City of Ples attractions photos with descriptions where to go

Clean air, beautiful nature, rural silence and the spirit of Rus', rarely found today - all this is a city of antiquity and landscapes loved by tourists and travelers, the city of Ples, located in the Ivanovo region.

The city of Plyos lies on the route between the cities of Ivanovo and Kostroma, if you follow the route of the Golden Ring of Russia. Although Ples is not officially part of the Golden Ring of Russia, here you will definitely have something to visit and admire. The city has many popular tourist attractions, architectural and cultural monuments, most of them ancient. Old Russian churches are especially beautiful. Many people come to Plyos just to take a break from noisy cities.

Assumption Cathedral (Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

Address: Plyos city, Sobornaya Gora street
Coordinates: 57.4584282 41.515556

The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located on Cathedral Hill. The wooden ancient Russian temple located on this site burned down at the end of the 17th century. In its place a new temple was erected, which was called the “winter temple.” The Assumption Cathedral is the most ancient landmark of urban architecture. In Levitan's painting (“The Quiet Abode”) you can see this temple as it was in ancient times.

Where to stay in Plyos

A few days in Plyos will allow you to better feel its atmosphere, slowly get acquainted with the sights and see all the beautiful places. You can stay in several hotels. There are no flashy high-rise buildings among them - they have the features of a lovely province, skillfully combining it with modern hotel trends. Those standing on the banks of the Volga deserve special attention. Variety comes from the offer of apartments; there are many more of them.

Plyos Hotels
Hostels for Budget Travelers
Flats and apartments

A way to save on travel is to book accommodation on Booking.com with cashback Cashback promotion on Tourist. RU

Volga embankment in Plyos Photo: © chvm2006

Plyos State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve

Here you will see a complex of monuments of architecture, culture, art and history. The complex includes:

Memorial House-Museum of I.I. Levitan

landscape museum

museum and exhibition complex “Public Places”

exposition “Artistic crafts of the Ivanovo region”

Levitanovsky Cultural Center

About 300 cultural and historical monuments, more than 20,000 objects of ancient Russian antiquity, folk art and art, ancient books, coins and, of course, drawings and paintings will be available to your eyes.

Sights of Plyos

Not all tourists appreciate Plyos. Many people pass through this beautiful city without even realizing how many unique places they miss. Plyos boasts not only beautiful natural landscapes, but also fascinating sights. You can simply stroll through this cute town, enjoying the fresh air and the absence of noise and bustle.

In this material you can get acquainted with the list of attractions of Plyos and choose places that might interest you. In addition, you can take a short trip around the outskirts of Plyos. These places will definitely be able to sink into your soul and leave pleasant memories.

Trade Square, Cathedral Hill, Assumption Cathedral
Public places, Trinity and Vvedenskaya churches, Mount Levitan
House of the merchant Novozhilov, Levitan House-Museum, Church of St. Barbara
Wooden Resurrection Church, Resurrection Church, Museum of Decorative Glass
Plyos embankment, Wedding Museum, Provincial ART Gallery-M
Museum center of archaeologist Pavel Travkin “Russian House”
Exhibition “Art Crafts of the Ivanovo Region”, Museum of Landscape
Levitanovsky Cultural Center, Plessky Museum-Reserve, Kalashnaya Street
Eco-park “Ivolga”, Spasskoye Village, Ethnographic complex “Rusinovo”
Temple of the Savior Not Made by Hands, Milaya Gora – modern ski resort

At the end of the article we have placed a map of Plyos with the sights that we mentioned in the article marked on it. Using this map, it will be easier for you to navigate the area, and also, if you wish, you will be able to develop your own travel route around the sights of Plyos.

