Velikiye Luki

 56°20′35″  30°30′25″

It has been known since 1166 as a city on the western borders of the Novgorod land. In 1405, it was captured by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vitovt, and until 1478 was in the joint administration of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Novgorod land. In 1478 it was included in the Russian state. In 1493 a new large wooden fortress was built here. During the Russian-Lithuanian "border wars" in the first third of the 16th century and the wars for Livonia in the second half of the 16th century Velikiye Luki was the military base of the Russian troops. In 1580 Velikie Luki was the main target of Stephen Batory's Second Campaign against Russia. The city was taken and given over to plunder the Polish army. In 1582, according to the Yam-Zapolsky armistice, Velikie Luki was returned to Russia.

In the center of Velikie Luki there is a memorial - a fortress, which in its main outlines (ramparts) has preserved an earthen fortress of Peter's time, built in 1704-1708. Fortress of the 16th century was in the same place.

Tags: castles and fortresses, Battles, before 13 century, 15 century, 16 century, Routes of the Livonian War, Novgorodian Land