Sightseeing: Mozhaisk invites (description, history and interesting facts)

What kind of city, where on eighteen square kilometers of concentrated importance of the landmarks? Mozhaisk is a city whose life for centuries has always been one of the most glorious moments of its history. Located on the Moscow Upland, in the upper reaches of the river of the same name, to the borders of the Gzhat Basin, this city has not been bypassed or traveled by any major political event, not a single one, starting much earlier than the thirteenth century, when Mozhaisk was first mentioned in the annals.

Prince Yaroslav

Sights of Mozhaisk accumulate a very long time. Even when he was part of the Smolensk Principality, the fortifications of the hill near the river Mozhayki helped to repel the raids of neighbors. Prince Vladimir-Suzdal Yaroslav also wanted to capture the city.

It was then that the dense forests of this region were cut down to the root, otherwise it would be impossible to defend the city, and since the hill opened a remarkable view, not interfering with the flight of the arrow. The forest went to the fortifications, to the buildings - the land was quickly developed, they are quite fertile and rich in harvest.

The raids

Posada grew rapidly and in a short time had already reached the Moscow River. The only bad thing is that due to the lack of a forest, Mozhayka has become very shallow, and today it is hardly a noticeable stream. Immediate proximity to the center of the country tightly linked the city to the fate of Russia, many of the sights of Mozhaisk preserved, evidencing this. The first heir of this land - Fedor (Black) Rostislavich - and became in 1239 the first prince, making this city an autonomous principality.

Russia was very finely fragmented at the time, so it was difficult for it to resist foreign invaders. Almost twenty cities devastated in these years Dyudenev's army, including Mozhaisk. The sights, stored in museums of the city, are extremely eloquent. Yes, and local, living in the neighborhood, the princes rarely coexisted peacefully. It was incredibly difficult to maintain autonomy, the princedom slightly weakened - here it was crushed.

Moscow

Already at the beginning of the fourteenth century, the struggle between neighboring princes culminated in the violent annexation of Mozhaisk to the Moscow principality of Yury Danilovich, under his strong hand. Long enough managed the city Ivan the Red. In general, this century brought not only landmarks. Mozhaysk has experienced innumerable disasters. Twice he was defeated cleanly: Olgerdom from Lithuania, who burnt the city in 1314, and then the Tokhtamish horde, after only forty years, defeated, looted and burnt a newly rebuilt city with a huge difficulty. The blow was devastating.

Nevertheless, sad events did not eliminate Mozhaisk from the role of a key settlement in Russia. This, first of all, has always been a great religious center, the curator of the famous icon of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk, the holy prayerful intercessor of all the soldiers of the Orthodox land. Mozhaysk has preserved its sights, of course, not all: now this image, universally respected, is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery, as it is also a unique treasure of the domestic art traditions of the fourteenth century.

Andrey Dmitrich

In 1389 Prince Andrey, the son of the victor of Donskoi, sat on the throne. Then the sights of Mozhaisk and the surrounding area were replenished with widely constructed stone temple complexes. Ferapont Belozersky just then was able to build the famous Luzhetsky monastery, and now is called the Ferapontov monastery.

At the same time, all kinds of crafts began to flourish in Mozhaisk, so by the sixteenth century the city had become a developed shopping center. In addition, Mozhaysk touched many trade routes, stretching to the west.

Troubles

These difficult years, of course, could not bypass the city or go unnoticed. At least three years ago, Fyodmitry II, a comrade-in-arms , the arrogant Pole Vladislav, ruled the city of Mozhaisk from his hand. The sights collected in museums testify about this time, about what labor and what losses cost expulsion of invaders.

Only in 1618 foreigners who were shamelessly expelled from primordially Russian lands, again returned for revenge, but it was no longer possible to occupy Mozhaysk: the resistance was heroic, and Boris Lykov-Obolensky commanded them. Evidence of these times has become many attractions, and the museums of Mozhaisk are treasured with them.

Losses

In the seventeenth century, the city was adorned with stone clay by the patronage of Dmitry Pozharsky, who was a Mozhaisk voivode. To great regret, until today only a small part of this ancient masonry has been preserved, because for some unknown reason Catherine II ordered the Kremlin to disassemble. From the surviving brick, a Novo-Nikolsky temple complex was built. Nevertheless, Mozhaysk and the Mozhaisk region became more and more prosperous and developed. Sights preserved from those times can be seen everywhere.

