Tsaritsin guard line

The Tsaritsin guard line is a 64-kilometer defensive ridge made of earthen walls and wooden structures in the Gorodishchensky and Ilovlinsky districts. The line runs at approximately 83 meters elevation and integrates the natural landscape as part of its protective design.

Construction started in 1717 to defend against raids from the surrounding steppes. The structure remained in active military use until 1777, when the unit stationed there was disbanded.

This structure represented the Russian Empire's military engineering thinking of its time, showing how the state organized border defense. Walking along the remains today, you can sense how it divided the landscape between protected and unprotected territories.

The site is accessible along designated paths that run through both districts. Information markers are placed at several locations to help you navigate and understand what you are seeing.

What often goes unnoticed is how cleverly the engineers combined natural terrain slopes with constructed walls to reduce labor. This blend of landscape and built structures makes the line less obvious than a typical fortress, yet equally effective.

Location: Volgograd Oblast

Inception: 1717

Elevation above the sea: 83 m

Made from material: soil, wood

GPS coordinates: 49.04705,44.13393

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:42