Guide to Pechory: what to see and where to take photos

Pechory is a small town in the Pskov region. This is the westernmost populated area in Russia, excluding the Kaliningrad region. The main attraction of the Pechora region is the Holy Caves. Actually, the word “Pechory” is translated from Old Slavonic as “caves”. So a very interesting adventure awaits curious travelers. They will visit an ancient and incredibly atmospheric place. There the temporal merges with the eternal, and the earthly with the heavenly.

Sights of the city of Pechora – TOP-3

The most interesting sights of Pechora are located in the Pskov-Pechora Lavra. They are steeped in ancient legends and will seem interesting to any tourist. You can explore them in one day by going on an excursion yourself.

Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery

• Address – International, 5.

Founded in 1473. It began with the microscopic monastery of John Shestnik (the traveler). He dug a grotto not far from the caves created by God and turned to the Orthodox Church with a request to illuminate the place.

On the day of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the new cave church was illuminated. She bears the name of her patron saint. The temple is called the Assumption Church.

Later the monastery grew to the size of the Pskov-Pechora Lavra. Now it has a very complex planned structure. It consists of several temples, a fortress, a sacristy, a bell tower and other interesting places that are worth seeing.

It is noteworthy that the monastery was never closed. Even during the difficult years of Soviet power, its doors were open to parishioners. This is due to the fact that in the period from 1920 to 1945. it was located on the territory of independent Estonia.

Today the monastery is thriving. It remains one of the most respected religious centers in Russia, attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year who come here every day.

God-Ordained Holy Caves

• Coordinates on the map are 57.809401, 27.614391.

The first mention of them occurs in 1393. According to legend, monks from the Kiev Pechersk Lavra hid in the caves from the Tatars. Later they were ennobled.

Now the vaults have been lined with bricks and converted into a monastery cemetery. There are about ten thousand burials in the caves. Laymen and pilgrims, knights and priests rest in this incomprehensible and mysterious place. Coffins are not buried in the ground, but placed in special niches. At the same time, the smell of decay is completely absent.

The caves occupy a huge area. Seven streets lead to the burials. Tourists are not allowed into the farthest grottoes. Photography is also prohibited here.

Assumption Church

• Address: Bloody Path.

We are talking about the main and most ancient temple of the monastery. It was illuminated in 1473 and has only a front façade because the rest goes uphill. In the 19th century, colored domes were erected over the church. In shape they resemble the heads of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

Route for exploring the city on your own in 1-2 days

In addition to excursion tours offered by travel agencies, it is advisable to prepare a route for independent movement around the city.

1 day stay in the city:

• Visit to the Holy Dormition monastery buildings.
• Inspection of the Holy Caves located under the monastery

• Inspection of the Empress's carriage.
• Visit to St. Michael's Cathedral.
• A trip to the Sagittarius house.
• Excursion to an eco-farm where ostriches are kept.
• Inspection of the lantern monument.
• Excursion to the water tower.

2nd day of stay in the city:

• Inspection of Rusakov's house.
• Excursion to the Pechora History Museum.
• Visit to an international cultural center.
• Visit to the Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste.
• Excursion to the Seto Museum.
• Excursion to the Petrovsky Bastions.
• Trip to Pechora Lake.

What to see from museums in Pechory

There are several interesting museums in the city. Each of them demonstrates the history of the region and town in its own way. Here you can spend time on your own or with a guide with benefit and pleasure - both adults and children, especially schoolchildren.

City History Museum

• Address – International, 6.

It opened back in 1920. However, most of the exhibits were lost in the fire of war. In the middle of the last century, the collection began to take shape anew. The museum currently hosts several exhibitions. Some of them are aimed at demonstrating archaeological and ethnographic finds. Part is devoted to the study of the history of the USSR. There is an exhibition where ceramic and porcelain products are shown. Special attention is paid to fine arts.

Museum-Estate of the Seto People

• Address: Sigovo village.

Seto are a people who live on the border between Russia and Estonia. It has preserved its culture, traditions and mentality. The museum exposition is dedicated to this glorious ethnic group. The establishment is located on the territory of an old estate.

The complex includes a manor house, a barn, a barn and a bathhouse. Visitors can get acquainted with household items, costumes, furniture, and household utensils characteristic of Seto. The museum staff takes its guests into the fabulous world of legends, traditions and tales.

Flax Museum "Linen Province"

• Address - Rizhskaya st., 75B.

