Cherepovets is rightfully considered a major city of 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 history 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 side.
Legends and facts
Officially, Cherepovets was founded by decree of Catherine II in 1777. But if you believe the archaeological excavations, you can see that people lived in the city in ancient times. This is evidenced by the found stone tools, bone devices for sewing from skins, as well as the skull of a person who is about 6 thousand years old.
The more modern history of Cherepovets begins in the 14th century with a legend about the miraculous rescue of a Moscow merchant. It is said that a trader named Theodosius was sailing down the Sheksna River with goods. It suddenly got dark and the boat ran aground.
It is not known what would have happened to the merchant if he had not started to pray. After appeals to God, Theodosius saw a mountain on which appearedwonderful glow. It illuminated the road and showed the trader the way forward. Immediately after that, the boat itself refloated and swam towards this glow.
A year later, the merchant returned to the "God's" place and founded a small chapel. Today it is known as the Cherepovets Resurrection Monastery.
Where does the name come from?
The city's name has been debated for centuries. According to one version, it seems that the history of Cherepovets itself can lift the veil of secrecy. It is believed that the words "skull" and "all" are of Slavic origin. The first signifies a hill, the second a village. The city itself, if you look closely at the photo, rises above the river. And it really does look like it's 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 "Chere-po-ves". This meant: "a settlement on the mountain for the Veps tribe."
There is another 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 made sacrifices to a pagan deity. At the same time, skulls of various animals have always been one of the important attributes for Veles. This is how "CherepoVeles" appeared, which eventually acquired a more modern name.
The city, then not the city
The official history of Cherepovets for children begins with the order of Catherine II. Schoolchildren are told that it was the great empress who signed the decree on the construction of the city. True, there were few inhabitants then. Slightly more than five hundred people (now over 300 thousand).
Then the city of the settlement stayed only 22 years. In 1796, Paul I decided to abolish all provincial towns. Cherepovets has turned into a settlement.
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 cancel the decrees of his predecessor. At the beginning of the 19th century, Cherepovets again turned into a city. So that subsequent rulers would 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 called Sheksna. It was water communication that Catherine wanted to establish when she signed a decree on the founding of the settlement.
The followers continued the idea of the empress, and already 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.
Merchant Ivan Milyutin occupies a special place in the history of the city. It was he who headed and developed Cherepovets for almost 50 years. Thanks to Milyutin, the first cargo ships for long-distance navigation 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. By the end of the 19th century, the “metropolis” began to be called “Northern Athens.”
Currently, it is a city of metallurgy giants. It is one of the ten industrial centers of Russia.
History of Cherepovets in pictures
It is better, of course, to visit this mysterious land and see its sights. However, you can partially get to know the city by looking at its photos.
The Resurrection Cathedral is considered to be the main symbol of the city.
The more modern history of Cherepovets is connected with the Oktyabrsky bridge across the Sheksna. This is the first automobile cable-stayed bridge in Russia.
In addition, the sights include:
- Museum of Vereshchagin. This is the house where a great artist was born.
- Local History Museum.
- Ice Palace.
- Milyutin Square.
- Monument-sculpture to students and teachers who died during the Second World War.
- Monument to the residents of the city who helped to eliminate the accident in Chernobyl.
These are far from all the historical places that the city is famous for. Separately, it is worth noting: despite the fact that this is an industrial center, the inhabitants of the city are actively interested in art. Various festivals are held annually in Cherepovets: poetry and prose, short films, bard songs, dance fitness. Perhaps in the future this small town on a hill will give our country some more amazing stories about itself.
