Vologda. Sights to see in 1-2 days, photos with descriptions. Reviews from tourists

Vologda turned out to be one of the most beautiful and pleasant Russian cities we have seen. We went there in August and just for one day. One day is not enough to see all the sights of Vologda.

Vologda is an ancient city, first mentioned in chronicles in 1147, that is, in the same year as Moscow. I have always associated this city with the north. It is located not so far from Moscow, only 450 kilometers. The train from Moscow to Vologda takes 9 hours. We arrived in Vologda at 5 am and went out to the station square. The station looks very good. An anti-aircraft gun stands nearby as a monument to the defenders of the Vologda sky during the war. It would seem that where the Germans are and where Vologda is, but they bombed.

From the station we slowly moved along quiet streets, almost without cars or passers-by, who had not yet woken up, admiring the unusual houses and beautiful churches.

We went to the bank of the Vologda River, from which the city got its name (well, or vice versa - as always, there are many versions).

The Vologda River, despite its consonance, has nothing to do with the Volga. It flows north and belongs to the Northern Dvina basin. The river is small, but there is a pier with a river station, and tourist boats sail along it.

The memorable building of the river station is in a state of protracted restoration, but there is hope that someday it will be completed. We wanted to look at the city from the river by boat, but due to the short duration of our stay in the city, we didn’t have time.

The main attractions of Vologda

• Kremlin Square and Vologda Kremlin

The Vologda Kremlin, which is the main attraction of the city, began to be built by Ivan the Terrible, and is shaped like an irregular quadrangle. From the northern part it is protected by the river of the same name, in the west and southeast it is surrounded by ditches and earthen ramparts.

Kremlin Square with a bell tower and 3 churches, formerly called Cathedral Square, is located between the Kremlin and Cathedral Hill. The architectural and style differences between the buildings are due to the fact that the development of the area lasted for several centuries.

• Revolution square

Bounded by Sovetsky Avenue and Renaissance Square, Revolution Square is considered the central parade ground of the city.

Until October 1918, there were 3 small squares on this site - Aleksandrovskaya, Spasskaya and Sennaya, which were separated by churches and monasteries. The demolished churches of Athanasius of Alexandria and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker significantly expanded the space. The adjacent cramped city streets highlight the enormous size of Revolution Square.

The history of the buildings located on the square is interesting. The Philharmonic Society occupies the premises of the former Assembly of the Nobility. The children's music school previously housed the City Duma.

In the Komsomolsky park adjacent to the site, an “Eternal Flame” was installed in honor of the fallen Vologda residents. Opposite there is a monument to the heroes of the civil war. The pointed white obelisk is shaped like a tooth, which is how it got its name.

• Monument to the 800th anniversary of the city

Not far from the Vologda Kremlin, on the river bank in the ancient part of the city, called the Lazy Platform, a monument dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the city was erected.

For the monument, which has a quadrangular base, the edges of which are decorated in the form of decorative niches in the form of kokoshniks with inserted bronze bas-reliefs, polished northern granite was used. The authors of the monument are sculptors Kontareva.

• Bishop's Court

The bishop's courtyard is called the small Kremlin. For 5 centuries it was the seat of Vologda bishops. Ivan the Terrible planned to turn the Kremlin into his residence in the north, so for security purposes he built a royal palace inside and surrounded it with high walls with watchtowers.

Now the Bishop's Court includes a number of buildings built in the 16th-18th centuries, which are used for holding exhibitions and storing museum funds.

• Oktyabrsky Bridge

  
  

Built in 1931, the Oktyabrsky Bridge replaced the wooden Arkhangelsk Bridge, erected at the end of the 19th century. The reinforced concrete arched span bridge is accessible to pedestrians and cars. The middle arched part of the bridge allows river boats to pass under it.

Fairytale golden-domed city

There are many legends about the name of this unique and picturesque city. Vologda appeared either because Russian pioneers were dragging their boats along portages, or because of the word “vologa” - moisture.

Light water, juicy grass, silk flax, a land rich in forests, animals and birds. Forests and rivers filled Vologda with strength. According to chronicles, Vologda was born in 1147. And already in 1500, Vologda became one of the major craft and trade centers due to its advantageous location ─ at the intersection of northern waterways.

This led Vologda to attacks by conquerors. In the XIII-XV centuries it was drawn into internecine wars. Russian princes fought for the city and volost many times. Rich places belonged to the Novgorod, Yaroslavl, and Moscow princes.

