Cherepovets is considered to be a large city in the Vologda Oblast. It is a city of metallurgists and industrialists. It would seem that it was created to become one of the urban centers of Russia. However, the story of Cherepovets did not begin as prosaically as it seems at first glance. There are several legends and historical facts that show the city from an unusual perspective.
Legends and facts
Officially, Cherepovets was founded by decree of Catherine II in 1777. But according to archaeological excavations, you can see that people in the city lived in ancient times. The found stone tools, bone devices for sewing from hides, as well as the skull of a man who is about 6 thousand years old, speak about this.
The more modern history of Cherepovets begins in the XIV century with the legend of the miraculous salvation of the Moscow merchant. It is said that a merchant named Theodosius sailed along the Sheksna River with goods. Suddenly it suddenly got dark, and the boat ran aground.
It is not known what would happen to the merchant further if he did not begin to pray. After appealing to the god, Theodosius saw a mountain on which a wonderful glow appeared. It illuminated the road and showed the merchant the next path. Immediately after this, the boat itself got aground and sailed towards this glow.
A year later, the merchant returned to God's place and founded a small chapel. Today it is known as the Cherepovets Resurrection Monastery.
Where does this name come from?
They have been arguing about the name of the city for several centuries. According to one version, it seems that the history of Cherepovets itself can open the veil of secrecy. It is believed that the words “skull” and “whole” are of Slavic origin. The first is a hill, the second is a village. The city itself, if you look closely at the photo, rises above the river. And as if really standing on a hill. It turns out that Cherepovets is a village on a hill.
According to another version, this is a Finno-Ugric word. Initially, the settlement was called "Cher-in-all." This meant: "settlement on the mountain for the Veps tribe."
There is one more option. Some local historians believe that this is a pagan name. And it is connected with the god Veles. It was on this hill in ancient times that people sacrificed to a pagan deity. At the same time, skulls of various animals have always been one of the important attributes for Veles. So there was “CherepoVeles”, which over time acquired a more modern name.
That city, then not the city
With the order of Catherine II begins the official history of Cherepovets for children. Students are told that it was the great empress who signed the decree on the construction of the city. True, there were few inhabitants then. A little more than five hundred people (now over 300 thousand).
Then the city the settlement stayed only 22 years. In 1796, Paul I decided to abolish all the contingent cities. Cherepovets turned into a posad.
As soon as the locals got used to the new status, Alexander I ascended the throne. And, as happens in history, the new ruler began to abolish the decrees of his predecessor. At the beginning of the XIX century, Cherepovets again turned into a city. So that subsequent rulers did not “touch” his decisions, in 1811 the monarch approved the city coat of arms for the settlement.
Shipbuilding Center
The history of the city of Cherepovets has always been closely connected with the river under the name Sheksna. It was Catherine who wanted to establish water communication when she signed the decree on the foundation of the village.
The followers continued the empress’s plan, and at the beginning of the 19th century, the Mariinsky water system was built in the city . After that, Cherepovets became the center of shipbuilding in the Russian Empire.
A special place in the history of the city is occupied by the merchant Ivan Milyutin. It was he who headed and developed Cherepovets for almost 50 years. Thanks to Milyutin, the first cargo ships for long voyage by sea were built in Russia. And they were built in Cherepovets.
However, the great merchant developed the city in other directions. He rebuilt schools, hospitals, opened universities, museums, libraries. Towards the end of the 19th century, the “metropolis” began to be called the “northern Athens”.
Currently, it is a city of metallurgical giants. He is one of the ten industrial centers of Russia.
History of Cherepovets in photographs
It is better, of course, to visit this mysterious land yourself and see its sights. However, you can partially get acquainted with the city by looking at its photos.
The main symbol of the city is rightfully considered the Resurrection Cathedral.
The more modern history of Cherepovets is connected with the October bridge across the Sheksna. This is Russia's first automobile cable-stayed bridge.
In addition, the sights include:
- Vereshchagin Museum. This is the house in which the great artist was born.
- Museum of Local Lore.
- Ice Palace.
- Milyutin Square.
- Monument-sculpture to students and teachers who died during the Second World War.
- Monument to residents of the city who helped to liquidate the Chernobyl accident.
These are not all the historical places that the city is famous for. Separately, it is worth noting: despite the fact that this is an industrial center, city residents are actively interested in art. In Cherepovets various festivals are held annually: poetry and prose, short films, bard songs, dance fitness. Perhaps in the future this small city on a hill will give our country some more amazing stories about itself.