Tver, one of Russia’s oldest cities, celebrated its 875th anniversary this year. The Upper Volga Region capital was first mentioned in 1209 as the place where Grand Prince Vsevolod III of Vladimir signed an agreement with the residents of Novgorod. In the 14th century, Tver competed with Moscow to be the leading Russian principality.
Tver, one of Russia’s oldest cities, celebrated its 875th anniversary this year. The Upper Volga Region capital was first mentioned in 1209 as the place where Grand Prince Vsevolod III of Vladimir signed an agreement with the residents of Novgorod. In the 14th century, Tver competed with Moscow to be the leading Russian principality.
Today Tver boasts over 30 Russian Orthodox Church buildings, including cathedrals, churches, monasteries and chapels. One of the main attractions is the White Trinity Cathedral, which was built in the 16th century.
Tver has a monument to merchant Afanasy Nikitin, one of the most renowned residents of the Upper Volga region. He wrote the Journey Beyond Three Seas and was the first European to visit India. He reached India a quarter of a century before Vasco da Gama discovered the route there.
Gentry passing Tver on long journeys usually spent the night at T Emperor’s Travel Palace. Russian architect Mikhail Kazakov built this palace in the 18th century. Some of the palace’s main features were destroyed during World War II.
Today Tver, like Kazan, serves as an example of peaceful coexistence between different religions. For example, in Tver you can see a Tatar mosque and a Roman Catholic Transfiguration Cathedral in one street.
Tver’s other main attraction is the riverboat station. The station was built on the left bank of the Volga River, upstream from the mouth of the Tvertsy River, in 1938, to replace the demolished Otroch Monastery.
The Starovolzhsky (Old Volga) bridge is one of Tver’s most beautiful constructions. Despite its name, it is relatively new, built between 1897 and 1900. Tver’s first bridge across the Volga River was built in 1700 during the reign of Peter the Great. According to legend, the bridge, which connected the two banks, was built from floating barges in just four hours.
On October 14, 1941 the Nazis conquered Tver but were unable to advance further, largely due to resistance from the 8th Tank Brigade. Photo: newlyweds at the World War II monument in Kalinin (now Tver).
German troops occupied Tver, then Kalinin, for two months. On December 6 the Kalinin Front went into the offensive and liberated the town within ten days. Photo: the Victory obelisk by sculptors Rukavishnikov and Filippov and architects Milovidov and Sayevich.
Tver celebrated its 875th anniversary in June. During the celebrations, the town’s entire center became a pedestrian area. Photo: Lenin monument in front of Tver’s administration building.
One of the main celebration venues was located in the town park on the Volga embankment, which has many summer cafes and recreation facilities.