In the middle of the 17th century, the city became one of the largest cities in Muscovy. Therefore, the legend about Ivan the Terrible, who wanted to move the capital of the Russian state to the city, has good reason.

In the 18th century, the development of trade activities on the Baltic Sea slightly weakened the economy of Vologda, and from 1719 it became the center of the province. Vologda is one of the most ancient cities in the country, which was able to preserve its historical attractions. There are more than two hundred cultural, architectural and historical monuments in the city. And most of them are protected by the state. By the end of the 19th century, about 19 factories and factories were already operating in Vologda.

Architectural landmarks

The sights of Vologda are distinguished by interesting architectural features.

• House of Peter I

Peter the Great, who visited Vologda 5 times, constantly stayed in a one-story stone building on the high bank of the river. This small building, which became the first Vologda museum, was previously the property of the widow Goutman. Here you can see Dutch ovens with tiles from the 17th century, personal belongings of the emperor.

The museum is located on Sovetsky Prospekt and is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 to 17.30. The entrance ticket costs 80 rubles; a discounted ticket is provided for schoolchildren and pensioners.

• Shalamovsky house

  
  

Located near the St. Sophia Cathedral, a 2-story building built in the 18th century attracts tourists interested in the literary work of V. Shalamov. The writer’s family lived in this house, which belonged to the Vologda clergy. Now it is a cultural center that unites the Shalamov House and the Art Gallery.

The museum is located on S. Orlova Street, which can be reached from the railway and bus stations by buses 7, 29, 30, 38 (exit at Torgovaya Ploshchad).

The house is open daily, except Monday and Tuesday from 10 to 18 hours. Ticket costs 120 rubles, excursion service 140 rubles. Disadvantaged categories of the population can visit the museum for free.

• House of Puzan-Puzyrevsky

The nobleman Puzan-Puzyrevsky, from where the name of the museum came, actually lived in Vologda in a beautiful 2-story mansion with a superstructure that belonged to him.

The house is interesting because in 1918, evacuated attorneys from embassies, consulates and missions lived there for 5 months, as well as the presence of the ghost of the former owner, who is fighting the careless tenants of the building.

You can get to Herzen Street, which was previously called Ekaterino-Dvoryanskaya, where the interesting house is located, by trolleybus No. 2 or by buses 6, 9, 12, 15, 17, 18, 25, 27, 35, 36, 37, 43, 45, 48, 49 (stop "Galkinskaya").

• House of Zasetskys

  
  

Being the oldest surviving wooden building in the city, the Zasetsky House, built in the classicist style, is located on Leningradskaya Street.

The building is included in the list of heritage of wooden architecture of the Vologda region.

The Zasetskys are an old noble family, one of whose representatives became the first local historian and author of a book about Vologda, and also collected a large library and a collection of ancient exhibits of the region. You can get there by bus 7, 8, 11, 27, 29, 32 (exit at the Leningradskaya stop).

• House of merchant Samarin

The only surviving urban wooden estate, built at the beginning of the 20th century, bears the name of the Vologda merchant Samarin.

The museum halls display interesting exhibitions:

• apartment in an old apartment building;
• a pre-revolutionary school, telling about the life of schoolchildren of past centuries;
• a tea salon, where tourists are introduced to the traditions of drinking tea;
• a photo salon where you can get acquainted with photographs of past years, as well as take a photo as a souvenir against the backdrop of the interior of past years in costumes of the past;
• Russian feast, introducing table and culinary traditions.

The museum is located on Sovetsky Prospekt, 16a. You can visit 5 days a week (Wednesday - Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Semenkovo

In the architectural and ethnographic museum "Semenkovo", located 12 km from Vologda, on the banks of the river of the same name, in the monuments of Russian wooden architecture of the 19th-20th centuries. the traditions of life in the Russian village are presented.

In addition to traditional excursions, Semenkovo ​​offers thematic interactive programs that introduce tourists to the traditions and life of the village. The most popular programs are those telling about one day in village life, as well as events from the “Solstice” cycle, timed to coincide with the holidays of the national calendar.

In the museum, upon prior request, folk craftsmen regularly conduct master classes on birch bark weaving, pottery, traditional painting and embroidery, and making folk dolls.

From May to October, the museum is open every day except Mondays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the rest of the time from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Mondays and Tuesdays closed. To receive excursion services, you must make an appointment in advance by calling (8172) 21‑01-90. You can get to the village of Semenkovo ​​along Kirillovskoye Highway.

