The city of Smolensk is surrounded by fortress walls with towers. Often this defensive structure of medieval Russia is called the Smolensk Kremlin, the "Necklace of the Russian Land." Only half of the built fortification has survived to this day, but this fact only adds to the charm of authenticity to the historical monument.
From history
During the time of Ivan the Terrible, a wooden fortress with an earthen rampart existed on this site. But with the development of artillery, wooden walls could not withstand the enemy as they used to.
Smolensk has always been an important stronghold of Russia and was often attacked by enemies, so the sovereigns always took care of its strengthening. By decree of Fyodor Ioannovich in 1595, they began to build with all the forces of the State of Moscow a stone fortification, which later became known as the Smolensk fortress, with defensive corner and intermediate towers.
For the first time in history, the labor of 30,000 hired workers was used in this grandiose construction. Led thishuge construction site Fedor Kon. Stone walls were erected for 6 years. Their height reached 18 m, thickness - 6 m. At that time, more powerful walls did not exist in Russia. The total length along the perimeter was 6.5 km. In addition to the walls, the towers of the Smolensk fortress were also built in the amount of 38 pieces. Basically, they were three-tiered, from 22 to 33 m high.
Towers of the Smolensk fortress
They occupy a special place in the Smolensk fortress. It is with the help of these structures that you can conduct:
- Observation.
- Longitudinal shelling.
- Gate protection.
- Shelter for troops, etc.
Interesting fact: the Smolensk fortress did not have a single identical tower. The height and shape of the towers depended on the relief and location. There were gates in 9 structures. The main driving tower is Frolovskaya. Through it it was possible to get to the capital of the Russian state. The second most important is the "Molokhovskaya" tower, it opened the way to Kyiv, Roslavl and others.
Other towers have been made simpler. 13 buildings were completely blind, having a rectangular shape, 7 towers were sixteen-sided and 9 were round.
Resilience and resistance of the Smolensk fortress
During the Russian-Polish war in the 18th century, the Smolensk fortress was repeatedly attacked, 4 towers were destroyed to the ground. No one could ever take her out of a fight right away. During this period, the fortress withstood 3 sieges with a total duration of more than three years. Officiallythe fortress as a fort-structure ceased to exist in 1786. All the artillerymen who served in it and their guns were distributed to other fortifications. But Napoleon again had to storm the Smolensk fortress and its gates in order to capture the city. The strong walls withstood the 2-day assault and artillery shelling of Napoleon's army in 1812. By the way, the walls (white stone details) were built from limestone, which was supplied by the Konobeevsky quarry for the construction of the quarry. The Smolensk fortress suffered greatly during the retreat of the French, it was badly destroyed. By order of Emperor Napoleon, all the towers of the fortress were mined. 9 towers were completely destroyed by explosions, and the rest were repulsed and cleared by the Cossack corps of ataman M. Platov.
Smolensk fortress in peacetime
Unfortunately, not only wars contributed to the destruction of the Smolensk fortress. After the war with Napoleon, in the years 1820-1830, the walls of the defensive structure, which were in poor condition, were dismantled into bricks to restore the city's buildings destroyed by the war.
In 1930, the Smolensk fortress was actively dismantled for building materials for Stalin's construction. In the years after the Great Patriotic War, the construction of the fortress helped restore the ruined city and its region.
Smolensk Fortress today
To this day, the total length of the Smolensk fortress has been preserved - 3.5 km, it includes 9 fragments of walls and 18 towers.
Smolensk fortress is an object of historicalcultural heritage of federal significance. Towers and fragments of walls are found in different parts of the city. The largest section of the wall, 1.5 km long, is located in the eastern part of Smolensk.
Many tourists are madly in love with the Smolensk fortress. Smolensk is an ancient city with many museums and architectural monuments.
The main historical monument serves as a museum, a meeting place and a favorite object for parkourers. For those who do not like independent excursions, it is advisable to visit the Thunder Tower, where concerts are often held with performances by rock stars, classics, etc.
A tourist can freely visit the stone relic, especially since a walk through the Smolensk fortress is a memorable event, in addition, you can look at the ancient city from a height, admire the Dnieper.
Pyatnitskaya Tower
This tower and the gate of the same name have been restored and ennobled. Once upon a time, it was possible to enter the city of Smolensk through the "Pyatnitsky" gates. In 1812, they, like other gates and towers that made up the Smolensk fortress, were blown up by the Napoleonic army. Later, the church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk was erected on this site. Today, in the "Pyatnitskaya" tower, a museum of "Russian vodka" is open, where everyone can taste the products of the local distillery and learn about some facts about the development of distillation in Russia.
Thunder Tower
One of the most beautiful towers "Necklaces of the EarthRussian" is "Thunder". She is also known by other names:
- "Round".
- "Topinskaya". Once there was a swamp in front of the tower, hence its name.
- "Tupinskaya". The tower forms an obtuse angle, perhaps giving it its name.
The first of the restored - "Thunder" tower of the Smolensk fortress was restored in its original form. Here you can see the unique interior of the tower, walk up the steep stairs and admire the wooden dome from the inside.
The second tier of the tower is occupied by an exposition that tells about the construction and heroic defense of the fortress. Visitors are given the opportunity to come into contact with authentic antiquities of the 16th and 17th centuries. Also in this place is exhibited a model of the Smolensk fortress - the original appearance of the Smolensk citadel with all the towers, loopholes, gates.
On the third tier of "Gromovaya" there is an exhibition "The Battle of Grunwald, 600 years later" with exhibits - reconstructions of armor and weapons of the soldiers of the Smolensk Principality, the Golden Horde, etc.
4th tier is an observation deck. Sometimes various demonstration performances of artists and concerts are held here. This is how the museum "Smolensk - the shield of Russia" looks like, located in the "Thunder" tower of the Smolensk fortress.
A tour of the Smolensk fortress should start from the Gromovaya tower, as historical reconstructions are often held here, where you can see wide feasts, people in medieval clothes and Lithuanian warriors.
