Pskov

OVERVIEW
Population - 0.12 million
Local time- GMT +3
Average daily temperature
January
-8
July
+18
Distance from
Moscow: 687 km
St Petersburg: 284 km
By train
from Moscow: 12 hr
from St Petersburg: 4.5 hr

Pskov is an ancient city, located in the north-west of Russia about 20 km east from the Estonian border, on the river Velikaya. Pskov still preserves much of its medieval walls, built from the 13th century on. The Krom, or medieval castle, looks as impressive as ever. Within its walls rises the 256-foot-tall Trinity Cathedral, founded in 1138. The cathedral contains the tombs of Saint princes Vsevolod (1138) and Dovmont (1299). Pskov is exceedingly rich in tiny, picturesque churches, dating from the 15th and the 16th centuries. The 17th-century residential architecture is represented by merchant mansions, such as the Salt House, the Pogankin chambers, and the Trubinsky mansion.

Ancient Pskov was first mentioned in the Russian annals in 903, making it more than 200 years older than Moscow! Pskov was built on the Velikaya (Great) River as a fortress to protect Russia from the northwest. This waterway was the main trading route for Pskov, providing access to other European countries. The Velikaya River runs into Chudskoe Lake, continuing on the Narva River to the Baltic Sea and open waters. Twelve small fortresses providing safety to merchant caravans were built along Velikaya River, the main one being the Pskov fortress.

It is difficult to find another city in Russia where more than three hundred churches and other buildings from the 12th–17th centuries are kept untouched. There are more than thirty monasteries erected in 14th- 17th centuries in Pskov and the surrounding area.

A pearl of Russian culture is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of Mirozhsky Monastery, constructed in 12th century and then painted by Byzantine masters. Now it is the most complete fresco ensemble to survive the Mongolian invaders in Russia. The other cathedral you must visit is Troitsky Sobor (1699) where you can admire 17th century frescoes and a huge iconostasis. Its central dome is 80 meters high and can be seen from every spot in the city.

The Pskovo-Pechorsky Monastery, founded in 1473 and very famous in Russia, is located fifty kilometers away from Pskov. The Monastery got its name from the underground caves in dense sandstone where natural ventilation and a constant temperature create unique conditions for the preservation of remains that were buried here. The remains of monks as well as of family members of well known Russian counts such as Kutuzov, Mussorgsky, Pushkin, and Tatischev are buried in niches (crypts) of the caves.

Not far from this Monastery you will find the Izborsk Fortress. It represents a sample of defensive art of the Ancient Russia. Many cities of the Pskov region - Porkhov, Opochka, Ostrov and others - show unique architectural pieces of old Russian architecture and defensive art. Close to 11 thousand foreign tourists visit the area annually.