Zhidilov Bor is a destination for a history-focused trip: during the Great Patriotic War, the “Panther” Line of Defense ran across the grounds of the memorial. The chapel, obelisk and a heavy bunker cover offer different perspectives on remembering this place. The chapel commemorates all defenders of the Fatherland, while the obelisk commemorates I. S. Korovin. When placing these sites in context, note the dates, the religious dedication and the location of each feature.

Memorial, Chapel and Obelisk

The memorial opened in 1999. An obelisk commemorating I. S. Korovin was erected in Zhidilov Bor in 2000. A chapel dedicated to the holy princes Alexander Nevsky and Dmitry Donskoy opened at the memorial in 2009, in memory of all defenders of the Fatherland. These dates trace the memorial’s opening, the obelisk in Zhidilov Bor and the chapel at the memorial. They refer to different commemorative features and help place the site’s history in chronological order, rather than assigning all the structures to a single period of construction.

The chapel is made of white marble and was created to a design by Moscow sculptor Boris Matveyev. The white marble and Matveyev’s design give the chapel its own architectural character, while its dedication also anchors it within the memorial.

War History and Bunker Cover

During the Great Patriotic War, the “Panther” Line of Defense ran across the grounds of the memorial. This connects the site not only with its later commemorative features, but also with the earlier military history of the grounds. To the left of the memorial, in a birch grove, lies the nine-ton cover of a German bunker. An old soldier’s helmet rests on the cover. It is not certain whether the cover belonged to the bunker whose firing slit Korovin blocked with his body. The object is not designated as a monument to the Great Patriotic War.

Check the current accessibility of the memorial and chapel before your visit.

A Regional Cultural Connection in Pskov Oblast

As another cultural connection within Pskov Oblast, the churches of the Pskov School of Architecture offer a different thematic perspective. They comprise ten religious architectural monuments in the historic city of Pskov and on the banks of the Velikaya River. The churches represent architectural styles and decorative elements dating from the 12th to the beginning of the 17th century. This period of architecture differs markedly from the more recent war remembrance in Zhidilov Bor. Local dates include the opening of the memorial in 1999, the erection of the obelisk in 2000 and the opening of the chapel in 2009. For your trip planning, the difference offers a choice of themes: those interested in architectural history can focus on sacred buildings and their styles in the Pskov area; those interested in war remembrance can turn their attention to Zhidilov Bor. The two perspectives relate to different periods and themes.

Discover more destinations: Velikiye Luki, Pskov, Zapolye, Rechki, Shershni, Porkhov, Perelaz, Stanki

For the broader travel overview: Pskov Oblast.