Museum and exhibition complex “Public Places”

Address: Sobornaya Gora street, 1
Coordinates: 57.458878, 41.514067

Not far from the Assumption Cathedral is located the Museum and Exhibition Complex “Public Places”, it is part of the complex of the museum-reserve of the city of Ples. At the entrance you will be greeted by a monument to Vasily I. The building was built in 1786, here once was the city government, the Higher Primary School for Men, and the City Public Bank. In the 18th century, wine was stored under the vaults of the basement, and then the archives of the City Government of the city of Plyos were located here.

Currently, there are exhibitions on two floors, but in the basement there is an exhibition “Ancient Ples and Ivanovo Land”. The exhibition displays items from the unique “Alabuga Treasure” - a set of women’s jewelry that was sacrificed during the construction of the fortress rampart of the Penkovsky settlement in the 7th century. AD..

What to see in Plyos - day 1

On your first day in Plyos you should visit the most popular and beautiful places. Thanks to them, your head will be able to form a complete picture of this small but interesting city. You should start your walk from Trade Square, Cathedral Hill, Mount Levitan, Public Places, and the house of the merchant Novozhilov.

Continuing your journey through Plyos, be sure to see such architectural monuments as the Assumption Cathedral, the Trinity and Vvedenskaya churches, the Church of St. Barbara, the wooden Resurrection Church “Above Eternal Peace” and the Resurrection Church, and also visit the Levitan house-museum.

Trade area

The trading area, located on the banks of the Volga River, has always been the center of commercial and social life. In its center, the Trading Rows, which were built in 1858, have been preserved. On the side of the square there were shops of the rich Plyos merchants Groshev, Luchinsky, and the Smirnov brothers, and on the side of the embankment there were Flour Rows.

Here you can find many different stores that sell flax products. They have both fashion and vintage items. You can also buy souvenirs in the shops for your loved ones, friends and colleagues.

In the very center of the square there are the best housing options, based on price and reviews:

Mini-hotel Zolotoy Ples. Rating: 9.8 based on 608 reviews. Price 950 rub.
Guest House Pavlovs. Rating: 8.9 based on 177 reviews. Price 1150 rub.
Hotel Favorite. Rating: 9.8 based on 370 reviews. Price 1350 rub.
Russian-French hotel Private Visit. Rating: 9.4 based on 293 reviews. Price 1450 rub.

Cathedral Mountain

Cathedral Mountain, located in the very center of Plyos, is an interesting landscape and historical object. On a relatively flat plateau during the time of Prince Vasily the Dark there was a wooden fortress, and now there are several attractions of the city here: the Assumption Cathedral, the bust of Vasily I and the Plyos State Museum-Reserve. There is a walking promenade around Cathedral Mountain, and on the slopes you will see many rare plants.

In this place you can take a walk, enjoying the beautiful nature of Plyos. From Cathedral Mountain you will discover picturesque landscapes that are worth capturing in photographs. From here you can also quickly reach other city attractions.

Assumption Cathedral

This church, located on Cathedral Hill, was built in 1699 on the site of a destroyed wooden fortress. The architectural style of the cathedral is attributed to the provincial version of the Moscow Baroque, widespread in Rus' in the 17th century. The church is located in a very beautiful place, so you can not only enjoy the beauty of its architecture, but also take a walk and enjoy the fresh air.

The Assumption Cathedral looks quite unusual. Its architecture attracts the attention of many tourists visiting Plyos. This place is worth seeing with your own eyes, as well as carefully studying the details of the unusual architecture.

Local residents will tell you about the city in as much detail as possible on these excursions:

Plyos - from the fortress to the resort. Rating: 5.0 based on 44 reviews. Price 3000 rubles (for 1-30 people)
A fun introduction to Plyos. Rating: 5.0 based on 82 reviews. Price 4600 rub. (for 1-5 people)
Plyos from antiquity to the present day. Rating: 5.0 based on 73 reviews. Price 3000 rub. (for 1-10 people)
Reserved Plyos is in full view. Rating: 5.0 based on 30 reviews. Price 3400 rub. (for 1-10 people)

Offices

The Public Offices Building, built on Cathedral Hill in 1786, is a monument of civil architecture of the 18th century. It managed to be a city government, a men's school, and a bank. Today, in the building of the Government Places there is a museum exhibition “Ancient Plyos and Ivanovo Land”, which tells about the history of painting from ancient times to the 17th century.

