About thousand years the city of Kursk dominates over right shore of the quiet river Tuskar, near its junction with the river Kur, which is said to give the name to the city. Kursk is first mentioned in the ancient Russian chronicles “Life of Feodosiy Pechersky” in 1032. Years pass, and Kursk, a significant fortress, starts rapidly developing. Local craftsmen are skilful in smelting metals, forging battle weapons and farming tools, making pottery and various glass and iron decorating items. In 11th century Kursk is a large town boasting buildings made of stone, bakeries, markets and workshop – city dwellers thank river junctions for this.

13th century begins, bringing the Tatar and Mongol yoke. Kursk finds itself on the way of the invaders and rises to defend Russian lands. Archeologists found thousands of bodies of men, women and children, who were buried in a common grave during the times of trouble. Kursk survives sophisticated cruelty of Eastern invaders and in 1508 enters the centralized Russian state, still being the southern border of ancient Rus’.

16th century is crucial for Kursk – the city is fortified with a new fortress, now welcoming crowds of people, who ran away from hunger and despotism of officials. Kursk becomes a legendary city – brave, hospitable, trading and growing settlement. This is when Kursk becomes and military, economic and civic centre of vast territories of the Russian South. Kursk withstands fierce sieges of Polish and Lithuanian interventionists, who attack the city twice: in 1612 and 1634, helping liberators of Moscow.

Kursk connects three related nations – Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian – by mixing economic, cultural and other bonds between these nations. The city of Kursk is the centre of trade routes between Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian towns, offering favourable trading conditions for merchants from these towns.

In 18th century Kursk is governed by city Duma, headed by mayor. In the same century the city obtains first secular school, and later a college. In the beginning of the 19th century first male gymnasium opens in Kursk, having the largest library in the whole city. The 19th century is the time of rapid progress for Kursk – the city gets a water pipe, first trams start running around the streets, as well as first power stations start producing electricity for city dwellers and for street lamps.

In 1917 communists come to rule the city. Industry enters Kursk together with large enterprises, such as Mikhailovsky ore mining and processing enterprise, Kursk nuclear power plant, and various other works. Citizens build higher educational institutions and schools, theatres and museums.

World War Two (known in Russia as Great Patriotic War) strikes the city like many other cities of the Soviet Union, and Kursk dwellers rise to fight the enemy. Kursk is famous for the Kurskaya Battle, where Soviet soldiers fought over a million fascist invaders and won.

Today Kursk is a large industrial and economic centre of our country with all up-to-date facilities for its citizens. Kursk is famous for its nightingales, which are known to have the sweetest voices in the world. Agencies offer excursion to see and listen to these wonderful little singers.

Recent years see Kursk as pilgrimage centre, for little settlement Korennaya Pustyn’, famous for its 700-year-old wonder-working icon “Sign of the Virgin”, attracts more and more pilgrims and tourists.

Article by Vladimir Kulagin,

Translated and edited by Kizilova Anna