study in Saint Petersburg. Education There are several institutions of higher education in the city: State Agricultural Academy of Velikie Luki, Velikiye Luki State Academy of Physical Education and Sports, branch of St. Petersburg State Transport University, branch of Pskov State University. Sports Velikiye Luki is notable for ballooning competitions, which are held in the town annually since 1996. Since 1999, the competitions have been internationally recognized. Climate People Velikiye Luki has been claimed as the birthplace of Soviet Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky. The Hero of the Soviet Union Alexander Matrosov is buried in this city. Modest Mussorgsky's memorial house in Kunyinsky District, standing on the bank of a large picturesque lake, is within easy range of the town. Other people from Velikiye Luki include: Alexandra Burchenkova (born 1988), road racing cyclist Roman Kagazezhev (born 1980), professional football player German Lovchev (born 1981), professional footballer Andrei Lukanchenkov (born 1986), professional footballer Oleg Marichev (born 1945), mathematician Viktor Safronov (1917–1999), astronomer Genrikh Fedosov (1932–2005), football player Sergey Firsanov (born 1982), professional road bicycle racer Allan Erdman (born 1933), retired Soviet shooter Dmitri Alenichev (born.1972), is a Russian football coach, former player and politician Twin towns and sister cities Velikiye Luki is twinned with: Maardu, Estonia Seinäjoki, Finland References Sources Griehl, Manfred. Heinkel He 177 'Greif': The only long-range bomber in Luftwaffe service''. Erlangen, Germany: AirDOC 2008. ISBN 978-3-93568-747-8. External links vluki850.ru - Official 850th Anniversary site Cities and towns in Pskov Oblast Velikoluksky Uyezd 1166 establishments in Europe 12th-century establishments in Russia