Monument "The first settler" in the city of Penza: description, history and interesting facts

The monument "First settler" is one of the main sights of Penza, which became a visiting card for the regional center. The image of the first settler is often found on souvenirs, in various thematic magazines and albums. At the regional level, the monument is an object of cultural heritage.

It turns out that the place for the sculptural group was not chosen immediately, and its creators were in danger of encountering a negative attitude of the state authorities.

Description of the monument "First settler" in Penza

Year to protect the boundaries of the Russian kingdom in the southeast from raids by aggressive steppe nomadic tribes.

A bronze sculptural composition consists of figures of a man and a horse. A powerful first settler personifies two essences - a military (strong defender) and a peasant (a farmer-farmer). In one hand, a man holds a sharp spear, and the other touches a plow. A faithful horse can also serve both for military purposes, and in peaceful ones - for plowing the fields.

On the circular granite pedestal, mounted on a two-meter man-made barrow, is an inscription from the decree on the foundation of the fortress: "Summer 7171-1663 - the city of Penza is ordered to build".

Monument "The first settler": history

The initiative to create a memorial belongs to GV Myasnikov, who was at that time in Penza, the second secretary of the regional committee of the CPSU, and did a lot for the city and the region. Initially, the sketch was a group of "Volga and Mikula", from which there was only a peasant with a plow, a spear and a horse. The party leader fell in love with the idea of personification of two principles in the fate of the first inhabitants of the Penza lands of the XVII century - a warrior and a hulk.

The author of the monument is the Leningrad sculptor Valentin Kozenyuk, who worked on his creation since 1977, and the architect - Yuri Komarov. Sculptural composition was cast at the enterprise "Penztyazhpromarmatura".

The monument "Pervoposelenets" was opened on September 8, 1980. On this day six hundred years ago the Kulikovo battle took place - an epochal battle that put an end to the centuries-old Mongol-Tatar yoke on Russian soil.

Memorial complex and monument "Pervoposelenets", Penza

The address along which you can find a city landmark is Kirov Street, near the house 11. It is not accidental that the place for the monument is chosen. On the opposite side of the street is the preserved part of the earth defensive shaft. It was built a palisade, stylized in the old days, and on the site of the fortress corner tower set a wooden belfry with a memorial tablet. The original bell and mortar cast iron, installed on the belfry, was provided by the museum of local lore. So a single memorial complex was created .

From the observation platform, next to which is the monument "First settler" (Penza), offers a magnificent view of the city quarters in the valley of Sura. On the cast-iron fence of the site - bas-reliefs depicting the coat of arms of Penza.

Interesting Facts

Initially, the monument was planned to be installed in a completely different place - on the outskirts of the city, in a forest near the café "Zaseka". In the process of casting the sculpture, it became obvious that the monumental composition would look much better in the historical center of the city.

When the area for the monument was being arranged, the demolition of the postmaster in the vicinity was discussed. As a result, only the fence was demolished, and in the surviving house the Museum of one picture was subsequently opened, analogues to which does not exist in the country and the world.

With the installation of the monument, the initiators of its creation could have problems, since the sculpture of a pre-revolutionary soldier-farmer did not belong to the category of traditional monuments of the Soviet era. Memorials dedicated to Soviet politicians and the memory of the victims of the Great Patriotic War were then welcomed.

In 1980, the Summer Olympic Games were held in the Soviet Union, so the allocation of funds for the opening of the memorial was a violation of the government's installation to spend money only to prepare for the competition. Therefore, the creators of the monument risked provoking the wrath of the current authorities.

Despite the obstacles and possible undesirable consequences, the monument "The First Settler" was established and inaugurated and for several decades has been one of the most significant and recognizable symbols of the city of Penza.