Bryansk was first time mentioned in 1146. That time, the settlement was called Debryansk. The origin of this name is from Slavic word “debri” meaning “dense woodland” (the territory of present Bryansk was known for its woods).There are also some facts proving that Debryansk fortified settlement was founded on the bank of the Desna River in 985 or even earlier. This land was conquered by the Moscow state after the Vedrosha Battle, in 1503. The town became a fortress that played significant role when the Russian Time of Troubles came.The German army captured Bryansk in October 1941. The city was liberated in September 1943. Bryansk and surrounding lands were known for a lot of Soviet partisans (about 60,000) fighting against the German army. In 1944, the city became the administrative center of the region.The climate is temperate continental. Winters are characterized by unstable weather, from heavy frost to long thaws. Summers are humid and warm, strong heat is rare. The average temperature in January is -6 degrees Celsius, in July - +18.9 degrees C.
