The whole history of St. Petersburg and the surrounding areas is associated with a special geographical location. The rulers, in order not to allow the seizure of these Russian border territories, created entire networks of fortifications and fortresses. Today, many of them are museums and are considered historical monuments.
Vyborg Castle
The fortresses of the Leningrad region, as well as the first cities and monasteries built on its territory, are among the oldest structures of the Russian state. They arose in the busiest places, where water and trade routes connected Scandinavia and Europe with the East and the Mediterranean, the Christian and ancient world.
The fortresses of the Leningrad region, monasteries and other ancient buildings became the spreaders of the culture of the Slavic people, as well as the conductors of the religion of Christianity over a vast territory.
Vyborg fortress, which is also called a castle, serves as a wonderful example of the Western European military trend in architecture. The history of this building is inextricablyassociated with the Swedes. It was they who founded Vyborg during the third crusade (1293).
Initially, the fortress played a defensive role. The Swedes hid behind its walls from the Novgorod troops, who were trying to regain the occupied territory. For many centuries, the functions of the fortress changed. This building served as the place where the royal residence was located, as well as the military headquarters. It was at one time a fortress and the administrative center of the city, and the barracks of the Swedish crusaders, and a prison.
In 1918, the Vyborg Castle came under the control of Finland and was completely reconstructed. Since 1944, this territory became part of the USSR. Already in 1964, the first steps were taken to create a local history museum in the fortress. To date, the Vyborg Castle is open to visitors. There is a museum here, offering guests an introduction to a dozen different compositions that describe the history of this place.
On the territory of the fortress there is an observation tower of St. Olaf. From it you can admire the amazing beauty of the landscape. The tower offers a view of the seaport and the Gulf of Finland, as well as the tops of trees growing in Mon Repos Park.
Staraya Ladoga Fortress
This building is located one hundred and twenty-five kilometers from St. Petersburg. The fortress near the village of Staraya Ladoga was founded on the border of the 9th-10th centuries. These were the times of Prophetic Oleg. The structure was located in the place where Ladozhka flows into the Volkhov River, on a high bank. The original purpose of the fortress was to protect the prince, as well as his squad. Somewhat later she becameone of those fortifications that blocked the enemy's path from the B altic.
Today, an archaeological and historical-architectural museum-reserve functions on the territory of the Staraya Ladoga fortress. There are two expositions for visitors. One of them is ethnographic, and the second is historical. The main exhibits of the exhibitions are items found during archaeological excavations.
Koporye
To date, seven fortresses have been preserved on the territory of the Leningrad Region. Only one of this list (Yam, located in Kingisepp) is a separate fragment of ramparts and carries a minimum of information about the past. Six others are of inextinguishable interest among history buffs. One of these fortresses is Koporye.
It is located in close proximity to St. Petersburg. More than others, the fortress of Koporye has preserved its medieval image to this day, as it has not undergone radical alterations lately.
Korela
This fortress is located north of St. Petersburg, on the territory of the Karelian Isthmus. At this point, the northern branch of the Vuoksa River flows into Lake Ladoga. During the XIII-XIV centuries, Korela was a Russian border post, which was repeatedly attacked by the Swedes. At present, the fortress is considered a monument, which allows to study the ancient Russian military defense art in more detail. In this building, which is open to visitors, up tothe spirit of adventure and antiquity has been preserved to this day. This became possible due to the fact that the fortress was not modernized or rebuilt for many years. Two museums have been opened on the territory of the former defensive post. In the first of them you can get acquainted with the general history of the fortress. The second museum is the Pugachev Tower, the inner courtyard of which was put in order, despite the partial destruction of the outer walls.
Ivangorod fortress
This building is a monument of Russian defensive architecture dating back to the 15th-16th centuries. The Ivangorod fortress was founded in 1492 on the Narva River to protect Russian lands from the attacks of Western enemies. During its five-century history, this defensive fortification was often the place where fierce battles took place. The fortress was also damaged during the war against the fascist invaders. After the capture of Ivangorod by enemy troops, the Germans set up two concentration camps on its territory, in which prisoners of war were kept. Retreating, the Nazis blew up most of the internal buildings, six corner towers, as well as many sections of the walls. Currently, most of the fortifications have been restored and restored.
