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The total area of the Pskov region is about 55 300
sq. km., it is larger than that of Denmark or Switzerland.
The Pskov Region is divided into twenty four administrative districts, each
governed by its own administration. Pskov city is the regional center of
economic and cultural activities. It has a similar role to that of a state
capital in the U.S. Pskov has population of 210 000 people. The distant to the
Pskov is 4 hours from the cities of St. Petersburg and Tallinn (Estonia), and 12
hours (by train) from Moscow. The city has an airport, river port, railroad and
a bus station. Pskov is one from the oldest cities in Russia. Pskov will celebrate its 1 100 year anniversary in
2003.
OSTROV, see pictures
One of the largest towns of the region, Ostrov is situated 50 kilometers south
of Pskov, in the middle reaches of the Velikaya river. We have no precise
indications of the day when the town was founded. Anyway it had certainly
existed before the 13th century. Ostrov was strongly fortified when aggressive
Teutonic knights broke the peace of the Pskovian land in 1348. A church soon
arose, with walls ten meters high, on an islet washed by the Velikaya and its
Black Creek (now named the Slobozhikha) - an unforgettable structure of red and
gray limestone slabs. The town also boasts impressive ruins of a fortress, and
the inimitable St. Nicholas' Cathedral of the 16th century. Its decor has an
unique detail, a frieze of tiles inscribed CHRONICLE in a large and ornate
Cyrillic lettering of green glaze. The cathedral underwent major changes with
the times. A small Transfiguration Chapel, with one cupola, adjoined it in the
latter half of the I 6th century and another chapel at the main entrance in the
17th.
PUSHKIN HILLS
The Alexander Pushkin Estate-Museum. Pushkinskie Gory (Pushkin's Hills) is
more than a township with an open-air museum. Alexander Pushkin, the greatest of
Russian poets, lived near this spot, in his family estate Michailovskoye, in
1824-26. Altogether Pushkin wrote more than 100 works here, including the
country chapters of his major novel in verse "Eugene Onegin", the
verse drama "Boris Godunov", the long poem The Gypsies.
In Trigorskoye, a neighboring
estate, he
first saw Anna Kern, the lady to whom he dedicated his renowned poem, "A
Magic Moment I Remember..." The two years of dedicated toil in his country
exile changed the poet's philosophy and world-outlook beyond recognition. Here,
he cherished plans to establish a literary journal, and meditated on the
prospects of Russian literature and a poet's mission in this life. If you really
want to understand the enigmatic Russian soul, you are to come to this place.
In the middle of the Pskov land the greatest
Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin, was buried by the walls of the Svyatogorsky (Holy
Hills) Monastery. Lovers of poetry come here to kneel at his grave. The
Pushkin Estate-Museum is located not far away from the monastery by the lower
reaches of the Sorot River and two adjacent lakes. The museum embraces the
Mikhailovkoye, Trigorskoye and Petrov-skoye estates, the old town site of
Voronich and Savkina Hill, as well as the parks, ponds, woods and trees,
immortalized by the poet in his verse.
It was here in the Pskov countryside in
constant communication with the people and landscape that Pushkin's genius
flourished. His poetry was nourished with the impressions and observations he
drew from mixing with the people and listening to their expressive way of
speaking. These are the lines the poet dedicated to them: "From you I take
this fond remembrance, But here with you I leave my heart...". Here is a
poetic heart of Russia. (Pskov-Kiev highway, 120 km south-east of Pskov).
SEBEZH
A comfortable bus will take you from Pskov to this town. As you approach, it
seems rising to meet you out of the water, as another Atlantis. Whichever turn
you take from the main street, you are sure to come to Lake Sebezh, the town's
heart - 16 square kilometers of crystal-clear water. Ivangorod, a timber
fortress, used to stand on its shore, and repulsed many enemy
attacks. A marble
slab marks its site, currently known as The Castle. The country has 359 lakes in
the virgin woods. The reticent beauty of the place appeals to one's heart, and
stays forever in the memory of those who see it. The first chronicle reference
to Sebezh dates 1414. "Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania made a campaign on
Pskovians in 1414 A.D., took Sebezh near Pskov, and gave it to fire and sword
before his army went on." Small frontier towns are all unique for their
history, and Sebezh is no exception. It offers fine hotels and restaurants to
holiday-makers.
NEVEL
This town, 244 kilometers off Pskov and 62 off Velikie Luki, stands on the shore
of a lake which bears the same name. The meandering river Ernenka crosses it in
many spots. This, and the lake, make it a kind of northern Venice - a delightful
water town. Glaciers of the Ice Age left a hilly locality crisscrossed by
gullies, with boulders here and there, and deep lakes. The largest - Bigger Ivan
and Smaller Ivan - are in the center of the district. The highest spot, 265
meters above sea level, is south of the village Stanki, on the southward
watershed of the Lovat and the Western Dvina. The area has an abundant wildlife,
with wolves, foxes, badgers and polecats. Otters and muskrats lounge on the
banks of weed-grown creeks and streams, and some of the lakes, rich in fish.
VELIKIYE LUKI
Founded in 1166, the town preserves negligible f material traces of its age
after World War Two razed it to the ground. Only the ramparts, 21 meters high,
of a 12th century fortress rise along a bend of the river Lovat. A magnificent
panorama of the town opens from their top. This fortress saw many trials and
tribulations. It was several times given to fire and sword, and its garrison
massacred. Yet every time, it arose again to protect the Russian
border. If you
walk downhill from Center Square, you will soon see Rokossowski Square, named in
honor of famous strategist of World War II. This square is known for a cluster
of beautiful fountains designed by architect Loginov. Matrosov Square, named
after Alexander Matrosov, valiant soldier of World War II, is dominated by his
monument by renowned sculptor Evgeni Vuchetich. The town is specially memorable
for its magnificent Ascension Cathedral and Transfiguration Church at Lake
Dyatlinka.
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