The Izborsk fortress built of stone was recognized as an outstanding memorial ensemble of the defense architecture of Russia. The walls of the building withstood many enemy sieges during their tenure, never submitting to the invaders - the Livonian knights.
The huge fortresses of ancient Russia that have come down to us, like the one in Izborsk, amaze contemplators with their power. In the fortress walls of antiquity one can read a great determination to defend their lands. Make you bow before the unique Russian character. To inspire respect for the unbending will and stoic spirit of the Russians.
Izborsk: history and attractions
The oldest Russian settlement - the city of Izborsk - is now considered a large village bordering Pskov in the west. In its vicinity are the famous Slovenian Springs and Gorodishchenskoye Lake.
This place in the eighth-tenth century was inhabited by the Slavic tribe - Krivichi. Tradition claims that the town was originally called Slovenian (after the name of the founder). The current name of the settlement appeared much later. The first mention of him was found in chronicles.
Then these lands were owned by the VarangianPrince Truvor, who was the younger brother of the legendary Rurik. On the territory of ancient Izborsk, the Truvorovo settlement has been preserved. The ancient village spreads out on a small spiky plateau, abruptly ending above the Gorodishchenskoye Lake.
Through the water system connected with the city, in ancient times, a trade route was laid, requiring protection. For its safety, the townspeople built outposts on the banks of the Obdeh River. In the 10th century, Izborsk began to lose ground. The status of a shopping center is gradually moving to Pskov.
However, the military importance is still huge. Its historical past is closely intertwined with the Novgorod-Pskov lands. In the XIV century, the city was surrounded by powerful fortified walls. The fortress never fell under the onslaught of the Livonian knights.
To date, the ancient town has been transformed into a village, where the sights of Pskov have been preserved, photos and descriptions of which contain multiple sources. Tourists are interested in the not too damaged fortress, they go to the Slovenian springs and Truvorovo settlement.
Construction of the Izborsk fortress
It is natural that a new city was founded on Zheravya Hill. During the siege period, all the inhabitants did not fit in the fortress of Izborsk. The attacks of the Livonian knights did not stop. The activities of the Livonian Order foreshadowed new battles, victory in which meant one thing - the independence of the Russian lands. The problem of building powerful fortifications was acute.
Pskovites and Izboryans fortified the city with native stone. Fortress built from limestone slabs formed inPaleozoic era, was an impressive sight. After all, local limestones of dark gray shades are not porous and loose, but dolomitic and excessively dense.
The new defensive line, as well as the outpost of Truvorov settlement, was built for reasons of advantageous location - on a high, flat mountain plateau. On the northern, southern and eastern side, the ancient fortress turned out to be impregnable due to natural steep cliffs formed by dolomite slabs and a huge ravine. Picturesque panoramic views open up from the tall cape that cuts into the coast of the Smolka River and hangs over the Izborsk Basin.
Before the construction of fortifications on the plateau, they marked out their layout. The fortress walls grew along the edge of the mountain plateau, above the very cliff. The natural foundation of powerful rocks made it possible to build incredibly high walls. The convex fortification exactly repeated the local relief, enclosing the area of maximum size. The besieged fortress, the photo of which is striking in its beauty, accommodated not only the townspeople, but also the population of the surrounding villages.
Fortification transformation
In the middle of the XIV century, the fortification was an imposing outpost. A triangular plateau along the entire perimeter was protected by gigantic stone walls. In the 15th century, the building underwent significant reconstruction. The restructuring was due to firearms, which did not exist until then, replaced by the tactics of sieges and defensive actions.
First of all, the towers were transformed, where they placed the innovations of military equipment. Thenadditionally strengthened the northern side. However, these alterations did not make significant changes to the original appearance of the structure.
The fortress looks like an indestructible colossus. Photos of her are presented in our article. From the place where the Truvorovo settlement was spread, the outpost seemed to have grown out of a gigantic rock, becoming its integral continuation.
Chronicles reflect the great importance of this defensive structure. They describe a vivid episode. The clergy made a religious procession along the "wall place". Near the towers and gates, they celebrated prayers. So confessors consecrated the city, a fortress that saved a piece of Russian land from enemies.
Description of the fortress
The majestic Izborsk fortress, erected on the top of Zheravya Hill, resembles a triangle with rounded corners. Two steep cliffs and specially dug ditches make it impregnable. The grandiose limestone walls are 623 meters long, varying in height between 7-10 meters and 4 meters thick.
This fortification was originally a perfection that did not require rebuilding. Only minor adjustments were made to it, allowing the introduction of technical and military innovations that appear in a given century. The fortress, which is now part of the sights of Pskov, photos and descriptions of which are quite accessible, developed and changed as the ancient town grew.
