Kamenetz-Podolsk

Kamenetz-Podolsk (Polish Kamieniec), capital of the Russian government of Podolia, is picturesquely situated near the frontier of Austrian Galicia, on a steep rock above the river Smotritza, an affluent of the Dniester, 243 miles NW. of Odessa and 40 NE. of Czernowitz. There are a Roman Catholic cathedral (1361), a Greek cathedral (16th century), and an Armenian and several other churches. The town was destroyed by the Mongol chief Batu in 1240; taken by the Turks in 1672; returned to the Poles in 1699; and annexed by Russia in 1795. Previous to the partition of Poland Kamenetz was one of the strongest bulwarks of that country against the Turks. Pop. (1871) 22,611; (1897) 34,483, one-half Jews.