Created within the framework of the cultural and educational project “Linen Province”. This is a tribute to the past of the Pechora region, which once produced huge quantities of flax. The museum presents historical information about flax production in the Pskov region and stories about people who were involved in flax at one time or another.

Fascinating excursions are held here in the form of lively conversations. There are elements of theatrical performance. Those interested can familiarize themselves with the line of men's and women's linen clothing.

Ecology

Pechory, whose attractions attract many tourists, is located on the western side of the Pskov region.

The environmental situation in the Pskov region, and in particular in the city of Pechory, is not entirely favorable. The negative impact on the environment is caused by unauthorized dumping of industrial waste, an insufficient number of authorized landfills and the lack of waste recycling facilities.

The region's water resources are affected by wastewater discharges.

At the end of the last century, in the Pskov region there were burials of unusable agrochemicals and pesticides. The largest testing site was located in the Pskov region near the village of Korsakovo. In the town of Nevele there is an oil sludge storage facility, which has recently been in unsatisfactory condition.

Local residents of Pechora have repeatedly complained about the huge amount of hogweed that has filled the entire territory of the suburb. Every year, a huge number of people go to hospitals with complaints of external and internal burns from this plant.

City monuments and memorials

Monument to V.I. Lenin

• Address: corner of Svoboda and Sadovaya streets.

The monument stands in the central square of the city. It is dedicated to Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. He gazes into the distance, as if pondering some important thought. The leader of the world proletariat is depicted in a three-piece suit, which he loved to wear during his lifetime. His right arm is bent at the elbow, and his left is pulled back.

This monument is in great demand among tourists who love to take interesting and original photos. Citizens of all ages enjoy taking pictures against its background. The administration complains that the monument to I.V. has not been preserved in the city. Stalin. There would be even more visitors.

Monument to P.Kh. Wittgenstein

• The address is the corner of Kashtanovaya and Svoboda streets.

Opened in 2014. Dedicated to the memory of the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. Interestingly, they wanted to erect a monument to Pyotr Khristianovich during his lifetime, but he refused. For him, the best reward was the recognition of his compatriots. A noble warrior and a good family man, he left a good memory of himself. Therefore, a monument was erected in his honor.

The sketch for the monument was created in St. Petersburg . It took 3,000,000 rubles to implement the project. Now a bronze bust of the hero on a marble pedestal is one of the main decorations of the city of Pechora.

Memorial of the Great Patriotic War

• Address: Rabochaya Street.

It is a tall stele of two white columns, which are crowned with a commemorative inscription with the dates of the beginning and end of the war. At the very top there is a laurel wreath and a five-pointed star.

There are golden stars on the right and left sides of the monument. A paved path leads to it.

The memorial stands in one of the city squares. There are picturesque flower beds around it. This is a very beautiful place, which is often visited by city residents. There are always flowers at the foot of the stele.

Monument to the Venerable Martyr Cornelius

• Address: Podgornaya street.

Cornelius led the brethren of the Pskov-Pechora Monastery during its peak period. He was a prominent religious figure and spoke with Ivan the Terrible on equal terms. He had his own thoughts about the place of the church in government affairs.

According to rumors, Cornelius actively corresponded with people who were considered enemies of the Russian state. Having learned about this, the king ordered his head to be cut off. But when this happened, he personally carried the headless body to the Assumption Church.

The monument to the Venerable Martyr Cornelius was erected in Pechory in 2012. He is depicted in church vestments with a cross and a staff in his hands. People remember the untimely death of Cornelius and pay tribute to his deeds and actions.

Temple and church pearls

One can talk endlessly about the churches of the Pskov-Pechora Lavra. Each of them is a real treasure. And it’s not even about the cultural value of the objects. The decoration of Pechora churches is distinguished by splendor and luxury.

Sretenskaya Church

• Address: Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery.

This Orthodox shrine was erected in the middle of the 16th century. Until the middle of the 19th century it served as a refectory. Then it was rebuilt into a temple. Made in a special pseudo-Russian style.

The shrines that are especially revered here are the relics of St. Semeon, the “Seeking the Lost” and “Three-Handed” icons. On the walls of the building there are paintings with illustrations of the Holy Scriptures.

The Sretenskaya Church has an unusually beautiful iconostasis. It is decorated with carvings and gilded columns. There are many ancient utensils in the temple. Hammered lamps and forged candlesticks have been preserved.