Fortifications
They get into the fortress by overcoming the Nikolsky zakhab - a narrowed long corridor, which is equipped with the southern wall. The first thing that appears before visitors is the Church of St. Nicholas, crowned with a silver dome. In ancient times, the locals called the settlement "The City of St. Nicholas", and the cathedral was called "his home". Giving thus special significance to St. Nicholas Church.
Besides it, the Izborsk fortress has a lot of other significant structures. The map clearly indicates the location of each of them.
Lukovka Tower
Kukovka (and Lukovka has such a name) is the most mysterious tower. This is the only tower structure embedded inside a thick fortress fence. The tower has survived from the time when the Izborsk fortress was a wooden outpost.
Much later, it becomes literally a "fortress within a fortress". She was assigned the role of the last refuge, if the enemy takes possession of the main defensive structure. At the bottom of Lukovka, an arched opening was created, which once acted as an arsenal - a powder store.
Besides this, she was assigned the function of a sentinel post. The top of Kukovka is equipped with an observation deck, from where panoramic pictures of the immediate surroundings open. Lukovka, having undergone multiple reconstructions, has lost its original internal appearance, created in antiquity. But the panoramas remained almost the same.
Talav Tower
Talavskaya tower is a rectangular structure, adjacent to the zakhab of the same name, which in the old days bore the terrible name “corridor of death”. The entrance and exit of the passage closed the gate. The enemy, having overcome the outer gate, fellinto a narrow trap in which inevitable defeat overtook him.
Ryabinovka and Temnushka towers
Ryabinovka is a hexagonal fortification of a frightening appearance. Temnushka is similar in silhouette to Ryabinovka. Both towers took the main enemy attack from the west. Namely, from here, as it seemed to the enemy, from the most accessible side, it is necessary to attack the gigantic fortress.
Bell tower
Traditional fortification dating back to the early gunnery era, represented by the Bell Tower. The building was equipped with an alarm bell, which announced the arrival of "uninvited guests" - enemy troops. The continuous hum emitted by the bell reached Pskov.
Tower
And of course, the Izborsk fortress is equipped with a tall tower. The tower is an overview post. Its top was once crowned with a caretaker, assembled from wood and consisting of two tiers. Practically close to the Tower of stones, a cross was laid out - the inspirer of the soldiers of the outpost and intimidation for the enemy.
Zahaby
Narrow corridors-passages - Nikolsky and Talavsky - were excellent obstacles for the penetration of enemy forces through the outer gates into the fortress yard. In addition, they played the role of a dangerous trap. Locking the enemy in a tiny space from which there was no way out, they led to the inevitable death of the invaders.
Temple Buildings
In the icon case of the Korsun chapel, the name of the creator of the building, the architect-artist A. I. Vladovkago, is inscribed in Old Slavonic. And on the spotof the burnt wooden cathedral of Sergius of Radonezh, the temple complex of Sergius and Nikander was rebuilt. It just so happened that the new ensemble was taken outside the fortress.
Sights of the Truvor settlement
The ancient settlement is named after Prince Truvor, who rules the Izborsk lands. The first defensive structure, surrounded by ravines, which ceased to meet the requirements of wartime, was transferred to the neighboring rock - Zheravya Gora. An ancient cemetery has been preserved in the place of the ancient outpost.
Truvorovo cemetery
At the end of the gloomy ancient necropolis rises a huge cross built of stone. Its surface is inscribed with writings that have been practically erased under the influence of time. The Izborsk fortress is amazing, its history is overgrown with not unfounded myths. In particular, there are two legends about the cross that have the right to exist.
One claims that the cross is an attribute of an ancient outpost, the first settlement that laid the foundation for the defense of Russia. According to another legend, the cross was erected on the grave of Prince Truvor, whose body was lowered for rest to a depth of more than two meters.
In a word, a giant stone pedestal is the keeper of the secrets of the fortress, the roots of which are put down in antiquity. Next to the monument are old slabs, dotted with incomprehensible geometric ornaments. There is an assumption that military graves are hidden under the "Babylons".
Temple in the Truvor settlement
There is a hill near the cemetery, the top of which is crowned with a churchNicholas the Wonderworker. The sight of its white-stone walls, dotted with black crosses, is frightening, especially in thick twilight. Initially, a wooden church stood on this site, which was later replaced by a stone church. A few steps from the sanctuary, a huge stone was erected - a symbol of a truce with the Estonians.
River of Life
In the bottom of the hill, in the place where the border of the Truvorov settlement merges with the foot of the Zheravya mountain, from a cliff formed by dense limestone, a lot of thousand-year-old Slovenian springs beat. They, merging with each other, formed a sonorous stream, nicknamed the "River of Life".
The crystal waters of the stream are rapidly rushing to the Gorodishchenskoye Lake. From time immemorial, the waters of the springs have been credited with miraculous abilities, the possession of a holy healing power. The keys are formed by twelve jets, which are given the names of the months.
