Akkermanskaya fortress. Description, history, photo

Akkermanskaya fortress among the fortifications of Eastern Europe occupies a special place. The huge bastion towers over the Dniester estuary, in the middle of the early antiquated city of Tire, founded in ancient times by the Greeks. For millennia, the defensive structure protects citizens from attacks by enemies.

Where is Akkermanskaya Fortress

Tourists, vacationers in Odessa and the nearby resorts (in Zatoka, Karolin-Bugaz, Ilyichevsk), certainly had to hear about the excursions to Ackerman. Most of the visitors do not even suspect that the biggest fortress of Ukraine with an area of 9 hectares rises in the middle of the sun-drenched Black Sea steppe. Impressions from the contemplation of the ancient stronghold remain forever in the memory and hearts of the guests.

Akkermanskaya fortress is located in the central part of the 57-thousandth city called Belgorod-Dnestrovsky. Now it is a quiet regional center of the Odessa region, and once - the oldest city in Europe, which was founded by the colonists from the Greek Miletus presumably in the VI century BC. E. The second name of the building is consonant with the name of the settlement - Belgorod-Dnestrovskaya (Belgorod) fortress.

Building

A strategically important place at the junction of trade routes leading deeper into the mainland along the Danube, Dniester and Dnieper rivers, needed protection from encroachment by neighboring competitors. The ancient defensive structures erected for this purpose existed before the 12th century, remained fragmentary. In the sixties, some elements (a round tower, walls) were built, built at the end of the 5th century BC. E. Part of the fortification system was rebuilt and used in Roman times as a citadel, where the Roman garrison was located.

After the capture of the city by the army of the Golden Horde, Akkerman fortress was laid. The history of the fortification begins in the XIII century, when Khan Berke initiated the construction of the citadel, which later became the heart of extensive fortification. Works were conducted almost two centuries, during this time defenders repeatedly had to meet unexpected visitors.

Early history: XIII-XV century

Initially, the fort was rented by enterprising Genoese, who used it as a protected shopping center, transshipment and storage of goods. However, soon Bessarabia passed under the control of the Moldavian principality, which was at the peak of development.

Both the Genoese and Moldovans strengthened the defensive structure, which reached considerable proportions. The citadel was powerful enough to withstand three times the siege of the mighty Ottoman Empire. However, in 1484 Ackerman fell, but not because of the talents of the Turkish generals, but because of treachery (as often happened) the nobility and elders of the city.

Late history: XVI-XXI century

For the Ottoman Empire, the Akkerman fortress became the most important stronghold in the north. It was repeatedly besieged by Cossacks, Poles, Moldovan gentlemen. Powerful walls stopped applicants for possession of the city. In the XVIII century, during the three Russian-Turkish wars, the situation changed. Having lost the former greatness of the Ottomans, they met in the face of the Russian Empire a serious opponent. In 1770, for the first time in 328 years, the citadel fell under the pressure of General OA Igelstrom's troops. In 1774 the city had to be returned to the Turks. At one time, the commandant of Ackerman was MI Kutuzov. Finally, the territory of Bessarabia was transferred to Russia in 1812. 1832 was the last for the citadel as a military facility.

The first world and subsequent revolution in Russia has once again redrawn the map of Europe. In 1918, Moldova and Lower Transnistria went to the kingdom of Romania. In 1940, the USSR annexed these territories, in 1941-1944. Who were in the occupation of Germany and Union Romania. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belgorod-Dnestrovsky remained part of the Republic of Ukraine.

Akkermanskaya fortress: description

Strengthening is a complex of structures with an integrated defense system. The outer walls stretch for 2.5 km and enclose a territory of about 9 hectares. The most important sites have towers: the most famous of them are Maiden (Ovid), Watchtower, Pushkin. Of 34 towers preserved 26. The height of fortifications varies from 5 to 15 meters, their thickness - 1.5-5 meters.

