Izborsk Tourist Information
Izborsk is a small town located on the territory of the Pskov region 30km from Pskov, 85-km from Moscow and 300km from St. Petersburg. For everyone who visited this remote village, Izborsk means something else than just a provincial Russian town with ancient architecture and rich cultural traditions. There is something mysterious about Izborsk. The ancient town of Izborsk is a unique example of harmonious coexistence of men and nature. This is the land where the Russian history began, where different peoples and cultures meet and live in harmony. Izborsk is a kind of northwestern gates to Russia, the town built on saint springs, the town that preserves mysteries of the past and inspires artists and writers.
Izborsk is not only one of the most ancient towns of the Pskov region, it us also a unique nature reserve. The ancient town is often called the pearl hidden amongst Russian plains. One of hydrological monuments is Slovenskie Springs – natural point of interest of Izborsk. Numerous springs dotted around Izborsk are thought to be of healing nature and attract pilgrims from all over the country. At all times people believed that every spring has a unique healing power. Some make people healthy, others make people happy, and there are also those that help to fall in love and to be loved. That’s why, according to popular belief, you should wash yourself in each of them to have all treasures – health, happiness and love. The unique feature of local flora is ferns remained here from the times of the glacial epoch. Due to a great number of historical, archeological and cultural monuments and nature reserves, the Izborsk valley is a unique nature complex of Federal importance.
The settlement of Izborsk is located 30 kilometers west of Pskov. The first mention about Izborsk refers to 862 and it is concerned with the legend about calling the Varangian grand princes for reign: Ruyrik, Sineus and Truvor. The Pskovities invited Ruyrik to Pskov and made him their prince. According to the chronicle Izborsk is older than Pskov. But due to advantageous geographical location Pskov grew and developed much faster and Izborsk gradually turned to a town governed by Pskov. The main attraction of the ancient settlement is the Izborsk Fortress. The Fortress surrounds the village and preserves the layout of the old Izborsk. Izborsk emerged as a fortified Slavonic settlement. Gradually, the small village developed into an important administrative, trade and handicraft center. Originally, Izborsk was located on the old site of ancient settlement – ‘Truvorovo gorodishche’. According to the ancient legend, the settlement was named after Truvor, the younger brother of Rurik who became the first Russian Prince in the 9th century. While Rurik ruled in Novgorod, the biggest Russian town of the time, his younger brother got Izborsk. Yet, in the 10th century Pskov won greater importance owing to its favorable Location on the crossroads of main water and land ways. Izborsk turned into Pskov’s outskirts as its significance diminished. In Middle Ages Izborsk lived through a sequence of wars and defenses. In 1510 Izborsk and Pskov were incorporated into the Moscow State. In the late 17th century Izborsk gained back its importance and became a small town that was part of the Pskov principality. In the 19th century Izborsk was a provincial commercial town that preserved much of its legendary past. Traditional peasant and merchant houses are still at the basis of the town’s architecture. So, nowadays, Izborsk looks pretty much the same as it did two or three centuries ago.
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