Donets Tower
The Donets Tower is a rounded corner of the old stone walls built around Smolensk in the late 1500s. It offers a good view of the surroundings and remains as one of the few surviving pieces of this historic fortress structure.
The walls were built between 1595 and the early 1600s under Tsar Feodor I and Boris Godunov after the older wooden fortifications became inadequate. Construction was a major undertaking where workers struggled with difficult conditions including flooding and hunger.
The Donets Tower was part of a major defensive structure that shaped life in Smolensk for centuries. The stone walls and towers show how the city protected itself and what value defense held for its people.
The tower is reachable from the streets around Smolensk and offers views of the city and surroundings from above. Visitors should be prepared to climb stairs and wear sturdy shoes, as the old stone surfaces are uneven and can be slippery at times.
The neighboring Veselukha Tower has its name from an old story about a beautiful view from above. At night, visitors occasionally report unusual sounds and tales that have woven local legends around the old walls.
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