WELCOME TO PSKOV

Pskov, one of the most ancient Russian cities, is located in the north-west of Russia. It is the administrative center of Pskov region with a population of 210, 000. The chronicle contains the first reference to Pskov under the year 903. From the 11th century onwards it was one of the most important trading centers of ancient Russia.
Pskov, a strong outpost in the struggle of Russians against foreign invaders, was a scene for many historic events significant for the destiny of this country. In April of 1242 the Russian warriors led by Alexander Nevsky, a famous Russian prince, defeated German crusaders on the ice of Chudskoye (Peipus) Lake. Stephan Batory, the king of Poland, failed miserably to capture Pskov in 1581. The Swedish king, Gustavus Adolphus, who besieged the town in 1615, experienced a complete failure. During World War II, Pskov was occupied and most of it was reduced to ruins, but there has been much restoration and there are still more than 100 architectural and historical monuments. The most ancient of them, the Mirozhsky Monastery and the Convent of St. John, were built in the 12th century. The frescoes of the Mirozhsky
monastery painted by the Byzantine painters enjoy world-wide fame and are under the UNESCO protection.

Pskov's neighborhoods are also well-known for its sights of interest and are famous for its ancient and glorious history. As early as the Neolithic period, or even before that, this part of Russia began to be settled by the Finnish tribes. Towards the onset of the 8th century the Slavic Krivichi tribe came to the eastern shores of Pskov and Chudskoye (Peipus) Lakes, and the basin of the Velikaya River and its tributaries. One can feel the breath of the centuries in each and every part of the ancient Pskov Land. Its rich history has preserved ample evidence of Russian worries' feats of arms and ingenuity of anonymous architects and craftsmen. Izborsk (32 km west of Pskov) was
mentioned in the chronicle for the first time under the year 862. It is famous for its ancient fortress. From the 14th to the 16th century the fortress withstood 8 sieges and was never captured by invaders. The town of Pechory (52 km west of Pskov) is located on the very Estonian border. Its main attraction is the Monastery of the Caves founded as early as 1473.

Many outstanding people used to live in Pskov region. Among them famous Russian composers N. Rimsky-Korsakov and M. Mussorgsky as well as the greatest national poet of the 19th century Alexander Pushkin. He had to spend 2 years in exile at Mikhalovskoye (125 km south-east of Pskov), his family estate, where he composed over 100 significant works. Mikhailovskoye was a spiritual homeland of the poet. Now it is a place of pilgrimage of all Russians.

INTOURIST is glad to offer you various sightseeing programs:

City tour (Duration - 3 hours) Pskov, a typical Russian city, attracts numerous tourists due to its wonderful combination of the new and the old. The remains of ancient fortress walls, modest and magnificent churches, old houses are scattered here and there in Pskov. The ancient Kremlin is the pride of the residents. It arose on a narrow cliff at the confluence of the Velikaya and Pskova Rivers. The Kremlin was built by the gifted architects of Pskov and was reconstructed a few times. But even nowadays its mighty walls and towers make a great impression, that is why the best way to get to know Pskov is to begin sightseeing from the Kremlin. During the tour you will get acquainted with the peculiar features of Pskov's religious and secular architecture, as well as the architecture of fortifications. The most brilliant samples of the Pskov architectural school are the Churches of St. Nicholas on Usokha (16th century) and St. Basil on the Hill (15th century), the Pogankin House (17th century), the Intercession complex (16th century).

Museum of History and Fine Arts (Duration - 2 hours)

Most exhibitions of the museum are located in the best-known secular building of Pskov -  the famous Pogankin house, called "chambers". In the 17th century the chambers belonged to one of the richest merchant families in Pskov - the Pogankins. The museum possesses the unique collections of the silverwork (14-19th centuries)
and the icons of the Pskov icon-painting school (14-17th centuries). The archaeological division is of noteworthy interest, as well as the exhibition of the applied art (18-20th centuries) and the picture gallery. The collection of the museum includes about 500,000 items. You can find more information at http://www.museum.pskov.ru (the web-site is
only in Russian).

