Pskov is located in the northwestern part of Russia, about 690 km from Moscow. Two rivers flow in the city: Pskova and Velikaya. The name of this settlement and its river of the same name comes from Finno-Ugric and means "tar water". The main decoration of the city is the majestic Pskov Kremlin. In addition to it, you can also see many stone medieval churches and ancient monasteries here.
History of the city
The city was first mentioned in 903, when Prince Igor married Olga. The chronicle indicated that she was from Pskov. In the XII century, the city became part of the Novgorod lands, and later became an independent center of the Pskov Republic. In 1510, this settlement was part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, and since 1777 it became the center of the Pskov province.
From the 10th century until the reign of Peter I, Pskov was a fairly well-known city both in Russia and abroad. However, after the founding of St. Petersburg, its development began to decline. In 1944, the city was occupied by the Nazis, as a result of which manyhistorical monuments. Its modern appearance is entirely the merit of the restorers and architects who restored the main sights of Pskov and its environs.
Local Kremlin: general characteristics
The Kremlin of Pskov or, as it is also called, Krom is considered an excellent example of ancient Russian architecture. It is located on a rocky shore at the place where the Pskov River flows into the Velikaya. This ancient structure consists of two parts: the outer and inner fortress. The whole area of the Kremlin looks like a triangle elongated from north to south. Here is the Trinity Cathedral, erected around 1683-1699, as well as the former Veche Square, where the veche used to be held. The cathedral is clearly visible from the other end of the river. In the south is Dovmontov city. Previously, there were many churches and buildings in these places. Now you can mostly see only the foundations of the temples, as they were all destroyed at different times.
The Pskov Kremlin occupies 3 hectares of territory, which is surrounded by fortified stone walls. Walking platforms covered with wooden roofs remain here.
Let's look inside
There is a 5-tiered tower in the northern part of the Kremlin. It is called Kutekroma, and its height is 30 meters. The eastern wall of the Kremlin stretched for 435 meters, and the western wall for 345 meters.
In the heart of Krom is the five-domed Trinity Cathedral. This building is the quadruple in this place. Initially, in the middle of the 10th century, there was a wooden temple here, which was erected by Princess Olga. In XIIcentury, by order of the Pskov prince Vsevolod-Gabriel, a stone building was founded in its place. In the 15th century, instead of it, the third Trinity Cathedral was located here, which played a significant role in the development of the architectural traditions of the region. The most recent cathedral was built in 1699 and decorated in the all-Russian traditions. The Pskov Kremlin is a truly unique place. The relics of the saints rest here and buildings of different styles and times merge into a single complex.
History of the Pskov Kremlin
Unfortunately, the chroniclers for some reason did not record when the fortress walls of the Kremlin were laid and its first tower was built. It is worth noting that Krom is mentioned in written sources only in 1065. Nevertheless, archaeologists note that people came to the shores of Pskov as early as the 1st millennium AD. They hunted, fished and even made jewelry. It is believed that the city was founded by Princess Olga. At the same time, based on the artifacts found, it can be concluded that by this time Pskov was already a fully formed pagan city with a large population.
Like any other large and prosperous city, Pskov needed reliable protection from enemies. In this regard, they decided to build a powerful and impregnable fortress. The first wooden walls of Krom were erected on a clay shaft around the 8th-10th centuries, at least history tells about this fact. The Pskov Kremlin began to grow gradually. In the X-XIII centuries, stone walls began to be erected here, which were built “dry” (without fasteningsolution). The walls, built on mortar, began to appear only in the 13th century and adjoined the rampart from the outside. Later, the construction of new towers began, strengthening the walls and building them up.
The fate of Krom from the 12th to the 16th centuries
The Smerdya tower (later Dovmontov) was the first to be built. It was located on the left side, near the only city gates at that time. However, the city developed rapidly, and there was an urgent need to build a second city gate. In this regard, the Trinity (or Great) Gates appeared, which have survived to this day.
In 1337, the mightiest wall of Krom was renovated. During this period, the road to the Kremlin was expanded, and the opening of the Great Gate was also enlarged. In 1400-1401 two more towers were completed. In general, during the XV century, the Pskov Kremlin was strengthened 2 times. During this period, another tower also appeared - Vlasievskaya. It is located on the corner of the Dovmontov city. It became a kind of checkpoint: it was here that all foreigners arriving in the city were controlled.
