Editing Grodno (section)

===Byelorussian SSR and Republic of Belarus===
Since 1945, the city has been a centre of one of the provinces of the [[Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic|Byelorussian SSR]], now of the independent Republic of Belarus. Most of the Polish inhabitants were expelled or fled to Poland in [[Polish population transfers (1944–1946)|1944–1946]] and [[Repatriation of Poles (1955–1959)|1955–1959]]. However, in 2019 Poles were still the second-most numerous nationality in the city (22%), after Belarusians.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}
{{historical populations|1897|46919|1921|34694|7=1939|8=49200|9=1959|10=72943|11=1970|12=132471|13=1979|14=194775|15=1989|16=270535|17=1999|18=301600|19=2009|20=327540|21=2019|22=355932|23=2024|24=361115|align=right|cols=1|source=<ref name=gus/><ref>{{cite web|title=Cities & Towns of Belarus|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/belarus-cities.htm|date=2024-04-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.belstat.gov.by/ofitsialnaya-statistika/solialnaya-sfera/naselenie-i-migratsiya/naselenie/statisticheskie-izdaniya/index_89355/|title=Численность населения на 1 января 2024 г. и среднегодовая численность населения за 2023 год по Республике Беларусь в разрезе областей, районов, городов, поселков городского типа|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402055418/https://www.belstat.gov.by/ofitsialnaya-statistika/solialnaya-sfera/naselenie-i-migratsiya/naselenie/statisticheskie-izdaniya/index_89355/|archive-date=2 April 2024|website=belsat.gov.by|access-date=12 April 2024}}</ref>}}

The Grodno Old Town was severely damaged during World War II and post-war authorities lacked will to preserve its heritage. The [[Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Grodno|Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary]], which because of its founder (14th century) was commonly referred to as ''[[Vytautas]]' Church'', was first turned into a warehouse and eventually in 1961 was blown up by a decision of the Grodno Executive Committee.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Almonaitytė-Navickienė |first1=Vaida |title=Vytauto bažnyčia Gardine |url=https://autc.lt/architekturos-objektas/?id=659 |website=Autc.lt |access-date=23 June 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The [[:be:Гарадзенская ратуша|Grodno Town Hall]] (constructed in 1513) was demolished to expand [[Savieckaja Square]]. The early 17th century Baroque style [[:be:Кляштар бернардзінак (Гродна)|Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Bernardine Monastery]] was demolished in 1951 also by a decision of the Grodno Executive Committee and the Grodno Regional Drama Theatre was built in its place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Як выглядаў кляштар на месцы драмтэатра ў Гродне |url=https://planetabelarus.by/publications/yak-vyglyada-klyashtar-na-mestsy-dramteatra-grodne-shmat-starykh-fota/ |website=PlanetaBelarus.by |access-date=23 June 2024 |language=be}}</ref>