St. Michael's Cathedral

• Address: Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery.

Illuminated at the beginning of the 19th century in honor of the victory over Napoleon. It is the largest building of the Lavra. The author is an Italian architect. He completed the cathedral in a classical style. There are two main values ​​in the church - the Tenderness icon and the right hand of the holy martyr Tatiana. The cathedral is the dominant feature of the entire architectural ensemble of the Lavra. He is the most pompous and majestic.

Church of the Intercession

• Address: Pskov-Pechersky Monastery.

It has a common facade with the cave Assumption Cathedral. It is distinguished by its extraordinary beauty. Erected in the mid-18th century. The first service took place in 1759. The iconostasis of the temple is amazing. Wall paintings surprise with their art. The extraordinary silence inside the church leaves visitors in awe. Here you can feel the depth of centuries, the power of the Orthodox cultural tradition.

Annunciation Church

• Address: Mezhdunarodnaya st., 5.

The facade of this church is red. It became one of the first stone buildings of the monastery complex. Created in the 16th century. Adjacent to the Sretensky Church. It has a special architecture. Under the blue dome there is a belt of ceramic slabs. This element is characteristic of the early tradition of Pskov .

Church of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara

• Address - Cathedral Square, 1.

It is also worth mentioning this parish, which is not part of the monastery, but is only located near it. It belongs to the Orthodox part of the Seto people, as a result, services here are conducted not only in Church Slavonic, but also in Estonian.

The Varvara Church was built in 1779 - on the site where the chapel of St. Vmch. Barbarians. An interesting fact is that the shrine was not closed during the USSR, continuing to receive parishioners.

Temple of Saints Methodius and Cyril Equal to the Apostles, Slovenian teachers

• Address - st. Yuryevskaya.

Opened on August 29, 2022. Located on the territory of the Pilgrimage Center. It took four years to build. It pleases the eye with its majestic and noble appearance. The temple has an interesting color scheme. It stands on a high brown foundation. The outside of the building is lined with yellow-beige brick. And all the contours are painted dark brown. The domes are also brown. They have golden crosses on them.

Parishioners love to visit this temple. It is tall and bright, with excellent acoustics and beautiful decoration. Solemn services with soothing chants are held on weekends and holidays. Then many townspeople rush to the church to feel love and peace.

Architectural monuments and estates

The city of Pechora regularly suffered from enemy raids, so few ancient buildings remained in it. All of them deserve the closest attention.

Water tower

• Address - pl. Oktyabrskaya, 7.

Located near the central square of the city. Made of red brick. Founded in 1913. Under Soviet rule, a power station was added to it. There is a cafe in the building. The tower has important urban planning significance. It is the main vertical dominant of the city. In addition, this is the only building of the pre-revolutionary period in Pechory. It has the status of a cultural heritage site.

House of T.G. Rusakova

• Address - Pskovskaya st., 34.

Located on Pskov Square. Erected in the 1930s. The appearance was invented by the owner, a large timber merchant T.G. Rusakov. The house is wooden. Consists of two floors. Supported by a stone foundation. The facade is made in the neoclassical style. A very bright building. Attracts attention with its noble appearance.

Shopping arcades

• Address: Oktyabrskaya Square.

Located in the central square. They are famous for their uniqueness. The fact is that they were erected at the beginning of the 20th century. In those days, nothing like this was built anymore. And only in Pechory were shopping arcades erected by decision of the local administration. Now they are part of the architectural complex of Oktyabrskaya Square.

House of Culture of Pechory

• Address - st. Svobody, 29.

Central office of the MUK "District Culture Center". Can accommodate 300 visitors at a time. The House of Culture hosts interest clubs and hosts various cultural events.

RCC groups annually participate in the song and dance festival “Slavic Wreath”, which is held in neighboring Estonia. They regularly take part in city holiday events.

There is a school of continuing education for cultural workers at the House of Culture. This is a business meeting club where new interesting projects are discussed.

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church

• Address - st. Gagarina, 12A.

Oddly enough, in such a primordially Orthodox city as Pechory, there is a Lutheran church. It is located near the buildings of the District Administration, the Triangle Theater and the House of Culture. The construction of St. Peter's Church took place in 1926-1929. in the then independent Estonia.

Before this, there was a Lutheran parish in the city for Estonians living here. It was located in one of the schools. Today, the church regularly receives visitors; it houses an organ, once purchased for 1 million marks; when it is warm, organ music concerts are regularly held there.

