Smolensk can be explored through several distinct historical themes: the defensive architecture of the fortress wall, the memory of the battles of 1812, and the architectural history of the Cathedral of the Dormition. Historic gardens and civic museum buildings round out this picture. When looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider which of these themes matter to you during your stay. The names, functions and dates offer different starting points for tailoring your choice of sights to your interests.
Fortress Wall and Lopatinsky Garden
Construction of the Smolensk Fortress began following a tsarist decree dated 15 December 1595; the Smolensk Fortress Wall was completed in 1602. It is a monument to Russian military architecture. The two dates mark the start and completion of the work, giving the fortress complex a clear historical framework.
Lopatinsky Garden was laid out in 1873 on the site of the former Royal Fortress. It contains ramparts and entrances to the underground rooms of the Royal Bastion. The garden thus brings together different elements of the fortress’s history: the former fortress grounds, the ramparts and the entrances to the bastion. The garden was named after Governor Alexander Grigoryevich Lopatin, whose name also points to a distinct historical figure.
Cathedral and City History
The Cathedral of the Dormition is a defining feature of Smolensk’s skyline. It stands on Cathedral Hill in the city center and was built in memory of the defense of Smolensk from 1609 to 1611. Its site is also where a cathedral of the same name stood in the 12th century. The history of the predecessor building and the construction of today’s building therefore belong to different chapters in the history of this place.
Construction of the present cathedral began in 1677–1679; it was completed in 1712–1740. A. I. Shedel is named as its architect. These construction phases can be distinguished from the occasion it commemorates: the dates tell the story of the building’s construction, while its connection to the defense of 1609–1611 explains its historical dedication.
Memorial Sites for the War of 1812
When visiting the monuments to the events of 1812, it is also worth distinguishing between what they commemorate and their dates. Lopatinsky Garden contains a monument to the defenders of Smolensk on 4 and 5 August 1812. It was unveiled in November 1841, based on a design by Antonio Adami.
Another monument stands in Heroes’ Remembrance Square. It is dedicated to the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812; its cornerstone was laid on 6 August 1912. Both sites are connected to the same war, but in different ways: the garden monument refers to the defenders and the August dates, while the monument in the square commemorates the heroes of the war and marks the date its cornerstone was laid.
Gardens and Civic Museum Buildings
Blonye Garden is a historic garden in central Smolensk. Its official name is M. I. Glinka Garden; residents usually call it Blonye. Both its formal name and the name used in everyday local speech can help you find your way around.
The building housing the “17th-Century City Forge” Museum is the oldest surviving civic building in Smolensk. The former “Russian Antiquities” museum building tells the story of another chapter in the city’s civic architecture: it was built to house a historical and ethnographic collection of more than 10,000 objects. Alongside fortifications and religious buildings, civic buildings with museum connections are also part of the city’s historic character.
Choose a holiday rental to suit your interests
Consider which of these themes you want to focus on during your stay, and take the accommodation’s exact location into account when making your choice. This way, you can tailor your search to the places you actually want to visit.
Discover more destinations: Shumyachskiy rayon, Dukhovshchinsky District, Sychevskiy rayon, Kardymovskiy rayon, Yelninsky District, Smolenskiy rayon, Kholm-Zhirkovskiy rayon, Roslavlsky Rajon.
See the regional travel overview: Smolensk Oblast.
