Pskov

 

(pəskôf') , city (1989 pop. 204,000), capital of Pskov region, NW European Russia, on the Velikaya River. It is an important rail junction in the heart of a flax-growing area. Industries include food processing and the manufacture of metals, machinery, building materials, and linen. Known in antiquity as Pleskov, it became (903) an outpost of Novgorod. Its large-scale stone construction, almost equal in extent to that of Novgorod, shows that it was already a rich town in the 12th cent. Pskov became (1347) an independent, democratic city-state and a flourishing commercial center that traded with the Hanseatic League. It was capital of Pskov Republic from 1348 to 1510 and had a form of government similar to that of Novgorod. With its annexation (1510) by Moscow, Pskov lost its democratic institutions. Its importance, except as a strategic fortress, soon declined. The railroad station at Pskov was the scene (1917) of the abdication of Nicholas II. The historic core of Pskov is the inner walled city, containing a kremlin (12th–16th cent.), with towers in the Byzantine style, a cathedral, and numerous medieval churches and monasteries. The country around Pskov is rich in architectural monuments from the 14th to the 18th cent.

Pskov (English) Псков (Russian)
Location of Pskov in Europe
Coordinates 57°49′N 28°20′E / 57.817, 28.333Coordinates: 57°49′N 28°20′E / 57.817, 28.333
Coat of Arms
City Day: July 23
Administrative status
Federal subject In jurisdiction of Administrative center of	Pskov Oblast Pskov Oblast Pskov Oblast, Pskovsky District
Local self-government
Charter	Charter of Pskov
Municipal status	Urban okrug
Mayor	Mikhail Khoronen
Legislative body	City Duma
Area
Area	km² ( sq mi)
Population (as of the 2002 Census)
Population - Rank - Density	inhabitants 90th /km² (/sq mi)
Events
Founded	n/a
First mentioned	903
Other information
Postal code	180xxx
Dialing code	+7 8112
Official website
http://www.gorodpskov.ru/

Pskov (Russian: Псков, ancient Russian spelling Пльсковъ) is an ancient city, located in the north-west of Russia about 20 km east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. The city of Pskov serves as the administrative center of Pskov Oblast. Population: 202,780 (2002 Census); 203,789 (1989 Census).

Early history

The name of the city, originally spelled Pleskov, may be loosely translated as "the town of purling waters". Its earliest mention comes in 903, which records that Igor of Kiev married a local lady, St. Olga. Pskovians sometimes take this year as the city's foundation date, and in 2003 a great jubilee took place to celebrate Pskov's 1,100th anniversary.

The first prince of Pskov was St. Vladimir's younger son Sudislav. Once imprisoned by his brother Yaroslav, he wasn't released until the latter's death several decades later. In the 12th century and 13th centuries, the town adhered politically to the Novgorod Republic. In 1241, it was taken by the Teutonic knights, but Alexander Nevsky liberated it several months later during a legendary campaign dramatized in Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 movie.

In order to secure their independence from the knights, the Pskovians elected a converted Lithuanian prince, named Daumantas (known in Russian as Dovmont), as their military leader and prince in 1266. Having fortified the town, Daumantas routed the knights at Rakovor and overran much of Estonia. His remains and sword are preserved in the local kremlin, and the core of the citadel, erected by him, still bears the name of Dovmont's town.

Pskov Republic

Main article: Pskov Republic

By the 14th century, the town functioned as the capital of a de-facto sovereign republic. Its most powerful force was the merchants who brought the town into the Hanseatic league. Pskov's independence was formally recognized by Novgorod in 1348. Several years later, the veche promulgated a law code (called the Pskov Charter) which was one of the principal sources of the all-Russian law code issued in 1497.

For Russia, the Pskov Republic was a bridge towards Europe. For Europe, it was a western outpost of Russia and subject of numerous attacks throughout the history. Unbelievably, the kremlin (called by Pskovians the Krom) withstood 26 sieges in the 15th century alone. At one point, five stone walls ringed it, making the city practically impregnable. A local school of icon-painting flourished, and local masons were considered the best in Russia. Many peculiar features of Russian architecture were first introduced in Pskov.

Finally, in 1510, the city fell to Muscovite forces. The deportation of noble families to Moscow is a subject of Rimsky-Korsakov's opera Pskovityanka (1872). As the second largest city of Muscovy, Pskov still attracted enemy armies. Most famously, it withstood a prolonged siege by 50,000-strong Polish army during the final stage of the Livonian War (1581–1582). The king of Poland Stefan Batory undertook some 31 attacks to storm the city, which was defended mainly by civilians. Even after one of the city walls was broken, the Pskovians managed to fill the gap and repel the attack. "It's amazing how the city reminds me of Paris", wrote one of the Frenchmen present at Batory's siege.

Modern history

Peter the Great's conquest of Estonia and Latvia in the early 18th century spelled the end of Pskov's traditional role as a vital border fortress and a key to Russia's interior. As a consequence, the city's importance and well-being declined dramatically, although it has served as a capital of separate government since 1777. It was here that the last Russian tsar abdicated in March 1917.