If you are interested in the history of the places you visit, you should definitely go to the Public Places. The building is located in a very beautiful location. Here you can walk around, looking at all the details of the architecture of the Public Places.

Trinity and Vvedenskaya churches

If you arrive in Plyos by bus, the first thing you will see will be the Trinity and Vvedenskaya churches. The cold Trinity Church, built in 1808, was used for summer services, and the warm Vvedenskaya Church, built in 1828, was used for winter services. The churches have different styles: Baroque and Empire. The Trinity Church has preserved wonderful paintings from the 19th century.

The convenient location of this attraction is a big plus. These architectural monuments are worthy of your attention. You have to see them with your own eyes and preserve the beauty in the pictures.

Mount Levitan

The first name that this place had was “Peter and Paul Mountain”. It received its current name in honor of the famous artist Isaac Levitan, who glorified Plyos and its stunning landscapes in his works. He spent a lot of time on this mountain and painted several of his famous paintings here.

From this place you will see incredible views of the city that will attract attention. Here you can take many beautiful and vibrant photos that will diversify your social networks. After visiting Mount Levitan, you will understand exactly why the artist worked in this city.

House of merchant Novozhilov

The house of merchant Novozhilov is the only building in the city in the Art Nouveau style. This house is famous not only for its architecture, but also for its inhabitants: for example, fifty years ago Evstolia Kuznetsova lived here, who was the head of the council from 1947 to 1974. In 2005, members of the British royal family stayed at Novozhilov’s house: the queen’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, and his wife Princess Christina.

This house has an incredible atmosphere. The architecture of this building is very unusual; it attracts the attention of tourists who are in search of interesting sights. Near the house and inside it you can take many interesting and memorable pictures.

Levitan House-Museum

This museum was founded in 1972. It occupies a spacious estate, which previously belonged to the local merchant P. Solodovnikov. The collection of this museum includes works by both Levitan himself and A.S. Stepanova and S.P. Kuvshinnikova. They came to Plyos together with Levitan in 1888-1889.

In the museum you can find many beautiful and unusual paintings. In this place you can get better acquainted with the work of these artists. It is recommended to visit the museum with your family.

Church of St. Barbara

This church is the first one that catches the eye of tourists who come to Plyos, thanks to its high bell tower and location on a high bank. Today, the landscape of the Volga bank and the church remains exactly as it was reflected in Levitan’s painting “Evening. Zolotoy Plyos" in 1890. The temple attracts tourists because it has managed to preserve the original interior and paintings.

The place where the church is located is very picturesque. There are many beautiful trees and other plants around the temple. Here you can stroll slowly on a warm spring day, enjoying the beauty of the church and nature.

Wooden Resurrection Church

Previously, a wooden church from the 16th century stood here, but it burned down in 1903. 80 years later, the same temple was installed in its place, which was transported from the village of Biryukovo, Ilyinsky district, Ivanovo region. The second part of the temple’s name – “Above Eternal Peace” – is unofficial and was borrowed from Levitan’s painting of the same name.

The church attracts attention with its unusual appearance. It is located in a very beautiful place, complementing the landscape of Plyos. Here you can take beautiful photos that will remind you of this trip.

Resurrection Church

This church was built in 1817 in honor of the victory over Napoleon. Today, the stone temple is located on the market square, in the place where two wooden churches previously stood. In the architecture of the Church of the Resurrection, there was a mixture of two styles: late classicism and Yaroslavl temple architecture of the 17th century.

The church attracts attention with its beauty and grandeur. Near it you can take many beautiful photos that will diversify your social media feed. Be sure to include this place in your itinerary.