How to get there

You can get to Pechory by regular bus from Pskov in about 1.5 hours (via Izborsk) or from St. Petersburg in 6.5 hours (the bus goes through Pskov). By car you can get here from Pskov along the A-212 highway in about an hour through Izborsk or Pechki.

Do not miss:

• Pskov: immersion in the Middle Ages
• Old Izborsk
• Pushkin Mountains: in the places of Pushkin and Dovlatov

Unusual sights of Pechory

Yes, these are not the most prominent objects in the city. You can easily walk past the Archer's House and simply not notice the Lantern Monument. But you shouldn't do this. On the contrary, pay attention to the sights that have survived to this day thanks to active citizens.

Sagittarius house

• Address - st. Verkhovicha, 4.

This is a real monument of wooden architecture. It was built at the beginning of the 18th century. It is a two-tier log house on a low stone foundation.

The unique building has survived to this day. At one time, archers lived in it, who, on the orders of Ivan the Terrible, protected the monastery from foreigners. Then a whole Streletskaya settlement formed around the holy place. But only one house survived to us.

Now it is in disrepair. A group of concerned people is fighting for recognition of this object as an architectural monument.

Monument to the street lamp

• Coordinates on the map are 57.813082, 27.612690.

This is a relatively young monument. It appeared in 2011. Forged according to artistic sketches by Pskov craftsmen. The street lamp rises over three meters in height. It is stylized as antique. There are two forged birds sitting on top of it. The object symbolizes light, comfort, kindness and love for one’s native places.

Holy Spring of John the Baptist

• Coordinates: 57.815750, 27.626000.

It is located not far from the famous monastery - in the place where the Kamenets stream flows into the Pachkovka river. The water in the source is unusually clean and tasty.

The stone Church of St. John the Baptist was built above this place in the 19th century. It is crowned with a tiny dome with a golden cross. There is a staircase leading from the building to the key.

According to legend, in ancient times there was an ancient temple on this site. During the attack of foreigners, he completely went underground, and in its place a holy spring began to flow.

Linnas-Selyun Farm

• Coordinates: 57.770108, 27.702554.

This is a cozy comfortable house in the forest. It provides everything for a relaxing holiday away from the noisy city. There is a cozy double bed in the room. There is a beautiful table and everything you need to serve it.

There is a barbecue in the yard. There is a small terrace adjacent to the house, which offers stunning views of the forest. The owner treats guests to excellent kvass made with birch sap. A warm welcome is guaranteed to every visitor.

Climate

Pechora, whose attractions are its unique flora and fauna, has a moderately cold climate. According to the comfort rating, July and August are considered the best months to travel.

Average air temperatures calculated taking into account the last few years:

Parks and squares of the city of Pechora

Recently, Pechory has been actively being improved. If earlier it was a cute town, but literally drowned in greenery, now it has parks and public gardens.

Malskaya Valley

• Address - Ski complex Malskaya Dolina, Training slope.

Active recreation park. Suitable for children and adults. Specializes in different types of services. In winter, Malskaya Dolina is a ski resort. It offers visitors eight trails of varying difficulty for alpine and cross-country skiing. There is a slope for cheesecakes. In summer, ATV rides, cycling, and rope courses are available. For lovers of outdoor recreation, camping is organized.

Park of Culture and Recreation "Triangle"

• Address: Gagarin Street.

Located in the center of the city. It got its name due to its triangular shape. A cozy green park with all the attributes of improvement. There are benches, lanterns, paths, and a fountain.

All public city events are held in this small area, surrounded on all sides by noisy streets. The townspeople love this park very much; they come there for walks with the whole family.

In the park there is a memorial “Grieving Mother with Son” - this is one of the most revered places among the residents of Pechory. 206 Soviet soldiers who died in the fire of the Great Patriotic War are buried here.

Topic: Sights of the Pskov region

Interesting places to relax with children

An interesting holiday for the whole family can be a boat trip to the Talab Islands, which are located in the southeast of Pskov Lake. In the city of Pechory you can rent a Segway (from 8 years old) or a hoverboard (5 years old).

Rental cost:

• 5 minutes. – 100 rub.;
• 10 min. – 200 rub.;
• 20 minutes. – 300 rub.

