The territory of modern Samara region during the XVI-XVIII centuries was regularly subjected to raids by militant neighbors. Once upon a time there were many castles and fortresses. The only Syzran Kremlin in the region has survived to this day. What is the history of this building? Are there tourist excursions here today?
Kremlin construction in Syzran
In 1683, at the confluence of the Volga, Krymza and Syzranka rivers, Tsar Peter Alekseevich (later known as Peter the Great) ordered the construction of a defensive fortress to begin. Voivod Grigory Kozlovsky became the chief project manager. The Syzran Kremlin was built according to a plan standard for its time. If you look at the structure from above, its walls formed a closed quadrangle of irregular shape. The fortress had five towers: four corner and one gate - the main entrance to the territory. The walls were made of wood, as were the four corner towers. And only the gates of the main entrance (Spasskaya Tower) were stone. It was preserved to this day as a reminder of the once great fortification.
History of Syzran Fortress
At the turn of the XVII-XVIII centuries Syzran - a strategically important military fortress. Detachments of soldiers originating from neighboring nomadic peoples regularly raided the nearby lands. The robbers robbed the fish and salt industries that developed here, as well as merchant ships on Samarskaya Luka. Syzran Kremlin participated in serious battles only once. The fortress was captured by the soldiers of Emelyan Pugachev. Time passed, and Syzran began to develop as a merchant city. Gradually, the city went beyond the fortress and grew around its walls. At the same time, the Kremlin has lost its strategic importance. In 1755, the main stone tower of the fortification was rebuilt into a church and consecrated in the name of the Miraculous Image of Christ the Savior. After about a hundred years, an underground chapel was set up in the dungeon under the temple. In 1875, the construction of a county prison began on the territory of the ancient fortress. In 1906, a major fire broke out, destroying a significant part of the wooden buildings of the city center. The stone tower-temple and the old church are all that remains on the site where the Syzran Kremlin once stood. Syzran at that time continued to develop as an industrial city. Old-timers say that once in the buildings of ancient temples warehouses were arranged. During World War II, an anti-aircraft battery was installed on the territory of the Kremlin.
Syzran Kremlin: description and photos of our days
From the once great Syzran fortress, only the entrance tower - Spasskaya - has survived. Today it houses a historical museum telling about the history of the Kremlin. On the upper tier of the tower is the belfry. The tower itself has several tiers and is in terms of a quadrangle, on which stands an octagon. Nearby, on the territory where the Syzran Kremlin once stood, is the Church of the Nativity of Christ. The date of construction of this architectural monument is 1717. In memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War, not far from the Spasskaya Tower, a square was laid out and the Eternal Flame memorial complex was erected.
How to get on an excursion?
If you decide to visit the Syzran Kremlin, Syzran, try to arrive in this city early. At 11.00 the belfry of the Spasskaya Tower arranges a bell concert. If you believe the reviews of tourists, the ringing of bells is one of the most interesting points in the tourism program for this city. This place is fascinating with its pacification. The preserved architectural monuments are buried in a riot of greenery. Within walking distance from the Spasskaya Tower is a well-equipped promenade with a picturesque view. Syzran Kremlin conducts excursions for groups and single visitors. It will be no less interesting to simply inspect the ancient tower and temple from the outside and take a walk around the surrounding area. Finding this attraction will not be difficult at all, even if this is your first trip to Syzran. The Spasskaya Tower can be seen from afar, its exact address is Kremlin Hill. The Church of the Nativity of Christ is being actively restored today, perhaps very soon it will open again for parishioners.