ISBORSK FORTRESS

Photography by John Sloan during visits in 1991 and 1993

The northwest tower and caretaker's cottage inside the fortress.

The western wall and northwest tower.

Close-up of the north-west tower showing detail of the construction.

North-east tower - Lukov tower - and part of the remaining wall. There is a small sallyport gate in the wall and this leads out to the edge of the precipice on this side.

Another view of the caretaker's cottage with the wall and two towers behind it.

Inside the north-west tower, the best preserved of the six towers.

View of the north-west tower from outside the wall showing the firing ports at various levels.

View of two of the three towers along this wall from outside the fortress.

This lovely church of St Sergius is adjacent to the fortress and has a local museum with it.

Diagram showing the plan of the Isborsk fortress. The sign indicates that the fortress as it exists now ( in ruin) was built in 1330. At number 1 is a church that now has a small local museum by it. It is an archeological monument of ancient Russian defensive construction. It was repaired and modernized often into the XIV -XVI centuries. It was the western outpost of the Russian lands and outpost of Pskov

This is a corner of the western wall where the plan of the fortress is displayed. A modern road enters the compound.

Another view of the wall and tower.from the other side.

Symbol on the western wall warning enemy (Teutonic knights and others) and protecting the fortress from invaders.

View over the adjacent valley from outside the Izborsk fortress wall during a visit in December 1991.

View of Isborsk as one approaches during a snowy winter day.

View of the desolate landscape around the Isborsk fortress.