Varvarinskaya Church (Church of St. Barbara) city of Plyos

Address: Plyos, st. Uritskogo, 22
Coordinates: 57.458439, 41.528131

The Varvara Church plays a special role in the ancient architecture of Plyos. Its snow-white walls somehow decorate the city in a special way. The church was built in classical style in the 17th century.

Excursions

2 days in Plyos is enough for both independent walks and a city tour with a local guide. Plyos guides offer routes to Levitanovsky places with a story about the life of the painter. There are also thematic excursions associated with other creative personalities who were inspired by Plyos at different times. The guides will tell you in detail about the history of the city and help you organize a boat trip or a trip to the surrounding area.

Excursions around Plyos on the Experts project. Tourist. RU

Barbara Church Photo: © chvm2006

Wedding Museum

Address: st. Descent of Mount Freedom, 7
Coordinates: 57.457194, 41.517554
Phone: 8 (49339) 4-36-62

In the hut of a wealthy pharmacist living in Plyos there is a “wedding museum”.

The pharmacist had several daughters. When his daughters got married, he arranged unforgettable weddings for them, like many residents of the city. Since then, it has become a custom for those living near the city to hold their weddings in Plyos.

In the Wedding Museum you will see many exhibits that are in one way or another connected with wedding ceremonies held in the old days (girls’ dowries, interior items, things). They will tell you about the intricacies of holding weddings in this area, about how they used cunning to make a profitable marriage. All the stories you will hear are based on real stories of people living in the city and its environs.

What to see and where to go in Plyos - day 2

On the second day in Plyos it is worth visiting the museum of decorative glass, the wedding museum, the museum center of archaeologist Pavel Travkin “Russian House”, the landscape museum, the Levitanovsky cultural. You should also enjoy art in the provincial ART Gallery-M, stroll along the Plyos embankment, the Plyos Museum-Reserve and Kalashnaya Street.

Museum of Decorative Glass

The Museum of Decorative Glass is a small private museum whose collection is based on the works of the Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Timofeev. Here you can see paintings, stained glass, fiberglass. The museum is located right in the artist’s house, and he himself acts as a guide and tells interesting facts about his works.

This place is filled with interesting exhibits that attract the attention of visitors. It is interesting to listen to the story of their creation when the artist himself talks about it. Here you can immerse yourself in real art.

Plyos embankment

The Plyos embankment stretches for 1.5 kilometers near Levitan Mountain, as well as Cathedral Mountain and Resurrection Mountain. The embankment was built in 1781 by order of Empress Catherine II. Many houses located on the Plyos embankment have been preserved since the 19th century.

Walking along the embankment of the great Russian Volga River is an incredible pleasure. It offers picturesque views of this small town. A walk along the embankment will be a great end to the day.

In the very center near the embankment there are the best housing options, based on price and reviews:

Guest house Itil. Rating: 9.2 based on 325 reviews. Price 950 rub.
Hotel Grand Sova. Rating: 9.9 based on 224 reviews. Price 1450 rub.
Guest house "Cherry Orchard". Rating: 9.8 based on 57 reviews. Price 1350 rub.
Dom kuptsa Kalugina. Rating: 9.3 based on 81 reviews. Price 1150 rub.

Wedding Museum

This exhibition is located in a wooden house that once belonged to a wealthy pharmacist. He talks about the features of the traditional Russian wedding ceremony. Most of the exhibits in this museum once belonged to a wedding dowry. They will tell you many interesting facts about the tricks that the parties interested in the marriage went to.

The theme of this museum is unusual and unique. Here you will definitely not be able to get bored listening to the boring stories of the guide. This place can be visited by the whole family and you can safely take your children with you.

Provincial ART gallery-M

The collection of this gallery is a collection of objects of decorative and applied art. Here you can see lacquer miniatures of Kholuy, Palekh and Mstera, items made of painted faience and silver, as well as busts of Lenin, which were made by different masters. In addition, the museum displays more than 150 paintings by artists V.A. Federova.

