Ostrov, Russia

Ostrov

 

Transportation

 

Description of Ostrov

Ostrov (literally "island" in Russian) is located in the Pskov region on the banks of the Great River. The center of the city is located, as you might guess, on the island, which is connected to the shores of chain bridges built in the middle of the XIX century - the oldest surviving in Russia. There is also a traditional Pskov church, as well as fragments of quite decent, although in a pitiful state of urban development.

Ostrov stands on the Great River. This is the rare case in Russia, when in the middle of the river (between the Great One and its channel Slobozhiha) an island was found suitable for building a fortress. The first chronicle mention refers to the year 1341, and it seems that before the absorption of the Pskov lands by Moscow, there was a completely independent city here that had its own posadnik and veche. The fortress in and on the island is built in the XIV-XVI centuries. However, no trace of it has been preserved except for muffled fragments of stonework and a remarkable temple made in the best traditions of Pskov architecture.

Even after the unsuccessful Livonian War, the Ostrov remained part of Russia. At the beginning of the 18th century, the border shifted to the west, and the Island from the border fortress became just a district town, but did not lose its significance: there was a main ferry across the Great on the road that went from Petersburg to Poland and Lithuania. Later the Petersburg-Warsaw railway, one of the first in the Russian Empire, was built along the same route. However, before the construction of the railway in Ostrov, chain bridges appeared. According to legend, Nicholas I more than once complained about the disgusting condition of the ferry and ordered to build stationary bridges in the Ostrov, which was done in 1853, and the emperor who arrived at the opening was satisfied with the bridges. The inhabitants of the Ostrov are pleased with them so far, since it is easy, convenient and beautiful to cross the river over such bridges. Moreover, the second such attraction is not found anywhere else in Russia.

Not only the bridges, but also some of the pre-revolutionary buildings — the estate of Neklyudov or the neo-gothic real school — are monuments far from the county level, showing that at the beginning of the 20th century the Island was a large and significant city, head and shoulders superior to some Porkhov, not to mention Opochka or Pechorah. The decline began with the destruction of the Great Patriotic War, and the border position of the city in the recent period does not give him any advantages: traffic on the former St. Petersburg-Warsaw road is now minimal. The food industry is working in Ostrov, electric motor production is warming up, military camps are preserved. In Soviet times, missile units, air defense, and aircraft were deployed at the Ostrov. Many of them still exist as separate neighborhoods (Island-2, Island-3), located outside the city.

 

Travel Destinations in Ostrov

Orientation

The central square (Klava Nazarova, in the past of the Victims of the Revolution) is located near the Velikaya River in the place where the chain bridge is moved across the island to the island and from there the next bridge is on the opposite, left bank. On the right bank of the street passes October 25, where the highest concentration of historic buildings. Perpendicular to the river is Karl Marx Street, leading to the postal station and bus station, and another interesting street - Liberation - is actually outside the center (up and to the left from the square), but also deserves attention, since there are a Lutheran church and several other historic buildings .

The left bank of the Great is mainly occupied with private buildings. However, this is where the manor Neklyudova is located - one of the most beautiful island buildings.

 

1 Chain Bridges. Connect the central square with the island and the left bank of the Great. The length of each of the bridges is 94 m. This is a masterpiece of engineering of the mid-19th century — the period when large structures were just starting to be made of cast iron, and many technical solutions were new. The bridges were opened in 1853 (the emperor himself came to the opening), and in those times they were one of the largest chain bridges in the Russian Empire. From one of them you can see a fragment of masonry lying in the river - the last thing left of the island fortress (a piece of the wall from which the Germans tried to build a dam during the war).
2 Church of St. Nicholas (on the island). The classical Pskov church built in 1542. Initially, it had a square building with a single dome, but after only 10-15 years, a symmetrical chapel with the same roof slope and one more dome added to it, giving the church its modern “nested doll” look. The bell tower dates from the 19th century. The altar of the church faces north, but no one really knows why. According to one version, this emphasizes the subordination of the Island to Pskov. However, it is more likely that in the 16th century a tiny island was cramped for a fortress, so they built where there was a place, despite the canons. The best view of the church opens from the opposite bank, from the central square. Inside, like many churches of Pskov, cramped and not so interesting.
3 Trinity Cathedral, pl. Klava Nazarova. A good monument at the junction of Baroque and Classicism (1786), whose value is not so much in the architecture of the building as in its remarkable location: the cathedral is located in the perspective of several streets (October 25 and Karl Marx), and therefore visible from many points of the city and even from the left bank of the Great, while the church of St. Nicholas is completely hidden by trees. Pay attention also to the details of the design, cast-iron porch and luxurious carved doors.
4 Monument to Klava Nazarova, pl. Klava Nazarova. Organizer and leader of the underground Komsomol organization of the city of Ostrov. Helped the partisans, rescued prisoners of war, almost 1.5 years successfully hiding from the Germans. Hung on the central square December 12, 1942, the monument was erected on May 19, 1963.

