Castles and fortifications |
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Kaprio
Fortress
Koporye fortress (also called Kaprio, Kapviga etc.) is situated 120 about km to the west of St. Petersburg. The fortress was founded in a rocky area near the south coast of the Finnish Gulf, on a chalk cliff. The site is a natural triangle-shaped platform surrounded by gorges and streams. On the southwestern side there's an especially steep 25m drop into the river Kaporka.
1240 The Germans build the first wooden town on the site of an ancient church and settlement. In 1241 the Novgorodians lead by Alexander Nevsky destroy it.
1279 - 1280 Duke Dimitri, Alexander Nevsky's son, founds a wooden fort and orders to surround the town with stone walls. This fort, however, is also soon razed and then rebuilt anew with local limestone by 1297. There are four round towers, three of which protect the north-western side. The main gate is also secured by towers, and there's a drawbridge over the moat. The fortress has an unusual feature of double walls with traps and grated shields.
1348 The Swedish troops under command of Magnus Eriksson try to overtake the fortress
1478 The Novgorodian rule is over, the lands incorporated into Muscovy
1500 The fortress is mentioned in scribe books of Vodskaya Pyatina (Novgorodian administrative region)
1581 -95 The Swedish troops overtake the fortress. It then stays under Swedish rule up to the Treaty of Tyavzino
1612 Koporye fortress is seized by Sweden again. The fortress is visited by explorers and officials who make accounts of it. For instance, in 1634 Holstein-Gottorps' ambassador's secretary completes engravings which are later published.
1703 Russians lead by Boris Sheremetev occupy Koporye. Soon it is visited by Peter the Great.
1731 - 1750 The fortress passes under the jurisdiction of Oranienbaum Palace, after that to the Saint-Petersburg Guberniya Office. In 1763 the garrison of Koporye is officially done away with.
The fortress is preserved reasonably well. World War II didn't harm it.
The restoration and research work started in 1970 was interrupted in 1985 due to the lack of funds. Documentation is available on what has been accomplished. Koporye fortress was opened as a museum in 2001. During the summer season different celebrations and events concerning the history of fortress are organized.
1240 The Germans build the first wooden town on the site of an ancient church and settlement. In 1241 the Novgorodians lead by Alexander Nevsky destroy it.
1279 - 1280 Duke Dimitri, Alexander Nevsky's son, founds a wooden fort and orders to surround the town with stone walls. This fort, however, is also soon razed and then rebuilt anew with local limestone by 1297. There are four round towers, three of which protect the north-western side. The main gate is also secured by towers, and there's a drawbridge over the moat. The fortress has an unusual feature of double walls with traps and grated shields.
1348 The Swedish troops under command of Magnus Eriksson try to overtake the fortress
1478 The Novgorodian rule is over, the lands incorporated into Muscovy
1500 The fortress is mentioned in scribe books of Vodskaya Pyatina (Novgorodian administrative region)
1581 -95 The Swedish troops overtake the fortress. It then stays under Swedish rule up to the Treaty of Tyavzino
1612 Koporye fortress is seized by Sweden again. The fortress is visited by explorers and officials who make accounts of it. For instance, in 1634 Holstein-Gottorps' ambassador's secretary completes engravings which are later published.
1703 Russians lead by Boris Sheremetev occupy Koporye. Soon it is visited by Peter the Great.
1731 - 1750 The fortress passes under the jurisdiction of Oranienbaum Palace, after that to the Saint-Petersburg Guberniya Office. In 1763 the garrison of Koporye is officially done away with.
The fortress is preserved reasonably well. World War II didn't harm it.
The restoration and research work started in 1970 was interrupted in 1985 due to the lack of funds. Documentation is available on what has been accomplished. Koporye fortress was opened as a museum in 2001. During the summer season different celebrations and events concerning the history of fortress are organized.
