Pearl Of Staraya Ladoga

Pearl Of Staraya Ladoga

Staraya Ladoga fortress, the fate of which is closely associated with high-profile historical names and events, comparable with the time machine: stepping on her walls, and the exhibits of the local Museum, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of antiquity that prevailed a few centuries ago.

“The fate of our Fatherland Staraya Ladoga (before 1704 – the town of Ladoga) belonged to the underlying role in establishing the Russian state, urban culture, and the development of international trade and cooperation of the peoples of Eurasia” – so wrote about this place one of its principal investigators, head of Department of Slavonic-Finnish archaeology of Institute of history of material culture Russian Academy of Sciences Anatoly Kirpichnikov. Old Ladoga among the ancient cities is unmatched”.

According to Kirpichnikov, the progress of the expedition led by him was discovered “landmark buildings of ancient stone and wooden-earth fortifications”, including strengthening the end of IX – beginning of X century, claiming to be the first stone in our country. A “fortress 1113/1114 years, sometimes preserved almost to its full height, anticipated the spread of the stone citadels in Russia, which began a century later”. Scientist says: until the end of XV century it secured the Northern borders of the country, and then in place of the old comes a new, fitted to gun battle. “In her device manifested the advanced features of defensive architecture of the Italian Renaissance” – said the researcher.

I must say that the existence of the citadel was accompanied by a swarm of rumors and legends. So, in the book of the first Explorer of lake Ladoga N. E. Brandenburg has a story about how a group of curious onlookers found the passage that led from the fortress under the river. It is described with details how they had to “sneak in the shadows, between the loose from dampness and looming stone arches of the underwater gallery.” As over their heads “was the hum of the rolling waves”, and “echoed around spanking from the movement of disgusting vermin”. However, “the excavations of the tower was revealed to the ground, but neither moves nor dungeons restorers not met”.

The main enemy of the old Ladoga fortress was the time to win that helped the restoration work. As the Director of the Museum-reserve “Staraya Ladoga” L. Gubchevskaya, in 2008, was recreated Clement, Gates and Arrow towers on the top was mothballed Tehnichnoi and Raschetno towers, as well as the inclusion of wall parts of different historical periods into a single architectural ensemble.

How the fortress looks like now? Clement tower, the most powerful fortress with an enormous wooden beams, which are cleverly set underneath its vault. The Portal leads to a square crankshaft check. The arrow tower, which you can walk along the fortress wall became a kind of Museum within a Museum. There are works and for the restoration Raschetno tower. But from Tehnichnoi, it is remarkable that in its first tier housed the well, which pipe connects with the Volkhov almost nothing left.

In addition to the towers and parts of the walls of the old Ladoga fortress will delight lovers of history and culture of the two located on its territory churches. The basis of the attractiveness of the white-stone Church of St. George, ancient Church of the XII century with the helmet dome and pothakamury coating – wall murals. Among them – the image of St. George. A wooden Church of St. Demetrios, which houses the local history Museum will surprise the visitors forged a clever shaped lock on the front door.

In addition to the visual immersion in the story through the views of the fortress and Museum exhibits to come to Staraya Ladoga in the summer at one of the festivals of historical reconstruction. “Ring the weapon, above the fortress stands the human hubbub…” – so describe the action witnesses. Offers jewelry made from natural materials and objects of ancient life. A blacksmith can make a coin. The Archer to learn to shoot. And the food, cooked on fire, it is so delicious that yum…

Happy to be in the old Ladoga fortress at any time of the year because its the time machine works without stopping to rest. For example, only in historical welfare Fund of the Museum-reserve “Staraya Ladoga” is stored more than 3 million items, grouped in several sections. And the archaeological collection of the Staraya Ladoga Museum – the largest regional collection of antiquities from the stone age to modern times, with more than 25 thousand units. In addition to permanent exhibitions, there are systematically organized and temporary exhibitions, which present works of contemporary authors, dedicated to Staraya Ladoga and its fortress. The Museum regularly carries out master classes where guests can learn to make a handbag-purse leather, panels made of birch bark or something.

What is written by those who have visited Staraya Ladoga fortress? “The place is worth a visit for anyone interested in history. And especially – the old fortresses and castles”, says one of the tourists. “If in the Leningrad region were you, but not stopped, this is weird.” – responds the other. And another guest of Staraya Ladoga concludes that “traveling to these places, immersed in the atmosphere of the times, soaked in the culture of our ancestors.” “Entering the courtyard of the fortress, you can use your imagination and feel how and what they lived on the banks of a beautiful river, she says. – This place is definitely unique.”

Material prepared tourism portal of the Leningrad region – lentravel.ru