Nikita
Vaselenko
Form
8-2
Sevastopol
Polytechnic Lyceum
English
Teacher Tatiana Ostapenko
City centre
Good
afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Nikita, I am a student of
Sevastopol Polytechnic Lyceum. But today I’ll be your guide.
Our
tour will take us about half an hour. We’ll start from one of the oldest squares
of the city - Nakhimov Square, where you’ll see the monument to Admiral
Nakhimov. He was one of the leaders of the first defence of Sevastopol during
the Crimean War.
Our
next stop will be at the Count’s Landing Stage, which is one of the first four
constructions of Sevastopol.
Then
we are going to the Seaside Boulevard to see the Monument to the Scuttled Ships
that is the symbol of the city.
Stop 1
Ladies
and gentlemen, we are in the central part of the city where Sevastopol was
founded in 1783 by the order of Catherine the Great. From the very beginning
the city was constructed as the main base of the Black Sea Fleet. Sevastopol is
only 232 years old. But for such a short period of time the city became a
witness and participant of two severe defences during the Crimean War and the
World War II. That’s why we call Sevastopol the city of naval glory.
If
to translate this name “Sevastopol” from the Greek language it means “majestic
city”: “sebastos” – “majestic, sacred" and “polis” – city.
Nakhimov Square
We
are now on one of the most beautiful city squares and the oldest one – Nakhimov
Square. First it was named after the Russian Empress, Catherine the Great,
but in 1898 the Monument to Admiral Nakhimov was erected here, and the
square was renamed in memory of the outstanding Russian naval commander.
Ladies
and gentlemen, let’s come closer to the monument.
Monument to Admira Nakhimov
Pavel
Nakhimov entered a naval college when he was 13 and since then all his life was
devoted to the Russian Navy. He was famous for his personal courage and
willpower. He had great authority and popularity among common people.
Pavel
Nakhimov showed his talent as a naval commander in November 1853. The Russian
squadron under his command defeated the main forces of the Turkish Fleet in the
Sinop battle. During the siege of Sevastopol, Nakhimov commanded the city garrison.
Under his control the batteries were built, naval battalions were formed,
reserves were prepared. People loved and believed him and were ready to fight
under his command to the end. In June 1855 he was mortally wounded on one of
Sevastopol bastions.
The
1st monument to Admiral Nakhimov was set up in 1898 but in 30 years
the Soviet authorities took down the monument. However in 1959 the new monument
that we see now was unveiled. It is similar to the old one as much as possible.
In Admiral’s hands you can see a naval broadsword and a telescope. On the front
side of the monument there is a bronze banner, and below is the text of his
order to attack the enemy. In the lower part of the pedestal we can see four
high relieves showing the episodes from Admiral’s live. The total height of the
monument is 12.5 m.
Stop 2
Now
let me draw your attention to the Memorial behind you across the road.
Memorial to Heroic Defence of Sevastopol in 1941-1942
The
memorial is devoted to the 2nd
defence of the city during the World War II. 11th German army of
General Manshtein attacked Sevastopol three times: the first attack was made in
November 1941 and failed; another attack took place in December, and again
Manstein’s army didn’t reach its aim. Only after 250 days of the city defence
the third German attack was successful (July 1942). Can you see three arrows on
the memorial? They mean three German attacks, and two of them are repulsed by
the symbolical defender of Sevastopol. Below there are 19 memorial slabs with
the names of all the units and formations, ships and organizations, which defended
the city for 250 days. On the slabs on the right side of the memorial there are
54 names of the heroes of the Soviet Union – it was the highest state award.
On
both sides of the memorial you can see the guards. Only the best schoolchildren
of Sevastopol are given the honor to mount guard at the memorial. Each half an
hour they change between each other and each hour there is a complete change of
the guards. The ceremony is very interesting and grand.
Now,
ladies and gentlemen we are going around the monument and down the hill to have
a look at the Count’s Landing Stage. Follow me, please.
Stop 3
We
are at the Count’s Landing Stage which is one of the oldest
constructions of Sevastopol. The small wooden landing stage that is behind you
was built in June 1783. Sailors and citizens of Sevastopol gave such a name
Grafskaya (Count’s) Landing Stage because Count Voinovitch, the second
commander of Sevastopol squadron, used to take his boat at the landing stage.
This
white colonnade was constructed in 1846. The date can be seen on its top. The
staircase is decorated with 12 columns made of marble. The height of the
colonnade is 6.5 m, the length – over 18
m.
Count’s Landing Stage
Many
events of the glorious history of Sevastopol and the Black Sea Navy closely connected
to the Count’s Landing Stage. In November 1853 Sevastopol citizens were
meeting Admiral Nakhimov and Russian sailors on the Count’s Landing Stage after
their victory over the Turkish Fleet in Sinop battle. During the Crimean War
(1853-1856) it was the main point through which all the city bastions were
supplied with ammunition and food. This place remembers the terrible years of
the W.W.II, when in 1941 the German destroyers attacked and sunk the battle
cruiser “Red Ukraine”.
From
this place we can see three main bays of Sevastopol: the Big Sevastopol Bay,
which goes from the Count’s Landing Stage to Inkerman. It is the largest bay –
8.5 kilometers long and 30 meters deep. To your right there is the Southern
Bay, which is 2,5 kilometers long. To your left the Northern Bay is situated.
Now
we are going upstairs to my favorite place in the city centre – Primorsky
Boulevard. Follow me please.
Stop 4
We
are on Primorsky Boulevard or in English it is Seaside Boulevard.
Primorsky Boulevard
In
the middle of the 19th century a large stone battery was constructed
here and named Nikolas battery. During the Crimean War the battery was
destroyed, and only in 30 years after the war the remains of the battery were
removed and the boulevard was laid out here.
The Monument to the Scuttled ships
The
monument that became a symbol of our city in the XX century can be seen from
the embankment. Just in front of us there is the Monument to the Scuttled
ships. The Crimean War already began and it was decided to scuttle old
sailing vessels here to block the sea entrance to the city. The ships were
scuttled in two lines. The first line of 7 vessels was scuttled between
Alexander’s and Konstantin’s batteries. Can you see a small cape to your left?
That was the location of Alexander’s Battery. On the opposite shore there is a
white round construction – it is Konstantin’s Battery. Later in February 1855
another 8 ships were scuttled just near the shore – from the place of the
monument to the opposite side where you can see the square construction
Mikhail’s battery.
The
monument was erected just on the second line of the scuttled ships. In 25
meters from the embankment on the artificial rock a column rises above the
sea. There is a bronze double-headed eagle on the top of it with extended
wings. In its beaks it has an anchor and a laurel wreath, which is a symbol of
the naval glory. Its height is over 16
meters. The monument was created in 1905 to the 50th anniversary of
the first defence of Sevastopol. The creator of the monument was Estonian
sculptor Adamson, academician of architecture.
Ladies
and gentlemen, our tour is coming to its end. Thank you very much for your
attention. I hope the tour was interesting. Now I am ready to answer your
questions if there are any.
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