Cities in the Moscow region that are worth seeing
03:19, 13 July 2017
Cities in the Moscow region that are worth seeing
There are many interesting places in the Moscow region that are worth seeing. They attract travelers from all over the world with their attractions, museums, monuments, temples, estates and grand festivals. Musical Klin and ancient Kolomna, modern Krasnogorsk and the “golden” Sergiev Posad - these and many other cities of the Moscow region will become an important milestone on any tourist route. Especially for our readers, we have prepared a list of the most beautiful cities in the Moscow region. And so that you don’t get confused, you will have before your eyes a special map of the Moscow region with the cities and districts that we have selected for you. Enjoy!
Ancient Russian cities of the Moscow region
In total, there are 74 cities in the region. The oldest of them, Volokolamsk, has been known since 1135.
Another old-timer near Moscow, Zaraysk, appeared in 1146.
The ancient city on Osetra is famous for its perfectly preserved stone Kremlin
.
Just a few years younger than it is located to the north of the capital Dmitrov
, which was founded 7 years later than Moscow - in 1154.
Volokolamsk Kremlin
Each city near Moscow has its own face and history. People go to Kolomna to admire the ancient Kremlin
, in
Sergiev Posad
- the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and in Zvenigorod - to touch the shrines of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Klin is famous for the house-museum of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Voskresensk - for the Spasskoye and Krivyakino estates, Aprelevka - for the gramophone record factory, famous in Soviet times.
Traveling around the cities of the Moscow region is interesting and easy. Public transport is well developed in the region. There are regular buses to almost every city, and many have a railway line. In addition, in every city near Moscow there are hotels and guest houses where you can stay for one or two days for a detailed exploration of all the local attractions.
Kolomna Kremlin
Wedge
Klin also has a rich and interesting history, where many famous figures of science and art lived - Blok, Mendeleev, Gaidar and, of course, Tchaikovsky. Since last year, a grandiose international festival named after the composer has been held here, bringing together the largest Russian and world stars of opera, ballet and classical music. But besides the festivals in Klin, which dates back to the 14th century, there is something to see. Local churches, estates, museums and ancient buildings will decorate any trip. At the same time, Klin is located on the modern Moscow-St. Petersburg highway, so getting here will not be difficult.
Population: 79,075 people
Distance: 65 kilometers from the Moscow Ring Road
Sights: the house-museum of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, which the composer filmed in the last years of his life. Many masterpieces were born here, without which it is impossible to imagine modern classical music, including the famous “Sleeping Beauty”, “The Nutcracker” and the Fifth Symphony. This house is the oldest music museum in Russia; its collection includes more than two hundred thousand exhibits. Exhibitions and concerts are regularly held here, related not only to Tchaikovsky, but also to other creators - musicians, writers, artists. Thus, quite recently in the museum one could learn the real story of the world’s most famous storytellers - the Brothers Grimm, and on September 15, the exhibition “Prokofiev’s Method” with the composer’s drafts and scores opened there. And in Klin there is a house-museum of Arkady Gaidar, where the writer finished the favorite story of several generations - “Timur and His Team”.
The Klin Kremlin is located in the historical center of the city. Now there is little that reminds us of the once formidable fortress: there are no walls or ancient earthen ramparts left, nothing but a giant ravine, which several centuries ago served as an insurmountable obstacle for enemies. But the majestic Trinity Cathedral and the Resurrection Church with a high hipped bell tower have been preserved - the oldest in the Klin Kremlin, it was built back in 1712. Nearby, already outside the Kremlin, stands the modest-looking Assumption Church, which is exactly one hundred and forty years older.
Klin also has its own museum of toys - but not for children, but for Christmas toys; you won’t find another like it in Russia. The exhibition is presented in twelve halls, there are master classes and truly interesting historical excursions that reveal the backstage of the main and favorite holiday in our country - the New Year.
Finally, there are many ancient buildings preserved here that are not so famous, but are certainly worth seeing. Just walking along the streets of the city, you can see buildings built at the end of the 18th century - a shop under the clock (by the way, still operational), the Postal Yard (where the real post office works), the Mayor's House, as well as the railway station and the 19th century shopping arcades.
Estates of the Moscow region
Ancient estates are a real decoration of the Moscow region. The history of many of them begins in the distant 16th century. It was then that the first estates appeared around Moscow, many of which later grew into real palace and park ensembles.
The pearl of the Moscow region is considered to be the Arkhangelskoye estate, located not far from the capital, in the Krasnogorsk district.
Its heyday came at the beginning of the 19th century, when the owner of this estate was Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov.
