Pskov

The Krom, Zapskovye and Churches of the Pskov School

The route begins at the spit between two rivers, where the Pskov Krom (Kremlin) stands — a complex of seven towers and walls dating to the late 14th century. Inside you will find Trinity Cathedral, built in 1699, and Dovmont’s Town, where the foundations of 13th-century buildings have been preserved.

Cross the bridge and you arrive in Zapskovye and on the Golden Embankment. Here you will find colourful stylised buildings, picturesque views of the Kremlin walls and plenty of restaurants with terraces.

Zavelichye lies on the western bank of the Velikaya River. Two UNESCO sites rise in this district:

• Mirozhsky Monastery, where pre-Mongol frescoes from the 12th century have survived;
• Snetogorsky Monastery with the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God.

In July 2019, ten churches of the Pskov architectural school were added to the World Heritage List. In addition to the monastery cathedrals, the list includes the churches of:

• Michael the Archangel;
• the Intercession at the Breach;
• Saints Cosmas and Damian at Primostye.

The Moya Bron selection includes 49 hotels in Pskov. Prices range from 1,800 ₽ at the Oasis hotel up to 12,000 ₽ at Old Estate Hotel and Spa, which has a rating of 9.3.

Izborsk, Pechory and Pushkinskiye Gory in a Day

Using the city as a base, it is easy to make day trips out in every direction.

Izborsk lies to the west, just 30 km from Pskov. There you will find a 14th–16th-century fortress on Zheravya Hill, built from the local limestone slab. At the foot of the hill are the Slovenskie Springs. You can reach the springs by bus no. 207; the journey takes 50 minutes.

Pechory sits 50 km from the city. It is home to the Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery, which has not closed for a single day in more than five hundred years. In Pechory you can also visit the “God-built” caves and attend the autumn festival of monastery cuisine held in early October.

It is 120 km to Pushkinskiye Gory, a 2.5-hour drive. Here you will find the Mikhailovskoye and Trigorskoye estates, as well as Alexander Pushkin’s grave at the Svyatogorsky Monastery.

The best time to visit is June through August. During this period the average daytime temperature is +21 °C and daylight lasts until 22:30. In late June the region hosts the “Dovmont of Pskov” historical reenactment: guests can watch knightly tournaments and take part in medieval workshops.

In winter the average temperature is −2 °C, dropping to −9 °C at night. At this time of year you can expect a snow-covered Krom, quiet monastery services and short daylight hours.