I'm continuing my November stroll through Izborsk. In the first part, we strolled through and around the fortress, and now we'll reach Truvor's Fortress, then descend to Lake Gorodischenskoye, drink from the Slovensky Springs, and gaze at the Izborsk swans.
The most ancient Izborsk did not exist where the current fortress stands, but somewhat to the north of it, in a place later called Truvorovo Settlement, on a high plateau above Lake Gorodishchenskoye.
From the high rocky shore, magnificent views of the Izborsk expanses open up…
The first thing we see when climbing up to the hillfort is the St. Nicholas Church.
The stone Church of St. Nicholas of Gorodishche was built presumably in the 15th or 16th century on the site of a previous church. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the church was significantly rebuilt. Today, it is an interesting example of late Pskov architecture. The church is crowned with a bell-shaped dome with a cross.
There is a small bell tower above the entrance to the temple.
Next to the church is a local cemetery. In addition to modern graves, ancient tombstones can also be seen here.
This symbolically marks the place where the entrance gates of the original Izborsk settlement were located.
Here you can climb the high rampart wall and survey the surrounding area.
The Nikolskaya Church fits into the landscape very beautifully.
Somewhere in that direction is located the ancient Malsky Monastery….
A huge stone cross can be seen in the cemetery. According to legend, it stands on the grave of the legendary Truvor. However, archaeologists have dated the cross and gravestones to approximately the 15th or 16th century, suggesting it may be a military burial.
View from the cape to Lake Gorodishchenskoye
Now it's time to descend from the hillfort to the lake and the Slovenskie Klyuchi, a natural landmark of these parts.
The Slovenian Springs, or the Springs of the Twelve Apostles. The springs are approximately a thousand years old, with the first mention of them dating back to the 17th century. The Slovenian Springs have long been revered as healing and miraculous. It is believed that each spring has its own specific properties. One bestows health, another beauty, a third happiness in one's personal life. However, no one knows for sure which spring is responsible for what. Therefore, it is advisable to drink water from each spring and wash your face.
Extraordinarily picturesque tree roots…
The "Central Cascade" of the Slovenian Springs... But, of course, what a photograph can't convey is the sound of the water... Complete relaxation...
Water from the springs flows into Lake Gorodishchenskoye…
Wooden footbridges lead to the lake, where ducks and drakes take over in the absence of people... But they are not what draws us to the lake...
But those white beauties who, upon seeing people on the bridge, head in our direction... They feel that they won’t go hungry... :-))
A swan family lives here. So the white swans are the parents, and the white-gray ones are the grown-up cygnets... :-))
They have long been accustomed to people here and therefore boldly swim up to the bridge...
From all my numerous previous trips to Izborsk, I've come to the conclusion that you should come here—to the lake and springs—at the very end of a walk around Izborsk and the surrounding area. Because even if you've accumulated any fatigue, the swans and the sound of running water will instantly relieve it. So it's here, on this beautiful swan-like note, that I end my story.
Source: travel.ru