Arkhangelskoye Estate
The fashion for building country residences and arranging landscape parks, which came from Europe, gave rise to a whole construction boom around Moscow in the 17th century. And besides Arkhangelsk, classical estates arose in Ostafyevo and Yaropolets.
Each estate had its own infrastructure, stables and churches. Perhaps the most remarkable temple, recognized by UNESCO as an architectural monument of world significance, was the Church of the Sign in the Dubrovitsy estate,
near the city of Podolsk. This 42 m tall, slender temple, erected by the talent of an Italian architect near the mouth of the Desna River, glows from afar with the gilded “crown” of the dome.
Znamenskaya Church in the Dubrovitsy estate
Many tourists come to the Abramtsevo estate
, which now has the status of a museum-reserve. The fame of the estate near Moscow was brought by artists, performers and historians who lived and visited these places.
A.S. spent his childhood and adult years in estates around Moscow. Pushkin
(Zakharovo), A.A.
Blok (Shakhmatovo), F.I. Tyutchev (Muranovo) and A.P. Chekhov (Melikhovo). Many of them are associated with epoch-making events for Russia. And the life of the estate and the morals of landowners and peasants are reflected in the best monuments of Russian literature created by L.N.
Tolstoy , I.A. Goncharov and I.S. Turgenev.
Main house in the Abramtsevo estate
Chekhov
Chekhov railway station. Photo source: wikipedia.org
The quiet regional center of Chekhov near Moscow officially received city status in 1954 - then the workers’ village of Lopasnya was transformed into a city. But many centuries ago, in this place or nearby there was a large shopping center - the town of Lopasnya or Lopastna. His name first appeared in chronicles in 1175. Moscow and Ryazan waged a difficult, bloody struggle for him for a long time. The Lopasten volost was highly valued in the capitals of both principalities, and it passed from hand to hand.
The photo on the screensaver is www.flikr.com, View of Volokolamsk. GorVlad, fragment
Monasteries and churches of the Moscow region
In the Moscow region there is one of the holiest places for believers - the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
Over its seven-hundred-year history, this monastery in Sergiev Posad has always been a place of pilgrimage and worship.
40 km west of Moscow, in Istra, there is another monastery, built in the likeness of Jerusalem, and for this similarity it was called New Jerusalem
. In total, there are more than 20 Orthodox monasteries in the Moscow region.
Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery
It is noteworthy that despite the vicissitudes of recent centuries, the wars that have not bypassed the Moscow region, very ancient churches have been preserved here.
The oldest churches in the Moscow region are considered to be those built in the second half of the 14th century - St. Nicholas Church in the village of Kamenskoye and the Temple of John the Baptist on the Settlement in Kolomna.
At the beginning of the 15th century, the Nativity Cathedral and the Assumption Cathedral were erected on Gorodok in Zvenigorod, as well as the Staronikolsky Cathedral and the Church of Joachim and Anna in Mozhaisk.
Ascension David's Hermitage
Kolomna is one of the most beautiful in the Moscow region
An ancient Russian city of regional significance, founded in 1177, it is located at the place where the Oka and Moskva rivers merge. In its appearance, Kolomna successfully combines patriarchal and modern features. Because of its location, it was not included in the Golden Ring of Russia, although it is very worthy of it. There are 420 monuments here, including monasteries, churches, and bell towers. The most striking attraction is the Kolomna Kremlin, built in the 16th century. Once upon a time it was one of the most powerful fortresses of the Moscow state. Only 7 towers (17 of them) and a small part of the wall have survived to this day. On the territory of the complex there are various architectural monuments: estates, chambers, temples, schools. Pyatnitsky Gate is one of the Kremlin towers, in the past it was the main entrance to Kolomna. Its height today is 29 meters, but in earlier times the tower reached 35 m in height with a lancet, which has not survived.
The main square of the Kremlin is Sobornaya. In the 14th century there were the chambers of the Grand Duke. By the 18th century, redevelopment was carried out, which has survived to this day. Nearby is the Assumption Cathedral, the bell tower of the Novo-Golutvinsky monastery, and the Tikhvin Church. The most important and large-scale events of the city are held on the square. In Kolomna there are interesting museums that are definitely worth a visit, a cultural center, the estate of the merchants Lazhechnikov, the Church of St. Nicholas on Posad, monasteries:
- Staro-Gutvin
- Bobrenev
- Holy Trinity
Museums of the Moscow region
Every city in the Moscow region and many rural settlements have their own museums. So the number of museum collections in the region has exceeded one hundred and fifty. An excellent opportunity to get acquainted with all the folk crafts that exist in the cities and towns around the capital is to visit the Museum of Folk Crafts of the Moscow Region, which operates in the village of Fedoskino. In addition to the famous Fedoskino lacquer miniatures, porcelain from Gzhel and Verbilok, Pavlovo Posad shawls, painted Zhostovo trays, wooden carved Bogorodsk toys and Christmas tree decorations that are made in Klin are on display here. Almost all the craft traditions of the region - in one place!
