Top sights in Smolensk

The first Cathedral building was founded in 1101 by Vladimir Monomakh. In 1611, the temple was blown up by poles, who erected the catholic church in its place. After the return of city of Smolensk into Russia, the catholic church was dismantled, and in 1676 started the restoration of the Cathedral, which lasted for almost a hundred years. In 1771, a huge five-domed Cathedral with its gilded iconostasis was finally completed. According to legend, it looked so majestically that even Napoleon took off his hat in front of the temple when he entered Smolensk. The Cathedral occupies an area more than 2000 square meters and has three portals – entrance and three naves. An extension adjacent to the east wall is designed to keep clock made in 1795. All the buildings of the Cathedral complex are colored green.
Smolensk Dormition Cathedral

The first Cathedral building was founded in 1101 by Vladimir Monomakh. In 1611, the temple was blown up by poles, who erected the catholic church in its place. After the return of city of Smolensk…

The Smolensk was important city-fortress on the western border and its wall is the longest fortified structure in Europe. The length of the walls of Smolensk fortress is 6.5 km and height varies from 13 to 19 meters, the walls had a system of galleries to listen for enemy activity, there were also passages and ammunition areas inside. The construction works spent 320 thousands of piles, 100 million of bricks, million cartloads of sand and was the official state duty. 8 years after the end of construction, in the early seventeenth century, the fortress had to take the first fight. The Polish army of King Sigismund III was besieging the heroic city for more than a year. In June 1654, the fortress was stormed by Russian troops and during a seven-hour storm, 16 thousand people were lost. The fortress was stormed by the Napoleon’s Army in 1812 and by the Germans in 1941 And every one of the retreating army considered its duty to blow up a part of the fortification wall. Only fragments of original walls are left intact now, especially in the southern and eastern parts of the ancient city. Also 18 towers from 38 survived. In one of the towers there is now a Museum of the Smolensk fortress.
The Smolensk Fortress wall

The Smolensk was important city-fortress on the western border and its wall is the longest fortified structure in Europe. The length of the walls of Smolensk fortress is 6.5 km and height varies from…