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Ancient Russian fortress is located on Oreshek (Hazelnut) island, in front of the town of Shlisselburg. Its history goes back for seven centuries. Founded in 1323 Novgorod Prince Yury Danilovich, it served as a Northern Outpost of defense against the Swedes. It was originally made of earth, after the great fire in 1352 the first stone walls were built. At the end of the XV century the castle was rebuilt. It has 10 towers, the citadel and the internal harbour channel. The height of the walls is 12-15 meters. In 1612, the Fort was captured and renamed in Noteburg (Hazelnut city). The Russian army seized it only 90 years later, during the Northern war. Peter I renamed it in Shlisselburg, which means "Key City". Shlisselburg has glory of the Russian Bastille - in the XVIII century a prison was organized in the fortress. The first prisoners were kept in complete darkness in the dungeon. However, in 1798, there was built a separate building for the prison - Secret house. It became a prison for political prisoners: the Decembrists, The People’s Will members, and others pretending to the throne. Many famous historical figures spent years of their life in small cells of this prison. For all time of existence of Shlisselburg prison no one managed to escape.
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