Pskov
Pskov (Псков, ancient spelling Пльсковъ, also Pihkva (Estonian), Pleskau (German) and Psków (Polish)) is an ancient Russian city, located in the north-west of Russia near the present-day border with Estonia, on the river Velikaya. The city of Pskov serves as the capital of the Pskov Oblast.
Historians believe that the foundation of the city dates to the 10th century or possibly even earlier. No contemporary reference to its foundation survives, and accounts differ. The earliest mention comes in 903, which records that the Kievan Prince Igor Rurikovich married St. Olga there. 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.
For nearly 300 years, during the Middle Ages, Pskov functioned as an independent republic, but it became subject to Moscow in 1509.
During the Livonian War (1578 – 1582), between Ivan the Terrible of Russia and Stefan Batory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Polish forces besieged the city. They failed to capture it, but forced Russia to return other territories and gained Livonia. The siege provided the setting for Jan Matejko's painting Batory pod Pskowem ("Batory at Pskov").
During World War I Pskov became the center of much activity behind the lines, and after the Russo-German Brest-Litovsk Peace Conference (22 December 1917 – 3 March 1918), in the winter of 1917 – 1918, the Imperial German Army invaded the area.
A number of substantial city walls surround Pskov; at one point, five such walls ringed it, making the city practically impregnable. The initial fortress, or Kremlin, still stands.
However, the walls provided little protection against artillery, and during World War II Pskov suffered substantial damage during the German occupation from July 9, 1941 until July 23, 1944. Many buildings suffered destruction before the Wehrmacht could occupy the city. Though a huge portion of the population died, Pskov city in 1989 had a population of about 204,000.
Pskov has a rich cultural history, with many dozens of churches having survived the Soviet era, some dating back to the tenth century. However, the area presently has only a very minimal tourist infrastructure, and much of the city needs serious renovation.
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Categories: Russia geography stubs | Cities and towns in Russia