Ride a dog sled, weave a beetle from a willow twig, see the stars and plunge into the atmosphere of a fairy tale come to life: we tell you where to go and what to do in winter in Kostroma with children. Go!
Kostroma is called the birthplace of the Snow Maiden thanks to the playwright Alexander Ostrovsky. It was he who composed a play about a heroine of folklore who melted from love, the prototype of which was the Slavic goddess Kostroma. This region is Ostrovsky’s land, which is why they decided to settle this snow sorceress here.
Advice: for your trip, choose a quiet weekend in January or February, when the main flow of visitors has subsided and the festive mood has not yet disappeared.
Visit the Snow Maiden
The log Terem of the Snow Maiden, where the New Year's sorceress welcomes guests all year round, is located on the picturesque bank of the Volga. Inside there is the atmosphere of a living fairy tale. Terem is located on Lagernaya street, house 38, next to the bridge over the Volga. According to the plot, the Snow Maiden is stingy with affection, but here, in Terem, the kids will feel real warmth.
The New Year's journey into a fairy tale has begun. From the city of Kostroma, dear to my heart. Actually, this is my mother’s homeland. But as it turned out, so did the Snow Maiden) Therefore, it was definitely decided to stop by for a visit. Although the Snow Maiden’s house is small, everything is very cozy and pleasant. And most importantly, fun and fabulous. It is very encouraging that tourism is being developed at least a little in Russia. So, you see, there will be other roads that simply don’t exist in Kostroma. And we moved on #New Year's trip 2018 #visiting Santa Claus #Snow Maiden's Tower #winter winter #New Year's mood #travel
Posted by Polina Panteleeva (@ppolishap) Dec 29, 2022 at 9:22 PST
The game entertainment program includes round dances with brownies and a cat named Bayun - the Snow Maiden's neighbors, as well as competitions, puppet shows and outdoor games. And here you can order a letter from the winter sorceress, which will arrive at the specified address in a “fairytale” envelope.
You can only walk around the Snow Maiden's Tower as part of a guided tour; there is no free visit. You can join the group, but most likely you will have to wait for some time. Therefore, it is worth planning your visit in advance, especially in January.
Be sure to check out the Ice Museum, where you can warm up with traditional Russian drinks. For adults, they are originally served in ice glasses. The museum is open all year round: you can visit it even in summer. You don’t have to worry about your clothes: “for warming up” they give you an embroidered sheepskin coat and felt boots.
Dessert at the Ice Museum, Snow Maiden's Tower
In the same courtyard as the Snow Maiden's Tower there is also a hotel of the same name, in whose restaurant New Year's shows are held every weekend in winter.
Assembly of the Nobility
The museum halls will present two main exhibitions to guests. The first is dedicated to the culture and life of the nobles of that time. Here you can see with your own eyes the recreated interior of living quarters with furniture, household items, clothing, documents and other little things that made up the everyday life of people of the noble class.
Another exhibition is dedicated to the history of Kostroma from ancient times. Exhibits and guides will tell you how the townspeople of that time of various classes lived, you will visit the office of a rich merchant, unique pieces of furniture of those times. This museum will appeal to lovers of Russian history and culture, as well as young children.
Address: 7 Mira Ave., Kostroma GPS coordinates: 57.77002769722374, 40.93056737126339
Go to a fairyland
The Kostroma sorceress also has a winter residence in the city - “The Fairytale Land of the Snow Maiden”. It is a small museum dedicated to Russian folk tales, traditions and rituals. Here you can spend hours looking at the details: handmade doll dresses decorated with embroidery, Christmas tree decorations, amulets from all the provinces of Russia and household items. You can touch all the exhibits with your hands - the kids are delighted! There is also a lot of interactivity here: you can send the pot to the stove using a grip or grind grains in a millstone.
However, it is not only the gaming program that is of interest. The museum building is a former salt shop that flourished in the 19th century. And very close by are the gates of the Moscow Outpost, which were erected for the arrival of Catherine II in Kostroma.
Address: Simanovsky Street, building 11. You can get to the residence by public transport by minibus No. 4. Or walk. Along the way, pay attention to the buildings of the Znamensky Monastery.
About the city
The first associations that arise when mentioning Kostroma are the Romanov dynasty, the abode of the Snow Maiden and ancient Russian architecture. The variety of attractions in the city is simply amazing. It is not for nothing that Kostroma is one of the top cities on the tourist route along the Golden Ring of Russia.
In addition to the tourist influx, pilgrims from all over the vast region come to the city to visit local temples and monasteries. The most attractive for all visitors is the Ipatiev Monastery, where Mikhail Romanov was elected to the throne. Therefore, in this place there is always a large number of both pilgrims and tourists.
Kostroma also offers you to get to know the city from a different perspective - on a cruise ship on the Volga River. This route includes a cozy embankment and observation platforms, and at the end everyone will be able to enjoy the architecture of the center of Kostroma and get acquainted with its history.