Museum-reserve "Borodino Field"
It is also interesting to visit the famous tank museum in Kubinka, 64 km from the capital. Here, in a large open-air area and in seven pavilions, domestic and foreign armored vehicles are presented. There is no such collection anywhere in the world.
125 km west of the capital is located one of the most famous museum complexes in Russia - Borodino Field, which was organized in 1839.
This place has the status of a museum-reserve and is considered one of the oldest museums in the world, based on the sites of epoch-making battles. Not only excursions are held here, but also large-scale military-historical holidays: “Borodin Day” and “The Steadfast Tin Soldier”.
Ostafyevo Estate Museum
Village Mikulino
Cathedral of the Archangel Michael of the 16th century in the village of Mikulino, Lotoshinsky district, Moscow region
The village of Mikulino in the Lotoshinsky district of the Moscow region used to be the large city of Mikulin, the capital of a large appanage principality. It was first mentioned in 1363. The Rurikovichs, belonging to the Tver House, ruled here. The 16th-century St. Michael the Archangel Church, built by the great Russian commander Prince Semyon Ivanovich Mikulinsky, reminds of its former greatness.
Protected areas and natural monuments of the Moscow region
The Moscow region is an industrially developed region with a dense transport network, which has many environmental problems. There is only one nature reserve in the region - Prioksko-Terrasny, stretching along the left bank of the Oka River. Here the bison are protected and the northernmost populations of the steppe flora are preserved.
In addition to this reserve, in the region on the lands of the Upper Volga Lowland there is part of the areas of the Zavidovo National Park. The dendrological park named after Academician A.S. also has the status of a specially protected natural area. Yablokov, which is located in Ivanteevka.
And in the city of Lobnya there is the famous moraine-glacial lake Kiyovo, which, like the basin surrounding the reservoir, also has the status of a natural monument.
Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery
Not far from Sergiev Posad you can see cold springs and the beautiful Gremyachiy Klyuch
. The natural attraction is beautifully landscaped. Near the springs there is a beautiful temple and chapel, there are walkways, stairs, a bathhouse and gazebos for relaxation.
Over 40% of the territory of the Moscow region is occupied by forests, most of which are mixed. They are home to many animals - foxes, wild boars, moose, hares, squirrels and badgers, and 170 species of birds live. Bears, wolves and lynxes come to the border of the Moscow region from neighboring regions. However, environmental problems associated with overpopulation, transport and industrial overload do not have the best effect on the state of the flora and fauna of the region.
Bird's eye view of the rattling key
Serpukhov
Serpukhov. Photo by _ghosty_
Serpukhov became the “specific capital” of the famous commander, Prince Vladimir Andreevich, nicknamed the Brave. He was one of the leaders of the Ambush Regiment, which decided the outcome of the Battle of Kulikovo, and two years later he again defeated a large Tatar detachment. In the 14th century, Serpukhov turned into a city decorated with marvelous temples and monastic monasteries. Later it will become a base for the actions of Russian troops against the hordes of the Crimean Khanate.
Where to go with children in the Moscow region
All children love zoos. And if in the capital itself there is only one such entertainment, then in the Moscow region there are several of them. And what kind! The huge “Exotic Park” houses collections of a wide variety of animals from all over the world. But most of all there are representatives of cats and primates. This zoo is located at 47 km of Kaluga Highway.
Another place that children will definitely enjoy is the bison nursery of the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve. It is located near the city of Serpukhov.
An interesting Pastila Museum has been opened in Kolomna (Posadskaya St., 13A). Delicious apple lozenges made this town near Moscow famous in the 18th-19th centuries. An extensive excursion program around the museum, in addition to getting acquainted with the technology and history of making the sweet delicacy, includes tasting different types of marshmallows with fragrant tea. And if children, especially boys, have an interest in cars, it’s worth going to the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology, which operates in Krasnogorsk, not far from the capital, 4 km from Ilinskoye Highway.
Marfino Estate
It contains more than a thousand exhibits of retro technology - cars, motorcycles and airplanes. Moreover, you are allowed to touch every exhibit! An interesting excursion can also be taken to Sergiev Posad - to the unique Toy Museum, to Zhukovsky - to the Museum of the History of the Conquest of the Sky, or to the Clown Museum, which is located in the rural settlement of the state farm named after. Lenin.
