The Old City - Pages of Unique History Walking tour of the historical center of Smolensk 2 hours.

The cost is indicated from ...; per tour, depends on the season and the number of people.

We invite you to a fascinating walk through the historical center of Smolensk.

Rich in history, distinguished by magnificent monuments, architectural structures, preserved majestic walls and towers of the Smolensk fortress, saturated with the greenery of incredibly cozy parks - our "old center" is waiting for you and your friends!

What awaits you

Smolensk fortress and walk through the center of Smolensk, where in parks and squares there are monuments dedicated to battles and soldiers - heroes of the Patriotic Wars of 1812 and 1941-45; as well as heroes of peacetime.

And on the streets - masterpieces of architecture of the pre-revolutionary and Soviet period - in the styles of Art Nouveau, Neoclassicism, Art Nouveau, Stalin's Empire; attracting attention not only for its appearance, but also for its history.

You will learn about significant events in the history of Smolensk region from the 9th century to the present day, inextricably linked with the history of our state.

Blognier Park - the starting point of the excursion - is one of the most beautiful places of Smolensk with its history.

The guide will tell you where our famous bronze deer came from in Smolensk, made in 1910 on the personal instructions of the German Emperor Wilhelm II and having a very interesting background;

tells about the interesting fate of the monument to M.I. Glinka, which was inaugurated on May 20, 1885 on the composer's birthday, and survived the Second World War - because of an incredible coincidence, the Germans not only did not touch the monument, but also put up guards near it;

The question is why Blognier Park has such a name.

During a walking tour of the "old center" you will take a walk through the ancient streets that have preserved the buildings of the times of the Russian Empire.

You will see the majestic building of the former Noble Assembly, which is the best monument of classicism in Smolensk, as well as one of the best examples of provincial noble buildings;

the building of the former Merchants' Assembly - the famous house of the merchant Budnikov with the ancient coat of arms of Smolensk, you will learn why the wingless Gamayun bird depicted on it, on the instructions of Catherine the Great, was replaced by a bird of paradise;

Mansion of the chamber-junker and mayor of Smolensk A. P. Engelhardt, built in 1879. The house is considered the best in the Smolensk region architectural structure of the eclectic period, stylized under the baroque.

Next, you will head to the Terkin Square, where you will see a monument that depicts the author, Alexander Tvardovsky, our famous countryman and his literary hero together - the only one in Russia.

One of the most famous places in Smolensk is a park on Dzerzhinsky Street, which is called the Park of the Memory of Heroes.

The visiting card of the Heroes Park is the “Monument with Eagles”, which is considered the best in Russia of those dedicated to heroes of 1812.

You will walk through the Park with the story of the guide about the events of the two Patriotic Wars (1812 and 1941-45), inspect the monument with eagles, the monument to the heroes of the SVO, the alley of heroes, commemorative tablets, a monument to the partisans of 1812, a memorial burial in the fortress wall, steles with the names of the heroes of the Moles, “Eternal Flame”, next to which the Smolenian M. Egorov, who hoisted the banner of Victory over the Reichstag, is buried.

Next you will find the Smolensk fortress, built in 1595-1602. At the time of its construction, all stone construction in the state was stopped. “The Smolensk Wall will now become the necklace of all Orthodox Russia to the envy of the enemies and the pride of the Moscow state...” – Boris Godunov

The Smolensk fortress is one of the most powerful defensive structures of Russia and still gives the impression of a mighty stronghold.

The heroic defense of Smolensk 1609-11 was one of the landmark events of the Time of Troubles, which ensured the preservation of the Russian state, since the Poles, exhausted by a long siege of the city, did not go to Moscow, King Sigismund III spent all his funds and was forced to disband the army, and without receiving reinforcements, the Moscow garrison of the Poles surrendered to the people’s militia.

Lopatinsky Garden near the fortress wall is a witness to the events of the “Time of Troubles”, the 40-year Polish occupation, the times of Peter I and the Northern War, and, of course, the defense of Smolensk in August 1812.

Monuments, guns, the Royal Bastion, serf casemates, remembering Kochubey and Iskra – and here the amusement park – in Smolensk, the connection of times is felt always and everywhere.

In November 1841, in front of the entrance to the Royal Fortress, a monument was opened to the Defenders of Smolensk on August 4-5, 1812.

In the Lopatinsky Garden on the territory of the Royal Bastion, you will see the monument to the Sophia regiment and the cenotaph of a Frenchman by birth, the Russian general A. A. Scalon (1767-1812), who died in a fight with the French on August 5, 1812.

Lopatinsky Garden is one of the oldest city parks in Smolensk.

It was founded in 1874 on the site of the former Royal Fortress by order of Governor Alexander Grigorievich Lopatin, who headed the Smolensk province in 1871-1880 and left a good memory of himself. At the main entrance there is a monument opened to him in our time.

At the turn of XIX-XX centuries Lopatinsky Garden was recognized as one of the best parks in Russia.