Part of the fortress leads to the estuary, which is a natural obstacle. From the sushi walls surrounds an impressive moat. Even after the lapse of centuries, its depth reaches 14 meters. The inner courtyard is divided into zones: economic (outside walls), civil and garrison. The last two walls are partitioned off. On the territory of the civil zone, a mosque was erected (a part of the minaret was preserved)

Citadel

In the farthest part of the fortress, on the banks of the Dniester, stands the highest and fortified part of the castle - the citadel. Once it was crowned by four towers:

• Treasury.
• The court.
• Commandant's.
• Dungeon.

The Treasure Tower collapsed, but from this no less spectacular is the Akkerman Fortress. Tournaments, held near the walls of the fortress, amaze the imagination with a sweep and naturalness. Modern knights for the amusement of Belgorod-Dnestrovsky residents and tourists converge in "battles", like their distant ancestors.

Current state

Unfortunately, Akkermanskaya fortress is gradually being destroyed. Studies have shown that it is based on a limestone slab with a thickness of only 5 meters. The waters of the estuary wash away the foundation, erosion contributes to the destruction of the masonry - the buildings need complex, costly restoration.

Specialists state that deformation of some parts of the fortress has reached a critical level. At any time, the walls and towers can collapse. For the sake of safety, many areas are closed to visitors. In fact, since the construction of the grandiose fortification it was not restored, despite the fact that Ackerman received the status of the protected architectural object in the 19th century.

Archaeological research

Excavations of ancient Tire began at the end of the XIX century. Its ruins "rest" exactly at the fortress walls. In recent years:

• New sections of the system of defensive structures (north-western part and tower, located in the southern part of the excavation).
• Hellenistic residential buildings.
• The construction of the colonnade of the Roman Empire.
• Late Antique houses and the construction with the apse of the V-XI centuries.

Studies have shown that in the Late Antique period, Tire still had the appearance of an ancient city and probably preserved it in the early medieval period. Thus, it is the largest monument of ancient and medieval history in Ukraine.

In 1919-1922, Romanian archaeologists inside the fortress discovered part of the defensive wall of the ancient period and the Middle Ages. After the Second World War, a number of expeditions of the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR allowed the opening of some rooms of buildings of the 4th-2nd centuries BC to the east of the main gate on the fenced-off area. E. And II-III centuries AD. E., Located on the edge of the estuary. This is a street with a drainage, which refers to the Roman period (I Transverse), the remains of the Golden Horde structures and production complexes of both the ancient and medieval periods. Excavations were also carried out in the fortress itself.

Akkermanskaya fortress, based on the specifics of its design, could not be built simultaneously, which led to the assumption of the erection of the citadel during the period of the presence of the Genoese here. Some researchers, based on early medieval written sources, believed that the place of Tire was the Slavonic Belgorod, the predecessor of the Golden Horde city. In addition to written sources, they relied on some material materials found during the excavation, but the layer and building remains of the period of the V-XII centuries were not found.

Below the medieval layers, dated XIII-XV centuries, were directly antique. The most late of these was the late Antiquity (last quarter of the 4th century). He lay on a powerful layer of the Roman Empire (III century.). All the construction projects of the Roman period are represented by residential and public (building of a promo) complexes, streets, constructions of industrial function (hills).

Tourism

Ackerman is an architectural gem of the Odessa region. Numerous companies organize cognitive one-day tours from Odessa and neighboring resorts. Hundreds of tourists daily rush to Belgorod-Dnistrovsky, where the main attraction is the Akkerman Fortress. The price of the tour is quite democratic, the entrance ticket costs 40 hryvnia (season 2015). However, many visitors complain about bans on visiting emergency areas and insufficiently developed infrastructure.

Do you want to see for yourself what the Akkerman Fortress is like? How to get there, we will tell:

• Transport of tour companies, organizing an excursion;
• By suburban train (electric train) "Odessa - Belgorod-Dnestrovsky";
• Bus transport - there are regular routes from Ilyichevsk, Odessa and resort areas;
• Taxi;
• Own transport.

From Odessa to Akkerman there is only one route through the Budaksky spit at the mouth of the Dniester. The distance is about 75 km.

Despite the neglect of the complex, the Akkermanskaya fortress still impresses with its grandiose size, rich history and cultural events. Come, you will not regret!