Pskov

   Great destiny and great history belong to the city of Pskov. Pskov is located in the north – west of Russia. It is economic and cultural centre of Pskov region. Pskov is very ancient town. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 903, but the date of its origin is unknown and goes back to some very old times. The legend says that the first Russian Christian woman and governor of Russia – Olga, founded it. For many centuries it was the strongest fortress on the western border of Russia. Pskov’s historical destiny as a warrior intercessor was reflected in its monuments, especially its architecture, an extraordinary, permanent, genuinely popular epic in stone. Those, who once upon a time came to Pskov bringing war and devastation, saw the invincible might of the fortress walls, the unshakable strength of Pskov churches.
Pskov – one of Russia’s oldest and most beautiful cities, it boasts one of the greatest numbers of extant historical monuments – over 300. The earliest of them go back to the 12th century, the latest to the early 20th. There is a natural combination of ancient monuments (fortified walls with towers, churches and monasteries, and merchant’s chambers) and modern buildings.
The old city is located on quite a high hill. Here the Pskov Kremlin was built, named Krom. The gilded “onion” cupola of the Trinity Cathedral could be seen on a sunny day from a distance of 30 - 40 kilometers.
The life of many prominent people of Russia, known all over the world, is connected with Pskov and Pskov region.
Famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin wrote a cycle of poems in the Pskov province.
Two Great Russian composers lived and worked in Pskov region. It is the birthplace of the composer Modest Mussorgsky. The creator of “Boris Godunov” and “Khovanschina” believed that the impressions he drew from the local folk songs, tales and sayings nourished his music.
Another Russian comoser, Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, lived in a picturesque place not far from Pskov. He wrote eight of his operas here, including “Sadko”, “The Tale of Tsar Sultan”.
Outstanding mathematician Sophia Kowalevskaya, was born in a village of Polibino – the village of the Pskov region. She was the first Russian woman to become an academician.
The small town of Pechory (in English does mean Caves), a local centre, is situated near the Estonian border 53 kilometers from Pskov. The main attraction of the town is the Holy-Pechory Assumption Orthodox Monastery of the caves, the oldest in Russia, being the monument of Russian culture and military history. Originally located in the caves, the monastery gave the name to the town. The contemporary appearance of the monastery is unusually picturesque. The fortress walls surrounded the wonderful architectural ensemble consisting of the churches of 15-19th centuries, a big belfry (with complete set of the ancient bells) and originally household constructions. Now the cloister has 11 churches, three among them are of cave type. Seventy monks live in the monastery. The monastery has a restoration of the icons, wonderful children choir. The main cave consists of six “streets” about 200 meters long, and there are more than 300 gravestones there. It is a burial vault for monks, worries, statesmen, peasants and townspeople. More than 10,000 monks remains lie here.
On the way from Pskov to Pechory there is another ancient city – Izborsk. It is one of the oldest towns in Russia, began from a small settlement. The remains of the 8 – 13th century fortifications and other buildings are still hidden in the hill. From its rocky foot the Slavonic springs like subterranean waterfalls spurt out of the ground. They never freeze over. This ancient settlement was mentioned among the first Russian towns under the year 862. At the Izborsk Nature Reserve you can visit a museum and an active church. Its main monument is a new 14th century fortress on Crane Hill. It bore the brunt of countless enemy attacks against Russia. The old walls and towers of the fortress look as if they grow directly out of the earth of this magnificent land.