The town is an ancient town built on the river Osmance. First mentioned in 1040 in connection with the attack on the city of Grand Prince Yaroslav. In 1341 Oshmyany entered the legacy that was left by the Prince of Gedemin his son Eunotia.

Famous Oshmyany its inaccessibility. Twice fearsome Teutonic knights attacked the city at the end of XIV XV century and both times received a decent response. Few fortress can boast such brilliant victories.

Knew the city defeat and destruction. The first time it was destroyed in 1384 the Polish-Lithuanian Royal forces led by Wladyslaw II Jagiello. After the town became the property of the Kingdom and received considerable trading privileges, the city began to develop rapidly, and rebuilt. Second defeat Oshmyany learned from the warlike Russians, who razed the city to the ground in 1519, but in 1556, the city was rebuilt and flourished so much that it has received the Magdeburg right.

In the XVI century the town became a refuge for the Calvinists and the most famous Calvinist city in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The city was built Calvinist College.

During the November national liberation uprising of 1831, the town was burned by the Russian army during the punitive expedition against the rebels. Since then, the city could not recover from losses and became a quiet provincial town, forgetting the days of his greatness. As such he appears in front of our contemporaries.

Now you can still see the majestic ruins of the old Franciscan Church and to assess the scale of the once famous temple. This Church was rebuilt in 1822 from the ruins of an ancient Gothic Church. Oshmyany the Church of the Holy Archangel Michael is the current Roman Catholic Church, built in 1900 on the site of the Franciscan Church 1387 buildings. This Church is a recognized masterpiece of style Vilna Baroque. In 1990 the Church was restored and is now in perfect condition.

Very different, but also very strong impression resurrection Orthodox Church. Built in retrospective Russian style in 1875, the temple gives the impression of reliability and permanence of the foundations of Orthodoxy.

In Ashmyany preserved in good condition one of the few synagogues. Built in the early XX century, it was closed in 1940. Inside there is color painting. Unfortunately, the synagogue is used as a storage room.

The ancient city has three cemeteries: Calvary Catholic, old wooden crosses, moss-covered crypts and the graves of Polish soldiers, Jewish and Orthodox.

Not where you can see a real working water mill in such good condition as in Ashmyany.