There are small towns in the Tver region, where medieval buildings, ancient monasteries, churches and other sights can be found literally at every step. Toropets is one of them. The city was founded in the XI century. About 13 thousand people live in it today. The sights of Toropets and the surrounding area will be discussed in this article.
History
Between the upper reaches of the Western Dvina and the river Toropaya there was once a small principality. It bordered on the lands of Novgorod, Smolensk and Polotsk. The center of this principality was Toropets, which was first mentioned in chronicles in 1074. Mstislav Mstislavovich ruled here then, and later his son David Mstislavovich, who died in 1226 in a battle with the Lithuanians.
There are no sights left in Toropets that belong to the Middle Ages. But in the center of the city, ancient ramparts have been preserved, probably covered up under the Toropetsk prince Mstislav the Brave.
In the 17th century, the city was captured by the Poles. The inhabitants quickly got rid of the invaders, but the Ukrainian Cossacks immediately arrived, from the onslaught of which they managed to fight back with difficulty. Toropets by that time had become a trade and craft center. It is not surprising that he attracted the attention of unfriendly neighbors and militant Cossacks.
At the beginning of the 20th century, seven and a half thousand inhabitants lived in the city. There were 18 churches, one and a half thousand residential buildings and more than 20 factories and plants.
List of attractions in Toropets
On the territory of this small town there are more than forty cultural monuments. Among the buildings of high historical value, it is worth highlighting the Korsun-Bogoroditsky Cathedral.
The ancient fortress has not been preserved. The Kremlin, built in the 11th century, was destroyed a long time ago, only bulky ramparts remained from it, from which, by the way, an excellent view of Toropets opens. Top attractions in this historic city include:
- Epiphany Church.
- Monument to the teacher.
- Local History Museum.
- Monument to Admiral Peter Rikord.
- Trading area.
- Savior Transfiguration Church.
- St. Tikhon Monastery.
Korsun Bogoroditsky Cathedral
The most beautiful old temples in Russia are located near water bodies. The list of such buildings is quite extensive, one of them is the Korsun-Bogoroditsky Cathedral, located on the shores of Lake Solomeno. True, nameits ancient construction is difficult. He is a little over two hundred years old, which is not old for an Orthodox church. But, of course, this is one of the most beautiful churches in the Tver region. It is designed in the Baroque style, designed by the architect Osip Spirkin.
Epiphany Church
The temple was built in the second half of the 18th century. Funds for the construction were allocated by the local merchant Fyodor Gundarev. The Church of the Epiphany is one of the main attractions of Toropets. Connoisseurs of Russian architecture claim that there are no similar buildings in other cities of Russia. This temple is an example of the Toropetsk architectural school. An interesting detail of the building is an unusually located bell tower. Now within the walls of this temple there is a museum of local lore - another attraction of Toropets, which you should definitely visit.
Trading area
In the middle of the 16th century, shopping arcades appeared on the territory of the historical center of the city of Toropets, Tver Region. They were opposite the Great Bridge. Then there were about forty shops.
Brilliant merchants offered cloth, silk and other haberdashery goods. Closer to the Church of the Savior was a bread row. Trade was also carried out on the central square, where peasants came from the villages. They sold hay, firewood, straw and other products of the rural industry. There was a "fish sale" on the shores of Lake Solomeno. Lively trade on the square is a thing of the past. But this Toropetskaya attraction is a must.visit.
Monument to the teacher
In the seventies of the last century, a monument was erected in Toropets, dedicated to everyone who "sows reasonable, good, eternal." Today it is one of the attractions that invariably attract tourists. The monument was designed by the Moscow sculptor Orekhov. The grand opening took place on the day of the celebration of the 900th anniversary of the city. The sculpture is located on Komsomolskaya Street, opposite secondary school No. 1. This sculpture is the first monument to a teacher installed in Russia.
St. Tikhon Monastery
The history of this monastery began recently. The convent located in Toropets was founded in 2005. But, of course, this landmark of the Tver region has a backstory.
Approximately in the second half of the 11th century, on the outskirts of the city, on the banks of the Zalikovye, a monastery was founded. In the first third of the XIV century, the city suffered two misfortunes - a flood and a fire, which destroyed almost all the buildings. These disasters were so extensive that Toropets had to be rebuilt.
The monastery, which was located on the site of a convent founded in the 2000s, is known thanks to a scribe book compiled under Ivan the Terrible. In the XIV century the building was restored. In the 17th century, a stone monastery stood here, which played an important role in the cultural life of Toropets. Under Catherine the Great, a manifesto was signed, according to which the lands were withdrawn from the monastery property and transferred to the state.
In 2005The Holy Synod approved the creation of an Orthodox nunnery in the city of Toropets. Services began in 2006. On the territory of the monastery there are Nikolsky and Pokrovsky churches. The first was founded in the 16th century. The second is in the 18th century. These churches have been preserved, but in a very deplorable state.
Tours and museums
Rest in Toropets is suitable for lovers of peace and tranquility. There is only one museum here - local history. It presents a unique exposition that allows you to get acquainted with the history of the city. About monasteries and temples mentioned above. But the charm of this settlement is not only in the sights, but also in its location. The city is located in the western part of the Valdai Upland. Where there used to be dense forests, bringing death to strangers. Today, there are many tourist bases in the vicinity of Toropets.
There are no excursions that include only the sights of this city. However, Toropets is included in many tourist routes around the cities of Tver and Novgorod regions. So, one of the most popular multi-day tours involves visiting such cities as Velikie Luki, Polibino, Vitebsk and, of course, the settlement that is discussed in today's article. The journey continues for three days. The cost of the tour is 10900 rubles.
Another multi-day tour of the Tver and Novgorod regions includes a visit to Toropets, Naumov, Pushkin mountains, Veliky Novgorod and other attractions. The cost of the tour is 15 thousand rubles.
Reviews
Guests of Toropets claim that this is a very green, well-groomed city. When visiting it, it is worth paying attention to the monuments of the Soviet era, of which there are many. One of them is at the entrance to the city. The reservoir, on the banks of which the locals spend their leisure time, is very clean. This is one of the favorite places of the townspeople. According to reviews, Toropets has a good beach. This city is a great place for a family holiday.
Toropets is located 260 km from Tver. You can get here from the regional center. Trains run from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Bologoye, Velikiye Luki. A bus service has also been established with the capital and the city on the Neva.
