The Pokrovskaya Tower is the largest surviving tower in Pskov's outer ring of fortifications, and was reputedly the largest single fortification structure in Northern Europe when it was completed in the early 16th century. At 40 metres tall and with walls several metres thick, it formed the southwestern anchor of the city's defensive perimeter.
The tower stands near the confluence of the Pskova and Velikaya rivers, surrounded by a park that was once the site of a moat. It has been partially restored and the interior can be visited — the view from the upper platform takes in the river, the old city walls, and the kremlin. The surrounding park is pleasant for a walk and gives a good sense of the scale of Pskov's medieval defences.