• Brianchaninovs' estate

Stone manor built in the 19th century. according to the classical traditions of estate construction, it is located near the city, in the village of Pokrovskoye. The beauty of the house is given by the slender proportions, rich plasticity of the facade, and elegant decor.

In the manor park, which runs down the hill in terraces, you can admire examples of landscape art from the 18th-19th centuries. You can get to the estate by bus 217, departing from the bus station three times a day (9, 14, 16) from Wednesday to Sunday.

Due to the small size of the noble house, which accommodates no more than 40 people, tourists need to make an appointment in advance by phone.

Places that are especially dear to the heart of every city dweller

In winter Vologda everything is lace, everything is woven. Antiquity intertwined with modernity, a river, crossroads, streets. At many intersections, it seems that the city has been woven by craftsmen from frosty patterns and wood. The culture of Vologda and its spiritual significance make an invaluable contribution to the history of the country.

The heart of the city is the Kremlin, and the majestic St. Sophia Cathedral on its territory is the pearl of Vologda architecture. Their construction begins during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Quite interesting is the fact that St. Sophia Cathedral has one feature: by order of the king, the altar in the cathedral faces northeast. According to the church canon, it should be facing east.

Next to the St. Sophia Cathedral stands the former bishop's house, surrounded by high walls, an ensemble of buildings from the courtyard of the Vologda archbishops. Nowadays, most of the bishop’s residence is used by the Museum of Local Lore, which contains unique materials on the history of the region (Russian icons of 1600 - 1900, painted wooden sculpture, jewelry art - sewing). There is an art gallery in the courtyard complex.

Religious sites

On the territory of Vologda there are holy places, temples and monasteries that attract tourists and pilgrims from all over the world.

• Saint Sophia Cathedral

The Orthodox St. Sophia Cathedral, located on Kremlin Square, was built on the model of the Assumption Church in Moscow. Being the oldest stone structure in the city, it has been well preserved to this day. The cathedral, built according to the classic cross-domed plan, has the shape of a rectangle with 5 attached chapters, topped with onion domes.

The wall paintings and frescoes that make up the interior decoration of the temple were made in the 2nd half of the 17th century. The greatest interest of visitors is the unique fresco with a picture of the Last Judgment.

Currently, the cathedral is part of the Vologda State Museum-Reserve and is available to visitors in the summer. Periodically, services are held here on some church holidays.

• Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery

As part of the Spaso-Prilutsky Dimitriev Orthodox monastery, which is a complex of architectural monuments of the 16th-18th centuries, there is the Spassky Cathedral and the oldest wooden tent-roofed Church of the Assumption.

The monastery was founded by Dmitry Prilutsky, a student of Sergius of Radonezh. The reason for the increased attention to the monastery on the part of Orthodox believers is the relics of its founder resting in one of the cathedrals.

• Kazan Church

The functioning Orthodox Kazan Church, located on Torgovaya Square, is an architectural monument of national significance. The church is cubic in shape, has 1 dome, built at the end of the 18th century. on the site of a wooden one, founded by Ivan the Terrible in the middle of the 16th century.

The temple was painted by painters from the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery. Now most of the painting has been lost, so the surviving fragments are of great value.

The church is open to believers and tourists; divine services are held regularly, the current schedule of which can be found on social networks (VKontakte group).

• Temple of Helen and Constantine

The Church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Kings Constantine and Helen, located on Victory Avenue, is an example of a picturesque trend in ancient Russian architecture, widespread in the second half of the 17th century.

In the cold upper floor of the temple, services are held in the summer, and in cold weather, services are held on the first warm floor. The temple is active, the schedule of services can be found on the temple website. You can get to the place by buses 7, 8, 27, 29, 32, 37 (stop “Proletarskaya”).

• Temple of John Chrysostom

Located within walking distance from St. Sophia Cathedral, the Church of St. John Chrysostom is designed in a classical style. At the base there is a five-domed quadrangle, to which galleries adjoin. The unique bell tower, attached to the north-west, attracts the eye with a beautiful octagonal belfry, which is completed by an elegant pyramidal tent.

The shrine kept in the temple - a particle of the relics of St. Alexander of Svirsky - attracts believers and tourists. Currently, work is underway to restore the temple, but services are held every Sunday at 2 p.m. You can get to the temple by crossing the river from the St. Sophia Cathedral along the pedestrian Red Bridge.

