Koporye Fortress.

My mom is actively interested in my blog on the Voice. Together we tap the tapes, she reads my posts. And today she strongly expressed her opinion that one can not post pictures, and advised me to write a post about an old trip to Koporskaya fortress.

Koporye (Russian: Копорье; Finnish: Kaprio; Swedish: Koporje) is a historic village (selo) in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located about 100 km (62 mi) to the west of St. Petersburg and 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the Koporye Bay of the Baltic Sea. It contains some of the most impressive medieval ruins in Russia.

It was last fall. Initially, I wanted to get into the fortress Ivan-City, but the border zone, passes. And then I find out that 200 km from St. Petersburg there is a village in which there is a castle built in the 13th century. Inspired by the idea, it was decided to go there with @fourapril.

In view of the fact that it was already quite cold, we decided to go by train). We grabbed a sandwich from home, a book on the road and a camera. By bus to the Ligovo station. We got into the car and drove off.

From the terminal station there was to go the bus straight to the fortress, but on arrival we figured out that this one goes only on Sunday, which means that we wait another two hours. The solution came instantly: hitchhiking! We reached the road, wandered into the grove, found a lot of mushrooms, Denis redheaded even cut and took with them (at home, he then salted them). On the road were 15-20 minutes. The first driver drove us up to the fork into the fortress. And when there were 5 km left in the hill stopped a man on a gazelle and drove unless not to the entrance)).

Immediately I will say: what I see is striking not only for its size, grandeur and antiquity.
The entrance ranged from 50 to 100 rubles. Tourists were also, many came on motorcycles. There were benches on which people calmly rested. The place is truly chic, two towers at the entrance, high stone walls, covered with moss and grass from below. It is impossible to describe the delight of a person who saw it for the first time. Strongly feel the old fortress, as a journey through time.)

For the restoration of money is usually allocated a little, and the money for bills is barely enough to pay for the work of a local guard. Therefore, the entrance to the tower was immured. Or rather, in one we, despite the sign "entrance is forbidden," still went, but the stairs inside were also walled up.

The courtyard is spacious and covered with lawn. Here and there benches from boards and stones. In the center is a ruined chapel, which was restored at that time. On the opposite side, an earth embankment reached the top of a half-ruined wall. Despite the cries of the guard, everyone considered it their duty to go up there (and we were no exception). On that side is a precipice of a river and a forest. All in the best traditions of fortresses.

Wandered a little more. And they started to get home, not to be late home. But in fact, it's so beautiful there that I personally would need about four hours to walk, sit on the bench, breathe fresh air and contemplate the old beauty.

Thank you for reading! And follow me @kurokikuro, I post interesting posts with photos every day ♥