Nutlet
Shlisselburg Fortress is located on the shores of Lake Ladoga, at the very source of the Neva. This architectural monument of the first half of the 14th century is currently a museum.
According to its location on Orekhovy Island, the Shlisselburg fortress also has a second name - "Nut".
Museum
Shlisselburg Fortress is a complex architectural ensemble. Today it is open to visitors. The fortress "Oreshek" belongs to the Museum of the history of the city of St. Petersburg. Visitors are invited to get acquainted with the main historical stages of the Russian state in those periods when this defensive structure was somehow involved.
History
Shlisselburg fortress was built in 1323. This is evidenced by the mention of Novgorod in the annals. This document indicates that the grandson of Alexander Nevsky - Prince Yuri Danilovich - ordered the construction of a wooden defensive structure. Three decades later, a stone one appeared on the site of the former fortress. Its territory was significantly increased and began to amount to nine thousand square meters. The size of the fortress walls also changed. They were three meters thick. There are three new rectangular towers.
Initially, a settlement was placed near the walls of the defensive structure. A three-meter canal separated it from Oreshok. Somewhat later, the moat was covered with earth. After that, the settlement was surrounded by a stone wall.
Restructuring, destruction and revival experienced a fortress throughout its history more than once. At the same time, the number of its towers constantly increased, the thickness of the walls increased.
Shlisselburg Fortress already in the 16th century became an administrative center, where state officials and the highest clergy lived. On the banks of the Neva, the simple population of the settlement settled.
Fortress "Oreshek" (Shlisselburg fortress) in the period from 1617 to 1702 was in the hands of the Swedes. At this time it was renamed. She was called Noteburgskaya. Peter I conquered this fortification from the Swedes and returned it to its former name. Grandiose construction began again in the fortress. Several towers, earthen bastions and prisons were erected. From 1826 to 1917, the Oreshek fortress (Schlisselburg fortress) was a place of imprisonment for the Decembrists and Narodnaya Volya. After the October Revolution, this building was turned into a museum.
War period
"Oreshek" played an important role during the defense of Leningrad. The Shlisselburg Fortress provided the possibility of the existence of the "Road of Life", along which food was brought to the besieged city, and the population of the Northern capital was evacuated from it. Thanks to the heroism of a small number of soldiers who withstood the siege of the fortress, more than one hundred human lives were saved. During this period, "Oreshek" almost razed to the ground.
In the post-war years, it was decided not to reconstruct the fortress, but to build memorial complexes along the Road of Life.
Defensive structure. Contemporary
Today visit the fortress "Oreshek" excursions. On the territory of the former defensive structure, you can see the remains of its former glory.
The Oreshek Fortress, the map of which will tell tourists the right route, looks like an irregular polygon on the plan. Moreover, the corners of this figure are elongated from west to east. around the perimeterthe walls are five powerful towers. One of them (Vorotnaya) is quadrangular. The architecture of the rest of the towers uses a round shape.
Fortress "Oreshek" (Shlisselburg) is a place where a memorial complex was opened in honor of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. There are museum expositions on the territory of the former citadel. They are located in the New Prison and Old Prison buildings. The remains of the walls of the fortress, as well as the Flag and Gate, Naugolnaya and Royal, Golovkin and Svetlichnaya towers have survived.
How to get to the fortress?
The easiest way to get to the quiet provincial town of Shlisselburg is by car. Then it is preferable to get to the fortress by boat. There is one more option. From the station "Petrokrepost" there is a motor ship, one of the stopping points of which is the Shlisselburg Fortress. How to get to the former defensive structure directly from St. Petersburg? Excursions are regularly held from the Northern capital to the Oreshek fortress. Travelers are delivered on high-speed comfortable motor ships Meteor.
Perhaps someone will be satisfied with a trip by bus route number 575, which runs to Shlisselburg from the metro station Ul. Dybenko. Then a boat will help you get to the island.
If you decide to visit the Oreshek fortress, you should definitely know the opening hours. The museum on the territory of the former citadel opens in May and accepts tourists until the end of October. During this period it is open daily. Opening hours - from 10 to 17.