Church in the name of St. John Chrysostom


The local cultural heritage site has the status of an architectural masterpiece of federal significance. You can find it opposite the St. Sophia Cathedral. The magnificent holy monastery is made of stone. The date of construction is the XΥΙΙ century, and the wonderful place chosen was on the banks of the river with beautiful natural landscapes around. There are 5 boundaries in the church: St. John Chrysostom, Great Martyr Barbara, Basil the Confessor, Myrrh-Bearing Women, Vologda Saints.

During its existence, the temple has gone through several reconstructions; of the ancient rarities, only unique frescoes, icons and stucco moldings have been preserved. The last restoration of the monastery was carried out in 2010, but there is clearly still work for restorers to do. Local residents love their temple and are especially proud of its magnificent bell tower.

Museums and theaters

• Lace Museum

Vologda, whose attractions are located on the Kremlin Square, constantly attracts tourists. At the Lace Museum you can get acquainted with the traditional artistic craft of this region, get information about the development of lace making in Europe in the 19th-21st centuries, and admire the original products of specialists from the Snezhinka association.

You can get to the museum by buses 4, 7, 8, 11, 14, 16, 22, 27, 29, 30, exit at the stop "). The museum is open 5 days a week from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 to 17 hours. The entrance ticket costs 100 rubles; for schoolchildren, students, and pensioners there is a discounted ticket for 50 rubles.

• Museum "World of Forgotten Things"

Exhibitions of the museum “The World of Forgotten Things”, located in the restored interiors of a 19th century mansion. immerse visitors in the atmosphere of that time.

The museum is located on Leningradskaya Street, you can get to it by buses 7, 8, 11, 16, 22, 27, 29, 32, 37, 37E, 42 (exit at the Leningradskaya stop). You can visit the museum from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information on ticket prices should be checked on the official museum website.

• Museum "Vologda Link"

In the “Vologda Link” museum, located on the street. M. Ulyanova, 33, you can get acquainted with the history of the personalities of political prisoners who served their sentences in these places. The exhibition is housed in a wooden house, in which at the beginning of the 20th century. I.V. Stalin lived as a political settler.

The location of the museum is convenient, within walking distance from the Kremlin Square. The establishment is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 to 17 hours. The ticket price is 80 rubles, for schoolchildren, students, and pensioners there is a 50% discount.

• Museum "Literature. Art. Century XX"

There are 4 literary museums in Vologda. One of them, dedicated to literature and art of the 20th century, is located on the street. Herzen, 36. In the museum you can get acquainted with the life and work of the lyrical poet N. Rubtsov, who wrote about the nature of the North, and the composer V. Gavrilin, whose works can be heard in the halls of the museum. The presented books, photographs, and documents reflect the era of that time.

You can view the exhibition by taking buses 6, 37, 40 or trolleybus 5 from the station to the stop “ul. Herzen" or from the Vologda Kremlin by bus 27 to the "Galkinskaya" stop. Ticket prices and opening hours can be found on the museum’s website.

• Vologda Drama Theater

Vologda Drama Theater, which in the middle of the 19th century. founded by entrepreneur B. Solovyov, offers performances by classics and contemporaries on three stages - main, small and chamber. The theater is located on Sovetsky Prospect; detailed information about the repertoire and tickets can be obtained by calling 8172 72‑61-66 or on the theater website.

• Gallery "Red Bridge"

The art gallery of contemporary art "Red Bridge" presents works of artists of past generations working in the style of realism, symbolism, as well as works of modern authors who use original ways of expressing their own thoughts and feelings.

The gallery is located near the bridge of the same name, on the 6th Army Embankment, and is open daily, except Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The entrance ticket for adults costs 50 rubles, for children, students and pensioners 35 rubles. On Thursday you can visit the museum for free.

Museum of Vologda Lace

The Lace Museum occupies a prominent place on Kremlin Square.

Vologda lace is the same local brand as Vologda butter. But if in general there is no need to look at oil, you need to taste it, then lace is created for this reason, to admire it.

The museum was opened quite recently, in 2010, and no expense was spared on it.

The museum is large and houses a wide variety of laces: from Vologda to Belgian. The production of lace in the Vologda region began in the 17th century and continues to this day. And now there is an association “Snezhinka”, which produces Vologda lace. I won’t say that I’m very interested in lace, but I looked at it with pleasure.

unusual lace

Sculptures and monuments

• Monument to the letter "O"

On the 865th birthday of the city, the square near Cathedral Hill was decorated with an original monument to the letter “O”, which reflects the peculiarities of the dialect of local residents. A popular urban metal sculpture 2.5 m high immortalizes the favorite letter of Vologda residents, found in most local names.

