Ancient cities of Russia: Zaraysk
Zaraysk is officially a year older than Moscow - the first mention in the Nikonov and Ipatiev chronicles of the town dates back to 1146.
The name Zaraysk was finally established only from the XIX century.
Over the entire history of its existence, more than 30 names of the city were known - Sturgeon (1146, 1541), Red (1225), Zaraysk (1146), Novgorodok-on-Ositor (1377), Zarazesk (XV century), Zarayevsk (1501), Nikola Zarazskaya-on-Ositur (1531), Nikola-on-Ositur (1532), Nikola Zarazsky (1610), Zoraisk (1681), Zaraysk (XIV), Zaraisk (XIV).
In Zaraysk preserved the smallest Kremlin in Russia - Monument of Russian defense architecture of the first third of the XVI century.
Zaraysky Kremlin, the oldest landmark of the city, was built in 1531.
The Kremlin was built according to the rules of fortification art, "according to the canons of Italian castle architecture and is adapted for conducting a circular battle with the use of artillery."
Zaraysky Kremlin is fully preserved in its original form, it is the smallest (2.3 hectares) of all Russian Kremlins that have survived to our time, and the only fully preserved Kremlin of the Moscow region.
The stone citadel has seven towers, the thickness of the fortress walls is 3 m, the height is 9 m.
On the territory of the Kremlin is the St. Nicholas Church (XVII century) and the Cathedral of John the Forerunner (early XX century).
The Cathedral in the name of St. Nicholas, Peace of the Lycian Wonderworker in Zaraysk was built in 1681 on the site of an ancient wooden temple.
In the Nikolsky temple, an outstanding literary monument of Ancient Russia was created - the cycle "Tales of Nicholas Zarazsky".
The main shrine of the cathedral is the temple miraculous icon of St. Nicholas, its priest Eustathius in 1224 brought from the city of Korsuni (Chersonesus).
Another attraction of Zaraysk is the water tower, built in 1914-1916 according to the project of A. I. Filippov technique.
The tower stands in the center of the square, at the intersection of Krasnoarmeyskaya and Gulyaev streets. One of the tourist attractions is climbing to the observation deck.
In Zaraysk there is a holy source - the White Well, with which the icon of Nikola Zaraysky is associated. Clean spring water can be taken with you, and in the warm season to swim in the font.
Every year on August 11, there is a celebration in the name of the Zaray shrine, processions are held.
Another amazing place 12 km from Zaraysk - Darovoy - the museum-estate of F.M. Dostoevsky, where the childhood years of the great Russian writer passed.
Annual events on the territory of the estate are the environmental festival “Bird trills” and the folklore and ethnographic festival “Lipets in Darovy”.
Text: personalguide
Photo: varlamov
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