The last tower - Flat - was erected in 1500 and is considered the most picturesque. It stands near the confluence of the Pskov River into the Great. In 1510, Pskov became part of the Moscow Principality. In the 16th century, Krom became the seat of the spiritual authority of the city - first the lord, and then the metropolitan. In the Kremlin, there were "sovereign granaries" and ammunition was stored. In 1537, the Lower Lattices were placed at the mouth of the Pskov River, which blocked the riverbed. In the middle of the 16th century, the city clock was located on the Trinity Tower, but it collapsed in 1787 and wasrestored only in 1988.
From the 18th century to the present day
Under Peter I, the Pskov Kremlin (you can see the photo of this majestic building below) continued to perform a defensive function. In general, it remained a reliable defensive frontier of the northwestern part of Russia until the end of the 18th century. Until the 20th century, Krom practically turned into ruins and required serious reconstruction. Large-scale restoration work began only in the 60s of the twentieth century.
Pskov Kremlin Towers
The majestic Kremlin has 6 towers:
- Vlasievskaya Tower (XV century).
- Rybnitskaya (XV century). Now it houses a souvenir shop (in 1780 it was dismantled, and in 1970 the building was recreated in its original form).
- Middle Tower.
- Troitskaya, or Clock (was reconstructed after full resolution in the 17th century).
- Kutekroma Tower (1400).
- Smerdya, or Dovmontov tower (since the 19th century, this rather powerful tower has been turned into a small “faceted” turret).
Other sights of the city
Besides the old Kremlin, Pskov has many other places worth visiting. Many tourists are attracted by the Basil's Cathedral on the hill, which was built in the 16th century. Previously, a small stream of Zrachka flowed at the foot of the church.
Near the temple there was also the Vasilyevsky tower, in which there was a belfry. According to an ancient legend, a bell hung in it, which notified the inhabitants of the city about the advance of the Tatar-Mongols and others.enemies. The global restoration of the temple began in 2009.
Mirozh Monastery
Are you wondering what else the city of Pskov can surprise you with? Sights can be seen in many corners of this settlement and its environs. For example, one of the oldest monasteries in Russia is located here. Its main advantage is pre-Mongolian frescoes made in the 12th century. This building is included in the UNESCO list of the world's most outstanding monuments of art.
Pechersky Monastery
The Pskov-Caves Monastery is located 50 km from Pskov and was founded by St. Jonah. This temple is over 500 years old. Jonah moved here with his family to serve God for the rest of his life. He began to build a cave temple, but at that time his wife fell ill and died. Having buried her, the next day the saint discovered that her coffin was again on the surface of the earth. After the repeated burial, by the next day he again stood on the ground. Jonah decided that this was a sign from above, and did not bury his wife.
Since then, the bodies of all the deceased residents of the Pskov province were not interred, but left in crypts. It is amazing, but even despite the fact that the coffins have turned black, the bodies of the deceased have hardly succumbed to any modifications since those years. Representatives of many noble families are buried here: Buturlins, Pushkins, Kutuzovs, Nazimovs, etc. The monastery also houses such shrines as the icon of the Mother of God and the Hodegetria of Psokovo-Pechora. In addition, it is the largest male monastery in Russia.
What else to see?
In the northern part of Pskov, on the banks of the Velikaya River, there is the Snegorsky Monastery dating back to the 13th century. Since 1993, it has become female. Not far from here is the current church of Peter and Paul.
However, this is not all the amazing places that Pskov can show you. The sights, the photos of which touch the eye, are closely connected with the history of the city and its famous inhabitants. There is a monument to Princess Olga, a monument to "Two Captains", the composition "Poet and Peasant Woman", as well as a sculpture in honor of the 300th anniversary of the defense against the troops of Khan Batory and much more.
Pskov is a very picturesque city with a rich history. After visiting the Kremlin, you get the impression that you are touching the heroic and great history of your country. The walls of the fortress have seen a lot, survived both joyful and sad times in this region, but in spite of everything, they have survived to this day. Seeing the ancient shrines, you will feel a sense of peace and tranquility appear in your soul. After enjoying the beautiful landscapes and nature of this region, you will definitely never forget it.
All you need for an exciting trip is a map of Pskov with attractions, comfortable shoes and a cheerful company!