Turning into the park after leaving the Vologda Kremlin, you can easily find this monument.

• Monument to K. N. Batyushkov

On the Kremlin Square of Vologda there is an original monument to the famous poet K. Batyushkov, created by sculptor V. Klykov.

The 4 figures included in the composition reflect the 2 essences of K. Batyushkov - a warrior (the figure of Athena) and a poet (the figure of the Muse). Tourists and locals are advised to rub the Muse's big toe to attract good luck. Vologda residents love this sculpture and ironically call it a horse monument.

• Monument to the electric lantern

To mark the 100th anniversary of equipping the city with electric energy, a monument to the first electric lamp was erected on Prechistenskaya embankment. An exact copy of a lamppost from the early 20th century. is located near the pedestrian bridge, not far from the city's puppet theater.

Architect E. Nikitina, in order to add charm and color to the sculpture, supplemented the sculpture with the figure of a dog relieving itself on a pillar. Witty city residents call the composition “Monument to the Pissing Dog.”

• Monument to Nikolai Rubtsov

The sculpture of the Russian poet N. Rubtsov by A. M. Shebunin is installed in Petrovsky Square, which stretches along Sovetsky Prospekt. The figure of Rubtsov is made in full height, and the poet’s gaze, addressed to his descendants, is filled with romance.

pros

• In winter it is impossible to travel, as in summer, with tents in cars. For a comfortable stay you need a warm hotel . Vologda has a sufficient number (more than 40) of guest houses and hotels from budget to expensive options. All are located close to the center, because Vologda is a small capital, with about 300 thousand inhabitants. And you can travel the entire city from beginning to end simply by bus.
• Taxis are especially important in winter. Tourists in Vologda don’t have to bother too much with buses; taxi prices in the city are more than reasonable . But private operators at the station often deceive tourists and inflate the price for the trip, so it is better to call a taxi through an operator.
• In winter, the Vologda River turns into one continuous ski track , which will especially appeal to sports enthusiasts. You can also ride around on cheesecakes, which are immediately available for rent. And on New Year's holidays, Father Frost invites children to ride on a sleigh and on a snowmobile. Locals will gladly ride horses, ponies, donkeys and even camels for a small fee.
• In winter, the river attracts not only lovers of winter fun, but also connoisseurs of winter fishing . If you have the desire and your own fishing rod, you can drill a hole there and go fishing for free. You can ask local fishermen for an ice screw.
• In winter, the city is decorated with New Year's illumination . And the ancient houses, mansions, temples along the central streets amaze with their mystery and beauty. In the evening the entire city center is in bright lights. According to tradition, on New Year's holidays there are daytime festivities on the two main squares of the city, mummers light a fire in the Kremlin garden and treat everyone to free mulled wine.
• Vologda museums and galleries will help guests of the city to warm up and have an informative time . Of these, we can highlight the Lace Museum - this is a whole universe woven by the hands of lacemakers. Also in Vologda, most of the existing religious buildings are accessible for visiting in winter. In total there are 63 churches and 12 monasteries in the city.

Interesting and unusual places

• Vologda, whose sights can be found at every step, is famous for its open forged door installed at the intersection of several streets - Burmaginy, Leningradskaya, Mayakovsky. Any wish will come true if, after passing through it, you knock on the knocker that replaces the door handle.
• On Blagoveshchenskaya Street near 24 there is an unusual sculpture - a bench of reconciliation. Consisting of 2 inclined marble slabs, the bench does not allow you to stay on the edge; it necessarily rolls towards the center. Getting closer to each other is so necessary for those who are in a quarrel.

  
  The fitting bench is a landmark in Vologda who is in a quarrel

• Installed on Zosimovskaya street. the artifact helps improve your financial condition. By placing your hand on it, you can recharge yourself with the world energy of money.
• You can admire the carved fence, sung by the Belarusian ensemble “Pesnyary”, on Blagoveshchenskaya Street, 34
• On Pushkinskaya Street there are bronze doves that coo on the lovers' bench.

Around

In the vicinity of Vologda there are several unique places that can make your trip eventful and interesting. Some of them are located very close to the city, others are convenient for visiting on the way from St. Petersburg, Yaroslavl or cities north of Vologda.

