- Torzhok
Torzhok ( _ru. Торжо́к) is a town in
Tver Oblast ,Russia , famous for its folk craft ofgoldwork embroidery . It is located on theTvertsa River , 60 km west ofTver . Population: 48,967 (2002 Census).Torzhok was first mentioned in a
chronicle in 1139. TheMongols burnt it in 1238, but did not proceed northward to Novgorod. At that time the town commanded the only route whereby grain was delivered toNovgorod . Once Torzhok blocked the route, a great shortage of grain and famine in Novgorod would follow. Consequently, Torzhok was known as a key toNovgorod Republic and frequently changed hands during feudal internecine wars.The town was incorporated into
Muscovy with the rest ofNovgorod Republic in 1478. The Polish army frequently ravaged it during theTime of Troubles . During the imperial period of Russian history, Torzhok was known as an important post station on the highway fromMoscow to St. Petersburg.Alexander Pushkin , for instance, used to pass through Torzhok on a number of occasions, so there is a museum dedicated to him in the town. The natives of Torzhok include painterAlexej von Jawlensky .Architectural monuments of Torzhok include a number of parish churches, dating back to the late 17th or early 18th centuries. Under
Catherine the Great , the old monastery of Sts.Boris and Gleb was redesigned in Neoclassical style by a local landowner, Prince Lvov. The main city church is the Saviour-Transfiguration Cathedral, founded in 1374. The current edifice was consecrated in 1822. There is also Catherine II's diminutive travel palace.Views
External links
* [http://torzhok.info Official site]
* [http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/MapCenter/Map.aspx?TextLatitude=57.3538361210274&TextLongitude=37.6127213629526&TextAltitude=8&TextSelectedEntity=16251&SearchEnc=false&MapStyle=Comprehensive&MapSize=Small&MapStyleSelectedIndex=0&searchText]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=57.041384,34.967422&spn=0.060596,0.152967&t=k&hl=en Satellite photo via Google Maps]
* [http://www.virtualtravel.ru/user/3778/index.phtml?wid=3273&tips=12 Torzhok in modern and old photos]
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