In addition to architectural and natural attractions, Kostroma attracts tourists with its museums. There, guests are introduced to local folk crafts, the architecture of the Kostroma Volga region, the famous Romanov dynasty and immersed in the fairy-tale world of the Snow Maiden. What places in Kostroma would be interesting to visit with your family on the weekend, we will tell you in the article below.
Hug the bronze dog
A Basset dog named Bobka is a legend of the Kolomna fire department, which is still located not far from Susaninskaya Square. In the 19th century, the dog lived in the Fire Tower, was a member of the fire brigade and helped save Kostroma residents from fire. The whole city spoke about her exploits: Bobka became such a noticeable phenomenon that she became the hero of a story by local writer Leonid Kolgushkin.
“The departure of the main fire department was always accompanied by a large, red, shaggy dog named Bobka. She was a common favorite of all fire workers. They said that during fires Bobka more than once carried children and belongings out of burning premises. At the sound of the fire bell, this permanent duty officer was the first to jump out of the open gate and always ran to the side of the lead team.”
Posted by Maria Kazinskaya (@mariakazinskaya)Nov 25, 2022 at 11:20 PST
In memory of the brave rescuer, a bronze monument was erected in 2006. In winter, this absolutely charming bronze figure is decorated with a scarf so that Bobka does not freeze. The dog continues to help the townspeople today: he guards a piggy bank in the shape of a ball, where you can throw coins and bills. All money raised goes to help a shelter for homeless animals. And if you sit on a dog’s back and pet it, they say your most cherished wish will come true.
The times of Dmitry Donskoy
The lands of the Vladimir princes gradually expanded. This, accordingly, helped strengthen their power. But this state of affairs did not suit the Horde khans.
And so in 1327 the Horde khan intervened and divided the Vladimir lands into parts. Novgorod and Kostroma went to Prince Ivan Danilovich Kalita. It turned out that the city of Vladimir was given to someone else. Kostroma has always been connected with him. And Kalita was a Moscow prince.
But under Dmitry Donskoy, a lot has changed. Previously, the Principality of Moscow, which included Kostroma, was not in the best position due to the impossibility of communication with the Volga route.
But Prince Dmitry began to use Kostroma, bypassing the Volga route. Kostroma even became a refuge from Khan Tokhtamysh for Prince Donskoy. A brief history of the city for children includes a story about the Kostroma Kremlin.
Get lost in the “Wonder Forest”
On Ostrovsky Street, on the banks of the Kostroma River, there is an unusual fairy tale house, the entrance to which is guarded by Mishka the Bear. This place is the “Wonder Forest” museum. The atmosphere of forest myths and legends envelops you right from the door: here you can learn about the Kostroma forests and their fabulous inhabitants - goblin, kikimoras, merman and mermaids. Here you can find the traditional hut of Baba Yaga and the exotic Stump-Evert. It is curious that most of the exhibits are created entirely from natural materials - vines, tree trunks and branches. A separate room is dedicated to blacksmithing. In addition, by visiting the “Wonder Forest”, kids will get an idea of what wood carving, willow weaving and artistic forging are.
Posted by @muzey_les_chudodeyMar 19, 2016 at 11:31 PDT
“The magnificent works of local wood craftsmen in a fairy-tale style tell about the forest - the main wealth of the Kostroma region. Wonderful guides who love their region will introduce you and your children to fabulous forest inhabitants, the roots and trunks of trees will turn into heroes of fairy tales, you will feel the warmth of pine, linden, birch wood and will be amazed by the excellent technique of wood carving masters using various tools. Magnificent works of masters of weaving from bast, straw, wicker and birch bark. The creative work of metal craftsmen (forging and plasma cutting) is impressive.”
Review by user Kostas C about the “Wonder Forest” museum on TripAdvisor.
The museum hosts master classes on making a beetle from a willow twig, although only for groups of ten or more people. They are worth booking in advance.
Kostroma jewelry
Snow Maiden.
It is no coincidence that Kostroma is called the jewelry capital of Russia - enterprises in the region produce over a third of all gold and silver products in our country. The jewelry history of the region goes back several centuries: the first masters were known back in medieval Kostroma, the works of jeweler Grigory Ratkov from the village of Sidorovskoye decorate the halls of the State Historical Museum, the Church Historical and Archaeological Museum of the Ipatiev Monastery and a number of museums in Russia, and at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, local products artisans could be found everywhere - at fairs and in monasteries, in royal chambers, noble estates, merchant mansions and peasant huts. The Museum of Jewelry Art tells about the history, life and work of Kostroma jewelers; its exhibition presents interesting exhibits made of gold, silver and cupronickel, made using filigree and artistic casting techniques.