5 Church of the Women of Mironosits, st. Osvobozhdeniya-Liberation (city cemetery). Ordinary cemetery church (1819).
6 Kirkha St. John, st. Osvobozhdeniya-Liberation, 19. Built in 1905 for the local Lutheran community. The national composition of this community is unknown, but the considerable size of the building and its impeccable Romanesque style indicate its importance. After the revolution, the church, like the Orthodox churches, was nationalized and belonged to various organizations, as a result of which it lost its central tower and other design details. The building was not handed over to believers due to their absence (the district investigative committee is located inside), but even the remaining part is impressive. The former Polish church (Liberation Street, 14) on the opposite side of the street, 100 meters in the direction of the station, is in much worse condition: there are only walls close to collapse, but the scale of the building is also impressive.
7 Post Yamskaya station, st. Karl Marx, 9 (on the way to the bus station). One of the surviving postal stations, built in 1840 according to a standard design for the St. Petersburg – Kiev road: a one-story house with large, rounded up windows. A curious memorial plaque dedicated to Pushkin and reporting that the Island "was the last city on the poet's tragic path in 1837."
8 Manor Neklyudova-Valuev, st. Schkolnaya, 30 (left bank of the Great, from the chain bridges along the coast to the right). The construction of this manor island is due to the influential noble family of the Valuyevs. Only the main house, built in 1764, survived - possibly with the participation of Rastrelli. This version is not confirmed by anything, but it is absolutely impossible to believe that such a building appeared without the participation of metropolitan architects. Perestroika XIX-XX centuries. made most of the house quite ordinary, but the surviving side facade strikes no less than chain bridges: there are few such perfect examples of classicism in Russia.
9 Simansky Spaso-Kazan Convent, st. Malaya Pionerskaya (left bank of the Great, from the chain bridges to the left). The monastery has a rather unusual history. It originated on the site of the Simansky estate (where its name comes from) - a noble family from which Patriarch Alexy I descended. ) in 1896 bequeathed to create a monastery on the estate, which was done. Despite the connection of the monastery with the patriarch officially recognized by the Soviet authorities, after the war the monastery lay in ruins, but now it has been fully restored and looks especially beautiful on a clear day when viewed from Victory Park. The Church of the Savior can be considered conditionally preserved, the wooden church of John of Kronstadt was built from scratch. In the monastery is the museum of Alexy I, which, however, never lived here.

 

City building is not very well preserved, but still preserved. The most interesting is the street on October 25 between the chain bridges and the road bridge across the Great. Here you will see the building of a real school (31 October street, 31) 10 - a three-storey neo-gothic mansion of almost metropolitan type, colorful stone barns 11 on the bank of the river (one of them was altered into the Ostrov-Park Hotel, but it is clearly visible from the river , what this building was in the past life), as well as an artifact of the Soviet era - a monument to Pavlik Morozov 12 in front of the correctional school (ul. 25 Octobrya, 51), which in itself is symbolic. In other parts of the city, pre-revolutionary houses are preserved in single copies, their full list is here.

Monument to Lenin, Victory Park. Lenin holds his hand so that quite often put empty bottles on it.

 

What to do

1 Military History Museum , Karl Liebknecht str., 7a. ☎ +7 (81152) 2-19-50. Tue-Fri 9:00 – 18:00, Sat–Sun 9:00 – 17:00. An interesting military museum, which was created by local enthusiasts engaged in search work. A couple of small halls are literally littered with objects, weapons, and equipment found in the vicinity of the Island. They also tell about the history of the Ostrovsky underground. There is an installation of rifle barrels in front of the museum, and in the park opposite there is more modern equipment provided, apparently, by one of the local military units: the Su-25 aircraft (according to legend, the former vice-president of the USSR, Major General A.V. Rutskoy, flew it) and heavy transport equipment.
2 Museum of Local Lore (on the island opposite the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker). It contains remarkable exhibits: from archaeological artifacts dating back more than 3 thousand years BC (research by the expedition of L.E. Krasnorechyev) to a collection of samovars and a wooden baby stroller. The views of the streets and the life of the Island can be seen in the engravings of the local artist V.N. Bespalov, and the museum also presents samples of local flora and fauna. It is planned to create virtual tours.

