Description of the attraction
Oreshek is one of the most beautiful and famous northern fortresses and looks picturesque both from water and from land. Here are preserved walls and towers of the 15th century and the remains of the church, turned into a war memorial. In the 17th-20th centuries, the fortress was used as a prison - the prison buildings, where the most famous political prisoners were sitting, have been preserved.
Fortress
The fortress was founded on an island called Orekhov - either because of its oblong shape, or because of the abundance of hazel that grew here. At this place in 1323 it was concluded peace agreement with the Swedes - and then a fortress was built here, at first a wooden one, and with 1353 years stone. Now in the fortress there is a memorial stone in memory of this world. The remains of the very first fortifications can now be seen under a special canopy - they are deeply embedded in the ground and were discovered already in the 20th century by archaeologists.
V XV century the fortress was actually rebuilt. Started series of wars with Sweden with the use of artillery, so that all the northern fortifications of this time were actively rebuilt. It is believed that this was the first Russian fortress with so many towers. It was built according to all the rules of fortification art and occupied the entire territory of the island. The central part - citadel - defended three towers, and seven more were located along the perimeter. Now all the towers have survived six … Wooden tents over the towers and wooden floors have been restored.
In 1612 Oreshek was captured by the Swedes. He fell due to the fact that he was on the island: the defenders were simply starved out, most of the garrison died from hunger. During the Northern War in 1702, he was recaptured from the Swedes Peter I … After the victory, the tsar renamed the city Shlisselburg - "key-city".
Prison
Since the 18th century, Shlisselburg loses its strategic importance and begins to be used as political prison … Here the so-called Secret house - a one-story building with several prison cells, which is located behind the inner walls, disguised even from the inside of the fortress. It was intended for the most difficult and uncomfortable prisoners.
For example, it was here that the unfortunate was imprisoned Emperor John VIthe son of Elizabeth deposed Anna Leopoldovna … The Empress was not ready to kill the child for the sake of power - but imprisoned him forever in this secret prison. He became a "nameless prisoner", a Russian "iron mask": his name was never mentioned anywhere. But, unfortunately, rumors still leaked out - and this ruined him. Already under Catherine II, a conspiracy arose to return the legitimate sovereign to the throne, and while trying to liberate John VI was killed.
The leader of the Bashkir uprising of the 17th century spent five years in Shlisselburg Batyrsha … He died when he threw himself with an ax in his hands at the guards.
They were serving their sentences here several Decembrists - after the sentence and before being sent to hard labor, they lived in the northern fortresses. In Shlisselburg were brothers Nikolai and Mikhail Bestuzhev, Alexey Yushnevsky, Ivan Pushchin and others. A. Yushnevsky later recalled in his letters that the Shlisselburg prison was the most terrible - much worse than the Peter and Paul Fortress.
In the Shlisselburg Secret House, many were imprisoned participants in the Polish uprisings … The most tragic story was the story of Valerian Lukasiński. He took part in the Polish uprising of 1830 and after him spent 37 years in the fortress - either on the personal order of Nicholas I, or simply being forgotten. After 37 years in the fortress they themselves did not know for what and for how long this man was imprisoned. He was allowed to walk only under Alexander II, and he was never allowed to see his relatives at least once.
Now in the Secret House there is museum exposition, which tells about the most famous of its prisoners, the atmosphere of the cells and the punishment cell is reproduced.
By the middle of the 19th century, the political struggle intensified. The secret house was no longer enough for the increasing number of prisoners. In 1883, a new prison building was built, designed for 40 cells, and from the beginning of the 20th, more and more new buildings began to be built. Shlisselburg became the central, central penal servitude … Now the buildings of the XX century, significantly damaged during the war, are in ruins, and in the new prison of 1883 there is a museum exhibition telling about the famous prisoners of each of its cells.
We spent several years here for many years. Narodnaya Volya: Vera Figner, Nikolay Morozov, Mikhail Frolenko. An apple tree grows in the courtyard of the Secret House. This is a descendant of those trees that were once planted here by political prisoners: the only entertainment they were allowed was their own garden. Some were sent to hard labor from here - for example, Grigory Gershuni. Someone committed suicide - this is how Sophia Ginzburg stabbed herself to death in 1891.
Here also took place executions … It was in Shlisselburg that Alexander Ulyanov, Lenin's older brother, was shot. The place of his execution is marked with a memorial sign.
War memorial
In the center of the fortress there is one of the most impressive memorials dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. It is turned into a monument the ruins of the garrison church of St. John the Baptist … It was built in 1831 and was almost completely destroyed during the war. For 500 days, Shlisselburg withstood the siege and bombing - he defended the Road of Life, passing literally a few kilometers away, saving the besieged Leningrad. Even then, the fortress appeared mass grave killed during the siege.
In 1985, the ruins of the church were turned into a monument. Several sculptors and an architect worked on it. The center of the whole complex is sculptural group "Oath" - the defenders of the fortress swear not to surrender.
Now John the Baptist Church is officially functioning. It was consecrated, and sometimes divine services are held on its ruins.
The city's attractions
There are several interesting sights in the city itself. it Museum of the history of Shlisselburg, located in one of the old factory buildings of the 19th century on Factory Island. It opened in 1995. There is no permanent exhibition, but thematic exhibitions devoted to the history of the city change regularly - the museum's collection contains more than six thousand exhibits.
In the immediate vicinity of the fortress there is Blagoveshchensky cathedral … The first Orthodox cemetery church appeared here simultaneously with the fortress itself - already in the XIV century. Under the Swedes, it was destroyed, and Peter I ordered to restore it. The current building of the temple was built in 1764. In Soviet times, there was a production workshop of the famous record manufacturer "Melodia", and since 1990 the cathedral has been operating again. By now it has been completely restored. The small warm St. Nicholas Church of 1770 and the Kazan Chapel also belong to the same complex.
In Shlisselburg there are also gateways of the Staroladozhsky Canalbuilt in the 18th century. This was the path connecting the Volkhov and the Neva, bypassing the dangerous Ladoga Lake. It became the largest canal of the 18th century, not only in Russia, but throughout Europe. The canal was opened in 1731 and operated until the middle of the 19th century. The last reconstruction of the locks and the mouth of the canal was in 1836-1842. Since the end of the 19th century, the canal has ceased to be used, giving way to Novoladozhsky.
Interesting Facts
One of the Decembrists - Joseph Poggio spent six whole years here. His father-in-law specifically asked about this, fearing that his daughter would follow her husband to Siberia. In the end, her father set a condition for her - either she divorces and marries another, or Joseph will forever remain in the Shlisselburg singleton. She got divorced.
A monument to the most famous Polish prisoner of the fortress was recently erected in Warsaw - V. Lukasiński.
On a note
- Location. Museum of the history of Shlisselburg: Leningrad region., Shlisselburg, st. Factory Island, 2a. Fortress:. Shlisselburg, Walnut Island.
- How to get there: By bus No. 575 from metro Dybenko to Shlisselburg or by train from Finland Station to Petrokrepost station. Further - across the lake by boat. The cost of the round trip is 300 rubles. adults and 150 rubles. children. The ferry is open only during the navigation season and may be limited due to weather conditions. Official site of the ferry:
- Fortress official website:
- Opening hours: from May 1 to October 31, 10: 00-18: 00.
- Ticket prices: adult - 250 rubles, discount - 150 rubles.
