Top Old Russian Fortresses Near Moscow and St. Petersburg

Fortresses, ancient strongholds of stone, are not something commonly associated with Russia. Indeed, there aren’t many ramparts, and those that have lived to the present, are often not in a great state.

But still, there are enough mighty medieval walls across Russia that look epic on camera. We found a dozen castles worth your attention, all not far from Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.

Title #31

Izborsk Fortress
Izborsk was holding back German knights and Polish-Lithuanian armies for centuries.

Title #32

Izborsk Fortress

Title #33

Kolomna Kremlin
A 60-acre fortress not far from the Russian capital that resembles the Moscow Kremlin.

Title #34

Kolomna Kremlin

Title #35

Kolomna Kremlin

Title #37

Koporskaya Fortress
A 700-year-old fortress in great condition on the Gulf of Finland not far stom St. Petersburg.

Title #39

Kronstadt
A military port city on an island in the Baltic Sea, founded in 1703. Since then, it has been a major base of the Russian Baltic Fleet.

Title #41

Kronstadt
Kronstadt is linked to St. Petersburg by a bridge, making it easily accessible.

Title #42

Slisselburg
Also known as Oreshek (The Nut). Built in 1323, it was at first protecting a strategic spot from Lithuanians and Swedes. Then, it became a prison for opponents of the emperor. In 1940, it became the place of a fierce battle again -- this time with the Nazi Germany.

Title #43

Pskov Kremlin
The heart of the medieval Pskov Republic and one of Russia’s toughest strongholds.

Title #44

Pskov Kremlin
First fortifications in the area date back to VIII-IX centuries.

Title #45

Smolensk Fortress
Located in western Russia, the fortress was the center of clashes between European armies and Russia, from Poland in 1600s to Nazi Germany.

Title #46

Old Ladoga Fortress
Rurik, the founder of the Russian monarchy, built a fortress in Ladoga in 862 to hold back vikings. Over the next 500 years, it was attacked by Swedes and Germans, but never fell to an army

Title #47

Vyborg Castle
Constructed in 1293, the castle was under the Swedish Empire for 400 years. The fortress on the Baltic Sea in just a couple of hours from St. Petersburg is still in good condition.

Title #48

Zaraysk Fortress
XVI-century fortress in Central Russia, just two hours from Moscow.

Title #49

Zaraysk Fortress

Title #50

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin
Built in XVIth century by an Italian architect. Currently the center of Russia’s six-biggest city.

Title #51

Porkhov Fortress
Many parts of this XIV-century Northwestern Russian fortress are still in good condition.

Title #31

Izborsk Fortress
Izborsk was holding back German knights and Polish-Lithuanian armies for centuries.

Title #32

Izborsk Fortress

Title #33

Kolomna Kremlin
A 60-acre fortress not far from the Russian capital that resembles the Moscow Kremlin.

Title #34

Kolomna Kremlin

Title #35

Kolomna Kremlin

Title #37

Koporskaya Fortress
A 700-year-old fortress in great condition on the Gulf of Finland not far stom St. Petersburg.

Title #39

Kronstadt
A military port city on an island in the Baltic Sea, founded in 1703. Since then, it has been a major base of the Russian Baltic Fleet.

Title #41

Kronstadt
Kronstadt is linked to St. Petersburg by a bridge, making it easily accessible.

Title #42

Slisselburg
Also known as Oreshek (The Nut). Built in 1323, it was at first protecting a strategic spot from Lithuanians and Swedes. Then, it became a prison for opponents of the emperor. In 1940, it became the place of a fierce battle again -- this time with the Nazi Germany.

Title #43

Pskov Kremlin
The heart of the medieval Pskov Republic and one of Russia’s toughest strongholds.

Title #44

Pskov Kremlin
First fortifications in the area date back to VIII-IX centuries.

Title #45

Smolensk Fortress
Located in western Russia, the fortress was the center of clashes between European armies and Russia, from Poland in 1600s to Nazi Germany.

Title #46

Old Ladoga Fortress
Rurik, the founder of the Russian monarchy, built a fortress in Ladoga in 862 to hold back vikings. Over the next 500 years, it was attacked by Swedes and Germans, but never fell to an army

Title #47

Vyborg Castle
Constructed in 1293, the castle was under the Swedish Empire for 400 years. The fortress on the Baltic Sea in just a couple of hours from St. Petersburg is still in good condition.

Title #48

Zaraysk Fortress
XVI-century fortress in Central Russia, just two hours from Moscow.

Title #49

Zaraysk Fortress

Title #50

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin
Built in XVIth century by an Italian architect. Currently the center of Russia’s six-biggest city.

Title #51

Porkhov Fortress
Many parts of this XIV-century Northwestern Russian fortress are still in good condition.