Mozhaisk
Gate church, bell tower, Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, walls and other buildings of the Luzhetsky Monastery (Mozhaisk, Moscow region, Russia). Photo by quirischa
In the old days, the city of Mozhaisk gravitated towards the Smolensk Principality. Then it passed under the hand of Moscow and became a border outpost of Muscovite Rus'. It was a guardian city: west of Mozhaisk, the territory of a huge, strong and hostile power, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, began. Therefore, Mozhaisk took on the blows of enemy armies many times. At the end of the Time of Troubles, Prince Vladislav besieged the city at the head of a large Polish-Lithuanian army, but was defeated under its walls.
Moscow region souvenirs
Traditional souvenirs that travelers try to buy as a keepsake of the Moscow region are handicrafts. There are souvenir shops at all factories where they are made, in tourist centers and cities in the Moscow region.
Spaso-Borodinsky Monastery
A real calling card of the Moscow region is Zhostovo trays.
The artistic craft of metal painting was formed in Zhostovo at the beginning of the 19th century. Lacquered products are so good that they are not used for their intended purpose - in everyday life, but are used for interior decoration.
Round, oval or rectangular painted trays are a real decoration for the home. Miniatures made in Fedoskino, near Moscow, enjoy no less fame. It is not for nothing that this village is considered the center of lacquer painting in Russia.
Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
The products of the Gzhel Porcelain Factory are good as souvenirs. The bright blue painted dishes of Gzhel masters cannot be confused with anything else! The fishery in the village of Rechitsa, 60 km from the capital, began to develop at the end of the 18th century. Nowadays, you can buy various vases, tea sets and dishes as souvenirs of your visit to the Moscow region. In addition to Gzhel, fine porcelain is made in Verbilki, 83 km from the Moscow Ring Road. The local ceramic craft has existed since the 18th century and was successful even at the imperial court. Another porcelain factory, which today is the largest in Russia, is located in Dulevo near Moscow.
Those who travel through the cities of the “Golden Ring” of Russia, passing through Sergiev Posad, try to buy wooden Bogorodsk toys and bright matryoshka dolls, which local craftsmen have been making for more than a century, as souvenirs.
Novo-Nikolsky Cathedral in Mozhaisk
Ancient Sergiev Posad is considered the birthplace of the Russian nesting doll. After all, the very first wooden toy was created back in the 19th century by local turner V.P. Zvezdochkin, and painted by the artist S.V. Malyutin.
Printed scarves from Pavlovsky Posad have gained great popularity. In this city, it produces more than 400 types of scarves and shawls of different sizes and colors with beautiful, bright designs. It is noteworthy that they are made from high-quality natural silk and wool. Such souvenirs are in demand, primarily as wonderful gifts for women.
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The most beautiful and unusual places in the Moscow region: where you can go by car in one day
Stories
January 27, 2022 9 minutes Author: Roman Kalyuzhny 373
Beauty is a subjective concept: some are in awe of the ancient masonry of the walls of the Kolomna Kremlin, some are delighted by the nature of the Moscow region, and some are looking for romance in abandoned locations, where they can cosplay as stalkers from the computer game of the same name. In our top list, we tried to take into account the interests of all groups - fans of recreation in parks, connoisseurs of estates, connoisseurs of museums and art galleries, as well as those who like to have an interesting time among unobvious attractions. The only condition for our review is that the place must be in relative proximity to Moscow, so that you can get there by car in one day, or plan a trip over the weekend. So, let's go.
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1. MALEVICH PARK
The park opened in 2020 not far from the famous Barvikha and Nemchinovka, and could not but be fashionable in the broadest sense of the word. The project was developed by Basis Architectural bureau, which used geometric shapes in the layout of the park - square, circle, triangle (everything like in the paintings of the Suprematist Malevich!). Lovers of unusual selfies have already noticed the park’s entrance, created by the famous sculptor Grigory Orekhov: park guests passing through the sculpture find themselves at the crossroads of reality and the “endless horizon”, which is reflected in the mirror surfaces of the cube.
Where: Odintsovo city district, Barvikhinskoe territorial administration, https://www.direkcia-parkov.com/
2. “TESLA COILS” UNDER THE STORY
The place has long been established in all sorts of top most unusual locations near Moscow. And indeed: here you feel like a character from a science fiction film. The Istra “Tesla coils” have nothing to do with the famous Serbian inventor and electrical engineer. The correct name of the complex is Test Benches of the High-Voltage Research Center of the All-Russian Electrotechnical Institute. In the 1970s, super-powerful electromagnetic pulses were tested here and man-made ball lightning was created. Now the landfill is practically mothballed. It is officially impossible to get here, but inquisitive minds find their way.
