The great fortress of Russia - the list

For centuries, the Russian border many times was exposed to changes due to various wars, invasions and other historical events. One of the most important tasks of Russia at all times was the protection of its borders. Especially in the North-West, where there was constant threat from Lithuania and Sweden, which many times experienced the boundaries of the Russian state strength. In this regard, in the middle ages built strong defenses, which created a strong shield against enemies on the borders of our state. Many of the great fortresses of Russia are well preserved in all day, many – partially preserved, some – completely destroyed or for other reasons, erased from the face of the earth over time. In this article we will focus on the greatest specimens of ancient architecture which can be seen in our days.

Heritage of past eras

Most of the defensive structures on the territory of our country was erected in the middle Ages. However, there are earlier and later fortresses of Russia, who performed a very important function in the life of the country. They, of course, do not carry have no protective functions, and are monuments of architecture and cultural heritage, because it is a reflection of the heroic past of the Russian people. Most of the following buildings – the military fortress of Russia, but among them there is also a monastery-fortresses, and other priceless masterpieces of ancient architecture of centuries past. The territory of our country is really huge, and there are indeed a large number of different fortifications. It is necessary to highlight the most strategically important and famous fortresses of Russia. The list is as follows:

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1. Staraya Ladoga fortress.

2. The Castle Nut.

3. Ivangorod fortress.

4. Koporye fortress.

5. Pskov fortress.

6. The Izborsk fortress.

7. Porkhovskaya fortress.

8. Novgorod fortress.

9. Kronstadt fortress.

10. The Moscow Kremlin.

For More details about each of them is written below.

Staraya Ladoga fortress

To Start a list is with her, as in Staraya Ladoga, also called “the ancient capital of Northern Russia”, in the IX century was built by the Vikings the first fortress in Russia. Important point: it was the first stone fortress on the territory of Ancient Russia. However, it was destroyed by the Swedes, and in the XII century it was erected again, and in the XVI century was rebuilt. In later centuries it fell into disrepair and crumbled to the present day preserved only part of the walls, two towers and a Church.

Cookie, or Shlisselburg, Noteburg or

So many names, this fortress of Russia, which is also located on the territory of present Leningrad region. It was founded in 1352, the remains of the first wall of boulders is still located in the centre of a more modern fortress. In the XV - XVI centuries, was rebuilt and became the classic example of a fortress, designed for perimeter defense. In the XVII century belonged to Sweden, until it was recaptured by Peter I. From the XVIII century fortress became a prison where they send members of the Royal family, favourites, the dissenters, the Decembrists, and many others. During the siege of Leningrad, the Germans failed to take it. At the moment there is lots of Museum pieces that belonged to at the time, prisoners of these walls.

The Power of Ivangorod

In 1492, on the river Narva on the Maiden's grief was laid the Foundation of this city-fortress of Russia and named after the great Russian Prince. The Ivangorod fortress was constructed in just seven weeks-an incredible speed for the time. Originally square with four towers, it was completed and expanded in the XV-XVI centuries. It was a strategically important center of Russia, which controlled the boats on the river and the Baltic sea. A monument of military engineering art is very well preserved till our days, despite damage during the great Patriotic war.

Ancient Koporye

First mentioned in Chronicles in 1240 as a fortress, which laid the crusaders. They had retreated through the army of Alexander Nevsky, under the son which in 1297 Koporye fortress was constructed. In the XVI century it was completely rebuilt. In the XVII century it, like some of the other fortresses of the North-West of Russia, was ceded to the Swedes, and only in 1703 was it possible to recapture. Some time it was a military and administrative center of the Ingermanland province (the first province of Russia). To the present day preserved only fragments of walls and 4 towers, but it's remarkably preserved underground passages. In the Koporye is “Europe” – the erratic boulder, one of the largest of the existing.

Great Pskov

It was the first fortress city in the North-Western border of Russia. In the annals mentioned the year 903. And from 1348 to 1510 he was the center of the Pskov Veche Republic – a small boyar state. In the center of the ensemble of the Pskov fortress was Krom (Kremlin), built in 1337 on a promontory at the confluence of two rivers, inside of which were: Trinity Cathedral, controls, Treasury, archive, there, held court, collected the chamber and stored weapons and supplies. A second line of fortifications – Dovmontov city – was builtin the XIV-XV centuries. South Dolmatova city was built another wall, and in the resulting so-called wall was in the market-place. In 1374 – 75. the town was surrounded by another wall – the Average city.

The defense of the city consisted of four belts of stone fortifications. The total length of the walls were 9.5 km long which were located 40 towers. In times of sieges and of battles on the walls of this fortress Russia fought even women. Basically the city of Ancient Rus was made of wood, Pskov the same since the XII century was built the stone temples, many of which exist to this day.