Go ice skating at Berendeyevka
You can go dog sledding and ice skating, walk through the winter forest and go ice fishing in the Berendeyevka pine and birch park. It is located a ten-minute drive from the historical center of Kostroma. There are three ponds on the territory. In the 1960s, about ten houses were moved here, which were built specifically for the filming of the legendary Soviet fairy tale film “The Snow Maiden” based on the work of the same name by Ostrovsky.
Posted by @berendeevka44Dec 16, 2022 at 2:01 PST
True, most of them were destroyed in the 1990s. However, here in the village you can still plunge into the atmosphere of a real fairy tale: take a look at the Berendeyevka tower restaurant, whose interiors are decorated in the Old Russian style. There is a children's menu.
Oh, this Berendeyevka! Her famous cheeses and approach to clients leave no one indifferent. After their master class, our yoginis bought all the cheese (although almost no one had planned to do this before). And for the final lunch they made us our favorite momas with cheese and spinach. Enjoyed it at the highest level! #yogatour #voyagewith meaning #Berendeyevka #obzhorkintour
Posted by Tatyana Glushkova (@tanya_glushkova36) Jan 7, 2018 at 10:51 PST
Sumarokovskaya elk farm
The elk farm is located on the territory of the Sumarokovsky nature reserve in the Kostroma region. For a long time now, wild elk have been domesticated here, and their milk is used for health purposes. During the excursion, guests can take part in feeding the animals and pet them.
The moose farm was created with the goal of domesticating wild moose and helping them adapt to new climatic conditions. The farm began its work back in 1963. And 7 years later, the first elk calf in captivity was born in the park. At the moment, the farm occupies a significant niche in eco-tourism in the region. After all, many visitors return here again and again for a unique opportunity to get to know these amazing animals better.
Address: Sumarokovo, Kostroma region. GPS coordinates: 57.67500937864809, 41.205236740577725
See the stars
However, you can watch not only fairy-tale characters in Kostroma. You can see very real stars from a very real telescope if you look into a very real planetarium. “Star House of Kostroma” is one of the oldest in Russia, it was opened in 1951. Moreover, in the building of a former church. In the foyer hangs a model of the first artificial Earth satellite, which was launched on October 4, 1957. The planetarium hosts lectures on astronomy and children's fairy tale performances about stars, planets, meteorites and comets. Most programs are designed for children and schoolchildren.
Advice: the people at the Kostroma Planetarium are truly fans of their craft, so you can and should ask questions here. The Star House welcomes everyone who is passionate about astronomy and the world around them.
Museum of Wooden Architecture
Another name for the museum is “Kostroma Sloboda”. The museum-reserve was founded in 1955. Its main exhibits are located near the Ipatiev Monastery. The Kostroma region is rich in preserved wooden buildings that date back to different eras. Therefore, it was decided to collect them in one place and create an open-air museum-reserve.
One of the most amazing and first exhibits brought to the museum is the small Church of the Transfiguration of the 18th century. In addition to the temple, here you can visit ancient outbuildings, residential buildings, look inside and study the interior. This is where you can see real masterpieces and examples of Kostroma wooden architecture.
Address: st. Prosveshcheniya, 1a, Kostroma GPS coordinates: 57.775454416263905, 40.889366319285
Pizza, pasta and soap bubbles
Family trattoria "Pinocchio" (Sovetskaya street, building 59) is ideal for families with children. The menu includes dishes of Italian and Japanese cuisine, as well as everything that kids adore. On Sundays from 12:00 to 14:00, animation programs with master classes are held at Pinocchio. The rest of the time, all little visitors are given coloring books, soap bubbles and pencils. The portions in the trattoria are large. There is a separate children's menu. Be sure to try the chocolate fondant - they make it excellent here.
“This year the trattoria offered a master class on making gingerbread cookies. The children were delighted. Although the company was of different ages - from 4 to 14 years old, absolutely everyone coped with the task, for which many thanks to the presenter Yulia! As always, “Pinocchio” delighted the kids with desserts and the most delicious pizza in the city!”
Review from user Mary_Mik23 about the Pinocchio trattoria on TripAdvisor.
Master class at the family trattoria “Pinocchio”
Romanov Museum
The museum houses a large number of exhibits that tell about the life and work of the great Romanov dynasty. Their historical homeland is located in this city.
In addition to the famous royal dynasty, the museum’s exhibition will tell about the Time of Troubles, the life of the Kostroma boyars and the noble class. The first visitor to the museum was Emperor Nicholas II himself. And its museum collection was replenished with masterpieces from the Hermitage and the Academy of Arts. In addition to the rich collection, the sight of the building itself takes your breath away - snow-white facades in a pseudo-Russian style with openwork stucco molding under a strict green roof.
Address: Mira Ave., 5, Kostroma. GPS coordinates: 57.76969836647183, 40.92992993078025