If you love art and are willing to spend your time for it, be sure to include this place in your itinerary. However, not everyone will be equally interested here. If you have never visited galleries, it is better to look at other attractions of Plyos.

Museum Center of Archaeologist Pavel Travkin

The museum center of archaeologist Pavel Travkin was created by an archaeologist and a great specialist in the field of ancient history of Rus'. The complex of this center includes two main objects: the Museum of Primitive Fisheries and the Museum of the Old Russian Family. Here you can see real exhibitions that personify the life of our ancestors. Each museum item is reproduced with maximum authenticity.

If you want to dive into the past and understand how life was structured in ancient Rus', be sure to visit this place. The museum can surprise you with its exhibitions, detailed dishes, furniture, and decorations. Everything here really looks exactly the same as it did many years ago.

Exhibition Arts and Crafts of the Ivanovo Region

Previously, this museum was known as the Museum of Lacquer Miniatures and was located not far from the Levitan Museum. Today it is located in the former Muchny building nearby. The collection of exhibits includes more than 200 exhibits, which are dedicated to the artistic specialty of the Ivanovo land: lacquer miniatures and textiles.

In the museum you can see many interesting exhibits. At the museum you can visit a small art salon. Here you can buy wonderful designer souvenirs from Plyos.

Landscape Museum

The Landscape Museum was founded in 1997. It is located in the building of the Groshevy-Podgornov merchant mansion, which is located at the very end of the city embankment. This museum is the only museum exhibition in the world dedicated to landscape painting. Here you can see works by Shishkin, Savrasov, Petrov-Vodkin and other artists.

The museum will be interesting for both adults and children. You will be able to completely immerse yourself in the creativity of the artists and enjoy the beauty of their paintings. Be sure to include this place in your itinerary.

Levitanovsky Cultural Center

The Levitanovsky Cultural Center, located in a stone estate, was opened in 2012. It is a monument of urban architecture of the 19th century. The center is one of the main venues of the festival “Plyos on the Volga. Linen Palette", Chaliapin Dacha Festival, international art plein air "Green Noise", film festival "Mirror", etc.

If you are lucky, you will get to one of the festivals and will be able to fully enjoy this place. However, even on an ordinary day you can admire the beautiful architecture of the cultural center. Therefore, you should visit this place.

Plyos Museum-Reserve

The Plyos Museum-Reserve includes valuable natural areas, historical and cultural monuments. It includes the Levitan Memorial House-Museum, the Landscape Museum, the exhibition “Art Crafts of the Ivanovo Region” and other exhibitions. Ancient architectural structures deserve special attention: the Moiseev estate, the Assumption Cathedral, the Church of the Resurrection.

A walk through the museum-reserve can take you several hours. She will give you a lot of vivid emotions, memories and knowledge. In addition, here you can attend master classes on arts and crafts.

Kalashnaya Street

Kalashnaya Street is the oldest street in the city. Here you can find many ancient buildings, and the area is not similar to the appearance of modern Plyos. If you want to find memorable and unusual souvenirs of their trip, here you can find many interesting things that will definitely surprise your family and friends.

You can stroll along this small street, immersed in the atmosphere of antiquity. Here you can take a number of unusual and interesting photographs. They will keep all the memories of this place.

“Plyos cat” and “Summer resident”, sculptures for the 600th anniversary of the city

Address: st. Lunacharsky, landscape museum on the Volga embankment
“Dachnitsa” coordinates: 57.4589741, 41.5281364
Coordinates of the “Plyos cat”: 57.462676, 41.504070

On the embankment near the Church of St. Barbara, next to the pier where part of the “Cruel Romance” episodes were filmed, you will be greeted by two new sculptures that have become new attractions of the city, “Plyos Cat” and “Summer Resident”.

The sculpture “Summer Resident” was installed in honor of the 600th anniversary of the founding of the city of Plyos in 2010. “Summer resident” personifies the “dacha” times that entered local history from the second half of the 19th century. In those days, local residents often rented out their houses for the summer. This sculpture depicts a girl looking into the distance of the Volga River through an easel. Looking at the “canvas” of the easel you can see a magnificent landscape.

