Trubchevsk Desnaya Hillfort

Trubchevsk stands on the Desna's right bank 94 km south of Bryansk. The historic core is Gorodok: a 0.2 ha citadel on a cape 40 m above the river and an outer town of about 3.6 ha. A ditch separating citadel and outer town ran into a ravine; rampart and ditch trace around the outer town. Trubchevsk was first at Kvetun hillfort and moved here in the late 12th century, likely as the Desna shifted. Chronicles and The Tale of Igor's Campaign name it Trubezh; Prince Vsevolod's 1185 campaign links to this land. The citadel layer holds Yukhnov, Romny and Old Russian deposits. A new fortress was built in the 17th century against Crimean raids; strengthened in Peter's time against Sweden. Today a federal archaeological monument, not a rebuilt museum. Combine with Trinity Cathedral, Intercession Church and local history museum for ancient and late medieval Trubchevsk.