 

Transportation

How to get there

By train
Passenger traffic ceased in 2015, after which the old train station finally turned into a monument of architecture.

1 Element Wikidannaya Railway Station, st. Liberation, 84. The building of the station (1860) has survived since the construction of the Petersburg-Warsaw railway. Located 3 km from the city center, can be reached on foot, although the road there is boring and unpleasant. There are city buses number 1, 2, 5.

 

By bus
The island is the first major stop of buses traveling from Pskov in a southerly direction: there are both intra-regional routes (Opochka, Velikie Luki, Nevel, Sebezh) and passing buses from St. Petersburg. Departures to Pskov every 30-60 minutes, travel time is 1 hour. The journey from the Pushkin Mountains takes just over an hour, so it’s easy to explore the island on the way to the Pushkin reserve.

In Izborsk, Pechora or Porkhov - only with a transfer in Pskov.

Direct communication with Latvia - buses on Rezekne (2 times a week), Vilnius-Kaunas via Rezekne (2 times a week) and Novgorod — Riga (also 2 times a week) via Gulbene, Balvi.

2 Bus station, st. Suburban, 7. ☎ +7 (81152) 3-27-58. Open: 24 hour. Located on the northern border of the city, 2 km from the center. After making this journey on foot, you will see the old post station, but you can also neglect it, after passing a couple of stops by city buses No. 4, 5. The building of the bus station is new and clean, there are indoor plants and many metal chairs inside. There is a cafe (8:00 - 20:00) with a couple of tables, salads, as well as a rich assortment of pastries and pastries. Tea from plastic cups, brewed coffee is missing.

 

By car
The island stands at the fork in the M20 and the A116 road leaving for Latvia. From Pskov 50 km, from Opochka 77 km, from the Pushkin Mountains 58 km. From Porkhov 90 km mostly unpaved road of average quality. If you are coming from Latvia, then Ostrov will be the first Russian city on your way (Pytalovo is located away from the road), 115 km from Rezekne.

 

Transport

Four city bus routes that are needed mainly to travel from the bus station or the railway station to the center and back. Interval of movement: from an hour and above.

Taxi: +7 (81152) 3-13-13, +7 (81152) 3-99-00

 

Purchases

 Magnet, October 25, 19 (on the central square). 8:00 – 22:00. Grocery supermarket.

 

Eat

1  The snack bar "Oriental cuisine", 1 May str., 2. Mon–Fri 9:00 – 19:00, Sat–Sun 1:00 – 17:00. It looks more like a dining room, but one where you need to order at the counter, and then the food is brought. Oriental cuisine is not seen on the menu.
2 Bar "Malachite" (formerly cafe "Butcher"), October 25, 19 (in the building of shopping malls). Sun–Thu 12:00 – 24:00, Fri–Sat 12:00 – 4:00. Probably the best city cafe, where it is moderately cozy, edible and inexpensive. Loud music is possible in the evenings. Good reviews, Wi-Fi.
3 Cafe Bier Haus, October 25, 25. Sun–Thu 12:00 – 1:00, Fri–Sat 12:00 – 3:00. They promise European and Japanese cuisine.
4 Cafe "Korchma", Karl Liebknecht street, 3. ☎ +7 (81152) 3-44-11. Mon–Thu 12:00 – 24:00, Fri 12:00 – 2:00, Sat–Sun 11:00 – 2:00. Hot dishes: 150-200 rubles (2014). It is not a bad stylization for the far northwestern province to match the Ukrainian style - if not in food, then at least in the interior. During the day, cheap but primitive set meals. They say that it gets too noisy in the evening, and the quality of supposedly Ukrainian dishes leaves much to be desired. However, homemade tinctures poured into huge jars look absolutely wonderful and are designed to brighten up the numerous disadvantages of this institution.
5 McDonald's Cafe, 3 Karl Marx Street (Kvartal shopping center). Hot dishes: 50-80 rubles (2014). Fast food, unexpected for such a small town, consisting of pies, shawarma, soups and even hot dishes. It looks like a "Teremok", but it is cheaper and somehow more comfortable.
The restaurant "Ostrov-Park".   ☎ +7 (960) 224-15-45. 8:00 – 23:00. Hot: 150-350 rubles (2015). At the hotel of the same name, it is cozy.

