Photos

Pskov is very ancient town. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 903. Olga, the first Russian Christian woman and a wise governor of Russia founded it.

Pskov - one of Russia's oldest and most beautiful cities, it boasts one of the greatest number of extant historical monuments - over 300. The earliest go back to the 12 th century, the latest to the early 20 th. There is a natural combination of ancient monuments (fortified walls with towers, churches and monasteries, and merchant's chambers) and modern buildings.

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 strenghth of Pskov churches.

This fortress stands on a long, rocky promontory between the Pskova and Velikaya rivers.

A pearl of Old Russian architecture is the Pskov Kremlin — the capital center of the Veche Republic, crowned by the Holy Trinity Cathedral with a 17th-century iconostasis. The Kremlin is the visit card of the Old Russian city.