And in 1723 Mozhaisk stepped on the path of industrial development. The Manufactory College ordered the creation of glass factories in the district. It was the Mozhaisk glassworks and the Mozhaisk Crystal Factory that soon became famous throughout Russia. But, like the Kremlin, Mozhaysk and this glory lost. To not cut down and so almost exterminated forests, after a couple of decades, the Senate ordered to move production. Now all the Mozhaisk glass glory - on the Gus River, not far from Vladimir, products under the Gus-Khrustalny brand and to this day remarkably characterize themselves, but do not enter the sights of Mozhaisk. Addresses, reviews of which passed the mouth of mouth to mouth the inhabitants of this city of the eighteenth century, no longer exist.

Patriotic War

The nineteenth century Mozhaisk met a rich and fairly prosperous city, although provincial. The ordered system contained fifteen suburbs, which were connected by several dozen alleys and streets. Historical documents say that Mozhaysk then had more than three hundred large houses made of wood, sixty shops, as many as three drinking houses with restaurants, more than ten smithies, several factories: tannery, breweries. So he found 1812 year. By the way, Mozhaysk still retains the original layout of the eighteenth century. You can still see the ancient buildings, many interesting buildings.

The French invaders occupied the Luzhetsky monastery, Napoleon stood headquarters there, a hundred meters from the famous Novo-Nikolsky temple. Retreating, they set fire to this ancient monastery of Russia. The unique interior of this monastery will not be restored ever. For Mozhays, this was a huge tragedy, because the veneration of the monastery was enormous. In 1908, when the 500th anniversary of this monastery was celebrated, the procession was made by many thousands of Orthodox, including the governor of Moscow, the leaders of the nobility and, of course, the metropolitan himself.

Twentieth Century

The city of military glory of Mozhaisk is an example of gallant resistance to the enemy, who came under fascist flags. Occupation is the most sad page in the history of Mozhaisk, but also the most heroic, glorified by partisan and underground activities throughout the region. The memorial complex, which is dedicated to the fearlessness of the liberators of the Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, is the most significant monument in this territory.

Already at the entrance to the city you can see that it did not penetrate here together with foreign invasions and even occupations, nothing alien: in architecture, according to cultural characteristics, the city of Mozhaisk is Russia. Attractions characterize it as a historical memory of the heart of the country. There are several memorial museums, in addition to this, there is also a historical and architectural museum. In addition, all the tourists and guests of the city note how it is picturesque, how beautiful the nature of the Moscow region, especially the so-called Mozhaisky Sea. To view all these beauties, horse and bicycle tourism is well developed here. Also tourists praise Mozhaisk beaches and fishing.

To come to Mozhaisk

From Moscow you can get to the city marked for special valor with the honorary title of military glory, it is very easy and simple, here an excellent motorway and a railway - only one hundred and ten kilometers can be reached in an hour and a half either from Belorussky railway station or by bus from Victory Park. The weather in this locality is no different from Moscow, the same temperate continental climate, the same precipitation and the same seasonality.

Mozhaiskoe sea, which appeared half a century ago, after the establishment of a dam on the Moskva River, is not only useful for managing, it is now a favorite place for holidaymakers from both Mozhaysk and from afar. Here the fish are perfectly caught, the coniferous forest is grown along the banks. Water sports and beach holidays are thriving. It should be noted that the ecologically Mozhaysky region is the cleanest among all settlements of the Moscow region, the quality of the water in the reservoir is remarkable. That is why the most comfortable sanatoriums are located here. However, a lot of space and for rest with a tent.

The Kremlin Hill

Here, tourists inspect the outstanding monuments of antiquity - the main western defense post. Much more full-fledged in the twelfth century, Mozhayka protected the hill from one side, and on the other - an artificial moat. On the perimeter still remained the remains of a powerful fortress wall, the earthen rampart - the foundation for it - was preserved better. It is a pity that you can not see the ancient beautiful towers of the Mozhaisk Kremlin, only in pictures. But also that is rebuilt, restored, worthy of applause.

You can admire the St. Nicholas Cathedral (there are elements of the former fortress - a wall, a gate, an old gate house). In the church of Peter and Paul still retains the original decor of the fourteenth century, of course, not completely. And also as a tourist attraction: a spring lake at a height of seventeen meters, it remembers the most ancient times. Until now, archaeological research is continuing here, and not without wonderful discoveries. For example, a Greek icon from the Middle Ages was recently found. No less interesting for inspection and Luzhetsky monastery, which preserved the ancient relics and amazing beauty of the temples.