Pskov: sights of the ancient Russian city

At the confluence of two rivers - Pskov and Velikaya - lies the ancient Slavic city of Pskov. Its sights are known to people who are interested in the history of Russia, but for the general public this regional center is something like "terra incognita". But there is something to see: natural beauty, architectural monuments, religious relics - the tourist center of Pskov is in no way inferior to its neighbor Novgorod. And in antiquity, perhaps, and overtakes him. According to the discoveries of archaeologists, the first settlement on this site existed at the dawn of our era.

And this place was chosen by ancient people not accidentally: two rivers form a peninsula, and on the fourth side an impassable swamp, and also a ravine, previously stretched. It is clear that behind such natural shelters from external attacks people felt themselves in relative safety. The ancient settlement did not leave any traces, but the city of Pskov, whose sights have reached our days, was first mentioned in writing in 903, in connection with the marriage of Prince Igor of Kiev to the local native Olga.

However, the city existed even before the princely wedding, as evidenced by the sights of Pskov: the Kremlin and the rampart. Scientists believe that in the VIII century. The ravine was specially expanded, and the site was surrounded by a tall wooden palisade. Approximately at the beginning of the X century. The first Kremlin was built with stone walls and towers. Adopting Christianity, Olga found it necessary to build the first temple in her native land - the Holy Trinity.

First of all, it must be said that the Kremlin was not originally the residence of the ruler and the boyars, but the city itself. All the inhabitants had houses inside a vast ring of fortress walls, first wooden, and then stone ones. Since on a rich shopping center someone has always attempted, the townspeople built powerful walls, thick from two and a half to six meters, protecting Pskov. Sights of the city - the strengthening of the Kremlin - withstood not only the test of time, but also the siege of the troops of Batory, the Livonian Order, the Swedes.

The Trinity Cathedral was also preserved on the territory of the Kremlin. True, not in its original form. The X century temple was burned by fire, and the stone structure of the Smolensk "masters" of the 12th century collapsed. In 1365, it was rebuilt by local architects, but in 1699 the church was rebuilt in a new fashion. It is worth going inside and inspect the gilded carved iconostasis from the seven tiers of the XVIII century. But Pskov is not the only Kremlin. Attractions of the city are also located in Dovmontovy Posad. The Lithuanian prince Dovmont, who ruled here at the end of the 13th century, brought with him a German type of city structure: the landlord lives in the castle, and the mob lives separately. In this connection, all residents were evicted from the Kremlin I'm in the posad. Previously, in this small area there were about 18 churches!

In Dovmontovo city it is important not to miss the Chancellery (XVII century), in which the boyars once sat. Monuments of Pskov also include places of pilgrimage. Mirozhsky Savior-Transfiguration Monastery and is now operational. The community of monks protects the only frescos preserved in Russia, created around the XII century. There is also a female Snetogorsky monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city. It is located in a picturesque place on Mount Snyatnaya. From the monuments, do not miss on the streets of Pskov two monuments to Princess Olga, as well as an interesting sculptural group - A.S. Pushkin with his nanny Arina Rodionovna.