There are many settlements on the picturesque banks of the great Russian river Volga. The city of Ples occupies a special place among them. Thousands of tourists come every year to relax and admire the unique beauty of the local nature, among which there are often writers, artists, filmmakers.
Why are these places so attractive? About the history of Plyos, its attractions, about the celebrities who lived and worked here, and much more will be discussed in this article.
Geographic location and population of the city
The city of Ples is located in the north of the Ivanovo region and is part of the Volga region. This is a tourist pearl of these places, which is part of the Golden Ring of Russia. Ples separates 370 km from Moscow, and 70 km from the regional center Ivanovo. This small resort town is located on the right bank of the Volga. The river is herespills to a width of 680 to 700 m, the depth of the fairway is about 15 m. The highest point of the city is 54 m above the Volga.
The largest population in Plyos was recorded in the 60-80s of the last century. After that, a gradual decline was observed. Currently, the town has only about 2,000 permanent residents. There are no industrial enterprises here, this is a purely resort town, in which the greatest revival is observed in the summer months.
Pages of the history of the Plessky settlement
The town of Plyos has its official reckoning since 1410. It was then that one of the sons of Dmitry Donskoy - Vasily, who reigned in Muscovy - founded on the banks of the Volga, on the site of the current resort town, a wooden military fortress, the purpose of which was to protect the approaches to Moscow and the Volga cities.
But the history of the settlement began much earlier than the specified date. Folk legends say that long before the construction of the fortress, there was an ancient settlement called Chuvil, which was destroyed by the hordes of Batu Khan in the 13th century. Archaeological excavations confirm these data.
For many years the city of Plyos was at the very center of numerous military events. Closer to the 18th century the situation became calmer, and this place ceased to function as a fortified military facility. The destroyed wooden fortresses were not restored, and in their place a majestic stone Orthodox cathedral and several stone buildings were erected.
ThanksDue to the convenient economic location of the city, trade and production began to actively develop here. The population was engaged in fishing, weaving, timber rafting. Until the opening of the Ivanovo-Kineshma railway in 1871, Ples served as the main port on the Volga for the entire region. Gradually, the development of production and trade in these places subsides, and the town turns into a holiday resort area for we althy gentlemen.
Origin of the name of the city
There is no consensus on why the place was called Ples. Some historians and local historians are inclined to the version that the city owes its name to its geographical location: in this place, the Volga flows straight for many kilometers and does not make turns. Such river sections from ancient times were called stretches. Another version says that the word "ples" means a sandbank.
Plesskaya resort area
What first of all would you like to say about the town of Plyos? The Ivanovo region can be proud that such a protected resort area is located on its territory. Tourists have the opportunity to come here not only in the summer months, but also in winter. In summer you can swim, sunbathe, pick mushrooms and berries, enjoy the beautiful Volga landscapes, but in winter ski lovers come here. In recent years, much attention has been paid to the construction of ski slopes in Plyos.
From December to March, tourists are welcomed by the modern sports complex "Sweet Mountain". Here you can not only ski from the mountains, but alsosnowboarding, as well as skating, sledding and airships. There are several well-equipped recreation centers in the city: the Akter-Ples sanatorium (former WTO), the Fortecia Rus hotel, and several comfortable boarding houses.
City Ples: attractions
Among the numerous sights of this town, the Levitan Museum should be mentioned first of all. It is located in the house where the great Russian landscape painter lived for many years. Connoisseurs of beauty can see here the best paintings of the painter. Also, tourists are usually offered to make excursions to the Museum of Landscape and the Museum of the Old Russian Hut.
Besides, every guest of the city should definitely climb Mount Levitan, from where a wonderful view of the Volga expanses opens up. On this mountain, the artist once painted his famous painting "Above Eternal Peace" and many other landscapes. I must say that even now artists like to come to rest and work in Plyos. City Day is celebrated annually on July 14. This event has become famous throughout Russia for the fact that it hosts the Linen Palette fashion festival, in which the country's best young fashion designers take part.
