Places of interest in Moscow and vicinity
| Sergiev Posad | |
|---|---|
| Drive out of Moscow along the Yaroslavsky highway and find a small town Sergiev Posad some 70 km from the capital. The town emerged long time ago, round the St. Trinity Sergius Lavra, the monastery established here by one of the most honoured Russian saints, reverent Sergius of Radonezh. The monastery, which got the status of Lavra in 1744, has currently become a place of pilgrimage of the Russian Orthodox Church and one of the most interesting museums, where one may find the icons of Andrei Rublev and other famous masters of the 15th-18th centuries. The architecture ensemble of monastery created during the long period of the 14th-19th centuries is a unique sample of wonderful combination of different architectural styles forming the most impressive and harmonious composition. | |
| Pereslavl-Zalessky | |
| Move back to Yaroslavsky highway and soon, after driving other 25 km, find yourself in Pereslavl-Zalessky, one of the most interesting ancient Russian towns. It was established in 1152 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky at the bank of Pleshcheev lake. The sacred honourable Prince Alexander Nevsky, the famous military and state leader of the Russian state (about 1220-1263), was born there. The ground embankments of the Kremlin wall built by Yuri Dolgoruky and the white-stoned Saviour Resurrection Cathedral are still here in town, reminding about the ancient times. There is also a tent-roof church of Metropolitan Peter inside the Kremlin territory, built in the 16th century. The structures of the former Nikitsky convent accommodate historical, architectural and art museum. The museum collection comprises ancient icons, fine pieces of Russian art of painting, beautiful samples of the ancient Russian arts and crafts, wooden church sculptures. Climbing a museum bell-tower one may enjoy a beautiful view of Pleshcheev lake. In the eighties of the 17th century Pleshcheev lake was chosen by Peter the Great as a place for construction of the first Russian river flotilla. Three kilometers away from town there is a museum-estate "Botik", were the remnants of the first Russian river flotilla are collected. | |
| Fedoskino | |
| Located in a small town about 25 km. north of Moscow, Fedoskino is believed to be the oldest still existing school of lacquer painting in Russia. By the 18th century, Fedosk?no painters excelled in icon painting but turned to these lacquered boxes because after 1917 the religious tone of their work was not tolerated. The process of producing boxes – called “shkatulka” – is the same today as it was 200 years ago: Pressed paper is turned around a wooden shape of the box, then dipped in linseed oil and dried for 24 hours. After it has been polished, the box goes to the painter, who colors the large surfaces, then covers them with oil lacquer and lets the box dry. From the time a box is painted for the first time, it takes about 10 days to finish the job. The boxes are usually black on the outside and red inside. Fedoskino’s miniatures are painted more realistically, based on old masters and on the Renaissance School, than those of other villages producing lacquered boxes. Visiting Fedoskino you will get acquainted with the exposition museum and will see with your own eyes the old techniques. | |
| Zhostovo | |
| Located in a small village about 20 km. north of Moscow, Zhostovo has a reputation as the best manufacturer of hand-painted metal serving trays in Russia. Local artisans began producing their trays in 1840 and now numerous individuals paint the pre-cut trays in their private factories following the old technology. When in Zhostovo, you will get a chance to visit the factory and the museum and to buy good quality trays with traditional Russian scenes and flowers. | |
