Orsha. Castle Hill.

Orsha Castle existed in the 14th-17th centuries on the site of the 11th century settlement. It was not by chance that the castle was founded at the confluence of the Orshitsa River with the Dnieper, as it created a natural defensive line of hell against enemies. The brick stages of the castle were erected until 1407 by the local authorities with the help of a master mason from Kruliavets (Kaliningrad). Part of the fortifications was built of wood. The castle had 5 towers. The fortress could be entered through the castle gate from the west. The gate was two-tiered on a brick foundation. In the 16th century, there were 2 cannons on the gate. The gate was closed by a drawbridge. In one of the towers there was a shop, where there were 33 guns, 20 arquebuses, bullets, cores and other weapons. There was a secret passage from the castle to the Dnieper. There was a big bell near the gate that was used to ring the alarm. In case of war, the local population hid behind the scenes of the castle, the length of which was 354 meters. Already after the 1620s, a completely brick castle was built. During the war between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Muscovite Kingdom in 1654-1667, the fortifications were badly damaged and lost their defensive functions. Now Castle Hill is an archeological monument rising above the Dnieper floodplain. A small brick gate is built on the castle hill, through which you have to pass and make a wish.