In 2005, the reconstruction of the historical centre of Grodno began. In 2008, the Belarusian Voluntary Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments declared violations of the Law on the Protection of Historical and Cultural Heritage: the destruction of the cultural layer in the historic Old Market Square, demolition of 28 [[Constructivist architecture]] buildings in Mickevich, Gorky and 17 September streets in order to replace them with a modern hotel complex and the main traffic flow is directed in dangerous proximity to the New and Old Castles, while the plans to rebuild the Grodno Town Hall and the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (''Vytautas' Church'') are not being implemented.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Астаповіч |first1=A. |title=Прэс-рэліз Беларускага добраахвотнага таварыства аховы помнікаў гісторыі і культуры |url=http://baj.by/m-p-printpub-tid-1-pid-4674.html |website=Беларуская асацыяцыя журналістаў |access-date=23 June 2024 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The reconstruction of the [[Old Grodno Castle]] was started in 2017 and also received criticism due to the lacking of historical authenticity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eng.belta.by/photonews/view/reconstruction-of-old-castle-in-grodno-6428/ |title=Reconstruction of Old Castle in Grodno |publisher=Belta |date =2020-08-14 |accessdate=23 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=10 Treasures of Polish-Belarusian Architectural Heritage |url=https://culture.pl/en/article/10-treasures-of-polish-belarusian-architectural-heritage |website=Culture.pl |accessdate=23 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Szulakowska |first=Urszula |year=2018 |title=Renaissance and Baroque Art and Culture in the Eastern Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1506-1696) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yFmGDwAAQBAJ&dq=The+Cathedral+Basilica+of+Saint+Francis+Xavier+grodno&pg=PA324 |publisher=Cambridge Scholar Publishing |page= 319 |isbn=978-1-5275-1135-4 }}</ref> For instance, the contemporary viewpoint was added near the central gates.<ref>{{cite web |author=Lebed, E. |language = ru |url= https://vgr.by/2021/11/03/korol-vozvrashhaetsya-v-grodno-posle-pervoy-ocheredi-rekonstrukcii-dlya-posetiteley-otkryivaetsya-staryiy-zamok/ |title=Король возвращается в Гродно — после реконструкции для посетителей открывается Старый замок. Что внутри|trans-title=The King Comes Back to Grodno |publisher=Vecherniy Grodno |date=2021-11-03 |accessdate=23 June 2024}}</ref> Some specialists disputed the restoration project, they found significant mistakes in documentation that appeared because the constructor could not read historical inventory descriptions written in Polish and German. For example, the shape of the dome above the central tower, added levels between towers and galleries. Some authentic 16th century walls were demolished.<ref>{{cite web |language = ru |url = https://belsat.eu/ru/news/05-11-2021-rekonstruktsiya-ili-unichtozhenie-v-grodno-6-noyabrya-otkroyut-staryj-zamok/ |title=Реконструкция или уничтожение? В Гродно открыли Старый замок |publisher = [[Belsat]] |date = 2021-11-05 |accessdate=23 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://realt.onliner.by/2021/11/01/posle-rekonstrukcii-staryj-zamok |title =В Гродно после реконструкции открывается Старый Замок. Его уже можно будет посетить |publisher   = Onliner.by |date = 2021-11-01 |accessdate=23 June 2024}}</ref>

Despite its significant loss of heritage, the city still has the largest ensemble of historical buildings in Belarus. Known as the "royal city" and "a grand-ducal-royal city", it is a popular tourist destination.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grodno must-see landmarks and sights |url=https://www.belarus.by/en/travel/top-guide-belarus/grodno-must-see-landmarks-and-sights_i_91604.html |website=Belarus.by |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Old Castle and New Castle in Grodno |url=https://www.belarus.by/en/travel/belarus-life/old-new-castles-grodno |website=Belarus.by |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref> In 2022, the [[Brest Region|Brest]]-[[Grodno Region|Grodno]] area was declared a visa-free zone for foreign visitors staying up to 15 days.<ref>{{cite web |title=Visa-free tourism in Awgustow Canal Park and Grodno (Hrodna) |url=https://grodnovisafree.by |website=Grodnovisafree.by}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Visa-free travel to Brest-Grodno |url=https://www.mfa.gov.by/en/visa/freemove/brest_hrodna/ |website=Mfa.gov.by}}</ref> Nevertheless, the British, American, Lithuanian, Canadian authorities as well as representatives of the [[Belarusian opposition]] urged against travel to Belarus because of safety concerns relating to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws (resulting in arrests and detention) and the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Belarus travel advice |url=https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belarus |website=Gov.uk |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Belarus International Travel Information |url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Belarus.html |website=Travel.state.gov |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Januzi |first1=Shkurta |title=Lithuania Urges Its Citizens to Refrain From Travelling to Belarus Due to Safety Reasons |url=https://schengen.news/lithuania-urges-its-citizens-to-refrain-from-travelling-to-belarus-due-to-safety-reasons/ |website=Schengen.news |access-date=23 June 2024 |date=21 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Canada |first1=Global Affairs |title=Travel advice and advisories for Belarus |url=https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/belarus |website=Travel.gc.ca |access-date=23 June 2024 |date=16 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Belarus opposition warn Lithuanians against using Minsk's visa-free travel |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1697126/belarus-opposition-warn-lithuanians-against-using-minsk-s-visa-free-travel |website=[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television]] |access-date=23 June 2024 |date=18 May 2022}}</ref>