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Pskov environs
The first mention the city with this name dates from 903: according the chronicles princess Olga was from Pskov by origin. The city was founded with the aim to protect Russian borders from foreigners in the junction of two rivers: the Great and the Pskov, and already in 1036 after the disintegration of Kiev Russian it became the part of Novgorod lands; Pskov got free from this dependence in 1348, having become the independent State Republic.
In the same period the first stone temples appears in the city. Pskov becomes the most powerful fortress in Russia of that time. However after building St. Petersburg by Peter I, the city lost its economic status: Now all goods are transported through the southern capital of Russia, and in Pskov at this time flax is cultivated. Another historical event is connected with the name of the great Russian poet A.S. Pushkin. The poems “Gipsy” and “Earl Nulin” and also several tens rhymes were written in this period under the strict supervision of his father Sergey Lvovich and the superior of the Svyatogorsk monastery. On February, 1837 the poet died, the body of murdered Pushkin was buried at the wall of the Svyatogorsk monastery.
The imperial train, in which Nicholay II with signed the abdication in favour of his brother, prince Michael, who declared that he would take up the throne only according to the sanction of Constituent Assembly. Now in the stations of Pskov one can see the photos of this event. The memorable plate is also placed here.
The main sight of the city is the Krom or the Kremlin, which is seen from all places of Pskov in the distance of 30-40 km. Craftsmen and merchants settled here in so called posad in VIII century. The first market square with the church of saint Basil and fortifications in the form of stone walls appeared in X century. Another one was built by prince Dovmont in 1266, thus the territory, which it encircled, get the name Dovmontov city. It became quite independent settlement, bordered on Krom. At the time of prince Dovmont’s government church, manufacturing and merchants’ associations are concentrated here. But in the first place Dovmontov city has become the center of Pskov church life, 19 churches numbered here (XIII century).
Every temple had its own graveyard with fence and gates. Prince’s court settled in the western part of the city, the south-west belonged to ordinary people. At the same time stone buildings are situated near wood buildings, bordering with them very close. At that time in the city there are only two side-streets and very many alleys. Now one can judge buildings of the city only by the archaeological excavations and the extant drawings. Nevertheless the history has kept two-three architectural monuments. One of them – the Departmental Cambers, built in 1695. First boyars sat in the chambers of the second floor, and in XVII there are various city departments here, now the monument has got the status of museum.
The southern wall of the Dovmontova fortress wasn’ kept, and in the Vlasievskaya tower there is a restaurant, from which the wonderful panorama of the city opens, and from the northern windows the Krom and Dovmontov city, from which on can go to the gates of the Krom, having the name Persi, are seen. It is considered to be the first construction of Pskov, which was kept by our time in reductive form: the decorative composition in commemoration of the victory of Alexander Nevsky at Chudskoe lake in 1242, executed by Pskov architecture V.P. Smirnov, is placed in the place of the tower with a bell, existed in former times. The gates lead to the Troizky cathedral. Before this construction was the main public building of the city. Here ambassadors of foreign countries are received, the popular assemble sat, the city treasury was kept, buried defenders of the city, acts of the state significance was kept. The modern building is the forth in succession. The first three buildings were destroyed and burned, as they were built of wood. The last five-headed, was erected in 1682-1699. Its walls are decorated by pilasters.
The windows are bow, the lower deck consists of jambs in Baroque taste, the upper deck is decorated with refined lace ornament. The inner interiors of the building strikes by abundance of light. The large seven-tier gilt iconostasis, created in 12-13 centuries, is situated in the centre. In the cathedral “Olga’s cross”, made in 1623 in the image and likeness of more ancient, raised, according to the legend, by princess Olga and burned, Chirskaya and Tihvinskaya icons of God’s Mother, the images of Saint prince Vsevolod-Gabriel and Saint Nicholas Wonder-worker. Besides that, relics of prince Dovmont, blessed Nicholas Salos, who, according to the legend, salvaged the city from the devastation, which Ivan the Terrible wanted to commit. The northern wall of the Krom ends with the sight tower, built in 1400 and called Kutii Koster or Kutikrom (from “kut” – corner and “koster” – tower). From it the slope leads to the gallery with wooden roof, serving as battle passage in former times. It ends at the Pskovskaya tower, built in 16 century in the mouth of the Pskov river.
The magnificent view of the surroundings opens also from here. Another one – High - raises opposite the tower, in the east there is Medium, and the bell tower of the Troizky cathedral, having the arched overhead covers below, the wooden dais in the upper deck and embrasure for fight, was built in the south. Having passed the suburbs of Dovmontov city and the Krom, tourists find themselves in Lenin Square, where the church of archangels Michael and Gabriel is situated. It is the first stone erection in the posad, the laying of which was flagged by old technology with using of limestone flag on sand-lime mortar. The construction of the temple has kept the apse, four columns and arch of the first edifices. This church is also called in honour of Michael Archangel on Gorodets. In ancient time gorodets was the knoll on bog. Probably this erection also stood on bog in former times.
On the territory of Children park, situated hereabout there are three ancient erections: the Church of Nicola on Usoha, Basil on Hillock and the Temple of Odigitria. The first church at the end of 14 century was the erection, first in size in Pskov. Paper work of the veche, valuable property and ammunition had been kept here. The Church of Basil on Hillock was built in 1413 on the eminence, owing to which it became the strategic point during the defence of the city. The bell, which called people in hour of need, was hanged on the bell tower for this purpose. It is the only extant architectural monument of 15 century. Near it there is the Church of Anastasia the Roman. It was built in 1488 as wooden “one-day”, i.e. for one day. Later this erection became stone, but already in 1539 it burnt. Rebuilt again, it became one of the most beautiful churches of Pskov. One can see the Governor’s House in several meters from this church. Built at the end of 18 century by land-owning lady Valueva, it was sold to Pskov governor in the same century. The Church New Ascension is situated in Nekrasov street. The Maidenly convent was built in 14 century, however the modern view of the building was kept as rebuilding of 15 century, having the bell tower and the western vestibule. Near the church there are civil edifices – Menshikov’s Chamber, the ensemble of which consists of two houses of Sutotskoi, Jacovlev’s and Marina Mnishek’s houses. The first House of Sutotskoi, last owner of the building, was built in the first half of 17 century, represents three-storied erection with arched overhead cover of the apartments. The massive walls and the porch with the groined vaults, which lean on the tubby columns have been kept. The second Chambers, called the House of Jacovlev in name of last owner, were erected by the order of one of the members of Menshikov Family.
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