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ON THE SUVOROV TRAIL, WITH A CAMERA AND A LAPTOP

Commemorating the 220th anniversary of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov and his Army’s Alpine crossing in Switzerland

September 23 – October 4, 2019

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Alexander V. Suvorov's trail 

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Vladimir A. Orlov's trail 

It was exactly 220 years ago - in September of 1799. That year turned out to be a special one for the Russian Empire. Firstly, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin was born. Secondly, Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov made his legendary Alpine crossing. When Suvorov reached the Swiss border in the area of Airolo and was preparing to cross St. Gothard Pass, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin was not even six months old. But Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov had only six months left to live.

The Alpine crossing covered him with the glory in Russia. And in Switzerland he was and still is considered as the Liberator. And now I'm walking with my Canon around the neck and my backpack behind me. In my backpack there is stuff for a week and a laptop for notes and web surfing. I am going to pass through three Swiss cantons: Ticino, Uri and Schwyz, to piece it all together: why after more than two centuries the glory of the Russian Commander is not only alive... but is still glowing, and Suvorov is referred here with a tinge of admiration mixed with respect and worship, as though these two centuries have not passed. As though just yesterday Suvorov trod here – on this trail, where I am walking now in Canton of Ticino. How come the Suvorov’s spirit still hangs in the air around hills, woods and dales.

We are going to talk about Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. About Suvorov’s crossing. And let’s not deprive ourselves of pleasure as well and with non-Swiss curiosity visit the villages, the houses of dwellers of today’s in Swiss country places.

During this Suvorov week we are going to:

The route of the Suvorov week will be as follows:

• Day 1. Airolo

• Day 2. St. Gotthard Pass and the Bunker

• Day 3. Andermatt’s Way

• Day 4. On the Devil's Bridge

• Day 5. Through the Canton of Uri

• Day 6. Altdorf

• Day 7. Over Muotathal Valley.

Author's project by Dr. Vladimir A. Orlov

“On the Suvorov trail, with a camera and a laptop”

Text: (c) Vladimir Orlov

Photo: (c) Tatyana Zhdanova, Vladimir Orlov

Design: (c) Yuliya Tseshkovskaya,

Nikita Degtyarev, Tatyana Zhdanova

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