House in the Semenkovo ​​architectural and ethnographic park Photo: © Elena Karaseva

Semenkovo

The Architectural and Ethnographic Museum of the Vologda Region "Semenkovo" is included in the mandatory program for guests of Vologda. It is located just 12 km along Kirillovskoye Highway and is an open-air museum complex. It contains huts, mills, chapels, and outbuildings. Even in the last and century before last, there were such in every village. Inside the houses, the interiors have been recreated and exhibitions are placed that give an idea of ​​peasant life.

Semenkovo ​​is a popular venue for national holidays. On New Year's dates, guests are invited to take part in round dances, ride horses, visit a fair and meet the most fabulous characters - Baba Yaga and Father Frost. With cheerful mummers and games, eating pancakes and burning effigy, Maslenitsa is definitely celebrated here - another well-known winter holiday. On ordinary days, in addition to studying the exhibitions, you can ride the slides, take a walk through the forest and just relax from the hustle and bustle.

More details: architectural and ethnographic museum "Semenkovo"

Inside one of the Semenkovo ​​houses Photo: © Irina Dementieva

Museum of A.F. Mozhaisky

The A.F. Mozhaisky Museum is a branch of the Vologda Museum-Reserve. It is dedicated to people who made a significant contribution to the Russian history of air and space exploration. First of all, to Alexander Feodorovich Mozhaisky, a rear admiral who lived in the 19th century. It was in the Kotelnikovo estate, where the museum is now located, that he carried out his first experiments and designed a monoplane. The mansion and manor park belonged to his wife's family.

In the interiors of the century before last, there are display cases with models of aircraft, documents, there is a panel with a pilot’s seat and food in tubes, because the exhibitions tell about both cosmonaut P. I. Belyaev and aircraft designer S. V. Ilyushin - natives of the Russian North. Many tourists note that visiting with a guided tour will be more educational and exciting. The museum is located at 12 km of Poshekhonskoe highway.

Read more: A.F. Mozhaisky Museum

Exhibition at the A.F. House-Museum Mozhaisky Photo: © Official page of the Mozhaisky House-Museum VKontakte

Ferapontov Belozersky Monastery

If you are an admirer of temple painting, do not miss the opportunity to see the frescoes in the Ferapont Belozersky Monastery near Kirillov. The monastery was opened on this site at the end of the 14th century, but the buildings that have survived today date back to the 15th-20th centuries. The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was erected in 1490, and in the early 1500s. painted by the ancient Russian icon painter Dionysius. The preservation of both objects is amazing, and therefore their presence on the UNESCO List is understandable.

Dionysius also painted icons for the iconostasis, some of them have survived to this day, but you should look for them in the Kirillov Museum-Reserve and the main art museums of Russia - the Russian Museum and the Tretyakov Gallery.

Read more: Ferapontov Belozersky Monastery

Frescoes of Dionysius in the Ferapontov Monastery Photo: © Irina Dementieva

Brianchaninovs' estate

The Bryanchaninovs' estate in Pokrovskoye is an architectural monument, and together with the terraced park, a monument of landscape gardening art. The estate belonged to the noble family of the Bryanchaninovs, who received it in the early 1600s. for service to the Fatherland. The main house was built in 1812. Its architecture is close to classicism, but very extraordinary. The house with a mezzanine is decorated with an unusual semi-rotunda and elegant stucco decoration. In addition to it, from the buildings of the estate you can see the family necropolis and the Church of the Intercession.

Currently, the mansion is well-kept, beautiful and in demand among tourists. It is a museum and exhibition site; it hosts excursions that reveal the history of the house and family. Contemporary artists present their works at temporary exhibitions.

Read more: Brianchaninovs' estate in Pokrovskoye

Brianchaninovs' estate, manor house Photo: © Homochka77

Active recreation in winter

It often happens that even in the same family people spend their time differently. YES Recreation and Entertainment Center is a place where everyone will find something to their liking. It is located outside the city, in the area of ​​the 34th km of the Vologda - Novaya Ladoga highway and the village. Striznevo. The complex has a water park , where there are 5 slides and a playground for the youngest visitors, and 2 swimming pools, 7 slides, baths and saunas for adults. Foam parties are held on its territory.

, ski slopes and a tubing slope open at YES . In the open air there is also a children's playground in the shape of the Frigate ship and a Dinopark . Huge lizards seem to be walking across the field, certainly arousing the interest of all guests of the complex. When coming with children, don't forget to check out the zoo . The silver fox, alpaca, meerkats, kangaroos, different species of monkeys and other animals live in indoor and outdoor enclosures.

