Penza, 11 July 2013. PenzaNews. Part of the abatis built to the west of Penza in 1680 to protect the city from attacks of the nomads, has been restored as close to the original as possible, on the initiative of the administration of the restaurant “Zaseka” [Abatis].

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According to Professor of Penza State University Vladimir Pervushkin, the length of the so-called “upper” abatis in the XVII century was about 12 km.

“It was cut down not on the edge of the forest, as usually, but in the forest. Large timbers, the size of a man, were put crisscross blocking the way so that the enemy could not get through. The first attacks of the nomads happened in 1688. The abatis held the strike — a part of it was burnt, but the town survived,” the professor said.

He stressed that the forest where the abatis is situated has always been considered the reserve.

“In the XVII–XVIII centuries it was vigilantly guarded by the watchmen of the abatis. It was forbidden not only to cut down trees and shrubs, but even carve trails,” the agency interlocutor said.

According to Vladimir Pervushkin, since the beginning of the XIX century Penza abatis has become a favorite place of townspeople — they held their national and family fests here.

PSU professor added that today abatis is not only a picturesque piece of nature, but also a valuable historical monument of the city’s past.

“The abatis is one of the cultural sites such as sculpture of Warrior-First Settler in Penza, the watchtower at the defensive barrage in Mokshan, a memorial stone with the inscription about the founding of the fortress Kerensk in Vadinsk, and a monument on the site of Ramzay,” the historian summed up.