The history of the construction of fortifications around Taganrog leaves three centuries deep. After the capture of Azov in 1696 on the orders of Tsar Peter I immediately began engineering studies and work to strengthen the coastal zone of the Azov Sea near Cape Horn Taganov. For Russia, Peter the Great's time, access to the sea was of strategic importance, and Cape Horn Taganov is the best suited for the first fortress.

For the safe harbor created fortified area from the north it was equipped with a continuous three-meter-long earthen wall almost eight kilometers, at its ends, it was decided to put the two fortresses - Pavlovsk on the river bank and Miusskaya str Chepahinskuyu on the shore of the Sea of ​​Azov, and in Beglitskoy Semyonovskaya spit built a fortress.

Construction began in 1697, when under the leadership of Austrian engineer de Laval was laid on the trench Petrushina spit the Azov Sea. In March 1698 the construction was stopped, de Laval was removed from the project and construction continued in the mouth of the estuary Miusskaya (Semyonovskaya castle) under the leadership of Baron Ernest von Borgdorfa, George and Frank Reinhold Truzina. But later, the decision is also considered wrong and the construction of fortifications moved to the place of the current Taganrog.

The structure of the fortifications consisted of natural barriers, artificial walls and ditches, and included several fortresses (Semenovskoe, Trinity, Pavlovsk and Cherepahinskuyu). The fortresses were placed garrisons, and between Pavlovsk and Semyonov fortress resettled 500 families of the Don Cossacks, Cossack regiment formed the Taganrog. Fortress built earthen, as they maintained artillery fire stone better and easier to restore. But for the ramparts built of stone so called "zagrudnye wall" to protect the shooters.

From 1701 on the construction of fortifications and defensive structures are constantly working harbor several thousand peasants, prisoners, soldiers of the garrison, the Swedes prisoners.

Paul Fortress was designed in the shape of a quadrangle 80 to 237 meters from the speakers in the corners of the bastions for free firing of at least two parties. The defenses of the fortress strengthened the steepness of the coast of the estuary. The fortress was designed for a garrison of 500 men, closing the western end of the fortifications and the entrance to the second line of defense Troitsk from the steppe. The main task of the fortress - the protection of Taganrog on the north from the raids of Crimean Tatars. By 1705 there appeared a town of Pavlovsk.

The fortress is known in history as the first Russian fortification earthen fort designed for precise engineering and mathematical calculations. The fortress itself has been involved in hostilities in triplicate. For the first time since the start of construction in 1700 until 1712, when it had to give the Turks on the Prut treaty. The second time - from 1736, after the capture of Azov, Taganrog with Munnich and Lassie to 1739 - again transferred to the Turks. The third time, took Azov in 1769 and has existed as a fortress fortification to 1783, but after the capture of the Crimea, it lost its strategic importance, being in the depths of Russia. As the historians, direct fighting near Paul Fortress never took place, but it was an important link in the chain of fortifications of Taganrog.

For three centuries fortifications practically destroyed: Trinity (Taganrog) Fortress covered by a network of urban development, Semenovskaya Fortress - is a suburban development, Cherepahinskaya appeared on the territory of the metallurgical plant. Tourist gaze only open shafts Paul Fortress.

Find a place residues Paul Fortress can be two kilometers from Taganrog, on the outskirts of the village Gaevka.