Izborsk Travel Guide

 aliante1981 Says:  That’s the most ancient and the most revered legend of Izborsk. One of the large crosses of the Truvor’s settlement is said to mark the tomb of the legendary prince Truvor, who came with his two brothers to rule Russia, upon the locals’ repeated requests. Truvor settled in... 

 aliante1981 Says:  The beginnings of Izborsk can be found at the site of an ancient settlement, that existed long before the fortress was built, let alone the time when it was transferred to Mount Zhuravija. The ancient city occupied triangular cape of a high plateau. The territory was small,... 

 aliante1981 Says:  The church of Nikola in the Izborsk fortress can be seen rising above the massive walls, its silver dome glittering against blue sky. The church, close to the main entrance to the fortress, is located and has been constructed approximately in 1330 when the city and the... 

 aliante1981 Says:  Or, as it can be translated, the Bell Tower. It stands right behind the Nikolskie gate in the southern part of the fortress, overlooking the settlement of Izborsk and (since it’s in the same direction) facing the town of Pskov as well. The Bell Tower contained a bell (quite... 

 aliante1981 Says:  The Temnushka Tower is the last tower of the so-called ’accessible wall’. It covered the main entrance into the Izborsk fortress and was the starting point of the road along the southern wall, with internal and external gates. Just as the Ryabinovka Tower (discussed above)... 

 aliante1981 Says:  The Talavskaja Tower is the only one square tower in the fortress. And the only one I remember that I’ve seen in my whole life. The 5-level tower stands in the North-West of the fortress, and is one of the strong points of the so-called ‘accessible wall’ (see other tips for... 

 aliante1981 Says:  The Lukovka Tower is the most ancient tower of the Izborsk fortress and is considered the most mysterious in the architectural sense of the word – don’t worry – no ghosts!It was originally part of an older, wooden fortress, that once stood on the spot. So the stone walls... 

 aliante1981 Says:  The Vyshka (translated actually as ‘tower’) Tower is the highest and the most fortified tower of the Izborsk fortress. Its height now (which means after it having been ruined) reaches 19 meters. And in the past the tower was even higher because of a wooden structure (similar... 

 aliante1981 Says:  The Izborsk fortress also is the ancient city of Izborsk (not the Izborsk of today) which is mentioned in annals. Fortress in Russia, by the way, means ‘fenced place’. Well, with the fences like that, they had every right to called it a ‘fenced place’…The fortress which we... 

 aliante1981 Says:  My single favourite thing is the fortress. Just fancy seeing one of those 'real' fortresses here in Russia - we mostly had convents playing the role of defenses. While they are interesting in their own right, it would have been a pity not to have a single fortress on the...