There are no bastion-type fortresses in the north of our country, except for one building. It has partially survived to this day. This is the Novodvinskaya fortress. For those who do not believe in this, there are satellite maps of the area. You can see the building on them. The stones of these ruins have seen many historical events, battles and glorious victories. To learn more about the Novodvinskaya fortress, you need to come on an excursion. How to get to the historical monument, what it is and how it looks now - more on that later.
General information
The Novodvinsk fortress in the city of Arkhangelsk was erected under Peter I. For a long time it served as a source of pride for Russian soldiers. Foreign warriors were afraid of her. Fierce fighting took place here. In the photo you can see that today the building has been partially preserved.
On the banks of the Malaya Dvinka River, Peter I ordered the construction of a fortress. It was 1700. This decision of the king was due to the fact that he perfectly understood that there was only one city from which the Swedes could attack Russian soil. This is a large port city of Arkhangelsk.
The first shipyard was laid here and the Admir alty was created. According to the sovereign, the Novodvinskaya fortress was supposed to be completely impregnable. It was a strategic enemy containment point.
The Novodvinsk fortress of the early 18th century, which is evidenced by research in the field of its history and archeology, could accommodate more than 1000 soldiers at that time.
Building a bastion
The Novodvinsk fortress, the photo of which is presented below, was designed and built by the architect G. Reze. He chose the best place for construction work on. Linskoy Pryluk. In the spring of 1701, the construction of the bastion began.
The process moved quickly. Within a month, the foundation for the construction was prepared. In June of the same year, workers laid the foundation of the building. Swedish troops tried to prevent this, made attempts to attack the port. But the Russian army brought a large number of guns here.
White stone was delivered from Orletsy for the construction of a bastion building on wooden barges. Local monasteries also helped in the process. In 1702, the king personally supervised the construction.
Practically all the work was completed by 1705. Then the fortress had walls, watchtowers. By order of Peter, 108 guns were delivered to the fortress. And by 1711, all defensive structures and fortifications were finally completed. In 1731, the fortress was added to the defensive structures of Russia.
The uniqueness of the Novodvinsk fortress
In the future, the fortress served its purposefully. It was the first building of this type in the northern strip of Russia. The Novodvinsk fortress (Arkhangelsk) corresponded in its characteristics to the Dutch style. Before her, there had never been such bastions in this part of the country.
Similar structures are found in countries such as Holland, America, as well as in the former colonies of these states. They have their own distinctive features. The Arkhangelsk building has the same features.
The fortress is designed in the shape of a square. It has 4 bastions. These are flag, sea, grave and slingshot military buildings. It should also be noted that the length of the walls at that time was 300 m, and the height was 5 m. The thickness of the fortifications reached 2.5-3.5 m in different places. Each bastion was located at a distance of 120 m from each other.
Bastion device inside
The Novodvinsk fortress of the 18th century, the history and archeology of which are still of interest to researchers, had its own specific internal structure. Having reached the Novodvinsk fortress in Arkhangelsk, the traveler could get inside through three gates: Dvina, Summer, Ravelin. Previously they were elaborately decorated.
It was possible to leave the fortress, if necessary, through underground passages. There were about 10 of them, but today there is almost nothing left of them.
The military lived in buildings on the territory permanently. The barracks were built near the Dvina and Summer gates. There was also a church of Peter and Paul in the bastion. It was consecrated while still under construction in 1702. So byto all the norms and canons of that time, the Novodvinskaya fortress should have been called Petropavlovsk. In honor of the church name. But the inhabitants of the bastion themselves dubbed it Novodvinskaya. After some time, the church itself began to be called the same.
Outside of the fortress
A wide moat was dug outside the fortress. It was filled with water. Its width at that time was 28-30 meters. It was a good defense, which the Novodvinsk fortress possessed. How to get inside such a fortified structure? It's complicated. That is why the enemy was afraid of the Russian soldiers inside these walls.
The height of the counterscarp and scarp walls of the moat made of stone reached 3 m. They were also lined with white limestone slabs, which were fastened with metal brackets. The ditch was separated from the river by walls more than 4 m high. They were a continuation of the stone embankment and were called batardo.
In the northern one there was a lock through which water flowed into the moat. Behind this water fortification, a hidden path was arranged, and a palisade was also made. The glacis shaft was also located here.
Siege of the Novodvinsk fortress during the Crimean War
During the years of the Crimean War (1854-1856) there was the last siege of the Novodvinsk fortress. This was the last time it was used for its intended purpose. In January 1863, the bastion was deprived of its strategic status due to the disbandment of the navy in the city.
Novodvinsk fortress (Arkhangelsk) was given in 1864 to the diocese of the city. Here it was decided to arrange a women's school. However, fromsuch an idea was soon abandoned. This decision was associated with the start of construction of the railway between Vologda and Arkhangelsk. A considerable amount of stone was required to equip the stations. In this regard, the clergy sold part of the walls of the fortress for building needs.
The once majestic fortress has been turned into a common building material.
The further fate of the fortress
In 1898, the state of the walls of the fortress was assessed. Arkhangelsk governor banned the sale of buildings in the form of building materials. So the historical monument survived, although it was badly destroyed by that time.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a team of historians, archaeologists, restorers and researchers began to actively study the presented monument. In 1913, after their work, the fortress was included in the list of sights of Russia.
In the pre-war years, a children's colony was equipped here. It contained juvenile delinquents. During the Second World War, the production of water combat equipment was established here. The work was carried out by former prisoners of the children's colony.
In 1990, a group of scientists began to carry out work on the restoration of the ruins of the once glorious and awe-inspiring fortress.
How to get to the Novodvinsk Fortress?
Novodvinskaya Fortress (Arkhangelsk) is located 19 km from the city. Guides know how to get to the place where the ruins are now located. First you need to get to Brevennik Island. From Arkhangelsk, passengers are transported here only by water. Depending on locationcrossings will need to go from 5 to 12 km overland through small villages. You can get from Brevennik to Linsky Pryluk via a small bridge.
You can get here with a tour. In this case, you will have to wait until the group is typed. The approximate cost is about 1000 rubles. This price is due to the bus crossing by ferry, which is quite expensive.
It is difficult to get to the Novodvinsk fortress on your own, but it is possible. By water transport, then a hitchhike or regular bus (very rare). You can even try to walk. But the path is long, so it will be quite tiring.
What does the fortress look like today?
Novodvinsk Fortress, tours of which are quite rare, today looks like picturesque ruins. Its walls are under state protection. Small restoration work is being carried out so that the structure does not fall apart completely.
At the moment, only the Horn Bastion and the front wall of the facade have been restored. There is an observation deck made of wood. On it are shields with plans for the battles that took place here.
This is now the commandant's house, where the restoration team lives. Care must be taken to move along the shaft, as there is a possibility of a collapse. Now there are such dilapidated buildings as an officer's house, a powder magazine. Previously, there was a burial place for soldiers behind the moat.
Restorers have created a small open-air museum, which is a small tablet indicating important events for the life of the bastion.
Novodvinskaya Fortress is currently a valuable historical monument. People come here from all over Russia. Of course, this is not a huge, luxurious palace, but it has its own uniqueness. After all, for three hundred years the building has never been rebuilt. You can easily touch the history of past times in this ancient bastion.