Mirozhsky Monastery (Duration - 1.5 hours)  The Mirozhsky monastery was founded in the 12th century. It not only was the most ancient and one of the richest monasteries in Pskov, but also a significant cultural center. It took a few centuries to construct the monastery buildings. The most ancient of them, the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Savior, was commissioned by the Archbishop of Novgorod Niphont and built in the 12th century. The architectural style of the Cathedral differs from all the churches not only in Pskov, but also in entire ancient Russia. Niphont, who was of Greek descent, wished to built a church according to the Byzantine pattern in Russia. The walls of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Savior are decorated with the frescos. They were painted by the Byzantine artists in the middle of the 12th century. 80% of the original frescos have survived. The Mirozhsky monastery is included in the UNESCO list of the most outstanding architectural landmarks of the world

Izborsk and Pechory (Duration - 6 hours) Izborsk is located 32 km west of Pskov. In The Tale of Bygone Years - the most outstanding literary work of Kievan Russia - Izborsk was mentioned in one of the first chapters, when in 862 three Varangian princes were asked by the Slavs to rule over their towns. One of them, Truvor, became a prince of Izborsk. In the 14-16th centuries Izborsk was a reliable outpost of Pskov, its "younger brother". The perfectly preserved Izborsk fortress had to withstand 8 long sieges from the 14th to the 16th century and was never captured by enemy. Sightseeing at Izborsk will not be complete if you do not have a look at its ancient buildings. The Church of St. Sergius (16th century) is the most interesting among them. Now it houses a museum of the archaeological finds. The ethnographical complex Peasant Farmstead was recently opened at Izborsk. Here you can taste Russian traditional dishes cooked according to the old Izborsk recipes. For more information please go to http://izborsk.pskov.ru/docs/museum/index.htm  (the web-site is only in Russian). Pechory (20 km of Izborsk, 52 km of Pskov) is a tiny neat town located on the very Estonian border. Its main attraction is Pskov's Monastery of the Caves. Founded in 1473, the monastery has never been closed. The magnificent architectural ensemble of the monastery was formed over many centuries, and nowadays its extraordinary beauty makes a great impression on everyone who
comes here for the first time. The perfectly preserved powerful fortress of the 16th century was an impregnable outpost in the western part of the Russian state. At the same time, the monastery was one of the largest cultural centers of ancient
Russia. Chronicles and literary works were written here, as well as priceless samples of
Russian painting, applied art and jewelry were made and collected by the monks. The name of the monastery was derived from the Old Russian word "pechera" meaning "cave", as the monastery originated from the caves. The caves are located in a steep sandy slope of the Kamenets Stream, in a hill that was considered as a holy site since pagan times. Amazing climatic conditions (the constant temperature in the caves is +5 C all the year round) made the caves a convenient refuge for the people who wished
to live in solitude away from the distractions of the world. The ancient caves are an enormous burial vault where nearly 10,000 people are buried - monks, worries, statesmen, peasants and townspeople. The first monastery church was also a cave church. It was sanctified in 1473 in honor of the Dormition according to an ancient tradition. Annually, on August 28th lots of pilgrims and tourists come to the monastery to celebrate its main feast, the Dormition of Virgin Mary.

The Alexander Pushkin Estate-Museum(Duration- 9 hours)  Pushkin's places in Pskov region are considered to be the main places of pilgrimage for the poet's admirers. The Holy Hills Monastery with its old Cathedral of Dormition (16th century) is located 120 km south-east of Pskov. The greatest Russian poet of the 19th century Alexander Pushkin is buried by its walls not far away from his favorite Mikhailovskoye estate. It was here in the Pskov countryside that Pushkin's poetry was molded and his
genius flourished. The wonderful estates of Trigorskoye (the estate of the poet's friends,
the Osipov-Wolf family) and Petrovskoye (the estate of Pushkin's great grandfather
Abraham Hannibal) were a source of delight and wonder for the poet. At Mikhailovskoye, where Pushkin had to spend "two inconspicuous years living in exile", he wrote over 100 works including the country chapters of his major novel "Eugene Onegin", the drama "Boris Godunov", the lyrical poem "A Magic Moment I remember..." Through all his life, Pushkin carried his passionate love for Mikhailovskoye where thousands of people come to pay tribute to the poet.


Contact info:
Joint Stock Company "Intourist"
22, Oktyabrsky Pr.
180000 Pskov
Russia
phone/fax: +7 8112 164565, +7 8112 165783
e-mail: turizm-1@ellink.ru (incoming department)