Belgorod-Dniester fortress: address and time of work. History of the fortress

Throughout its history, Ukraine has often become the epicenter of wars and armed conflicts. All this was a consequence of the geographical location of the country, which from time immemorial served as a kind of bridge between East and West.

The rivers of Ukraine were arteries used for migration of peoples, as well as movement of troops. Passed along them and trade routes. Often powerful defensive fortresses were erected along their banks. With their help, trade routes were controlled, an obstacle was created for the movement of enemies.

It is worth saying that all the fortresses and castles of Ukraine were built with a defensive purpose and occupied a special place in the life of settlements and cities. They were a support and a hope in protection from enemies.

Belgorod-Dnestrovsky. History

How did the early medieval settlements appear on the site of the present Ukrainian city, to this day remains a mystery to scientists. Some of them believe that Slavic tribes built their homes on the site of the ruins of ancient Tire. Others suggest that the settlement was part of the Bulgarian kingdom. But unequivocally ancient documents confirm the special significance of Belgorod for the defense of Kievan Rus.

The heyday of the city was at the end of the 14th century. At this time he was part of the Moldavian kingdom as the main port and the capital of the southern provinces. At the same time, the construction of a powerful citadel was completed, which is now an interesting monument of medieval defense architecture.

History of the fortress

The fortification was erected in connection with the political instability that existed in this region. At what time was the Belgorod-Dniester fortress built? There is no exact answer to this question. Currently, various versions have been put forward. Some scholars believe that the citadel is of Turkish origin, others - that the Moldovan, the third - that the Genoese. We built the Belgorod-Dnistrovsky fortress for almost two hundred years. The beginning of its erection dates back to the thirteenth century. The construction was completed in the 15th century.

Location:

Throughout its history the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky fortress impressed everyone with its inaccessibility and power. The walls of the citadel are built of limestone. There is a fortress on the rocky high bank of the Dniester estuary. All of its territory, which has the form of an irregular polygon, covers an area of a little over nine hectares. There is a construction in forty six kilometers from Odessa, twenty kilometers from the Black Sea, on the right bank of the Dniester River.

If you climb to the side platform near the walls, then the fortress can be bypassed around the perimeter. At the same time, architectural and constructive features of its defensive line will be visible.

At the mercy of the Turks

From the side of the estuary and land to the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky fortress in the year 1484, an attack was made of the 50,000-strong army of Mengli-Giray, the Crimean Khan. Enemies were filled with a fortified ditch, excavated trenches for the installation of artillery. After that the Turks went to storm the citadel. The defending soldiers, despite their desperate resistance, were forced to surrender the defensive structure to the enemy.

Belgorod-Dnestrovskaya fortress for three hundred and twenty-eight years fell under Turkish rule. During this period the city was renamed. His new name, Ackerman, meant "white stone."

Akkermanskaya fortress in Belgorod-Dnestrovsky and in this period has not lost its huge strategic importance. The new authorities supported the combat status of all the facilities on its territory, reconstructed the existing defensive system, adapting it to the new requirements of military art.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Ukrainian Cossacks repeatedly made hikes, during which attempts were made to knock out the Turks from the Akkermanska Fortress.

Fight for the city

The history of the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky fortress entered the new channel only in the eighteenth century. During this period, Russia became a major world-class power. It has taken an important place in the existing system of international relations. The territory of Russia in the south was affected by events that occurred during the three wars with the Turks.

Belgorod-Dnestrovsky was first captured by the troops of IA Igelstrem (brigadier general) in 1770. Russia attempted to liberate the city in 1779 and 1806. The storming of the fortress was carried out by the troops of G. Potemkin, part of the Black Sea Fleet F. F. Ushakov. The citadel was stormed by M. Kutuzov. However, the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky fortress provided opportunities for circular defense and was practically impregnable. For the protection of the castle served as arranged in it underground shelters and secret passages, which until now almost no one has been studied.