Where: Istra urban district, Istra forests
3. HISTORICAL AND ART MUSEUM “NEW JERUSALEM”
If you and I have already gone to Istra, it would be a sin not to look at the local museum. And be surprised, of course, because this is one of the largest museums in the country! The New Jerusalem’s own stock collection totals 190,000 items and includes archaeological, historical, ethnographic, and art collections. A series of large-scale exhibitions does not stop here - from Bruegel and Durer to no less famous contemporaries of ours. In short, visiting Istra and skipping a trip to the museum is absolutely impossible!
Where: Istra, Novo-Ierusalimskaya embankment, 1, https://njerusalem.ru/
4. ARKHANGELSKOYE ESTATE MUSEUM
Our “Moscow Versailles” is located just 20 kilometers west of Moscow; getting here by car is very convenient (however, it will be difficult to park near the park on weekends). Among the owners of the estate are a series of very famous people: princes Odoevsky, Golitsyn, Yusupov... A breathtaking palace, a regular park designed by Giacomo Trombara, terraces with marble balustrades, marble statues and busts of ancient gods... You can walk here for hours. And not just walk, but take atmospheric pictures, trying to capture the fragile splendor.
Where: Krasnogorsk urban district, Arkhangelskoye village, +7 (498) 653-86-60, https://arhangelskoe.su
5. DAM AT YAROPOLETSKAYA HPP
An extremely atmospheric place, as if escaped from Tarkovsky’s films: a little desolation, a lot of detached beauty, silent nature, silence. In the fall of 1918, the power plant was assembled from scrap materials by local youth, but the effect was such that Vladimir Ilyich Lenin himself and his wife came to the opening (if you’re at the local museum, pay attention to that very “Ilyich’s light bulb”). In 1938, the hydroelectric power station was demolished by a flood, in 1941 it was blown up by the Nazis, but in the 1980s the building was restored to its original form. Excursions often come here, and for some reason happy newlyweds like to take pictures at the dam. But you are not forbidden to take a photo!
Where: Volokolamsk urban district, Yaropolets village
6. RUINS OF AN ANCIENT STONE MILL IN YURYATINO
Provincial residents, young and old, take their guests to this local attraction. Indeed, there is something to see - the grandiose ruins have a majestic appearance (of course: each floor of the ruins is four meters high), and the strength of the walls is amazing. Local residents were unable to dismantle the building into bricks, claiming that the craftsmen mixed the mortar for the masonry using village chicken eggs. The mill was built in the 19th century; it belonged to the merchant Krasavin and served the entire county. During the Great Patriotic War, the strategic site was recaptured by soldiers of the 194th Division, but the building fell into final disrepair in the 1950s, when the ceilings collapsed. No one knows how long the ruins will stand, so we recommend you hurry up.
Where: Protvino urban district
7. ART-ESTATE “GUSLITSA”
If you are a creative person or are drawn to contemporary art with all your might, you cannot miss the art cluster in Guslitsa. The art estate is located in the historical building of the former Morozov weaving factory of the 19th century, approximately 80 kilometers from the capital. Today people come here not for forced labor, but for pure creativity, opening the chakras and revelations that inspire the soul. Here they paint, create, hang out, dance together and discuss the latest trends in the art world. You can pitch a tent, you can rent a room, you can cook yourself or try three vegetarian meals a day from local devotees. What is not allowed: smoking, drinking and disturbing the creative peace of the guests.
Where: Orekhovo-Zuevsky urban district, village of Ilyinsky Pogost, st. Mitrokhinskaya, 8, https://art-guslitsa.ru/
8. BOTTOMLESS LAKE
A mysterious body of water, its almost ideal shape forces one to draw various conclusions about its origin (this debate has been going on in the scientific community for more than a hundred years). During this period, not much has been established: so far nothing is known even about the nature of the bottom topography. The bottomlessness of the lake, however, is no longer an axiom - the depth, most likely, is about 60 meters. And what legends have been created around this reservoir! Local peasants told the poet Alexander Blok, who lived nearby, that the lake water washed the wreckage of large ships onto the shore, and supposedly there was some kind of underground channel connecting the lake with the ocean! While the scuba divers managed to dive to a depth of five meters, what follows is a muddy bottom. In October 2022, Lake Bottomless was included in the top ten most mystical tourist places in the country, which means that you definitely need to visit here.
