10 oldest cities in Russia

Russia is an ancient country. And on its territory there are many cities that are over a thousand years old. The historical and cultural heritage that they have preserved is an invaluable gift from the generations of the past to the future generations.

We present you the oldest cities in Russia.

10. Bryansk -1033 years

It is not known exactly when the city of Bryansk was founded. The approximate date of its foundation is 985.

In 1607, the city was burned so that it would not go to False Dmitry II. It was rebuilt anew and for the second time survived the siege of the troops of the "Tushino thief".

In the 17th century, Bryansk was one of the most important trade centers in Russia. And now it is an important industrial center of the country.

9. Pskov - 1115 years

Pskov was founded in 903, when the city was first mentioned in the Laurentian Chronicle. Olga, the first Christian princess in Russia and the wife of the Kiev prince Igor Rurikovich, is from Pskov.

For a long time Pskov was one of the largest cities in Europe and was an impenetrable barrier on the western borders of the country.

And in March 1917, while at the Pskov station, the last Russian emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne and became just a citizen of Romanov.

8. Smolensk - 1155 years

In September, the beautiful and ancient Smolensk will celebrate the anniversary - 1155 years since its foundation. It is only one year behind its closest rival in terms of mentioning in the annals (863 versus 862 for Murom).

For many centuries this "key city" protected Moscow from encroachments by a number of European countries. During the Time of Troubles, the inhabitants of Smolensk heroically held a siege for 20 months in the fortress, which was besieged by Polish troops. Although the Poles still managed to take the city, King Sigismund III, who spent all his money on the siege, had to abandon the idea of ​​going to Moscow. And the Moscow garrison of Poles, which did not receive military assistance, surrendered to the Russian militia under the leadership of Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin.

7. Murom - 1156 years

This small town, standing on the left bank of the Oka, is mentioned in the "Tale of Bygone Years". Its name, presumably, came from the Murom tribe, although historians do not exclude an inverse relationship. One of the main characters of the Russian epic epic, the legendary hero Ilya Muromets, originally from the city of Murom. The townspeople are proud of this and even erected a monument to the hero in the city park.

6. Rostov the Great - 1157 years

Rostov, the current center of the Yaroslavl region, has been running its official chronology since 862. After its foundation, the city became one of the most important settlements of the Rostov-Suzdal land. And the prefix "Veliky" appeared with him thanks to the Ipatiev Chronicle. In it, when describing the events of 1151 (the victory of Prince Izyaslav Mstislavich over Yuri Dolgoruky), Rostov was called the Great.

5. Veliky Novgorod - 1159 years

In early June 2018, Veliky Novgorod will celebrate the 1159th anniversary of its foundation. Here, according to the official version, Rurik was called to reign. And in 1136 Novgorod became the first free republic in the history of feudal Rus. The city escaped the fate of many Russian cities and was not affected by the Mongol invasion. The precious architectural monuments of Russia of the pre-Mongol period have been preserved in it to this day.

4. Old Ladoga - over 1251

In 2003, the village of Staraya Ladoga celebrated its 1250th anniversary. Until 1703 the settlement was called "Ladoga" and had the status of a city. The first mention of Ladoga dates back to 862 AD (the time when the Varangian Rurik was called to reign). There is even a version that Ladoga is the first capital of Russia, because Rurik reigned in it, and not in Novgorod.

3. Derbent - over 2000 years

If you conduct a survey about what is the oldest city in Russia, then the majority of educated people will name Derbent as such. This sun-drenched city the southernmost in Russia, located in the Republic of Dagestan, officially celebrated its 2000th anniversary in September 2015. However, many Derbent residents, as well as some scientists conducting excavations on the territory of Derbent, are sure that the city is 3000 years older.

The Caspian Gate - namely, this is the ancient name of Derbent - as a geographical object was mentioned in the 6th century. BC e. in the works of the ancient Greek geographer Hecateus of Miletus. And the beginning of the modern city was laid in 438 AD. e. Then Derbent was the Persian fortress of Naryn-Kala, with two fortress walls blocking the way along the coast of the Caspian Sea. And the earliest mention of Derbent as a stone city was in 568 AD or 37 year of the reign of Shah Khosrov I Anushirvan.

The date of 2000 years is not accurate, but more of an anniversary date, and refers to the time of the appearance of the first fortifications in Caucasian Albania.

2. Feodosia - 2549 years

One of the oldest cities in Russia with the beautiful name of Theodosia, which translates as "given by God", was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC. In the 13th century, on the site of Feodosia, the Genoese founded a trading city called Kafa and erected a fortress, which, albeit not completely, has survived to this day. A sad fact: it was from Kafa in the 14th century that a plague called the Black Death began to spread throughout Europe.

In 1475 the city was captured by the Turks and became part of the Ottoman Empire. However, in 1783, Kafa, like the rest of Crimea, became part of the Russian Empire and regained its original name - Feodosia.

One of the most beautiful cities in Crimea is distinguished not only by its ancient and eventful history, but also by a large number of attractions. Here is the largest (417 works) collection of paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky, who lived in Feodosia all his life.

By the way, the famous artist benefited his hometown not only in terms of art, but also in terms of the development of transport. It was he who ensured that a railway appeared in Feodosia, which turned the resort city into an important transport hub for Crimea.

Also in the city there is a small house-museum of Alexander Grin, the author of the famous "Scarlet Sails" and "Running on the Waves".

1. The oldest city in Russia - Kerch

Until 2014, when the Crimean Peninsula returned to Russia, Derbent bore the title of the oldest Russian city. However, in 2017, Rambler / Saturday media reported that The Scientific Council of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences recognized Kerch as the most ancient city in Russia... The ruins of the ancient Greek colony of Panticapaeum have been preserved on the territory of the city. Historically, Kerch is the heiress of Panticapaeum and its age has exceeded 2600 years.

According to archaeological research, the foundation of Kerch belongs to the time range from 610 to 590 BC. e. Historical and architectural monuments from different eras have been preserved on its territory. These include: burial mounds of the Bronze Age, the ruins of the city of Nymphea, the settlement of Mirmeki, etc.

Kerch did not immediately receive its current name, after Panticapaeum ceased to be the historical and cultural center of the Black Sea region.

• In the 8th century, the city came under the rule of the Khazar Kaganate and was renamed from Panticapaeum to Karsha or Charsha.
• In the 10th century, the Northern Black Sea region came under the control of the Rus.The Tmutarakan principality appeared, which included the city of Karsha, named Korchev. It was one of the most important sea gates of Kievan Rus.
• In the 12th century, Korchev came under the rule of Byzantium, and in the 14th century it became part of the Black Sea Genoese colonies, and was called Vospro, as well as Cherkio. The local inhabitants also retain the name Korchev in everyday life.
• In the 15th century, the merchant and diplomat Jehoshaphat Barbaro named the city Chersh (Kersh) in one of the chapters of his essay "Travel to Tanu".
• In 1475, the Turks took over the Genoese colonies and Cherkio became part of the Ottoman Empire. The city began to be called Cherzeti. He repeatedly suffered from the raids of the Zaporozhye Cossacks.
• In the 16th century, the ambassadors of the Moscow tsars, going to the Crimean Khan, knew the city as "Kerch".
• In 1774 Kerch (already under the final name) became part of the Russian Empire. This happened following the results of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774.

In order for Kerch to officially top the list of the oldest cities in Russia, it is necessary to obtain approval from the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian government. The management of the Vostochno-Crimean nature reserve prepared the relevant documents last year.