Yaroslavl has recently celebrated its millennium. This city is the ancient center of Russian merchants, and therefore it is not surprising that its architectural world is diverse and vibrant. Many eminent families rebuilt their residences here, became patrons of art galleries, and helped in the design of churches and monasteries.

Private Museum “Music and Time”

Today, the former estate of the Vakhrameevs, a merchant family of the eighteenth century, houses one of the most popular private museums in Russia, whose collections are based on the collections of John Mostoslavsky. He collected his first collections of bells and various horseshoes, which are known to bring good luck, as a child.

Later, having become famous as an illusionist, actor and magician, and having visited most of the countries of Europe, he returned to Yaroslavl to systematize the artifacts accumulated over many years.

At the moment, they occupy three large halls: the hall of irons – from a wooden “rubel” to an alcohol iron, whose work is possible only thanks to a kerosene lamp; a hall of ancient clocks of eminent masters: Moser, Becker, Bure, the battle of which has different tonalities; a hall of musical instruments: from ancient organs to bells of various configurations.

The guest can be led – from time to time, the hospitable host arranges excursions himself, which instantly turn into an enchanting show. Located on the Volzhskaya embankment, 33A.

Opening hours: 10:00 – 19:00, seven days a week.

Yaroslavl Historical and Architectural Museum

This complex is one of the main cultural dominants of the Yaroslavl region, as well as one of the oldest museums in Russia. Its creation is connected with the history of the Yaroslavl provincial scientific archival commission, whose members discovered the Drevlekhanilishche in the middle of the nineteenth century. This place received the status of a reserve in the twentieth century.

Among its main buildings stand out the sixteenth-century Refectory, built in imitation of the notorious Faceted Chamber; the Transfiguration Cathedral, which was jointly erected by Moscow and Italian architects during the time of Vasily III; a number of old Russian churches and fortification towers. The complex is located at Bogoyavlenskaya Square, 25. The territory is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00.

Some components of the complex may be closed due to humidity, as the main element of the decor is fresco painting, the main enemy of which is rainy weather. It is possible to purchase a single ticket for a specific tour or a ticket with which you can see all the expositions.

Yaroslavl Art Museum

The main collections are housed in the provincial house, built on the initiative of Alexander I, to become not only the residence of local governors, but also a palace where members of the imperial family stayed during their travels.

The park area around the house was laid out in the nineteenth century. Some of the artefacts are also in the house-museum of Opekushin – a brilliant monument of wooden architecture, the Metropolitan's Chambers – a rare example of civil architecture of the eighteenth century. Porcelain and furniture collections by Russian and Western European masters will take guests back to the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods.

More than seventy thousand items of storage are collected here, which represent art dating back to the thirteenth century. Unique are the icons “Savior Almighty”, as well as the work of Kholmogorets, Zubov, Nikitin. There are also paintings by Bryullov, Kramskoy, Repin.

The works of the avant-garde sense, which are considered reference, became pride. It is located on the Volzhskaya embankment at 23. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, except Mondays.

Governor's house and garden

The first governor who owned this house was P. Ya. Pankov, who in the twenties of the nineteenth century created a project for this building. A little later, it was announced that the Governor's House would become the traveling house of the imperial family. However, the construction itself was generously paid for from the state treasury.

At the end of the twentieth century, the Governor's House took over the collections of the Yaroslavl Art Museum under its arches, turning into its main branch. Initially, the main façade, whose windows overlooked the dark waters of the Volga, was designed in a strict style.

A little later, it was rebuilt in the spirit of late classicism. Of the two outbuildings, only one has survived, but it was also rebuilt in the traditions of the late classics.

Relatively recently, an arch was also discovered, which was supposed to lead to a secret underground passage, which, unfortunately, has not been preserved. Most likely, it was supposed to connect the Governor's House and the grotto, which was located on the lower embankment. The garden around the house was laid out in the nineteenth century.

Einstein Entertaining Science Museum

This complex is perfect for having fun, but at the same time solving for yourself a couple of mysteries, if not of a universal, then of a general household scale. Climbing into a giant soap bubble, surviving a cryogenic new year, personally lifting a compact passenger car – it's worth a look at the Einstein Science Museum.