Where: Solnechnogorsk urban district
9. MUSEUM-RESERVE “BORODINO FIELD”
Not far from Mozhaisk there are fields that twice in history became a springboard for fierce battles for Moscow. The landscape seems to have absorbed historical memory, and at any time of the year it smacks of bitterness. Here you can walk around all the numerous monuments or focus only on the museum exhibition, try to imagine what these hills and copses saw during the days of terrible battles. At the beginning of autumn, reenactors stage exhibition battles here, Napoleons show off restored cocked hats, shrapnel that is safe for spectators is torn, and a loud “Hurray” is heard again over the redoubts.
Where: Mozhaisk urban district, Borodino Museum village, +7, https://www.borodino.ru/
10. NIKOLSKY CATHEDRAL IN MOZHAYSK
If you and I are already in Mozhaisk, then we cannot neglect the main city landmark - St. Nicholas Cathedral. This temple is striking in its unusualness and is least similar to traditional Russian churches. Either a church or a Gothic cathedral stands on a steep hill. The building is decorated, which is also not at all usual, with stars of David, Masonic triangles and mysterious pyramids topped with balls. On the Internet, the image of the cathedral is discussed by conspiracy theorists, some even write and publish books on this topic. The main shrine of the cathedral is a wooden sculpture of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisky, holding a sword in one hand and a temple in the other.
Where: Mozhaisk, Borodinskaya street, 8, https://mozhaisk-nicola.cerkov.ru/
11. MARFINO ESTATE
Another pseudo-Gothic wildflower on the tree of Russian architecture is located near Mytishchi. A red-brick two-story palace, the surface of an ancient pond, griffins, Maltese crosses, rotundas - as if you were not walking in the Moscow region, but exploring the possessions of a mysterious prince. All this splendor was formed in the middle of the 19th century by the will of Count Orlov’s daughter Sofia Panina. Nowadays a military sanatorium is located here, but you can enter the territory by presenting a passport.
Where: Mytishchi urban district, Marfino estate
12. STONE LILY BRIK NEAR ZVENIGOROD
During her lifetime, Vladimir Mayakovsky’s muse wore a ring donated by the poet, on which the initials L. Yu. B. (Lilia Yuryevna Brik) formed the endless “LOVE”. The same letters can be seen on a boulder standing on the edge of the forest near Zvenigorod. It was here, near the village of Busharino, on May 7, 1979, that the ashes of the woman who inspired the great poet were scattered. If the name Mayakovsky is not an empty phrase for you, you should definitely visit here.
Where: Odintsovo urban district, Busharino village, Busharinskoye field
13. KRIVANDIN MEGALITHIC COMPLEX
Meshchersky Stonehenge is a place that has long been favored by ufologists, experts in Slavic magic and adherents of the snake god Ur. The place is truly unusual. According to experts, the Krivandin megalithic complex dates back to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. Giant boulders, laid out in the shape of a regular circle, hide their purpose. Whether it is a pagan observatory temple or altar altars, we cannot say for sure. In total, 83 boulders were found on the outskirts of Krivandino, each weighing about a ton. Local residents treat stones with respect, and you should treat them the same way.
Where: Shatura urban district, Krivandino village
14. Abandoned Pioneer Camp “FAIRY TALE”
There are plenty of abandoned places in the near Moscow region, but Skazka deservedly bears the title of one of the creepiest and most unusual places. The reason for this is local graphic designers who turned standard Soviet buildings into something Lovecraftian: giant octopuses climb the walls, staircases are decorated with jellyfish with tentacles, stingrays and flounders cling to the brickwork. Previously, it was quite difficult to get into the camp, but now everything is much simpler - tenants ask for only 300 rubles to enter the “Fairy Tale”.
Where: Dmitrovsky urban district, Gorki village
15. ZOO FARM “SHIKHOVO”
Shikhovo is located 35 kilometers from Moscow and is beautiful here at any time of the year: you can relax in both winter and summer. Moreover, you can have an active holiday: the winter hit is the husky, and in the summer you can, for example, stay here for a few days in wooden houses. There are horses, deer, beavers live nearby, and a cute trained boar will lift your spirits. Historical reconstructions and large-scale events are regularly held in Shikhovo. So husky petting (hugging and communicating with dogs) can be successfully combined with other types of agrotourism pleasures. Well, take home, if not a puppy, then at least a photo with the cute tailed guy.
