Oreshek Fortress

Oreshek Fortress is located on the small Orekhovy Island, located at the mouth of the source of the Neva River from Lake Ladoga. The island lies opposite Shlisselburg, 50 kilometers east of St. Petersburg, territorially it belongs to Kirovsky district of the Leningrad region. The legendary fortress, built 700 years ago, was repeatedly turned into the arena of conflicts between Russia and Sweden, twice rebuilt, then served as a political prison, and during the Great Patriotic War it was almost completely devastated. Today Oreshek is managed by the State Museum of History of St. Petersburg. The fortress invariably attracts tourists coming to the Northern Capital. It is visited by up to 140,000 travelers annually.

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Video: Oreshek Fortress

Contents

Highlights

Oreshek Fortress occupies almost the entire territory of the island. Stone defense walls and watchtowers of the XVI century, bastions of the Peter the Great times stand over the waters of the Neva. Historical expositions are located in the buildings of the XIX century. There are information banners with a brief description of the objects on the territory of the defense complex, but it is better to walk around the fortress with an interesting centuries-old history accompanied by a museum guide. In the restored premises of the prison casemates there are memorial chambers of famous prisoners. Documents and artifacts on display cases and exhibition stands tell about their dramatic fates.

At the beginning of September, a festival called “Fortress Day” is organized within the walls of the fortress. These days the spectators can expect costume shows, archery competitions, battle reconstructions and concert programs. Master classes are held, field kitchens work, souvenirs and handicrafts are sold at the fair.

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On the eastern shore of the island, near the walls of the fortress of Oreshek, there is an improvised stony beach. The cold waters of the Ladoga do not favor swimming, but on a nice day in June-August you can swim here. Tourists visit Oreshek during the shipping season – from May to October. There are boats to the island from the piers of Shlisselburg and Morozov settlement. Recently a large pier for cruise ships was built here, and now ships heading towards Ladoga and Svir are moored at the pier.

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History of Oreshek Fortress

The history of the Oreshek fortress dates back to the beginning of the 14th century. Old Russian chronicles report that military fortifications on Orekhov Island in 1323 were erected by order of Novgorod Prince Yuri, the eldest son of the Moscow ruler Daniel Alexandrovich. Probably, there was a trading settlement here since ancient times. The islet was located on the disputed border territory, and the new stronghold was intended to protect the coast from sea raids of Swedish kings. But in August of the same year, representatives of the Novgorod Republic and the Swedish Crown signed a peace treaty within its walls, according to which the island was recognized as the possessions of the Great Novgorod. This event is immortalized in a granite memorial sign installed in the fortress. In Swedish chronicles the fortified island was called Neteborg, which means “Nut City”. The Finnish name of the fortress sounds differently – “Pänhkinälinna”, but means approximately the same: “Walnut Castle.”

In the XV century, after the annexation of the Novgorod lands to the Moscow power, the fortress was again on the edge of numerous conflicts with Western neighbors. In the fall of 1611, the stronghold with a garrison of 1300 riflemen was besieged by the army of the Swedish commander Count Jacob Delagardi. By the spring of 1612 the fortress fell. According to legend, a few surviving defenders walled up an icon of the Virgin Mary in the cracked wall in the hope that someday the miraculous image would help to restore the stronghold.

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The hour of liberation of the fortress of Oreshek broke in October 1702, when Russian troops led by Peter the Great stormed the impregnable walls. It is said that the Tsar, who entered the fortress, addressed his soldiers and summarized the battle: “This nut was strong, but we cracked it”. Peter ordered a commemorative medal to be cast, and the fortress returned to the empire was henceforth to be called Shlisselburg, i.e. Klyuch-town.

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In the early 18th century, after the construction of powerful bastions and forts of Kronstadt on Kotlin Island, the dilapidated fortress on Orekhovy Island lost its significance as a frontier defense stronghold. Nevertheless, it was revived, but for other purposes. Since then, the Oreshek fortress, which had been glorious in battle, turned into a gloomy penal prison. In the further history of Russia it is known as Shlisselburg Central.

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In 1718, Peter the Great sent his own sister, Tsarevna Maria Alexeevna, accused of conspiracy, to this prison. Here his wife, Tsarina Evdokia, also bade farewell to life. Empress Elizabeth Petrovna sent to the casemates of Shlisselburg the minor heir to the throne Ivan VI, proclaimed Emperor of Russia during the regency of Duke Biron. The ill-fated heir spent more than 20 years in prison, and then was murdered.

The long list of prisoners of the Shlisselburg Central Prison includes hundreds of well-known political opponents of the Russian monarchy, from Decembrists Alexander Baryatinsky, Wilhelm Kuchelbecker and the Bestuzhev brothers to revolutionaries Mikhail Bakunin and Alexander Ulyanov.

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In the first days of the 1917 coup, the rebellious citizens of Petrograd released all prisoners from Shlisselburg and put the prison castle on fire. Soon several buildings were repaired for the exposition of the Museum of the Revolution, which was located here in the pre-war years. German artillery shells during the Great Patriotic War caused considerable damage to the historical buildings of the fortress. A memorial to the Soviet Army soldiers was created near the ruins of the church. These soldiers, who heroically defended the mouth of the Neva River here, did not allow the Nazis to close the blockade ring around Leningrad. By the way, on Victory Day there is no charge for visiting the Oreshek Fortress.