When to go to Ples?

Holidays in Plyos are wonderful at any time of the year. There is something for everyone here to their liking. In summer, tourists are attracted by holidays on the Volga with boating and sunbathing on the beach, leisurely walks along the embankment and visiting numerous museums.

Anyone who has seen “Golden Plyos” at least once will never ask what to do in Plyos in the fall. Coming here at this time of year, you find yourself in forests and groves shrouded in golden crimson, the mere sight of which will take your breath away. In winter, guests of the city are warmly welcomed by the Milovka ski resort, offering active recreation for every taste. Spring in Plyos can turn anyone’s head with a riot of colors, blossoms and the fragrance of nature. This is the time of awakening and plein airs of local artists. Ancient Plyos is attractive and picturesque all year round. His landscapes just beg to be captured by a camera lens, although no technique is capable of truly conveying the surrounding beauty.

Landscape Museum

Address: st. Lunacharsky, 20
Coordinates: 57.458934, 41.529211
Phone: 8(49339) 4-32-65, 4-34-90, 4-32-64

The Museum of Landscape, the first museum in Russia, which presents the history of the development of Russian landscape painting. It contains paintings by famous artists Levitan and Shishkin, as well as paintings by contemporary authors.

Annual festivals are held here, where young and young masters can show their works next to the masterpieces of famous artists.

“Russian House”, archaeological museum, Museum-estate of an ancient Russian family

Address: st. Freedom Mountain Descent, 1
Coordinates: 57.4569496, 41.5156737
Phone: 8 (49339) 4-33-06,
Opening hours: 10:30-16:00.
Website: https://www.travkin-museum.ru

In the “Russian House” you will find yourself in a complex of buildings and premises whose architecture is made in the ancient style. This is not a simple museum with ancient exhibits, but a recreated house of the medieval town of Ples. The museum was created according to evidence found during archaeological excavations from the 13th century.

So in the museum of the ancient Russian family on the territory of the center, life in 1237 is shown. It shows a jewelers' house that once existed in that place, according to the finds. Later in 1238, during the Horde invasion, the house was burned.

When you enter the territory of the archaeological museum, everything seems real. To enhance this feeling, you can fully immerse yourself in antiquity by working on a real potter’s wheel, turning hand millstones, weaving on a vertical loom, while wearing ancient Russian costumes. You can also feel like an ancient Russian defender by wearing chain mail and picking up a real sword.

All this was invented by candidate of historical sciences P.N. Travkin. He wanted everyone to be able to travel back in time, as if in a time machine. In the museum you can take pictures with any exhibits. Photo sessions in the image of medieval Rus' will be unforgettable. Many things and historical books can be bought here.

Monument to Levitan

Address: st. Lunacharskogo, 4/2
Coordinates: 57.459413, 41.523174

Once upon a time, the great Russian artist Isaac Levitan lived and worked in the city of Plyos. In memory of him, a monument was erected near the Levitan Museum. The figure of the monument faces into the distance towards the great expanses of the Volga. Levitan adored the Volga, which is skillfully reflected in his unique canvases. The Levitan monument holds a palette in one hand, and he presses the other hand with a brush to his heart, admiring the beautiful view spread out before his gaze.

Memorial House-Museum of Levitan

Address: st. Lunacharskogo, 4/2
Phone: 8 (49339) 4-34-78, 4-34-90, 4-37-82
Coordinates: 57.459402, 41.523630

This is the same house in which Levitan painted his paintings. Here they will show you his works and tell you his biography. You will learn about how the greatest artist lived and worked. In this house-museum, the furnishings of the times when I.I. lived here have been preserved as much as possible. Levitan.

The museum presents the works of not only the great artist, but also the works of such artists as Kuvshinnikova and Stepanova.