During World War I Pskov became the center of much activity behind the lines, and after the Russo-German Brest-Litovsk Peace Conference (December 22, 1917–March 3, 1918), in the winter of 1917–1918, the Imperial German Army invaded the area.

The medieval citadel provided little protection against modern artillery, and during World War II Pskov suffered substantial damage during the German occupation from July 9, 1941 until July 23, 1944. Many ancient buildings, particularly churches, suffered destruction before the Wehrmacht could occupy the city. Though a huge portion of the population died during the war, Pskov has since struggled to regain its traditional position as a major industrial and cultural centre of Western Russia.

Landmarks and sights

Pskov still preserves much of its medieval walls, built from the 13th century on. The Krom, or medieval citadel, looks as impressive as ever. Within its walls rises the 256-foot-tall Trinity Cathedral, founded in 1138 and rebuilt in the 1690s. The cathedral contains the tombs of saint princes Vsevolod (died in 1138) and Dovmont (died in 1299). Other ancient cathedrals adorn the Mirozhsky abbey (completed by 1152), St. John's (completed by 1243), and the Snetogorsky monastery (built in 1310 and painted in 1313).

Pskov is exceedingly rich in tiny, squat, picturesque churches, dating mainly from the 15th and the 16th centuries. There are many dozens of them, the most notable being St. Basil's on the Hill (1413), St. Kozma and Demian's near the Bridge (1463), St. George's from the Downhill (1494), Assumption from the Ferryside (1444, 1521), and St. Nicholas' from Usokha (1536). The 17th-century residential architecture is represented by merchant mansions, such as the Salt House, the Pogankin chambers, and the Trubinsky mansion.

Among the sights in the vicinity of Pskov are Izborsk, a seat of Rurik's brother in the 9th century and one of the most formidable fortresses of medieval Russia; the Pskov Monastery of the Caves, the oldest continually functioning monastery in Russia and a magnet for pilgrims from all over the country; the 16th-century Krypetsky Monastery; Elizarovo Monastery, which used to be a great cultural and literary centre of medieval Russia; and Mikhailovskoe, a family nest of Alexander Pushkin where he wrote some of the best known lines in the Russian language. The national poet of Russia is buried in the ancient cloister at the Holy Mountains nearby. Unfortunately, the area presently has only a very minimal tourist infrastructure, and the historic core of Pskov requires serious investments to realize its great tourist potential.

Miscellaneous

Pskov is served by Pskov Airport which was also used for military aviation.

Notable People

• NHL and Russian hockey legend Sergei Fedorov was born here.

Sister cities

Pskov is twinned with the following cities:

• Tartu, Estonia
• Arles, France
• Gera, Germany
• Kuopio, Finland
• Neuss, Germany
• Nijmegen, Netherlands
• Paderborn, Germany
• Perth, Scotland
• Roanoke, United States

Weather averages for Pskov
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	9.8 (50)	11.3 (52)	18.5 (65)	27.6 (82)	32.0 (90)	32.6 (91)	35.0 (95)	35.6 (96)	30.3 (87)	22.6 (73)	14.1 (57)	10.8 (51)	()
Average high °C (°F)	-4.4 (24)	-3.7 (25)	1.2 (34)	9.5 (49)	17.2 (63)	21.2 (70)	22.7 (73)	21.2 (70)	15.6 (60)	8.7 (48)	2.1 (36)	-1.9 (29)	()
Average low °C (°F)	-10.4 (13)	-10.6 (13)	-6.5 (20)	0.4 (33)	6.1 (43)	10.4 (51)	12.3 (54)	11.1 (52)	6.8 (44)	2.3 (36)	-2.4 (28)	-7.1 (19)	()
Record low °C (°F)	-40.6 (-41)	-37.6 (-36)	-29.7 (-21)	-20.9 (-6)	-5.1 (23)	-0.1 (32)	2.7 (37)	1.3 (34)	-4.6 (24)	-12.2 (10)	-23.8 (-11)	-40.3 (-41)	()
Precipitation mm (inch)	35 (1.4)	29 (1.1)	31 (1.2)	37 (1.5)	45 (1.8)	67 (2.6)	77 (3)	77 (3)	66 (2.6)	51 (2)	53 (2.1)	46 (1.8)	()
Source: Pogoda.ru.net[1] 8.09.2007

Copyrighted photos

• Pskov in modern and old photos
• Pskov at night
• Pskova river in Pskov
• A tower of the kremlin
• Assumption church at the Ferryside (1521)
• 12th-century Mirozhsky abbey
• Alexander Nevsky monument

Fortresses of Western Russia
Gdov | Ivangorod | Izborsk | Kirillov | Koporye | Korela | Kronstadt | Ladoga | New Dvina Fort | Novgorod | Oreshek | Porkhov | Pskov | Smolensk | Solovki | St Petersburg | Trångsund | Vyborg | Yamburg

	Cities and towns in Pskov Oblast
	Administrative center: Pskov Dno | Gdov | Nevel | Novorzhev | Novosokolniki | Opochka | Ostrov | Pechory | Porkhov | Pustoshka | Pytalovo | Sebezh | Velikiye Luki

References

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