Nevel (town)

Nevel is a town and the administrative center of Nevelsky District in Pskov Oblast, Russia, located about 242 kilometers (150 mi) southeast of Pskov, the administrative center of the oblast, near the border with Belarus. It stands on the shore of Lake Nevel.

History

Nevel was first mentioned in chronicles in 1503 as a posad (settlement) of the Principality of Toropets. In 1562, it was fortified as an outpost of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. During the Livonian War, in 1580, Nevel was taken by Polish-Lithuanian forces under Jan Zamoyski. After the Truce of Deulino in 1618, it was officially recognized as part of Poland-Lithuania. Nevel was granted town rights in 1623 by Sigismund III Vasa.

During the First Partition of Poland in 1772, Nevel was annexed by the Russian Empire. It was the seat of Nevelsky Uyezd, part of Pskov Governorate (between 1777 and 1796, Polotsk Governorate).

During World War II, Nevel was occupied by German troops from July 16, 1941 to October 6, 1943. The Soviet 3rd Shock Army, under the command of General Kuzma Galitsky, liberated the town during the Nevel Offensive.

Administrative and Municipal Status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Nevel serves as the administrative center of Nevelsky District. As an administrative division, it is incorporated within Nevelsky District as the Town of Nevel. As a municipal division, the Town of Nevel is incorporated within Nevelsky Municipal District as Nevel Urban Settlement.

Economy

Industries in Nevel include food processing and timber.

Transportation

Nevel is served by a railway station on the Saint Petersburg – Vitebsk line. The M9 highway, connecting Moscow and Riga, passes near Nevel.