Экскурсия по центру города Севастополь-город мечты

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 1^st 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 2^nd defence of the city during the World War II. 11^th 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 19^th 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 50^th 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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