Belgorod is located on the right bank of the Seversky Donets river. It is known from 1237 as a settlement but the year of its foundation is considered 1593. Belgorod has become an industrial and cultural centre in the beginning of the 18th century. There were 16 churches, 2 cathedrals and 2 monasteries (17th century) in the end of the 19th century in the city. Belgorod is the regional, industrial and cultural centre of the Belgorod region with a population of 300000 today. There are the Puppet Theatre, the Drama Theatre, the Museum of Local Lore and the Arts Museum in the city. Belgorod is rich in architectural monuments: Pokrovskaya Church (1711), Smolensky (18th century) and Spaso-Preobrazhensky (19th century) Cathedrals.