A trip to the Izborsky Ostrich eco-farm can be an excellent family vacation. The eco-farm is open daily from 10.00 to 19.00. Black African ostriches and reindeer are bred there.

Objects of the Pskov-Pechora Lavra that are worth visiting

What is there not on the territory of the ancient monastery?! These are amazing ancient monuments that you definitely need to see.

Fortress

It was erected on the orders of Ivan the Terrible around the monastery. It is a powerful stone wall with nine towers and three gates. It goes along the slope, skirting a deep ravine where the Kamenets stream flows. Here is a list of fortress towers:

• Taylovskaya,
• Prison,
• Petrovskaya,
• Nikolskaya,
• Bottom gratings,
• Blagoveshchenskaya,
• Izborskaya,
• Tararygina,
• Upper gratings.

The length of the fortress walls is 726 m. The width is 2 m. At one time, the monastery withstood several major sieges. Its military history ended with the end of the Northern War and the movement of the western borders of Russia to the Baltic Sea.

Sacristy

The monastery treasury was built at the end of the 17th century. This is a three-tier building that is adjacent to the Sretensky Church. It can be found by its blue dome with gold stars. Now there is a warehouse on the first floor, a treasury on the second, and a monastery library on the third.

The sacristy contained objects of extraordinary historical and material value for Orthodoxy. Many of them were taken out by the Germans during the Great Patriotic War. Most of the relics were returned. However, 62 items disappeared without a trace.

Bloody path

The flourishing of the famous monastery is associated with the name of St. Cornelius. He was abbot of the monastery in the 16th century. The priest led a strict ascetic life and stood at the head of the brethren for more than 40 years. He built churches, strengthened the monastery, and performed works of mercy. However, he was killed by Ivan the Terrible for treason.

There are a lot of rumors around this story. According to legend, the king executed the monk with his own hand, in a fit of yet another madness. But there is historical evidence that proves that Cornelius was indeed inclined towards treason. And it was the executioner who executed him, and not God’s anointed.

However, these are things of a long time ago. It is important that the body of the martyr Ivan the Terrible brought to the walls of the Assumption Church with his own hand. And from then on, the blood-stained path began to be called the “bloody path.” Now anyone can follow this path.

Hotels

Hotels of various price categories invite city guests.

Guest House "Pilgrim's Way"

The cost of a hotel room starts from 5.9 thousand rubles. per night. The hotel is located at: Pechory, st. Mezhdunarodnaya, house 10.

The hotel has 7 rooms, including:

• luxury;
• family;
• with kitchenette;
• for non-smokers.

The hotel offers:

• free parking and transfer from and to the airport;
• free internet and refrigerator in the room;
• concierge and microwave;
• Room service and shuttle bus.

Breakfast is available for an additional fee.

Hotel "12 months"

The cost of a hotel room is 1.7 thousand rubles. per night. The hotel is located at the address: Pechory, Oktyabrskaya Square, building 6. The hotel has 23 rooms, which are located in two adjacent buildings. There are standard rooms and superior rooms.

The hotel offers:

• restaurant and free parking;
• room service and free internet;
• showers and toilets on the floor (in standard rooms);
• cooler with hot and cold water (on the floor);
• refrigerator and electric kettle;
• Microwave and hair dryer;
• ironing board and iron.

Hotel Planet

Hotel location: Pechory, st. Mira, house 10. Room cost from 2 thousand rubles. per night.

The hotel offers its guests:

• free internet and refrigerator in the room;
• air conditioning and free parking;
• concierge and shuttle bus.

The hotel allows pets. The hotel has only 35 rooms, including non-smoking and family rooms.

Hotel "Pechory-Park"

The cost of a hotel room starts from 1.2 thousand per night. Hotel location: Pechory, st. Gagarina, house 2 "b".

The hotel has a total of 22 rooms, including:

• for non-smokers;
• family;
• luxury;
• rooms with kitchenette.

The hotel offers:

• bar and free parking;
• room service and free internet;
• restaurant and concierge;
• babysitting services and wheelchair ramps;
• refrigerator in the room and shuttle bus.

The hotel allows pets.

Hotel "Black Cat"

Price per hotel room from 1.7 thousand rubles. per night. The hotel is located at: Pechory, October Square, building 7. The hotel has only 5 rooms. There are non-smoking and family rooms.

The hotel offers:

• restaurant and conference room;
• free parking and room service;
• free internet and breakfast.
• banquet hall and air conditioning.