Over the centuries, the borders of Russia have undergone changes many times due to all kinds of 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 northwest, where there was a constant threat from Lithuania and Sweden, who many times tested the borders of the Russian state for strength. In this regard, in the Middle Ages, powerful defensive structures were built that created a strong shield from enemies on the borders of our state. Many of Russia's great fortresses were well preserved all day, many were partially preserved, some were completely destroyed or, for other reasons, were wiped off the face of the earth over time. This article will focus on the greatest examples of ancient architecture that can be seen today.
Legacy of past eras
Most of the defensive structures in our country were built precisely in the Middle Ages. However, there are both earlier and later fortresses of Russia, which performed very important functions in the life of the country. Of course, they no longer carry any protective functions, but are architectural monuments and cultural heritage, because they are a reflection of the heroic past of the Russian people. Most of the structures presented below are military fortresses of Russia, but among them there are also fortress monasteries and other valuable masterpieces of ancient architecture of past centuries. The territory of our country is truly huge, and it has a really large number of different defensive fortifications. It is worth highlighting the most strategically important and famous fortresses of Russia. The list is as follows:
1. Staroladozhskaya fortress.
2. Fortress Nut.
3. Ivangorod fortress.
4. Koporye fortress.
5. Pskov fortress.
6. Izborsk fortress.
7. Porkhovskaya fortress.
8. Novgorod fortress.
9. Kronstadt fortress.
10. The Moscow Kremlin.
More details about each of them are written below.
Old Ladoga Fortress
It’s worth starting the list with her, because in Staraya Ladoga, she is also called the “ancient capital of Northern Russia”, in the 9th century the Varangians built the first fortress in Russia. An important point: it was the first stone fortress in the territory of Ancient Russia. However, it was destroyed by the Swedes, and in the XII century. it was rebuilt, and in the XVI century. rebuilt. In later centuries, it fell into decay and collapsed, and only a part of the walls, two towers and a church have survived to this day.
Nutlet, or Shlisselburg, or Noteburg
There are so many names for this fortress of Russia, which is also located on the territory of the present Leningrad region. It was founded in 1352, the remains of the first wall of boulders are still in the center of a more modern fortress. In the XV - XVI centuries it was rebuilt and became an example of a classical fortress, designed for circular defense. In the XVII century it belonged to Sweden, until it was recaptured by Peter I. From the XVIII century the fortress became a prison where members of the royal family, favorites, schismatics, Decembrists and many others were sent. During the siege of Leningrad, the Germans could not take it. At the moment, there are many museum exhibits that belonged to the prisoners of these walls.
The power of Ivangorod
In 1492, the foundation of this fortified city of Russia was laid over the Narva River on Maiden’s Mountain and named after the great Russian prince. The Ivangorod fortress was built in just seven weeks - an inconceivable speed for that 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 ships on the river and access to the Baltic Sea. The monument of military engineering is very well preserved to our days, despite the damage during the Great Patriotic War.
Ancient Koporye
First mentioned in the annals of 1240 as a fortress, which was laid by the crusaders. They retreated thanks to the army of Alexander Nevsky, under whose son in 1297 the Koporsky fortress was completed. In the XVI century it was thoroughly rebuilt. In the XVII century, she, like some other fortresses in the north-west of Russia, was withdrawn by the Swedes, and only in 1703 she was recaptured. For some time it was the military administrative center of the Ingermanland province (the first province of Russia). Only fragments of walls and 4 towers have survived to this day, but at the same time underground passages have been remarkably preserved. In Koporye itself there is Rusich - a glacial boulder, one of the largest of the existing ones.
Great Pskov
It was the first fortress city on the northwestern border of Russia. In the annals mentioned since 903. And from 1348 to 1510 it 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 cape at the confluence of two rivers, inside of which there were: Trinity Cathedral, governing bodies, the treasury, and the archive, they adjudicated there, gathered veche and stored weapons and supplies. The second line of fortifications - Dovmontov city - was built in the XIV - XV centuries. Another wall was erected south of Dovmotnov, and Torgovishche was located in the so-called castle. In 1374 - 75 years. the city was surrounded by another wall - the Middle city.
The defense of the city consisted of four belts of stone fortifications. The total length of the walls was 9.5 km, over the entire length of which 40 towers were located. During sieges and battles, even women fought on the walls of this fortress of Russia. Mostly the cities of Ancient Rus were wooden, while Pskov was built up with stone churches since the 12th century, many of which still exist today.
The Pskov-Pechersky monastery is unique in its serf ensemble, its center is located between the hills, and the edges are hidden by ravines. Despite the fact that the monastery did not perform a military function, he was able to withstand the attack of the Swedes. In addition to the land part with the usual churches and outbuildings, this monastery also has a cave church - the Assumption. She appeared in 1473, at the same time they consecrated the monastery itself. 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 indicated in the annals from 862. In 1330, a stone fortress was erected, which has been several times completed and changed in its history, and fragments of which have survived to this day, although they were thoroughly destroyed by time. The length of the walls was about 850 meters. In the XIV century, one of the participants in the siege dubbed Izborsk an “iron city”, and until the Great Patriotic War no one could take the fortress. Today, a military-historical reconstruction festival called the Iron City is taking place in these places. Almost from under the walls of this fortress of Russia, keys are beaten, 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 the Pskov region is Porkhovskaya. Relatively small, it had only three towers, a church and a bell tower. It was laid in 1387, later it was completed, like many other ancient fortresses of Russia. The city of Porkhov, according to the annals, was founded during the reign of Alexander Nevsky to cover the waterway from Pskov to Novgorod. Under Catherine II, a botanical garden was laid in the walls of the fortress. In its place there is now a small cozy corner where medicinal plants grow, and inside the fortress there is a museum post. The city of Porkhov is interesting for a large number of other architectural monuments, such as merchant houses, historical estates and unusual temples.
Detinets of Veliky Novgorod
One of the largest and richest cities in Russia of the XI-XV centuries is Novgorod. From 1136 to 1478, it was the center of the Novgorod Republic, after which it joined the Moscow Principality. Located on the banks of the Volkhov River, near Lake Ilmen. Since 1333, the wooden Detinets (Kremlin) has been in the center of the city, which was later burned. At the end of the XV century it was erected again in stone form. At the moment, the entire stunning architectural ensemble of the Kremlin is a UNESCO monument. The complex consisted of twelve towers (round and square), and the length of the walls was more than one and a half kilometers. Many of the fortifications, unfortunately, have not survived to this day.
The latest history of Russia
The Kronstadt fortress belongs to a later era of the country's history than the above Russian fortresses. The fortified city of Kronstadt, located on the island of Kotlin, on the periphery of which there are numerous forts of the complex, is the largest fortification in Europe and is also a UNESCO monument. Despite this, many of the fortifications today are in very poor condition. The forts “Grand Duke Constantine”, “Kronshlot”, “Konstantin” and “Emperor Alexander I” are currently the most accessible and visited. Kronstadt also has a lot of old and interesting buildings: the palace, the Gostiny Dvor, the Admiralty complex, Tolbukhin Mayak, Nikolsky Sea Cathedral and many others.
