Annensky fortifications of Vyborg are located on the island of Tverdysh. They were built for preventive purposes - for defense in the event of an attack by the Swedes. The expansion never happened, the military bastion today serves as a unique piece of military architecture that has never tested its combat power.
History of Creation
Annensky fortifications are a complex of bastions, earthen ramparts, ditches, curtains, designed not to let the enemy pass to Vyborg and capable of withstanding both a massive attack and a long military siege. The construction of buildings began during the reign of Empress Anna Ioannovna. They are named after her, in addition, there are several other names for these structures: Kron-St. Anna, Annenkron, St. Anna's fortress.
The history of the Annensky fortifications in Vyborg began in 1710, when Tsar Peter I conquered the fortress from the Swedes. Being a strategically important military facility, it remained desirable for the defeated side. At the time of the transition under Russian rule, high-quality defensive fortifications were located only on the Russian side, in the Swedishdirection the fortress remained vulnerable. It was decided to fill the gap by building a military complex on the northern and northwestern sides of Vyborg.
The project of the Annensky fortifications was developed by Major General de Coulomb. In 1731, under his leadership, construction work began. After his death, Field Marshal and Lieutenant General Count Christopher Munnich continued the work. More than 2 thousand people took part in the work, about 200 carts were involved.
Formidable Defense Complex
If we consider the Annensky fortifications on a map or from a bird's eye view, then their outline will look like a crown, so one of the names - The Crown of St. board of which the fortifications were completed. The bastion complex included the main and auxiliary structures. 16 residential quarters, warehouses for rifles and artillery pieces, powder stores, a arsenal, three shops, guardhouses, a smithy, a stable and much more were built.
In the entire history of the existence of the Annensky fortifications, they have never been used for their intended purpose, but were constantly maintained in working order. The premises were repaired, restored, there was a military garrison. Often there were fires on the territory, the largest one occurred in 1793, after which the buildings were put in order, but already in 1865 the complex lost itsstrategic value.
Description
Annensky fortifications stretched from the Vyborg Bay to the Protective Bay and consist of four powerful bastions connected by man-made curtains, earthen ramparts, ditches and fortress walls. The embankments are up to 10 meters high and 3 meters thick. Bastions and curtain walls are based on carefully laid granite boulders. The length of the complex is about 1 kilometer.
Passage to the territory of the Annensky fortifications was possible through the Friedrichsgam gate, during the construction the road leading through this entrance went to the city of Friedrichsgam in Finland, now the city is called Hamina. The second gate - Ravelin - is not active now, on one side it is blocked.
The last surge of attention to the defensive complex of Vyborg on the part of roy alty occurred in 1910. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the capture of Vyborg by Peter I, an obelisk to the fallen soldiers and a monument to the tsar were erected in the fortress. In 1918, the Finns threw him off. The monument to Peter I was restored after the war, and the stele had to be made anew. A copy of the historical monument was installed only in 1994. In 2010, another monument appeared in Annenkron - to Admiral General F. Apraksin, in honor of the 300th anniversary of the conquest of the fortress.
Current State
Today, the Annensky fortifications are a landmark of the Leningrad region and Vyborg, but there is no official museum here. The defense complex has been preserved intact since its construction, but time has caused it somedamage. As before, Annenkron is entered through the Friedrichsgam Gate, located on the central road of the complex. Walking along it is interesting: firstly, the cobblestone pavement, laid out during the construction of the fortress, has been preserved, and secondly, the building of the Guardhouse is located next to the entrance.
Cordegardia is the only surviving historical typical building of 1776 on the territory of the Leningrad Region, it is an architectural monument. The first restoration took place in 1984. In 2013, the historical site was badly damaged by a fire, work on its restoration has not yet been carried out, and no measures have been taken to conserve the building.
As local residents have observed, little has been done to preserve the fortifications, but the complex is maintained in relatively good condition. In 2016, the city authorities of Vyborg developed and adopted a concept for the restoration of the architectural heritage, taking into account the fact that the city is a historical settlement. Funding for the implementation of the work is allocated from the federal and city budgets, but it is not known whether the upcoming restoration of Annenkron is included in the scope.
Good intentions
In 2017, Vladimir Tsoi, director of the Vyborg Castle Museum, held a press conference. During the conversation with journalists, they discussed the question of whether the Annensky fortifications in Vyborg will be restored. According to the official, the building of the guardhouse was included in the restoration plans, where the Annenkrone Museum will be located after the restoration.
How implementation is progressingof this project is still unknown, the Annensky fortifications are not included in the structure of the Vyborg Museum-Reserve, moreover, this object of cultural and architectural heritage is not a monument, according to existing documents.
Non-military shots
The Fortress of St. Anne has never been shelled, no shots were fired at the advancing enemy from its territory, but a gloomy story happened here too. Annensky fortifications in 1918 became the place of execution of innocent people. The executions were carried out by the White Finns. For a long time, the tragedy was presented as a struggle between the Finnish government and Bolshevism, but the information collected indicates that the killings were carried out along ethnic lines - Russians were killed.
Mannerheim's army captured Vyborg on April 29, many opponents of the Bolshevik revolution took to the streets to meet the White Finns as liberators. The reality turned out to be horrifying - all Russians were grabbed on the streets of the city and led to execution. No one could avoid the fate, they took prisoner high school students, former officers of the tsarist army, officials, scientists - everyone who was found.
The most massive execution took place near the Friedrichsgam Gate on the Annen fortifications. The number of victims is estimated at 400 people, among them were priests, women, children. Also, the victims were people who were accidentally mistaken for Russians. Poles, Jews, Italians, Tatars died in Annenkron. The execution took place on April 29-30, the invaders forbade funerals, permission for burial was given onlyMay 2. In other parts of the city, executions continued until June 16.
In memory of the dramatic event, a monument was erected in the Soviet era at the site of the mass grave, in which the remains of more than 1000 victims of repressions are buried. It can be seen if you enter Vyborg along the Scandinavia highway. The place of executions near the Friedrichsham Gate on the Annensky fortifications, on the private initiative of the seeker of antiquities V. Dudolaev, was marked with a cross in 2013. Now there is a stone memorial sign dedicated to the memory of all the innocently killed who died at the hands of the Finnish rangers on April 29, 1918.
Reviews
Vyborg is a city where many tourists flock to see local attractions. Some of them fall on the Annensky fortifications. There are no tours focused only on this object of historical military architecture. In most cases, a visit to the fortifications "Crown of St. Anne" is included in some other excursion, very little time is devoted to exploring these unique fortifications.
Tourists note that it would be interesting to learn more about Annenkron, but the complex is in disrepair, like most of the historical monuments of Vyborg. In this assessment, all visitors to the city are unanimous: it is urgently necessary to take measures to save the heritage, and now many believe that some of the buildings cannot be saved.
Note
Annensky fortifications arenot far from the Vyborg Castle and Mon Repos Park - two of the most favorite places for tourists. Today, jousting tournaments and festivals organized by various clubs of reenactors are often held on the territory of the Annenkron complex, and the city authorities organize folk festivals here. The complex is located at the address: Vyborg city, Tverdysh island.
Residents hope that these buildings will be carefully restored and included in the list of cultural and historical heritage.
