Zvenigorod
Zvenigorod (Russian Звенигород; ? Pronunciation / i) is a Russian town in Moscow Oblast, 50 km west of Moscow. The 16,395 inhabitants (as of October 14, 2010 ) A city is situated on the Smolensk highs in the upper reaches of the Moskva River and one of the oldest places in the Moscow region.
History
The exact founding date of the city Zvenigorod is no longer handed down, but first written mentions of the town date back to 1339. Fact that the city must be substantially done before, going from numerous burial mounds found in the area dating from between the 11th and 13. century produced. It is believed that Zvenigorod was founded in the middle of the 12th century by Yuri Dolgoruky, the founder of Moscow as a fortress. Presumably, the city was at the time of settlers from the Kievan principality according to one of the local places that also Zvenigorod - named were called - " the ringing city ". Hinting it contains to this day the city arms the figure of a bell, even if the Moscow Zvenigorod itself is known neither by production or by ringing of bells or was.
Since its founding, the city was a fortress city, which was also favored by their height riverside location. It was a typical for ancient Russian cities Kremlin, so one of a wooden retaining wall fenced with guard towers fortress city dwellers as Gorodok - " town " - designated. Since the 12th century the city also had the duty to protect a nearby passing trade. About 1.5 kilometers from the fortress founded in 1398, the monk and Sergius of Radonezh - student Savva Storoschewski with the support of Swenigoroder Prince Yuri, a son of Dmitri Donskoi, a monastery, which still exists today. This time around the end of the 14th century considered the golden age of the city, and although Zvenigorod was invaded and devastated in the years 1382 and 1408 by Tatars. Due to its favorable location on the trade route was Zvenigorod in invasion years as a relatively prosperous. The Uspenski Cathedral on Gorodok dates from the time the end of the 14th century and thus is considered the oldest extant church building in the Moscow area. The icons in the incurred at that time Swenigorods churches were created by Andrei Rublev, a then little-known icon painter.
From the 15th to the 16th century lost Zvenigorod after several power struggles in Moscow principality gradually its meaning; the Savva monastery offered an increasingly neglected picture. Beginning of the 17th century the city by troops of the False Dmitry I. was badly damaged on the way to Moscow. End of the 17th century began an upswing again after Tsar Alexei had made the Savva monastery to one of his residences. The monastery was extended, there arose new church buildings and fortifications. In the 17th century flourished in Zvenigorod first industry after boyar Boris Morozov had established there an iron processing factory. However, it should still take until 1781 to Zvenigorod officially received the status of a city by decree of Catherine the Great.
A final devastation experienced the Savva monastery in 1812 after the city was occupied at the Battle of Borodino by the French in port. A few days later, however, Cossack troops were able to rid the city again. However, Zvenigorod could not regain his once great economic importance; the Morosowschen factories ceased to exist long ago, in and around the city agriculture dominated life. This course also had its bright side: By almost missing industry coupled with attractive, landscaped location on the Moskva was Zvenigorod and its environs into a popular resort that numerous landscape painters, including Isaac Levitan inspired; the area was called even a "Russian Switzerland ".
Selected attractions in Zvenigorod
- Savva monastery
- Assumption Cathedral (originally built in the late 18th century to 2007, rebuilt )
- Uspensky Cathedral in Gorodok
- Alexander Nevsky Church
- Nativity of Christ Church (right bank of the Moskva )
Twinning
Sons and daughter of the town
- Lyubov Petrovna Orlova (1902-1975), film and theater actress
Economy and infrastructure
The recreation and tourism Kurbetrieb and is crucial for the economy Swenigorods today. Industry, it is only on a smaller scale, including furniture, toys and textile industries. Since the early 2000s, the city also experienced a significant growth in the housing sector.
At the train station in Zvenigorod is a terminal station at the terminus of a branch of the railway line Moscow - Smolensk -Minsk. Between the Belarus station of Moscow and Zvenigorod operate in one-to two -hourly local trains. The train station of Zvenigorod, however, lies about three kilometers from the city center. In between the local bus network.
The city has an observatory with a Super -Schmidt satellite camera ( VAU ) with 65 cm aperture, a 60 - cm reflecting telescope and a 50 cm -Hamilton telescope.