Where: Dmitrov city district, village. Shikhovo, 100, p. 1, 8 (495) 255-31-21, https://www.shihovofarm.ru/
16. SAND DUNES IN SYCHEVO
Man-made dunes are located in the north-west of the region near the village of Sychevo. Loose sandy slopes and hills similar to dunes, lakes with sandy shores, “desert” spaces with almost complete absence of vegetation - these places are loved by motorcyclists, snowboarders, lovers of exotic photo shoots and simply inquisitive citizens. They even sometimes film movies here. The Sychevskaya desert is man-made and was formed as a result of the activities of the local mining and processing plant. Do you want a unique photo shoot in the style of the movie “Dune”? That way.
Where: Volokolamsk urban district, Sychevo village
17. LOPATINSKY PHOSPHORITE QUARRY
The brightest competitor of the previous location. Huge multi-colored dunes in clear weather are visible from the Moscow River, and the most convenient way to get to them by land is by rail. The extraction of phosphorites, from which fertilizers were made at Voskresensky chemical plants, has now been suspended. What remains are alien landscapes, multi-bucket giant absetzers and industrial romance. Getting to the white mountain is, perhaps, more difficult than for the hobbits to take the ring to Orodruin - the territory of the quarries is guarded very strictly.
Where: Voskresensk urban district
18. PUSCHINSKY WATERFALL
The final point of an interesting walking route through the Pushchinskoe ancient settlement, the estate of the princes Vyazemsky and the St. Nicholas Church. The waterfall itself is small, modest and quiet in Russian. The stream that forms it flows from a karst well, the water falls from a height of just over two meters. In winter, the stream does not freeze, but the Pushchinsky waterfall is especially picturesque in the spring, when primroses bloom around.
Where: Pushchino, near Staropushchinskaya street
19. VALLEY OF THE SEVEN SPRINGS
Another water-natural place. By the way, there are not seven keys here, but much more. Two springs, emerging from the bowels of the earth, form the Rainbow Waterfall. Its height is about three meters, and the source of the streams is shaped like a human heart. An important feature for motorists, driving to the waterfalls is only possible in dry weather. In early spring and autumn, it is better to leave the car at the nearest gas station and then walk about a kilometer.
Where: Naro-Fominsk urban district, not far from SNT “Rodniki”
20. BIG VOLGA LIGHTHOUSE
The only large river lighthouse in the Moscow region (we do not take into account the decorative lighthouse on Senezh) points to the exit to the Moscow Sea. Its height is 25 meters. Now the lighthouse is abandoned and fenced; it is impossible to get close or go there on an excursion. Yet a structure of such impressive magnitude is a rarity. It is better to photograph the lighthouse from the water.
Where: Dubna, bank of the Moscow Canal
21. GIANT CHAIR UNDER OAK
Another unobvious Dubna monument appeared here in 2004. This is an exact copy of the “Classic” chair, which is produced locally. In 2005, the chair was included in the Russian Book of Records - its height is 9.06 m and its seat area is 14.2 square meters. m. It is claimed that up to 100 people can sit on a chair at the same time, but so far such experiments have not been carried out, and we would not recommend them.
Where: Dubna, Priborostroiteley street
22. LENIN THE GIANT
The trio of Dubna giants is completed by the largest monument to Lenin in the Moscow region. Ilyich rises above the waters of the Ivankovo Reservoir, below it is a park of ancient thujas, the gaze is turned to the Moscow Canal. The height of the leader is 37 meters including the pedestal, and this is the second largest monument to Lenin in Russia. Standing opposite, across the canal, Stalin was demolished in 1962. Lenin was sculpted by the famous Merkurov in 1937. The scale of the sculpture is truly amazing.
Where: Dubna, Levoberezhny district
23. THE WORLD'S FIRST MONUMENT TO LENIN
If we continue the Leninism of the Moscow Region, we cannot ignore the world’s first monument to Lenin. It is located in Noginsk on the territory of the former Glukhovskaya manufactory. At the beginning of November 1923, Glukhov workers visited Vladimir Ilyich in Gorki, and upon returning to Bogorodsk they decided to erect a monument on the central square. The sculpture was commissioned from the manufactory's decorative artist Fyodor Kuznetsov, a self-taught man, which is important. He did not personally see Lenin, but sculpted it based on the stories of his comrades. They were going to open the monument on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday - January 22, 1924, but the day before that Lenin died and the sculptural statue turned into a monument.