In 1812, the signing of the Bucharest Peace Treaty took place. According to this document, the whole territory, located in the south of Bessarabia, has retreated to Russia.

Its fortress lost its military purpose in 1832. In 1896 it acquired the status of a historical and architectural monument.

The political and cultural life of the citadel

Belgorod-Dniester fortress occupied a provincial position, being part of Russia. However, at the same time she did not stand aside from the cultural and political life of the country. The city of Akkerman visited Pushkin in 1821. During this period the poet was in the southern exile. Ackerman's guests were A. Mickiewicz, M. Gorky, L. Ukrainka. Many other artists also visited this city.

Ackerman was part of the royal Romania (from 1918 to 1940). During the Second World War it was occupied by fascists. August 9, 1944 the city was renamed Belgorod-Dnestrovsky.

Architectural complex

The Belgorod-Dnestrovsky fortress, a tour of which will allow us to get to know the history of military architecture, is a complex system with a huge number of building strata produced in the period from the thirteenth to the nineteenth century. For this facility, two rows of defensive walls are characteristic.

On the map of the citadel, one can see the division of the entire territory with the help of defensive walls into three courtyards. In the fortress there are two gates, three more are located between the courtyards.

On the perimeter of the defensive structure, in the old days, thirty-five towers were built, which were joined together by curtains. At present, the Belgorod-Dnestrovskaya citadel is a unique monument, which acquaints us with the defense architecture of the Middle Ages. The fortress buildings are distinguished by a great variety of architectural solutions. They were erected using the perfect for those times construction equipment. All this allows the citadel to be considered a valuable source of information about the past.

Genoese Castle

It is believed that this structure was erected on the site of a wooden defensive post. The Genoese castle became the first object built in the fortress. In terms of this citadel has the form of a quadrangle. At the corners of the castle there are protruding towers. One of them, the north-western, collapsed as far back as 1888. The walls of the citadel have an interesting location. They are oriented to the ends of the world.

The surviving towers of the Genoese castle are multilevel, they have basements. The roofs of these structures are tented, covered with tiles.

In the towers, as well as in the walls of the citadel, there are slotted narrow loopholes. Along the entire perimeter of the castle in former times were located three-tier battle galleries, made of wood. Completion of the walls served as a merlot teeth.

Each of the towers had its own role. The prison was south-west. The commandant's office was the southeast, the largest one. In it in 1788 the Turks gave M. Kutuzov the keys to the fortress. From the basement of the north-eastern tower in previous times, a spare exit from the defensive structure was dug. The north-western tower was assigned the role of treasury.

Return of the original appearance

Since 1960, systematic work has been carried out to restore the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky fortress. During this time, a protective belt of concrete and stone was built on the eastern side of the citadel. He protected the walls from the destructive action of the waters of the estuary. In addition, the restoration work touched the main gate, minaret and two towers.

Belgorod-Dnestrovskaya fortress, whose address - st. Ushakova, 1, despite the repairs, restructuring and the historical events taking place on its territory, preserved its original structure as much as possible. This building is visited with pleasure by lovers of antiquity, to admire the high skills of medieval builders and architects. Belgorod-Dnestrovsky Fortress does not yet have its own website, but there is a lot of talk about it in the sources dedicated to the region. At present, it is a branch of the local lore museum.

Excursions

Did you visit the Belgorod-Dnistrovsky fortress? How to get there? You can use three types of transport: by bus, train or taxi. The train from Odessa will reach Belgorod-Dnestrovsk in two and a half hours. It leaves the train station five times a day. If funds permit, use taxi services.

You can get to the historic place by bus (route No. 560).

In Belgorod-Dnestrovsky you can stay and spend the night. There are many hotels and hotels in the city. In the warm summer period on the shore of the bay you can pit a tent.

For excursions the fortress is open daily, without days off. In winter days it can be visited from 8 to 17 hours. During the summer period the Belgorod-Dnestrovskaya fortress changes its working hours. In the warm season, it is open to visitors from 8 to 20 hours. The organized tours can be reached from 9 to 18 hours.