Ancient castles on the territory of Russia, which guidebooks do not tell about

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In the Middle Ages, many castles appeared in Europe, which feudal lords built not only for housing, but also to protect their families and possessions. Today, these buildings attract many tourists eager to see the internal structure of the magnificent structures and get to know how people lived in the past. Castles were also built on the territory of Russia, but some of them had a very sad fate, and tourists are very rare guests here.

Castles of the Teutonic Knights, Kaliningrad Region

On the territory of the Kaliningrad region, which belonged to Germany until 1945, more than 30 castles were built, which were built or simply seized from local residents by the knights of the Teutonic Order. In those troubled times, the knights built reinforcing brick walls around the wooden base. Unfortunately, not all castles have survived to this day, however, even today you can find the walls of at least 9 castles that have not lost their charm even in a dilapidated state.

At the same time, the castles appeared at a certain distance from each other, so that it was possible to get from one structure to another, without spending the night in an open area, as it could be dangerous. Unfortunately, only the walls have survived from many castles today, but they also allow you to feel how majestic these medieval fortifications were.

Aldam-Gezi, Cheberloevsky district, Chechnya

There is absolutely no information about this castle, but it is of undoubted interest for lovers of antiquity. Legends say that it was built by a local resident named Aldam-Gezi. He allegedly arrived from the Nashkh region and erected a structure that could protect his family from uninvited guests back in the XIV century.

Back in Soviet times, tourist routes led to the fortress, but over the past few decades, all the paths have long been overgrown with grass. In the summertime, guides are taken to take the curious to Aldam-Gezi, only armed with scythes in order to pacify the lush vegetation a little.

The ancient temple is best preserved, part of the watchtower remains recognizable, but only ruins remain from the building, where the residential area of the castle was clearly located.

Leso-Kyafar, Karachay-Cherkessia

This place remains little explored today, and therefore many legends and speculations are associated with the ghost town of Leso Kyafar. This mysterious place is hidden from prying eyes in the saddle of a mountain gorge, which is incredibly difficult to get to. There are also pilgrims who believe that one of the most powerful "places of power" is located here.

The city, according to archaeologists, was originally the castle of the Alanian ruler of the 11th century, and it existed until the destruction by Tamerlane in the 15th century. At the same time, the dolmens of Leso-Kyafar are much older than the castle itself: historians date them to about the second millennium BC. There are suggestions that the city was the residence of the Alanian rulers or even the political center of Alanya.

Despite such a serious history, real research and excavations have not been carried out here for at least 20 years and it is not known whether they will be carried out at all.

Devil's settlement, Elabuga, Tatarstan

Many legends are associated with this fortress, erected on the territory of modern Tatarstan in the 10th century by order of the ruler of the Volga Bulgaria. No information about this castle has survived to this day. It is not known who the owner of this strange, square-shaped structure and what it was used for. Archaeologists suggest that the castle, due to its small size, most likely served as a home for a very small number of people.

Currently, only the remains of the walls and one tower have survived, access to which is closed to tourists. Those wishing to see the ruins of the castle with their own eyes can climb to it by a special staircase, which was built by local residents, and admire the stunning views from the hill. And also to see the stonework, which 11 centuries ago was part of a majestic structure.

Por-Bazhyn, Republic of Tuva

Not far from the Mongolian border, in the middle of the Tere-Khol mountain lake, there is an island where today you can see the ruins of a truly impressive fortress, the first mention of which dates back to the 17th century. At the same time, the compiler of the maps even then mentioned the ruins, and not the integral structure.

One of the first researchers of Por-Bazhyn, Dmitry Klemenets, claimed that the "Clay House", as the locals call this fortress, was erected by a people close to the builders of the ancient city of Karakorum in Mongolia.

It is almost impossible to establish for certain what this fortress was intended for, and historians still have to make a lot of efforts to study this place, which is associated with many legends.

In Europe, houses and castles, which are associated with mystical stories, are always popular among tourists. Ghosts, supposedly living in ancient palaces, are becoming a brand for which lovers of the unknown are ready to shell out round sums. However, in Russia there are no fewer places where, according to the legends, you can meet ghosts. There is no doubt that fans of the otherworldly will receive chilling impressions in these estates.