The city of Smolensk is surrounded by walls withtowers. Often, this defensive structure of medieval Russia is called the Smolensk Kremlin, the “Necklace of the Russian land”. Only half of the fortifications have reached our days, but this fact only adds authenticity to the historical monument.
At the time of Ivan the Terrible there was a wooden fortress with an earthen wall on this place. But with the development of artillery, wooden walls could not withstand the enemy, as it was before.
Smolensk has always been an important reference point of Russiaand was often attacked by enemies, so the sovereigns always took care to strengthen it. 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.
В этом грандиозном строительстве впервые в history used the work of 30 thousand wage workers. Supervised this huge construction 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 of the perimeter was 6.5 km. In addition to the walls, towers of the Smolensk fortress were built in the amount of 38 pieces. They were mostly three-tiered, with a height of 22 to 33 m.
They occupy a special place in the Smolensk fortress. It is with the help of these structures you can lead:
Interesting fact:Smolensk fortress did not have any of the same tower. The height and shape of the towers depended on the relief and location. In 9 designs there were gates. The main passing tower is Frolovskaya. Through it, one could get to the capital of the Russian state. The second in importance is the “Molokhovskaya” tower, it opened the road to Kiev, Roslavl, etc.
Other towers were made more simply. 13 buildings were completely deaf, having a rectangular shape, 7 towers were hexahedral and 9 - round.
За время русско-польской войны в 18-м веке Smolensk fortress was attacked several times, 4 towers were completely destroyed. She never once could not take immediately from the battlefield. The fortress during this period withstood 3 sieges with a total duration of more than three years. Officially, the fortress as a fort building ceased to exist in 1786. All the gunners 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. Strong walls withstood a 2-day assault and shelling of Napoleon’s army in 1812. Incidentally, the walls (white-stone details) were constructed of limestone, which was supplied for the construction of the stone quarry Konobeevskie. The Smolensk fortress was badly damaged during the retreat of the French, it was badly damaged. By order of the 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.
Unfortunately, the destruction of SmolenskFortress contributed not only to the war. After the war with Napoleon, in 1820-1830, the walls of the defensive structure, which were in poor condition, were dismantled into bricks to restore the buildings of the city destroyed by the war.
In 1930, the Smolensk fortress activelyversed on building materials for the Stalinist construction. In the years after World War II, the buildings of the fortress helped to restore the destroyed city and its region.
To this day, the total length of the Smolensk fortress has been preserved - 3.5 km, including 9 fragments of walls and 18 towers.
Smolensk Fortress - an object of historical and culturalheritage of federal significance. Towers and wall fragments are found in different parts of the city. The largest section of the wall with a length of 1.5 km is located in the eastern part of Smolensk.
Numerous tourists madly like Smolensk fortress. Smolensk is an ancient city with a mass of museums and architectural monuments.
The main historical monument serves as a museum,a meeting place and parkour’s favorite object. For those who do not like independent excursions, it is advisable to visit the “Thunder” tower, where concerts with concerts of rock stars, classics, etc. often take place.
A tourist is free to visit a stone relic,Moreover, 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.
This tower and the gate of the same name in itrestored and ennobled. Once through the "Pyatnitsky" gates could enter the city of Smolensk. In 1812, they, like the other gates and towers of which the Smolensk fortress consisted, were blown up by the Napoleonic army. Later on this place was built the church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. Today, in the Pyatnitskaya Tower, a museum of Russian Vodka has been opened, where everyone can taste the products of the local distillery and learn about some facts of the development of distillation in Russia.
One of the most beautiful towers of the “Necklace of the Russian Land” is the “Thunder”. She is known by other names:
The first of the restored - "Thunder" towerSmolensk fortress restored in its original form. Here you can see the unique interior of the tower, walk the steep stairs and admire the wooden dome from the inside.
The second tier of the tower is occupied by the exposition, whichtells of the construction and heroic defense of the fortress. Visitors are given the opportunity to get in touch with authentic antiquities of the 16-17th centuries. Also in this place is a model of the Smolensk fortress - the original appearance of the Smolensk citadel with all the towers, battlements, gates.
The exhibition “The Battle of Grunwald, 600 years later” with exhibits - reconstructions of armor and weapons of soldiers of the Smolensk Principality, the Golden Horde, etc. is located on the third tier of “Thunder”.
4-й ярус является смотровой площадкой.Sometimes there are various demonstration performances of artists and concerts. This is what the Smolensk - Russian Shield Museum looks like, located in the Thunder Tower of the Smolensk Fortress.
Tour of the Smolensk fortress is necessarystart with the “Thunder” tower, as historical reconstructions are often carried out here, where you can see wide feasts, people in medieval clothes and Lithuanian warriors.
