Ancient cities of Russia: Old Oskol
Town Old Oskol. situated Belgorod region Russia. Administrative center of the Staro-Oskol city district. City of Military Glory (since 2011).
Geographical situation
The city is located in the southern part of the Central Russian Upland, on the banks of the Oskol River and its right tributary Oskolets, 186 km northeast of Belgorod.
Origin of name
According to one version, the name Oskol is derived from the name of the Kiev Prince Askold (left Novgorod together with Prince Dir in Kiev).
In 882 they were killed by the Novgorod prince Oleg (voivode Rurik), who moved the capital of Russia to Kiev. The Varangians refused to serve the new prince and went east to the lands of the tribes of the Severians and Don Slavs. On the river, which they named in honor of the murdered Prince Oskol, they inhabited the existing fortress at that time, which they called Holki, later after the deterioration of the situation with nomads, the Oskol fortress was founded north of Holok (standing on the site of the current Old Oskol).
The second version - the origin of the name "Old Oskol" is associated with the history of the founding of the city. Founded a fortress on the river Oskol, which was named after this river. The name "Oskol" comes from the ancient word "splinter", meaning "stone" or "fragment". The Oskol River has a rocky bottom and in some places water forms rapids and waterfalls.
Subsequently, a settlement was formed around the fortress - it became a city. To distinguish from the new settlement that arose later, the city was called "Old Oskol".
History
The city was founded in 1593 as a fortress to protect the southern borders of the Russian state from raids by Crimean Tatars and Poles.
The founders of the city are the head of Ivan Myasna, the voivode Prince Ivan Solntsev-Zasekin and the lieutenant Mikhail Nechaev.
The monument to the founders of the city was erected on the historical site where the Oskol fortress was founded in 1593. Subsequently, the square was formed here, which for centuries was called Red (Lower).
At present, a monument to the founders of the city has been erected on October Square.
In 1571, near the modern city, near the confluence of the Ublya and Oskol rivers, the Ustoublinsky forge was built. In 1593, the fortress Oskol was founded in its place to protect the southern borders of the Moscow state. In 1655, when the city of Tsarev-Alexeyev was renamed Novy Oskol, the city of Oskol was called Old Oskol. In 1897 the city was connected by railway with Yelets and Valuyki.
Since the nineteenth century, the city is known for its metallurgical enterprises and developed textile industry.
During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) Stary Oskol was occupied by German troops. In 1943, the city was liberated by Soviet troops during the Oskol operation.
Modernity: Currently, Stary Oskol is one of the largest cities of the Belgorod region and has a developed industry, including metallurgical and machine-building enterprises. The city is also actively developing tourism and infrastructure for recreation and entertainment.
Old Oskol crafts
Blacksmith business: Blacksmiths are known for their skill and ability to work with metal. They create a variety of products, including forged products, tools and decorative items.
Weaving: Weaving is one of the traditional crafts in Old Oskol. Local weavers create beautiful fabrics including carpets, blankets and other textiles.
Pottery: Potters in Stary Oskol masterfully master the art of creating clay products. They create various items such as pots, vases, plates and other ceramic products.
Wood carving: Wood carvers in Stary Oskol create amazing wooden products, jewelry and interior items.
Sewing and embroidery: Seamstresses and embroidery workers in Old Oskol create beautiful embroidered products such as national costumes, tablecloths, pillows and other textiles.
Old Oskol. Top attractions
Local history museum
The museum was opened in Stary Oskol in 1923, today in the collections of more than 40,000 exhibits.
Since 1995, the museum is located in the House of the merchant Likhushin (a building in the Art Nouveau style, a monument of history and architecture).
The museum in the village of Znamenka and the Literary and Memorial House-Museum of V.Y. Eroshenko in the village of Obukhovka are branches of the local history museum.
Building of the former branch of the Russian-Asian Bank
The Old Oskol branch of the Russian-Asian Bank, one of the five largest banks in Russia at the end of the XIX century, opened in 1900. The building was built by order of city merchants in 1911-1916, the project of architect Mikhail Zamyatnin.
A typical example of a banking building, the only one in Stary Oskol, preserved almost unchanged, which was influenced by classicism and modernism.
Until 1917, the Russian-Asian Bank was located in the building. After the revolution, financial institutions and banks "Selkhoz", "Agroprom".
Monument to the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky
Prince Alexander Nevsky is considered the patron saint of the city of Stary Oskol.
The monument was opened in 2010. Sculptor A. Shishkov.
Pushkin Library
In 2019, on the anniversary of A. S. Pushkin, the library was transformed. Oskolsk Electrometallurgical Combine changed the appearance of the building: a huge colorful mural was created on the building - the roots of A. S. Pushkin's books and a portrait of a classic of Russian literature.
Zoo
Zoo Old Oskol is considered one of the best in the Belgorod region. It contains more than 100 species of animals and birds from different continents of the planet or more than two thousand animals and birds.
The area of the zoo is 17.5 hectares.
Theatre Square
Theatre Square is located in the historical part of the city near Pervomaiskaya and Revolutionary streets.
On the square there is the Staro-Oskolsky Theater for Children and Youth named after B. I. Ravensky and a branch of the Yaroslavl Theater Institute, as well as an elegant rotunda, a place of dates and meetings.
Church of Sergius of Radonezh
On July 17, 2007, Archbishop John of Belgorod and Staro-Oskol consecrated a mortgage stone in the Dubrava microdistrict, at the construction site of the future church in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
On August 29, 2010 the church was consecrated in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
Monument to Prosecutor General Pavel Yaguzhinsky
Russian statesman and diplomat, associate of Peter I Count Pavel Yaguzhinsky was the first in the history of Russia Prosecutor General of the Government Senate in January 1722.
In February 2022, a monument to Pavel Yaguzhinsky was opened in the Theatre Square.
Text and photos: personalguide
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