Basic physical laws and principles are explained here in a visual, interactive way. Foucault's pendulum, Tesla's lamp, Newton's pendulum are all life-sized and much more exciting than textbook pictures.

But even if you do not go into purely scientific details, the experience of bringing ice water to a boil with the touch of a finger, building a bridge without the use of nails, juggling with pound weights – for this it is worth visiting.

It is located on Sobinova street at 47. It is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. It is noteworthy that the ticket price includes not only a visit, but also the services of a guide, so the tour is guaranteed to be informative and colorful.

Planetarium named after Valentina Tereshkova

The first planetarium appeared in Yaroslavl in the middle of the twentieth century. At that moment, he could be proud of his technical equipment. Surprisingly, he occupied the upper floors of the old Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God, which was part of the complex of the Kazan Convent.

By the millennium of the city, a decision was made to open a new facility, which was the planetarium named after Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman cosmonaut. Now the planetarium complex includes a museum of cosmonautics, an observatory and, in fact, the planetarium itself.

The architecture of the building is impressive – the theme of astronautics is easily read in the external appearance of the building due to the numerous spherical elements that give the building a somewhat futuristic look. The complex is located at Tchaikovsky Street, 3. It is open daily from 9:00 to 21:00.

Museum of the history of the city of Yaroslavl

Another building that adorns the Volga embankment is the citadel of the historical retrospective of Yaroslavl. The mansion, which the museum still occupies today, was rebuilt at the expense of the eminent merchant of the first guild, Kuznetsov, who made his fortune in the sugar trade.

However, the creation of a large confectionery factory, which at some point monopolized the Russian market, is connected with their surname. It is noteworthy that the atmosphere of the merchant's mansion is fully preserved in the enfilade of rooms, the main hall with stucco molding, wide turns of the stairs.

It is against this background that the thousand-year history of the city unfolds in icons, utensils, documents, jewelry, and household items. For a long time the guests look at three-dimensional models of the main objects of ancient Yaroslavl – numerous temples and cathedrals. The main branch is open from 10:00 to 18:00 on all days except Tuesday. The schedule of other branches is slightly different.

Private museum “My favorite bear”

As you might guess, the collections are based on bears – in toy and souvenir formats. More than seven hundred plush, wooden, metal and other cubs occupy a small building in the very center of the city. The expositions are constantly replenished – many people are fans of these toys and are happy to give away some battered bear cubs, which were their faithful companions and protectors in childhood.

Workers restore them and put them on cramped shelves. In addition to three-dimensional models, there are also embroideries, tapestries and bas-reliefs with these strong animals. The guide will show the first Teddy bear, which is now a recognized brand, and talk about why this particular animal adorns the coat of arms of the city. After the tour, guests will be able to tell for themselves how Theodore Roosevelt, one of the most prominent political figures in the United States, is associated with the production of bears.

There is also a small tea shop and a souvenir shop, where all the bears are hand-sewn and are exclusive toys. Located on Pochtovaya street, 8.

On Monday it does not work, from Tuesday to Saturday visits are possible from 11:00 to 19:00, on Sundays it closes two hours earlier.

Military Glory Museum

The opening initiative belonged to famous veterans who were once soldiers of the 234th Infantry Division. It was these people who defended Moscow at the cost of their own lives. It was opened only in 1981, but despite some youth in comparison with similar complexes, there are already more than five hundred exhibits here.

All of them are divided into departments depending on the historical period to which they belong. So, the times of the Mongol invasion were preserved in the format of knives, spears, arrows, chain mail. The middle centuries for Yaroslavl remained in the form of helmets, swords, horse harnesses, and numerous household items.

The largest exhibitions cover the years of the Patriotic War of 1812, as well as two world wars. There are uniforms, orders, maps, letters and numerous units of military equipment.

Among the largest exhibits are a fragment of a submarine, a drone, missile systems. It is located at Uglichskaya street, 44a. It is open from 10:00 to 17:00 on all days except Monday and Tuesday.

Residence of the Empress of the Main Maslenitsa of the country

This interactive museum is a unique institution due to its unusual theme: every year it becomes the venue for the country's main Maslenitsa. The festive week is full of numerous folklore entertainments: folk games, dances, festivities, burning of a huge Shrovetide doll to the accompaniment of live music, in the aromas of Russian folk cuisine.

