An idea of ​ ​ the historical and cultural heritage and architectural originality of Belarusian cities at the main stages of their development is given - from the formation of the initial planning structure of the early feudal city of the XII-XIII centuries. to the systemic development of a historically established city at the beginning of the XX century. Using the example of Vitebsk, Grodno, Mogilev considered the consistent formation of structuring urban planning systems - planning, high-rise dominants, defensive structures, ordinary buildings and compositional and spatial ties, which ensured the artistic integrity of growing cities.