Koporye Fortress near St Petersburg Koporye (Russian: Копорье) is a historic village in Russia, about 100 km to the west of St Petersburg, which contains some of the most impressive medieval ruins in Russia.
The first wooden fortress was built there by the Teutonic knights in 1240, only to be destroyed by Alexander Nevsky the next year.
The second fortress was built in stone by Alexander's son in 1280. Enraged by the prince's independence, the Novgorodians razed the fortress two years later.
Meanwhile the Swedes took advantage of this and presently occupied the banks of the Narova river. The Novgorodians had to restore the stone fort in 1297. Koporye was the strongest stronghold in the region and survived numerous attacks by the Teutonic knights and kings of Sweden.
After Novgorod's incorporation into Muscovy, the fortress was strengthened and rebuilt to withstand the fire of cannons. Most extant structures belong to that period. Russian forces had to surrender Koporye during the Livonian War but they fought it back 9 years later.
During the Time of Troubles Koporye was attacked by two and a half thousand Swedes, ten times more than the defenders. The Russian garrison had to surrender, and Koporye remained Swedish until 1703.
The Russian army definitely secured Koporye in 1703, during the Great Northern War. Huge gaps in the walls from the disastrous fire of the Russian artillery may still be seen.
Despite some repairs undertaken in the 19th century, the fortress survives in a ruined state. Also ruined is the 15th-century Transfiguration cathedral within the fortress.
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