The city of Ples in the Ivanovo region. History and sights

On the picturesque banks of the great Russian river Volga there are many settlements. The city of Ples takes a special place among them. Every year thousands of tourists come to rest and admire the unique beauty of the local nature, among which there are often writers, artists, filmmakers.

What is so attractive about these places? About the history of Plyos, its sights, about the celebrities who lived and worked here, and much more will be told in this article.

Geographical location and population of the city

The city of Ples is in the north of the Ivanovo region and is part of the Volga region. It is a tourist pearl of the local places, included in the Golden Ring of Russia. From Moscow, Ples separates 370 km, and from the regional center of Ivanovo - 70 km. This small resort town is located on the right Volga coast. The river here spills on width from 680 to 700 m, the depth of the channel is about 15 m. The highest point of the city is 54 m above the Volga level.

The largest population in Plyos was recorded in the 60-80s of the last century. After that, there was a gradual decline. Currently in the town there are only about 2000 permanent residents. There are no industrial enterprises here, it is a purely resort city, in which the greatest revival is observed in the summer months.

Pages of the history of the settlement of Plesk

The city of Ples has been officially dating from 1410 onwards. It was then that one of the sons of Dmitry Donskoy - Vasily, who reigned in Muscovy - founded a wooden military fortress on the bank of the Volga, in the place of the present resort town, whose purpose was to guard the approaches to Moscow and the cities of the Volga.

But the history of the settlement began much earlier than this date. Folk legends tell us that long before the fortress was built there was an ancient fortress called Chuville, destroyed by the hordes of Khan Baty in the 13th century. Archaeological excavations confirm this data.

For many years, the city of Ples stayed at the heart of numerous military events. Closer to the XVIII century. The situation became more calm, and this place ceased to carry the function of a fortified military facility. Ruined wooden fortresses did not begin to restore, and in their place were built a majestic stone Orthodox cathedral and several stone buildings.

Thanks to the convenient economic location of the city, trade and production began to develop actively. The population was engaged in fishing, weaving, melting along the river of the forest. Before the opening of the Ivanovo-Kineshma railway in 1871, Ples served as the main port on the Volga for the whole region. Gradually, the development of production and trade in the local places is quieted down, and the town turns into a summer-resort zone for wealthy gentlemen.

Origin of the name of the city

A single opinion of why the place was called Plyos does not exist. Some historians and local historians are inclined to the version that the city owes its name to its geographical position: in this place the Volga flows straight for many kilometers and does not make turns. Such river areas since ancient times were called stretches. Another version says that the word "ples" means a sandy beach.

Pleskaya resort area

What first of all I want to say about the city of Ples? Ivanovo region can be proud of the fact that on its territory there is such a reserved resort area. Tourists have the opportunity to come here not only in the summer months, but also in the winter. In summer you can swim, sunbathe, collect mushrooms and berries, enjoy the beautiful Volga landscapes, well, in the winter, lovers of alpine skiing come here. In recent years in Plyos much attention is paid to the construction of ski slopes.

From December to March, tourists take the modern sports complex "Sweet Mountain". Here you can not only ski from the mountains, but also engage in snowboarding, as well as skating, sledging and airplanes. In the city there are several well-equipped recreation centers: the sanatorium "Actor-Ples" (formerly WTO), the hotel "Fortecia Rus", several comfortable boarding houses.

Ples: attractions

Among the many attractions of this town, it is necessary to highlight the Levitan Museum. It is located in a house in which the great Russian landscape painter lived for many years. Connoisseurs of beauty can see here the best paintings of the painter. Also, tourists are usually offered to make excursions to the Museum of the Landscape and the Museum of the Old Russian Hut.

In addition, every guest of the city needs to climb to the mountain of Levitan, from where a wonderful view opens up to the Volga expanses. On this mountain once the artist wrote his famous painting "Above Eternal Peace" and many other landscapes. It is necessary to say that artists now like to come to rest and work in Ples. The city's day is celebrated every year on 14 July. This event became famous all over Russia in that it hosts the fashion festival "Linen Palette", in which the best young fashion designers of the country take part.