 

Where to stay

1 Ostrov Hotel, 25 Oktyabrya str., 17. ☎ +7 (81152) 3-22-43. A typical Soviet three-storey guest house. Rooms without amenities, shared shower on the floor. For unassuming guests who save money. The only advantage is the location in the city center, and several cafes are also within walking distance.
2  Ostrov-Park Hotel, 25 Oktyabrya str., 28. ✉ ☎ +7 (906) 224-87-77, +7 (931) 903-57-71. Double room: from 2400 RUB (2014). A brand new hotel in which each room is decorated in its own style and even has its own name. Wi-Fi.
3 Harmony Fitness Center, 25 Oktyabrya str., 22. ☎ +7 (81152) 3-46-33. 900 RUB/person, suite: 2100 RUB (2014). 7 double rooms and three suites. Wi-Fi.
 Aviator hostel, Ostrov-2, Shumeiko str., 6. Departmental 4-storey hotel-type dormitory, belongs to the Ministry of Defense. They live here both on a permanent basis and accommodate business travelers. Among the advantages: there is a Sberbank branch and an ATM downstairs, several shops nearby, and the 777 nightclub is located at the end of the street.
4 Smolenka Guest House, village Smolenka (highway M20, 7 km south of the Island). ☎ +7 (911) 388-41-11, +7 (911) 889-77-75. Rooms with amenities, simple furnishings. Conflicting reviews.

 

Neighbourhood

From the Island, the road leads to the Pushkin Mountains, where almost all tourists go. If you have a car, you can, bypassing Pskov, go to Izborsk or Porkhov, where, unlike the Island, ancient fortresses have been preserved. Porkhov is the same small town as the Island, but it does not have a large river and its accompanying species. It is difficult to even call Izborsk a city, but this place is very picturesque and historical, one of the oldest Russian settlements.

To the south, the road goes into Opochka, the southern outpost of the Pskov Principality. The town is unremarkable, but cute in its own way. The Velikaya River there is no longer as wide as in the Island, but the ancient settlement looks much more impressive, and the wooden church again reminds of the existence of different faiths on the Pskov land. This topic is further developed in Voronezh, which was part of Lithuania and Poland until the XVIII century. Picturesquely located among the lakes, Sebezh is unlike any other city in the Pskov region, or Russian cities in general. The town of Pytalovo, southwest of the Island, is much less picturesque, but also very alien: This is New Latgale, a region that turned out to be part of independent Latvia after the revolution and therefore looks more like cities on the other side of the border.

The immediate surroundings of the Island are less remarkable. To the south of the city there was a network of southern fortifications of the Pskov Principality, which gave rise to a whole series of settlements. You can see them in Opochka, the Pushkin Nature Reserve (Voronich settlement) or near Pytalovo (Vyshgorodok). The rest of the settlements are lost in the forests and are not of great interest.

There is a lake Gorokhovoe to the south of the city. Near the lake there is a "Training center for the Russian national biathlon and cross-country skiing teams" and other health facilities. And the locals love to relax on the lake shore with kebabs and vodka!

1 Ostrovsky fortified area (Stalin line), Kholmatka village (34 km southwest of the Island). 9:00 – 21:00. In 1938-39, when the Baltic States had not yet become part of the USSR, a system of fortifications was built to the west of Pskov — part of the so-called Stalin line. Then the border moved to the west, instead of the Stalin line in the Baltic States, they began to build the Molotov line, and the Pskov fortifications were abandoned. They did not play any serious role in the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War: in July 1941, the German army reached Pskov almost unhindered. There are dozens of pillboxes scattered around the Island, Izborsk, Pytalovo, and Sebezh. Activists from the Ostrovsky museum organized an open exposition of military equipment and objects found by search engines around one of them, reconstructed a trench, and arranged a mass burial. You can inspect it at any time, only the pillboxes are closed at night.

2 Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Novaya Usitva, (21 km towards Palkino, Izborsk). An ancient Pskov-type temple (1442), disfigured by a later reconstruction, in which the large dome was replaced by a narrow dome. The decor of the walls has been preserved.
How to get there: Ostrov—Palkino buses 2 times a day.

Palkino is one of the faceless regional centers of the Pskov region, which grew up on the site of a village. Most notable is its name, which subtly echoes the neighboring district center of Pytalovo. Direct buses to Pskov run on average once every 2 hours. There are no places to stay overnight. They say that there is a canteen and a cafe. The building is extremely featureless. The only attraction is the small church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (1784), to which a pretty porch was added in 1907, not devoid of signs of Art Nouveau.

