Velha is a village and a castle, which became the center of Velasco parish in PushGory district of Pskov region. The village is located in the Valdai hills. The name of the village comes from the Finnish word "Vale", which means "free, spacious space", in the alternate landscape of lakes, hills and valleys. In ancient times the inhabitants of this area were engaged in the cultivation of flax, cattle-breeding, poultry farming and production of berries.

Still has a village that is located between the flat hills along ancient roads in Livonia and Lithuania, retains its former layout: straight from the hill down to the lake a long narrow streets. Near this area the rivers Blue, Great ISA, which was part of the ancient way "from the Varangians to the Greeks", which connected the Russian lands with Livonia.

The earliest mention of the settlement and are marked in the chronicle, Dating back to the year 1368. But the first inhabitants of this settlement – Slavic Krivichi – settled land much earlier. According to archaeological research, we can conclude that the hypothesis Kostomarov N. And., concerning the existence of the city in the tract called "Mane", really is true. The initial development of the territory belongs to the end of the first Millennium. It is known that the town was in ancient times.

The main attraction of the village was Velasca fortress. In the Pskov area, which occupied a relatively small space, during the 14th and 15th centuries was much more fortresses than on the territory of Moscow Russia. To protect the Pskov land from enemy invasions, were built great fortresses-the suburbs, in the North of Gdov, in the South – Boiler, Island, Voronich, Vravov, in the West – Izborsk. To a greater extent in the North of the fortress were built of stone, and in the South they were somewhat branched end edge parts. Velaska the castle was a wooden-Terran-stone building that became a unique phenomenon for the entire Pskov land. The fortress is set in a large gentle hill and has a length of 260 meters and a width of 70 meters. The fortress was equipped with earthen Podshipnik shaft, which was surrounded by three lakes.

The fortress was built in the mid 14th century. She was protecting an important junction of roads leading from Lithuania to Moscow, Novgorod and Pskov. The second road was held from Livonia through Velha and was the link the cities of Livonia and Novgorod and Pskov. The fortress was built on a large and well-preserved to our time of earthen embankments, surrounded by lakes Child, Black and Velha.

Lake Child covers an area of 70 hectares and is adjacent to a large serf shaft from the Northwest, there were a number of legends. On the southwest side poured from the ramparts of the lake Velha, which covers an area of 278 ha.

In the early 17th century, the village of Velha was granted to one of the associates of Peter the great, count Yaguzhinsky. Shortly afterwards, in 1777, the land passed into the hands of count Potemkin. In the mid 1780 Velha village was visited by Catherine II, which was literally fascinated by the incredible beauty of this place. The Empress decided to build in this place a private country Palace, although never carried out his wish. In 1782, the land passed into the possession of Laon, who was a favorite of Catherine II, after which the owner Velha became a Prince by the name of Kurakin.

In 1808 Velha became known as the industrial facility due to the construction of a linen factory. In the 19th century has been unprecedented growth of flax, which were held every year at the fair: vozdvizhenskoe, two Fominskiy and Trehsvyatitelska. On-site Valaskova settlement took place in the old post road running from Polotsk in the city of Novgorod. The processing of flax and its sale marked the successful beginning for merchant dynasties in veglie. At this time began to appear and the old believers.

It is particularly important to note that the settlement Velha is located near the Museum-reserve of A. S. Pushkin, and has recently included in its composition.