Syanno

For the village in Poland, see Sianno.

Syanno or Senno^[a] is a town in Vitebsk Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Syanno District. It is located 58 km (36 mi) southwest of Vitebsk on the southern shore of Senno Lake. In 2018, its population was 7,092. As of 2025, it has a population of 6,974.^[1]

Syanno Сянно (Belarusian) Сенно (Russian)
Town
Flag Coat of arms
Syanno Location in Belarus
Coordinates: 54°48′N 29°42′E
Country	Belarus
Region	Vitebsk Region
District	Syanno District
First mentioned	1442
Elevation	176 m (577 ft)
Population  (2025)[1]
• Total	6,974
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK)
Postal code	211117
Area code	+375 2135

History

Early-20th-century view

The village is first mentioned in a document of 1442.^[2] Fairs were held there, and a lively hay market gave it its name (Belarusian: сена sena 'hay'). The town was repeatedly ravaged during the Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars in the 16th century.^[3] It was a private town of nobility, including the Sapieha, Korsak, Ważyński, Lubecki, Tyszkiewicz, Ogiński and Sierakowski families.^[3] It was administratively located in the Vitebsk Voivodeship of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1609, the local landmark Holy Trinity church was founded by Eustachy Kurcz and Regina Kurcz, and then rebuilt in 1772 by the Ogińskis.^[3] In 1772, a relic of Saint Venantius Fortunatus, gifted by Pope Clement XIV to Prince Ogiński, was placed in the church.^[3]

Following the First Partition of Poland in 1772 it became part of the Russian Empire. In 1781, the current coat of arms was granted.^[3]

In 1924, Senno became part of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. During World War II, it was the site of a major tank battle in July 1941.^[4] A Nazi prison was operated in the town.^[5]

Notes

1. Belarusian: Сянно, romanized: Sianno; Russian: Сенно; Polish: Sienno; Lithuanian: Siano.