The book tells about the most important role of Zvenigorod as a historical fortified city in the defense of the Fatherland from invaders for almost seven centuries. But first of all, the writer reconstructs the panorama of the grandiose battle on the outskirts of Moscow, which took place in October-December 1941 in the Zvenigorod direction. The city was almost surrounded, but was not surrendered to the enemy. From here, our troops launched a decisive counteroffensive. Here the mass heroism of the defenders of the ancient citadel near Moscow was shown, which became an insurmountable obstacle in the way of well-equipped and trained German divisions.