Hrodna

Hrodna (also Grodno), city in Belarus, near Poland. The capital of Hrodna province, it is a port on the Neman River, a railway hub, and an industrial centre. Manufactured goods include electrical equipment, fertilizers, construction materials, textiles, and footwear. Among the city's many historic buildings is the palace (late 16th century) of King Stephen Báthory of Poland. Founded in the 10th century, Hrodna was part of an independent principality until 1398. It then alternately came under Lithuanian and Polish rule until it was ceded to Russia in 1795. In 1920 Hrodna became part of independent Poland, but was annexed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1939. From 1941 to 1944, the city was occupied by German troops. In 1991 it became part of the independent republic of Belarus. The nearby 15th-century Mir Castle complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Population 307,100 (2001 estimate).