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In 1990, the complex of historical and architectural monuments of the fortress was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The defensive walls and towers were restored here, but many structures still stand in ruins.

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Walking around the fortress

Oreshek Fortress is built in the form of a triangle, in accordance with the shape of the island, and occupies almost all of its small territory – 200 by 300 meters. The mooring of tourist boats is located on a narrow strip of coast at the north-west line of defense walls. There are also ticket offices here, and booklets with a map of the fortifications are sold.

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The stony road leads to the main entrance – the arched gate in the square Sovereign’s Tower with a pyramidal hipped roof. Since the first third of the XIV century the central bastion of the fortifications was located here, which was later rebuilt several times. A lift bridge once led to the portal. The through passage through the base of the tower was a trap for uninvited guests. The straight passage curved sharply at right angles and was blocked by iron bars lowered from the upper level of the structure. From the inner loopholes guards could easily shoot the trapped enemies.

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There are five more powerful medieval towers built into the line of the outer perimeter walls. Along the inner perimeter walls, a battle course has been restored. From here the gunners fired through loopholes. Today here is part of the route of the sightseeing tour.

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The oldest structure discovered on the territory of the Oreshek fortress during archaeological research is the remains of a stone building built in the 50s of the XIV century. The 16-meter high Royal Tower, which rises in the northeast corner of the walls, is well restored. It was built by Swedish military engineers in the 16th century. The thickness of its stone walls reaches 4.5 meters. A secret underground tunnel was dug from the cellars, which allowed the defenders to get out of the walls unnoticed and suddenly attack the enemy attacking the fortress. In the XVIII century, when the castle was a prison, the secret passage was filled in, but modern archaeologists were able to determine where it passed.

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The four tiers of the Royal Tower have wide loopholes for cannons. The firing sector was chosen very well. During the Great Patriotic War here was located artillery battery of sailors of the Baltic Fleet, successfully repulsed German attacks.

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In the center of the fortress you can see the ruins of the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Built in the first half of the XIX century, it served as a garrison and prison church. In front of the preserved archway there is a monument to the Soviet soldiers who died here in 1941-1943. They held the defense for about 500 days, the Nazis failed to enter the glorious Oreshek. The sculptural group depicts three soldiers raising their automatic rifles to the sky for a farewell salute. At the south-eastern facade of the temple there is another memorial. In the mass grave are buried grenadiers of Peter the Great, who repulsed the stronghold from the Swedes in 1702.

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Several buildings erected in the XIX century have been restored in the fortress. In the premises of the prison building you can see the cells of prisoners, the premises of the prison administration. There is an exposition about the famous prisoners of the Shlisselburg Castle, an exhibition dedicated to the Narodovists who languished here in the late XIX – early XX centuries.

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Practical information

Oreshek Fortress is available for visits daily from 10:00 to 18:00. On Saturday and Sunday, as well as on public holidays – until 20:00.

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The ticket office is located at the pier of pleasure boats, opposite the main fortress gate. Ticket price – 250 rubles, for students and pensioners – 150 rubles. Excursion groups are formed from 10:30 to 16:30. On the territory of the fortress are organized exciting game quests. Participation in the games is paid separately. You will have to pay extra and for climbing the fortress wall, for viewing the exposition of the dungeon for political prisoners.

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Excursions

Tourists who came to St. Petersburg, it is convenient to visit the fortress of Oreshek as part of sightseeing bus tours. On the way you will get acquainted with other sights. The usual place of gathering is at the pavilion “Tourservice” on Dumskaya Street, 2, near the metro station “Gostiny Dvor”. The cost of a 6-hour tour – from 800 rubles per person.

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During the summer navigation on weekends from pier number 4 on Dvortsovaya Embankment, 18, to Orekhovy Island depart excursion motorboats “Meteor”. The cost of the trip starts from 1500 rubles per person. There is a buffet on board, lunch is served.

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How to get there

From the pier on the left bank of the Neva in the town of Shlisselburg to the fortress Oreshek go boats. The cost of the round trip is 350 rubles per person (privileged people pay 250 rubles).

From St. Petersburg to Shlisselburg can be reached by bus number 440 or by shuttle bus number K-440. The stop is at the metro station “Ulitsa Dybenko”. Travel time is 40 min. A 4-seater cab from St. Petersburg to Shlisselburg will take you to Shlisselburg for 1500-1700 rubles. A trip in a minivan, designed for 6 passengers, will cost at least 2500 rubles.

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There is also a ferry to the island from the village of Morozov, which is on the right bank of the Neva. Boats are waiting for tourists at the village pier number 1. Skvortsova Street will lead you to the pier.

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From St. Petersburg to the village of Morozova can be reached by suburban electric trains. Trains depart from the platforms of the Finland railway station. Get off at the station “Petrokrepost”. The trip lasts 1 h. 10 min.

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There is another travel option: from metro stations “Ulitsa Dybenko” and “Ploshchad Lenina” to the village run shuttle buses № K-511.

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