Water park at the YES recreation center Photo: © Anna Gorelova

Where to go with a child in Vologda

• With children it is interesting to visit the Park of Culture and Recreation of Labor Veterans, located on the street. Nekrasov and the Park in front of the House of Culture of the Bearing Plant, located on Leningradskaya Street, where you can go on rides or rent equipment.

In the Palace of Culture there is a dino amusement park “The Lost World”, where you can:

• meet dinosaurs;
• play in the interactive sandbox;
• conquer the climbing wall;
• go through the mesh maze;
• visit the 3-D room;
• take part in educational games.

The cost of a 1-hour visit for a child is 250 rubles, for children under 3 years of age admission is free, for an accompanying adult - 150 rubles. Preferential categories of citizens can take advantage of a discount of 50 rubles.

• The Botanical Garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a full ticket costs 250 rubles, a child ticket costs 150 rubles. Located in Ershovsky Lane.
• The Einstein Museum of Entertaining Sciences, located on Leningradskaya Street, operates in the format of learning through play, and a playground is open. The exhibits in the museum can be touched and tested in action. A child ticket costs 350 rubles, an adult 150 rubles, 1 hour on the playground 200 rubles.

House with lilies

The institution has a full name - the house-museum of the merchant Chernoglazov “House with Lilies”. Landmark - st. Chernyshevsky. The founder of the museum was G.P. Yakimov, the institution received its status in 2022. The building itself was built much earlier in the second half of the 20th century, but was of little interest to the Vologda authorities. The architectural style of the building is modern, but without the reliable hands of a real owner who stands up for antiquity, everything here has almost fallen into complete disrepair.

For many years there was a pharmacy within the walls of the house, and then the unwanted architectural rarity was bought by the owner of a chain of flower salons, Yakimov, and gave new life to the heritage of his ancestors. The basis of the exhibition is the finds of builders made during the restoration of the building.

You can visit this place only by prior agreement with the current owner; he usually does not refuse tourists, organizes periodic excursions, the ticket price per traveler is 100 rubles. The updated brainchild of Yakimov pleases the eye with the bright colors of the facade and the magnificent decoration of the interior in the style “a la the Russian nobility and merchants.”

What to see in Vologda in 1 day

Vologda, whose attractions are concentrated in the center, can initially be viewed from the Lazy Platform or Cathedral Hill, where significant objects of the Vologda Kremlin are clearly visible.

Near the Kremlin Square there are iconic places of the city:

• Lace Museum;
• House of V. Shalamov;

• Resurrection Cathedral;
• Nevsky Temple;
• monuments to Batyushkov, the letter “O”.

Next you can explore the Church of the Intercession, which is an architectural monument. On the opposite side of the river you can see the 6th Army Embankment with the Sretenskaya Church located on it.

From Kremlin Square it is easy to reach historical churches - the Church of Elijah the Prophet and the Church of Varlaam Khutynsky. Here you can also see the exhibitions of the Museum of Forgotten Things, located in a merchant's mansion.

Vologda – the city of the Silver Necklace of Russia

More recently, Vologda became one of the cities of the Silver Necklace of Russia. We all know about the Golden Ring, but here, although less precious, it is more massive. Although, having assessed the list of cities included in the necklace, you can’t help but think about it, because Vologda is included in the company of Pskov, Izborsk, Pechory, Staraya Russa, Veliky Novgorod and, attention, St. Petersburg.

Why did it happen that Peter is wearing silver and not gold? In fact, everything is simple - rings and necklaces were invented not on the principle of value (such an approach is, perhaps, not applicable to cities at all), but solely on a geographical principle - in contrast to the Golden Ring of Russia, which mainly covers the cities of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus', in The silver necklace of Russia includes the cities of the Novgorod land, which now surround the city of St. Petersburg.

What to see in Vologda in 2-3 days

The first day can be devoted to exploring the central part of the city.
The next day, continue the tour by visiting the museum, located in the building of the Noble Assembly at the intersection of Pushkin and Lermontov streets and the existing stone Church of John the Baptist, located in the Pushkin Garden. Nearby are the A. Komelsky Chapel and the Vologda Link Museum, which are also significant places in the city. On Sovetsky Prospekt you can visit Petrovsky House. Another possible route is a walk along the Red Bridge and inspection of temples and architectural monuments on the opposite bank.

On the third day, it is better to see distant objects - for example, the northern outskirts of Vologda with the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery located there. In summer you can get there by pleasure boat. It is good to devote a whole day to visiting the Semenkovo ​​architectural and ethnographic museum.