The holiday is held on the territory of a wooden chopped city, which is an exact reconstruction of a similar city in Yaroslavl, erected in honor of the visit of the last Emperor Nicholas II to Yaroslavl.

The complex includes folklore venues, as well as private rooms and the office of the Empress Maslenitsa herself. There will be a banquet in the Throne Room. Hot meals are cooked in a real wood-fired oven, and numerous courtiers play scenes of celebrating this event in the old days. The residence is open for visits from 9:00 to 17:00, the day off is Monday. The residence is located at Revolutionary proezd, 14.

Museum of Foreign Art

This complex is a branch of the Yaroslavl Art Museum dedicated to the art of Europe and Asia in the Modern Age. Numerous samples of sculpture and painting by European masters, as well as masterpieces of oriental arts and crafts are presented. The funds are located in a building that once belonged to a merchant family.

This building belongs to the architecture of mature classicism. Most of the exhibits appeared here in the pre-revolutionary period thanks to the efforts of local patrons. On the first floor there are temporary exhibitions, on the second and third – permanent exhibitions.

Of particular value are the works of Albrecht Dürer, Jacques Calo, Giovanni Piranesi, as well as a rich collection of eighteenth-century English prints, which contrast beautifully with Japanese prints from the Edo period.

It is located on Sovetskaya Square, 2. Around it there is a garden of exotic plants, delighting guests with cherry blossoms in the spring and the aroma of French roses during the summer heat. On all days except Friday, it is open from 10:00 to 18:00, on Fridays it opens two hours later. The cost of an adult ticket is 110 rubles.

The birthplace of Baba Yaga in the village of Kukoboy

In the village of Kukoboy there is a real fairy-tale city. In the “Bear's Corner” there is a forest residence of a bear – the symbol of Yaroslavl. The Fairy Tale Museum will allow you to learn a little more about the world of epics and local folklore. But what is a city without a church?

The Spassky Cathedral was built in pseudo-Russian style and perfectly complements the atmosphere of this place. The central place in Kukoboi is occupied by the hut of Baba Yaga, without which not a single Russian fairy tale could do. As children's stories and old legends tell, she lives in a hut on one leg, which turns with a menacing creak.

An inhospitable palisade is broken around. The hut itself is hidden in an impenetrable pine forest, in which people have not appeared for the past few centuries. True, the fairy-tale old woman herself is not the evil character that she is used to seeing. She generously bestows fairy tales and gifts. You can visit it from 10:00 to 19:00 on all days except Monday.

Gallery-Museum “The World in Ceramics”

Does not occupy a separate room. Instead, it is located on the second floor of Petrovsky Passage at 1 Sovetskaya Street. Such a seemingly banal name actually reflects the essence of this place in the best possible way. The whole multifaceted world of folk crafts fit within the four walls. Local pottery was brought from all over Russia, as well as some countries of the East.

Dolls, figurines, toys, candlesticks, vases, dishes are made in different techniques and belong to different time periods. The forms and methods of decorating the collected exhibits are also striking in their variety. The world-famous art crafts of Dymka, Skopin, Gzhel are presented for consideration.

On weekends, the gallery is open from 11:00 to 18:00, on weekdays the visit is possible only by appointment.

Museum-theater “Aleshino Compound”

This place, like no other in Yaroslavl, is associated with folklore traditions and provincial color. Local craftsmen carefully recreated the atmosphere of Russian antiquity. The central place is occupied by the image of Mother Russia in its multicolor and generosity. Guests of the theater will meet with numerous heroes of Russian folklore, heroes and insidious evil spirits.

So, Alyosha Popovich himself meets them, who will entertain the guests with jokes in the company of a brownie. The visit is designed for an hour interactive tour, during which guests will receive individual gifts from Lyubava, will be able to attend a fortune-telling session from Julius, and try traditional Russian cuisine.

They will be introduced to the traditions of the heroic way of life, they will be shown collections of weapons and even given several master classes on how to use them. Girls who do not want to “dig into iron” can attend a lesson in making amulets.

Couples in love can participate in a real marriage ritual in accordance with the ancient canons. It is located at 55 Pervomaiskaya Street. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00. Depending on the format of visiting the museum-theater, the ticket price is different. Discounts are available for group tours.