Where: Bogorodsky urban district, Noginsk, historical district of Glukhovo
24. EGORIEVSK “HOGWARTS”
Local entrepreneur and philanthropist Mikhail Nikiforovich Bardygin in 1909 opened a technical school named after. Tsarevich Alexei. Here they studied plumbing, turning and foundry, as well as electrical engineering, which was exotic for those times. The building was built “exclusively at Bardygin’s expense, on land allocated by the city.” We can admire the architect’s whimsical imagination today: having survived the change of authorities and all sorts of shake-ups, Yegoryevsk Hogwarts still accepts students to this day, now it is a branch of Stankin. The association with the castle-school from the Harry Potter books becomes clear at the first glance at the powerful walls and towers, whimsical and even mysterious.
Where: Egoryevsk, Profsoyuznaya st., 34
25. ART-HUT IN AVEKIEVO
A phantasmagoric museum of rural life, or an art cluster, is based on a classic village hut, built at the beginning of the 20th century by the ancestors of local resident Pavel Kashin. In collaboration with Moscow artist Vadim Stpshkevich, Kashin turned an ordinary house into an unusual one, on the walls of which moralizing proverbs glow, wooden dragons live under the ceiling, and icons are made of tin cans. All this is called rethinking one’s past, and one cannot admit that it was rethought with great imagination and love.
Where: Pavlovsky Posad, Averkievo village, 57, +7 (910) 434-11-32,
https://art-izbaaverkievo.ru/
26. KRIVIAKINO ESTATE
The estate in Voskresensk is closely connected with the childhood and youth of the writer Ivan Lazhechnikov. Once upon a time, a regular park was laid out here, a cascade system of three ponds was formed, and a terraced descent with stairs led to the Moscow River. Several three-hundred-year-old oak trees have been preserved, towering over the park as formidable guardians of these places. Not long ago, the manor park was landscaped, the neglect went away, and beauty appeared. Great place for atmospheric photos!
Where: Voskresensk, st.
Lermontova, 3, +7 (496) 442-66-75, https://usadbakrivyakino.rf/
27. MYSTICAL CASTLE IN BALASHIKHA
The mystical steampunk structure is the work of local engineer Alexander Puzanov. He built his castle for about 10 years, collecting design details from landfills, flea markets and metal collection points near Moscow. The result is a phantasmagoric building in which guests will find stairs with gears, beds suspended on chains, a window with a spider, a stone sarcophagus bathtub and Dr. Freud’s office. A ticket for the excursion is not cheap - about 800 rubles, but you definitely won’t be bored here.
Where: Balashikha, 6th Line street, 2A,
https://reymart.club/
28. WATER PLANT PARK
The plant nursery for ponds was founded in 1992. More than 300 varieties of water lilies-nymphs were collected here from all over the world, and 40 varieties were isolated from them, adapted to the harsh conditions of the Moscow region - frost-resistant, immune to pests. The park was founded by Alexander Marchenko, Candidate of Biological Sciences. In addition to nymphs, willows and virgin grapes are grown and sold here. If you are planning a trip, please note that there are no cafes or toilets on the territory of the nursery.
Where: Pushkino, microdistrict.
Klyazma, st. Polevaya, 12 +7 (915) 074-55-38, https://www.mam1.ru/
29. GALLERY OF SCULPTURES BY SERGEY KAZANTSEV
The outdoor sculpture park produces a peaceful impression: there are no walls or caretakers - the marble beauty stands at home on the ground, under the shade of birch trees. Anyone can get here. Kazantsev himself, a world-famous sculptor, works nearby, in his house-workshop. You can also get here, but by prior arrangement. One of Kazantsev’s works - a monument to Levitan and Chekhov - can be seen in the village of Babkino near Istra.
Where: Moscow region, Istrinsky district, Borzye village, +7 (916) 368-14-55,
https://sculptorkazantsev.ru
30. “BALEFOOT TRAIL” IN “ELOSINY ISLAND” PARK
The “Barefoot Trail” runs through the territory of the arboretum in the Losiny Ostrov forest park. We take off our shoes (in the warm season, of course) and go ahead! The trail consists of different types of surfaces, alternating soft wood shavings, crushed stone, gravel, sand, fir cones and even refreshing water baths. There are a total of 43 different types of surfaces on the trail. After your walk, your feet, if they don’t say “thank you,” will be very surprised: the fractions of the trail deliberately change from soft and cool to hot and prickly for the right massage effect on the feet.
Where: fork of Shchelkovskoye and Balashikha highways, +7 (495) 323-88-85,
https://losinyiostrov.ru
Photo: Sergey Kalugin, photobank of the Moscow region, reymart.club, mam1.ru, losinyiostrov.ru, tourister.ru , irossiya.ru, tourweek.ru, otdihvrossii.ru, shihovofarm.ru, bugaga.ru, obzor-mest.ru, art-guslitsa.ru, my hiking life.rf, mk.mosreg.ru,
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