Kachanovo is one of the largest (by Pskov standards) villages on the Latvian border. It is curious that in the 1920s and 30s Latvia was here (unlike Palkino), and at least two monuments of the corresponding architecture have been preserved - a school and a house of culture. The Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is a good monument of classicism (1790), and a small Lutheran church (1925), now lying in ruins, has been preserved in the village.

How to get there: 50 km from the Island to Kachanovo, 30 km from Palkino. The bus does not run every day.

Ancestral — in the past, the estate of Neklyudov: the one who bought a wonderful house from the Valuevs on an island on the left bank of the Velikaya. The manor house is wooden (1892), restored and preserved, surrounded by a park, but the most interesting thing here is the wooden Trinity Church, built in 1928 by Latvian craftsmen from Rezekne. An unusual, albeit provincial combination of the Russian architectural tradition with the latest trends of that time. Perhaps this is the most interesting of the Orthodox churches built on the Latvian border during the interwar period. In addition to her, in the village you can look at the rocky cliffs along the banks of the Vyada river.
How to get there: similar to the previous one, only a little closer: from the Island and Palkino 40 and 23 km, respectively. A passing Pskov—Palkino—Pytalovo bus is added to the local bus (not every day).

 

Geography

The city is located on both banks of the Velikaya River (flowing into Lake Pskov), 43 km south of Pskov.

 

History

The Middle Ages

The exact date of the Island's foundation is unknown. It is assumed that it existed already in the XIII century. The first chronicle mention of the Island dates back to 1341, when the Pskov people, who were fighting the Livonians, "came to the aid of the islanders with their landowner Vasily Onisimovich." The fact that the chronicle history of the city begins with military events is not accidental: the Ostrovsky fortress was an important border outpost in the south of the Pskov Republic.

According to the researchers, the fortress was originally made of wood and by the middle of the XIV century could no longer contain the increasing onslaught of the Livonian Order. Then Pskov residents took vigorous measures to strengthen the Island. A stone fortress was built on the island formed by the Velikaya River and the Slobozhikha Channel, which was the largest military defensive structure of Ancient Russia at that time. The defensive power was reinforced by five towers and a zahab. The stone church of St. Nicholas built in it in 1542 was in harmony with the harsh appearance of the fortress.

Occupying a border position, the Island was repeatedly the first to meet the attack of militant neighbors. In 1348 and 1406, the Islanders stopped the Livonian invaders. The defenders of the fortress won a major victory in 1426. Throughout the XV century, enemies encroached on the Island.

Only in 1501, during the Russian-Lithuanian War (1500-1503), after a stubborn assault, the troops of the Livonian Order led by Walter von Plettenberg captured the fortress on September 7 and ravaged the city of Ostrov. During the assault, they fired fire arrows and subjected the fortress to fierce cannon fire. But soon the Island was cleared of invaders.

The fortress entered a glorious page in military history during the Livonian War. In August 1581, the Polish king Stefan Batory moved an army of one hundred thousand to Pskov; there was an Island on the way. A fierce three-day assault began. Despite the superiority in military strength and equipment, the enemy was unable to break the resistance of the defenders of the fortress. Only the personal intervention of the king led to the victory of the Poles; as a result, the city and fortress lay in ruins. The city was under the rule of the enemy until March 1582, when the Island was returned to Russia by the Yamal-Zapolsky Peace.

 

New time

After the devastation of the city by Stefan Batory, the island became desolate. The XVII century did not bring noticeable changes. The island remained a minor military city. At the beginning of the XVIII century, after the successful conclusion of the Northern War, the Island lost its former defensive importance. Since 1719, it became a county town of Pskov province, and since 1777 — Pskov province. On December 15, 1778, Catherine II approved the city plan of the Island, and by decree of May 28, 1781, the city was awarded a coat of arms.

Merchants, especially those who traded in flax, as well as the bristle and leather industries, played a significant role in the economic development of the Island. The development of the linen trade greatly contributed to the revitalization of the city and its growth. The townspeople set up a construction supervision committee, which required that all newly erected buildings be durable and beautify the city.

On January 26, 1860, train traffic was opened on the Pskov — Ostrov section (56 versts) of the St. Petersburg-Warsaw railway, on November 8, 1860 — the Ostrov— Dinaburg section (191 versts long).

 

After the Revolution

On February 23, 1918, the island was captured by German troops.

 

The Great Patriotic War

July 4-7, 1941 — battles for the city.
July 17, 1944 — the Panther line was broken south of the Island. The city was liberated by the troops of the 3rd Baltic Front on July 21, 1944.