The Pskovo-Pechersk monastery is unique in its fortress ensemble, its center is between the hills and the edges are hidden ravines. Despite the fact that the monastery did not fulfill that military function, he was able to withstand the attack of the Swedes. In addition to the ground part with the usual churches and outbuildings, this monastery is a cave Church-assumption. It appeared in 1473, at the same time and consecrated the monastery. At the moment the monastery is open to the public.

One of the first

In the Pskov region is Izborsk, which was one of the first cities in Russia and is listed in the Chronicles from 862. In the year 1330 was built a stone fortress which in its history it was several times rebuilt and altered, and the fragments of which have survived to this day, though, and thoroughly ravaged. Length of walls was about 850 meters. In the XIV century, one of the participants of the siege of Izborsk dubbed “the iron hail”, and until the great Patriotic war, the fortress so no one could take. In our days is the festival of military-historical reconstruction called “steel town". Almost from under the walls of this fortress Russia hit the keys, the water from which is considered healing, and in the spring they become whole waterfalls flowing into the lake.

Small Porkhov

Another of the fortresses of Pskov region – Porkhovskaya. Relatively small, it had only three towers, the Church and the bell tower. It was founded in 1387, and later rebuilt, like many other ancient fortresses of Russia. The city of Porkhov, according to the Chronicles, was founded during the reign of Alexander Nevsky to cover the waterways from Pskov to Novgorod. Under Catherine II in the walls of the fortress laid out the Botanical gardens. In its place now is a small cozy area where medicinal plants grow, but inside the fortress is a Museum and post office. The city of Porkhov interesting a large number of other monuments, such as merchants ' houses, historic mansions and unusual churches.

The Citadel of Novgorod the Great

One of the largest and richest cities in Russia of the XI-XV centuries – Novgorod. With 1136 in the year 1478, he was the center of the Novgorod Republic after it joined the Moscow Principality. Located on the banks of the Volkhov river near lake Ilmen. In the city center with 1333 there was a wooden Detinets (the Kremlin) which later was burned. At the end of the XV century was rebuilt in stone already. At the moment the whole stunning architectural ensemble of the Kremlin is a UNESCO world heritage site. The complex consisted of twelve towers (round and square), and the length of the wall was over a mile away. Many of the fortifications, unfortunately, has not survived to our days.

Recent history of Russia

The Kronstadt fortress belongs to a later epoch in the history of the country than the above-mentioned fortress of Russia. The city-fortress of Kronstadt, located on Kotlin island, on the periphery of which there are many FORTS complex is the largest fortification of Europe and is also a UNESCO monument. Despite this, many of the fortifications today are in very poor condition. FORTS “Grand Duke Constantine”, “the Kronshlot”, “Constantine,” and “Emperor Alexander I of Russia” are currently the most accessible and visited. In Kronstadt is also quite a lot of old and interesting buildings: the Palace, Gostiny Dvor, the complex of the Admiralty, Tolbukhin lighthouse, Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas and many others.

The main

In different periods of the history of our country's strength played an important, if not decisive, role. Today we can say that such is the function of the Moscow Kremlin. This is the main fortress of Russia located on the banks of the Moskva river on Borovitsky hill. Still in 1156, this place was built the first wooden fortifications, which in the XIV century was replaced with a stone (used the local white stone). It is believed that this is why Moscow was called the white stone. However, this material though, and withstood many enemy attacks, but were short-lived.

During the reign of Ivan III began the rebuilding of the Kremlin. Constructed palaces, churches and other buildings invited Italian masters. In the sixteenth century continued building new churches: the Cathedral of the ascension monastery, the Cathedral of the Chudov monastery and others. In parallel, we built new walls and towers of the Moscow Kremlin, and the area of the fortress was increased. During the reign of Peter I, when Moscow ceased to be a Royal residence, and a large fire in 1701 took out a lot of wooden buildings was prohibited inside the Kremlinto build the wooden structure. Then began the construction of the Arsenal.

Later the Kremlin was repeatedly rebuilt and reconstructed, and a single architectural ensemble appeared in 1797. In 1812, Napoleon entered Moscow and the Kremlin, respectively, and when he left his wall through a secret passage, ordered to blow up all the buildings. Fortunately, most of the buildings survived, but still the damage was significant. For 20 years, was able to reconstruct, to reconstruct and to eliminate traces of the explosions.

Later, the Moscow Kremlin many times has undergone numerous changes, most of its architectural ensemble have suffered during the Bolsheviks came to power. Included in the list of UNESCO world heritage site since 1990, and in 1991 became the residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Since that time, periodically restaurerede. More than 2 km-the length of the Kremlin walls, along them is 20 towers. Churches and cathedrals: Archangel, Annunciation, assumption, Verkhospassky and others. There is a Large Kremlin Palace, Golden tsarina's chamber, the Arsenal, the Armoury and other buildings. Four square, garden and Park, as well as two of the monument-the Tsar cannon and the Tsar bell, and many other buildings located on the territory of this important historical, artistic, social, and political complex of our country.