Our country is so vast that the names of many ancient cities remain unknown to most Russians. One such little-known but noteworthy city is Zubtsov in the Tver region. The first mentions of it date back to 1216, when the Novgorod prince Mstislav the Brave captured lands belonging to Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Today, it is unknown who founded the city, but most researchers believe it was Vsevolod the Big Nest. For centuries, Zubtsov played a key role as a major defensive point. It successfully survived civil wars and external invasions, remaining one of the largest cities of the Tver principality until the 15th century.

During the Russian Empire, Zubtsov was an ordinary county town and served as a transit point on the way to St. Petersburg. Thanks to convenient waterways, it quickly became the merchant capital of the Tver province and a thriving city. The city was adorned with magnificent stone buildings, and in 1801, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built here, which has survived to this day. In addition to its architecture, Zubtsov is famous for its natural beauty and views of the Volga and Vazusa sides of the old bridge, captured by photographer Sergey Mikhailovich Proskurin-Gorsky in one of the first color photographs in the world.

Unfortunately, during the Soviet era, the city suffered greatly: many merchants were repressed, and pre-revolutionary mansions and churches were destroyed. The famous linen factory, built in 1900, was also abandoned. However, today Zubtsov once again attracts tens of thousands of tourists who come to admire its nature and history. Guests are greeted by a commemorative stele, unveiled in 2004 in honor of the city's 785th anniversary.