Vologda churches

Vologda is rich in ancient beautiful churches. There are many of them, and they largely determine the silhouette of the city, making the center of Vologda similar to Suzdal. It is impossible to visit them all in one day. But we visited some of those closer to the center.

The Church of John the Baptist in Roshchenye is the first church we entered, located near the central square. When we approached it, it was still closed, but they kindly let us in. The church is being restored, but as a local woman said, the restoration has taken a long time and requires more and more money. Built in 1710 by Yaroslavl craftsmen, the inside of the church is painted with wonderful frescoes, which, unfortunately, were very badly damaged by floods. In the spring, Vologda is flooded with meltwater, and the lower part of the frescoes has almost disappeared from dampness.

Kazan Church, originally wooden, built in the 16th century, then rebuilt from brick.

Church of the Intercession on Kozlen of the early 18th century.

Church of the Intercession at Torg, 18th century.

Church of Alexander Nevsky of the 18th century.

The Teremok Puppet Theater is located in the building of the former church of Zosima and Savvaty Solovetsky.

On the opposite, left bank of the Vologda River, we admired several more churches.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Vladychnaya Sloboda, a 17th century temple

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Navolok (warm) 18th century

This is not an optical distortion, the architect gave the window this shape

Church of Dmitry Prilutsky (cold), built in 1710. Frescoes from the 18th century have been preserved inside. Unfortunately, it was closed.

What to bring from Vologda

You can bring as souvenirs:

1. Delicate hand-woven bobbin lace items, including the recently popular lace-patterned T-shirts.
2. Fragrant, with a slight nutty flavor, Vologda oil.
3. Silver tableware and jewelry made using the blackening method.
4. Products from Vologda birch bark.
5. Boxes, panels, jewelry with enamel.
6. Pottery products made from local red clay.
7. Vologda felt boots.
8. Linen tablecloths, towels, napkins, socks.
9. Christmas decorations.
10. Crafts from their juniper.
11. Dishes made from Semikarakor faience.

The sights of Vologda, captured in photographs, and the local souvenirs brought will leave the beauty of this northern region in your memory for a long time.

Author: Marina K.

Article design: Mila Friedan


Botanical Garden Botanika

The address of the collection of flora and fauna in the northern regions called Botanika is Orlovsky Lane, 10A. The charming oasis is open for visits on all days of the week; you can choose rooms according to your interests: a greenhouse, an animal area, a butterfly garden, a desert area, a fragment of the natural areas of Australia and other continents. Thematic excursions here are endless; employees are constantly adding new ideas to the list about what else to tell visitors.

Among the latest offerings are interactive events. An exotic garden with a delightful flora is available for colorful photo sessions; newlyweds sometimes rent the botanical property not only for photography as a souvenir of the special day, but also for the wedding party in the bar. The botanical garden often hosts biology classes for students and schoolchildren; adult citizens enjoy attending master classes.

Reviews from tourists about Vologda in winter

Many tourists choose Vologda for a winter trip, especially for a New Year’s trip. The reasons may be completely different, but the main ones often sound new, interesting and not very far away for those who live in the European part of Russia. One of the most unusual things is getting to know the Russian North in winter, because in some cities of the country you can’t expect snow. Tourists shared their impressions of Vologda and walking routes:

• Homochka77 in the story “The City Where the Carved Palisade”;
• Elena Karaseva in the publication “Vologda Holidays”;
• Irina Porunova in the review “New Year holidays. Vologda";
• Ena in the story “Vologda: patterns of northern lace.”

All tourist reviews about Vologda in winter on Tourister. RU

Our routes:

• What to see in Vologda in 1 day and 2 days
• What to see in Veliky Ustyug in winter
• and the main page about the city with useful information

Hotel "Palisade" in Vologda Photo: © Andrey Panin

Bell tower of St. Sophia Cathedral

The modern bell tower in the Gothic style with a gilded dome is the fifth version of the belfry. The previous wooden ones burned down, and the low stone version was dismantled. The total height including the cross is 78.5 meters. The collection of bells of Russian, Dutch, and German masters escaped being poured into cannons under Peter the Great and destroyed under Soviet rule.

The ringing can be heard every Sunday at 13:00. The bell tower chimes, produced by the Moscow factory of the Butinop brothers, regularly ring the time every day.

In the summer you can go up to the observation deck and see Vologda from a bird's eye view in the literal sense of the word.

There are no high-rise buildings in the central and trans-river parts of the city, so the view is simply fantastic! On a sunny day you can even see the Prilutsky Monastery 7.5 km away.