Aug 12 - The Cathedral bell tower (1910) and the Assumption Cathedral (1698-1710), in the Kremlin, Astrakhan
On a visit in 1722, Peter the Great said "In the whole of my empire, there is not a single cathedral as beautiful as this one." It's finely featured, this shot doesn't do it justice.
- "In 1556, the Astrakhan Khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible, who had a new fortress built on a steep hill overlooking the Volga. In 1569, Astrakhan was besieged by the Ottoman army, which had to retreat in disarray. A year later, the Sultan renounced his claims to Astrakhan, thus opening the entire Volga River to Russian traffic. In the 17th century, the city was developed as a Russian gate to the Orient. Many merchants from Armenia, Persia, India and Khiva settled in the downtown, giving it a multinational and variegated character." (Unesco)
- In 1614, the locals took the Kremlin here by storm and expelled Marina Mnishek, pretender to the Russian throne, and her protector ataman Zarutskiy.
- For 17 months in 1670-1671 Astrakhan was held by Stenka Razin and his Cossacks.
- The city rebelled against the tsar once again in 1705, when it was held by the Cossacks under Kondraty Bulavin. A Kalinuck khan laid an abortive siege to the kremlin several years prior to that. In 1711, it was made a capital of a gubemiya... 6 years later, Astrakhan served as a base for the first Russian venture into Central Asia.
- In 1942, Astrakhan withstood a siege and the Astrakhan Kremlin again played a defensive role." (Unesco)
Aug 12 - The Cathedral bell tower (1910) and the Assumption Cathedral (1698-1710), in the Kremlin, Astrakhan
On a visit in 1722, Peter the Great said "In the whole of my empire, there is not a single cathedral as beautiful as this one." It's finely featured, this shot doesn't do it justice.
- "In 1556, the Astrakhan Khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible, who had a new fortress built on a steep hill overlooking the Volga. In 1569, Astrakhan was besieged by the Ottoman army, which had to retreat in disarray. A year later, the Sultan renounced his claims to Astrakhan, thus opening the entire Volga River to Russian traffic. In the 17th century, the city was developed as a Russian gate to the Orient. Many merchants from Armenia, Persia, India and Khiva settled in the downtown, giving it a multinational and variegated character." (Unesco)
- In 1614, the locals took the Kremlin here by storm and expelled Marina Mnishek, pretender to the Russian throne, and her protector ataman Zarutskiy.
- For 17 months in 1670-1671 Astrakhan was held by Stenka Razin and his Cossacks.
- The city rebelled against the tsar once again in 1705, when it was held by the Cossacks under Kondraty Bulavin. A Kalinuck khan laid an abortive siege to the kremlin several years prior to that. In 1711, it was made a capital of a gubemiya... 6 years later, Astrakhan served as a base for the first Russian venture into Central Asia.
- In 1942, Astrakhan withstood a siege and the Astrakhan Kremlin again played a defensive role." (Unesco)