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City Walls - the complex of fortifications, the XIV-XVIII century. Preservation #727/1 | Foto
They consist of the territory geographically distributed defensive constructions,
that are located along the perimeter of the Old Town. They complete the separate
defensive ensembles and form the united complex of the city-fortress.
The bridge defensive walls (Starobul'varnyi Uzviz) are part of the western city
fortifications. They begin from the Fortress Bridge and, surrounding each other
from both sides, come up to the City Gate and to the casemate. They were founded
at the beginning of the XV century. At the end of the XVII century, the walls
were rebuilt and remained only on the upper terrace. There were the loopholes
in the walls and the entrances to the lower terraces. In 1876, after partial
dismantling of the City Gate and strewing of the road, the sizeable part of
the Bridge walls appeared to be filled up. Today, the walls 78 m long (the southern
one) and 88 m long (the northern one) raise above the road to the height of
0.8-1.2 m. They are 2 m thick in this level. In 1963, the conservation works
were carried out there.
The defensive walls at the Lower Polish Gate (Staroposhtovyi Uzviz) are a part
of the north-western city fortifications. One of them went eastward from the
Coastal Tower. It was built in the XV century simultaneously with the system
of the Polish Gate. There was a gate in its lower tier. It was repaired at the
beginning of the XVIII century. In 1876, the wall with a gate was partly demolished.
Today, the area, 18 m long, remained from it. In 1830, the Stairs of Farengol'ts
were formed on its basis.
The second defensive wall is located along the riverside. It begins from the
ruins of the Coastal Tower. It was built in the first quarter of the XVIII century.
In the second half of the XIX century, the riverside along the walls were strengthened
with the embankment, that closed large part of it. A part of the stone wall
42 m long with 25 loopholes remained till today. The wall thickness in the upper
part is 1.5 m, its height is 2.5 m. The loopholes are with sides, widening in
both directions. They are covered with stone three-centered tie-plates from
both sides. In 1964, the conservation and restoration works were carried out
there.
The defensive wall with two gates between the Lower and Upper Polish Gates (Staroposhtovyi
Uzviz) is located on the western part of the road, connecting both ensembles
of the Polish Gates. They began near the rise of the road by the first gate
and finished near the Kushnirs'ka Tower by the second one.
The wall was built in 1762. In 1772, the first gate was reconstructed by Ya.
de Vitte. In 1832, their passage was twice expanded. The total length of the
defensive wall is 195 m. It is made of stone with the thickness of 1,1m in its
upper part. Its height from the side of the road is 1-2 m, and 4-5 m - from
the side of the precipice. In 1965, the conservation works were carried out
there. The first, lower gate looks like two rectangular stone poles, 4.5 m high,
finished with the cornice and stone laying, pyramidally layed. The second, upper
gate was made with one stone pole, placed on 3 m distance from the foundation
of the Kushnirs'ka Tower. A stone semi-circular arch connects the gates. The
thickness of the wall of the gates is 2.3 m.
The Defensive Wall with a tower at the Upper Polish Gate (Kuznets'ka St.) is
located along the edge of the upper terrace and is a part of the complex of
the north-western city fortifications at the Upper Polish Gate. The square tower
and defensive wall were built in the XIV century. At the end of the XVII century,
the south-western part of the wall, 35.5 m long, was blocked by the Turkish
Bastion. At the beginning of the XX century, a part of the defensive wall between
the Vitriana (Wind) Gate and square tower was demolished. The stone tower, square
in plan, with the sides of 7.6 m, and wall thickness of 1.8 m, and height of
10.6 m. The defensive wall, 37.5 m long, located between the square tower and
the Turkish Bastion, is made of stone; the wall thickness in the level of the
loopholes is 1.8 m. The lower part of the wall from the floor part is strengthened
with a continuous raw of wide buttresses. The walls are 9 m high from the side
of the lower terrace.
The fortifications over the Russian Gate (Utiosysta St.) are located on two
terraces along the street and are of the same direction as the gate (from the
south-east to the north-west). They consist of the defensive wall with a flank
gate and two bastions - the North-western one and the south-eastern one (the
latter is rebuilt with some changes). They were built in the first quarter of
the XVIII century, by military specialist, A. Glover. During the XIX century,
the defensive wall was changed into the retaining one. Its top was shifted,
and in the places, the water cannons were placed in the loopholes. The wall
2,1 m thick, is made of stone. Its length between the bastions is 197 m. Its
south-eastern part is located on the upper terrace, the north-western one -
on the lower one. They are connected by means of the part of the wall with a
gate, crossing the street diagonally. The maximum height of the walls from the
side of the lower terraces is 7-10 m; from the side of the road - about 1 m.
The North-western bastion is made of stone; the western front is 35 m long,
the Southern bastion, the side one is 8 m (the Northern bastion did not remain).
The height of the walls from the side of the precipice is 13-14 m. In 1967-1968,
the conservation and restoration works were carried out in the complex of the
fortifications.
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Translated
by Yana Anufriyeva
mail to: [email protected]