, Gomel, Krestyanskaya 16-214. Telefax 53-65-46.
Debt repayment. Check of a partner’s reputation. Registration ot companies
Medical services
Medeya 246000, Gomel, Sovetskaya 57. Tel. 57-36-10.57-43-10, fax 57-25-40,53- 75-60.
Useful telephone numbers
| Bus Station inquiry office | 004 |
| Railway Station inquiry office | 005 |
| Airport inquiry office | 006 |
| Bus ticket booking | 55-80-52 |
| Railway ticket booking | 055 |
| City telephone inquiries | 09 |
| Pharmacies information | 086 |
| Taxi | 058 |
| International telephone calls | 072 |
| Psychological aid by phone | 55-20-08 |