/ / Rila fortress: a description of the attractions and interesting facts

Rila fortress: a description of the attractions and interesting facts

In the Kursk region, the extreme western regionis Rylsky. On the one hand, it borders with Ukraine, and from the rest - with Glushkovsky, Korenevsky and Khomutovsky districts. The total population is just over 32 thousand people. The whole area has a large variety of attractions and a long history.

Modern Kursk region

The present territory of the region falls underjurisdiction of the Russian Federation, and since ancient times applies to the lands of Russia. The average annual temperature in the Kursk region is kept at + 5 ... 7 degrees Celsius, the winter is rather mild and warm, and the summer is very hot. This contributes to the year-round influx of tourists who wish to personally get acquainted with the sights of the area.

Rila fortress

Narratives of ancient history

The first settlements are mentioned in the XI century, andexclusively in the key of campaigns on the Polovtsy and Polovtsy on the land of Russia. Beginning in the 12th century, two fiefdoms began to appear - Rylsk and Kursk. Rylsk was a capital city, and Prince Svyatoslav Olgovich ruled it. The house of the prince, a beautiful temple, the command house and the squad houses were located on this mountain.

It was from this city that the princes Svyatoslav traveled.Olgovich, Novgorod-Seversky Prince Igor and other relatives-princes, to fight the Polovtsy. All this is described in the world-famous "Word about the regiment of Igor". Modern scholars have reason to believe that Svyatoslav Olgovich, Prince of Rila, is the author of this work.

sightseeing description Rila fortress

Significant dates

Далее история повествует о «приходе» татар.Kursk actively participated in 1223 in the Battle of Kalka. At the same time, the prince of Kursk was able to escape from destruction, but during the campaigns of Khan Batyi in 1239, this city was almost completely destroyed.

The next turning point was the year 1355, whenthese lands were ceded to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and subsequently to Poland. Since 1523, the Principality of Rila remained a part of Russia and after the death of Prince Ivan Shemyachich, became part of the Moscow State. And since 1508, the Kursk was also part of the Moscow principality.

So these were the most southerly landsdesigned to protect the entire state from the raids of the Tatars. For this purpose special fortified areas, defensive lines and fortresses were built. Only in one Rylsk there were 3 guards. From that moment began the active settlement of this region.

Description of the sights. Rila fortress

The founder of the city of Rylsk is JohnRylsky, a monk from Bulgaria. The monastery, which was built by monks and laity, had two meanings. First, it was the center of Orthodoxy, and the second value, a fortress and a well-fortified citadel. The ancient temples of the city were located on the top of this mountain. A chronicle of the entire city of Rylsk is associated with this mountain.

Rila fortress Kursk region

Иоанн Рыльский считался покровителем города.It is believed that during the terrible invasion of Batu, only this city remained safe and sound. Locals in a single prayer called the saint for help and protection. John of Rila heard the prayers of the townspeople. Appearing in the town square, he waved a white handkerchief and blinded Batu's troops. Thus, Rylsk was saved from pogrom and ruin.

Southern fort

Remained from the time of the defense of all Rus, RylskayaThe fortress (Kursk region) is the personification of the southern part of the state defense. It is located on the highest coastal ridge in the region of the “Mountains of Ivan of Rila. As it was said earlier, in the 17th century, the squads led by Igor Svyatoslavovich made a famous campaign against the Polovtsi from here. That is exactly what was indicated in the "Word about the Regiment of Igor".

Separate and most famousThe attraction, of course, is the Rylsk fortress (Rylsk). Of great strategic importance was the fortress and further in the XVI-XVII centuries, when the ode was the last point before the border with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was the southernmost point of the defensive line of the state, which served as a fort against the Crimean Tatars, which made periodic raids.

Rila fortress Kursk region

Rila fortress sight of the country

All available fortifications were made in the formDetintsa, which is the central part of the internal location of the fortress, which had 9 towers and six-meter oak walls. Among other things, for greater defenses, the Rila fortress was surrounded by a moat and several earthen ditches with unfinished towers.

And each tower had not only its own personalname, but also purpose. The tallest tower was called Sunday and had 6 faces. Its height was 15 meters. In this tower hung a bell, whose weight was 9.5 pounds. Literally a few meters from this tower, there is a small tower with 4 faces, which has a passage gate.

Fortress and residents

Each fortification that wasbuilt and was part of a defensive complex, had for that time very serious weapons. Rila fortress was well equipped. The main road residents paved cobblestones. On the western side of the mountain there was a steep walkway with a railing, covered with a wild stone - a boulder. On the mountain stood a wooden church in honor of St. John of Rila and St. Nicholas Cathedral.

St. Nicholas Cathedral burned down in the 19th century, it neverrebuilt. At the beginning of the 20th century, residents built a brick church in the name of John of Rila, instead of a wooden building, which dates from 1772. The vegetation on the mountain was scarce. She limited herself to two tall poplars and four spreading lindens. On the slopes of the mountains grew barbed spiny and fragrant lilacs. All the grass already at the beginning of the summer dried out under the scorching sun.

Rila fortress landmark

Starting from the 17th century, the Rila fortress ceasedplay an important strategic role. This is due to the expansion of the Russian borders in the southern and western direction. After the Battle of Poltava, the city-fortress Rylsk ceases to exist altogether. At the moment, on the site of the fortress, on the highest spot in the city, a magnificent church in the name of John of Rila has been built.

Это далеко не весь список, которым может boast Kursk region, so any tourist or just a visitor to the city will always have something to do and bring a lot of new unique photos, impressions and memories for every taste from their travels.