Russia boasts interesting places that can surprise even the most sophisticated tourist. In the north-west of the country is the city of Velikiye Luki (Pskov region). The settlement was located on both banks of the Lovat River. The city got its name precisely because of the radiant flow of the river, but then it was just the city of Luke, and only later, by the 15th century, the prefix “Great” appeared.
In ancient times, Novgorod and Kyiv princes gathered here to discuss their relationship. Then this city was of great importance for the Novgorod principality, and then for the united Russian principality, because there was a fortress here that protected the borders of the state. It was also important for trade, as it stood on the way “from the Varangians to the Greeks”. Almost all the Middle Ages, military forces were concentrated in the city, always ready to defend the borders of the state.
Veliky Luki fortress played an important role in the Great Patriotic War.
Like everyone elsestarted
In these places, the fortress appeared in the XII century, but was constantly attacked and destroyed.
The first information about the presence of fortifications is in the annals of 1198.
Then there are references in the chronicles from 1211. They say that Prince Mstislav sent to Luki to set up the city of Dmitry Yakunits.
And in 1493, Prince Ivan Vasilievich already equips an expedition to build a fortress in these places on the site of an old destroyed one.
The history of the Velikiye Luki fortress does not end there. The "Notes on Muscovy" by the Austrian diplomat also mentions the fortress.
In 1580, the Velikoluksky fortress was completely restored by King Stefan Batory. At that time, the fortress had the status of a city. It was a huge area, surrounded by a high stone fence and a deep moat. The total length of the fortifications was more than one kilometer. Although up to this point King Stefan himself had destroyed the Kremlin and all the structures, he did not find a better place to build his own than where the fortification he destroyed stood.
The recovery plan was developed by Batory himself, and the work was carried out in a short time, but not all fortifications were restored. It was at this moment that the name "Kremlin" completely loses its meaning, and later in all sources there is only a description - the Velikiye Luki fortress.
During the Time of Troubles, the fortress again suffers greatly, these were the troops of the Don Cossacks, the detachments of Prosovetsky. In those days, many Orthodox sufferedChristians, and the fortress has completely lost its defensive value.
Fortress during the reign of Peter I
During the Northern War in 1704, Peter the Great decided to restore the dilapidated structure and build a bastion-type fortress. And after 2 years, according to the project of mathematician Magnitsky L. F., the plans were implemented.
How the bastion looked then
Velikolukskaya fortress was a whole complex of buildings with an irregular hexagonal shape. The complex had 6 bastions with ravelins between them. There were forty cast-iron cannons and 12 copper ones. All the bastions were about 2 kilometers in circumference.
The fortress had two vaulted bridges across the rampart, from the north and west sides. The shaft itself was 21.3 meters high, and outside it reached 50 meters.
Inside occupied area was 11.8 hectares. On the territory of the bastion there were shops, barracks, a prison, warehouses with food and gunpowder, barns. There was also the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ and the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Inside, there was a lake behind the fence, and in the eastern part there was a secret passage to the Lovat River.
However, after the Battle of Poltava in 1709, the bastion again loses its strategic importance. During the Patriotic War (1812) there was a collection point for the troops that were going to drive away Napoleon.
The Great Patriotic War
Despite the long and such a changeable fate, Velikie Luki fortress (Veliky Luki)last played an important role in combat battles in 1942-1943.
It was here that five tank crews accomplished a great feat in January 1943.
Before the decisive battle, about 600 soldiers of the German army were based in the fortress. All ramparts were fortified with trenches, wire fences were present, and all possible approaches to the bastion were under flank fire from machine guns. The Germans even made icy slopes so that no one could get close. Soviet soldiers stormed the walls six times. But the fortress was captured only on January 16, 1943, during the battle all the buildings were destroyed.
In honor of this heroic deed, in 1960, a monument to soldiers was erected on the Neplyuevsky bastion (north-eastern part). This is a semicircular pedestal with powerful pylons, on top of which there is a faceted column with a five-pointed star. The monument is installed on the highest point of the entire city, and the monument itself is 26 meters high.
In 2008, the city itself was awarded the honorary title of "City of Military Glory". And it was in honor of this that a stele appeared two years later.
The T-34 tank is installed on the Engineering Bastion, which is designed to perpetuate the memory of all tankers who died in this city.
What has survived to this day
Partly buildings of the Velikolukskaya fortress have been preserved. The bastions still have a total length of 2 kilometers and the same configuration. The height of the shafts is from 12 to 16 meters. A park can be seen on the slopes, and the remains of the foundation of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ flaunt on the hill to this day.
Today, work is underway to preserve the bastion as an object of cultural heritage and use it as an object of museumification. Walking paths for tourists were improved on the territory, a ravelin was arranged, a pond was put in order and the Western Gate was restored.
Practical information
The easiest and cheapest way to get to the fortress is to use the railway. From the Riga station of our capital, the train "Moscow - Velikie Luki" departs daily (No. 661). The train departs in the evening, and you will have to spend about 11 hours on the road.
Another option is train number 001R, going to the city of Riga. However, he travels faster, and he will have to spend 7 hours on the way, but he arrives in Velikiye Luki at two in the morning.
How to get to the Velikiye Luki fortress from St. Petersburg? A train to Velikiye Luki also departs regularly from the northern capital (except on Saturdays). The train leaves at 22:18 and arrives at its destination at 7:55.
Arriving in the city, the easiest way to get to the fortress is by taxi. By the way, the prices here are low, about 70 rubles for one trip. The fortress itself is located on the left bank of the Lovat River, just a few steps from the local history museum. Entrance to the territory of the bastion is absolutely free.
Vehicle communication
If you want to get from Moscow to Velikiye Luki on your own vehicle, then you should leave along the Novorizhskoye highway and move along the B altiya highway (M9). GPS coordinates: 56.342690, 30.507225. However, it should be remembered that there are 500 kilometers from the capital to Velikiye Luki, as well as from the Northern capital.
