The ancient Russian city is located east of Moscow. It attracts tourists with its unique atmosphere, ancient monuments, and numerous mysteries. The museums of Vladimir perfectly reflect his spirit and are somewhat reminiscent of a patchwork quilt. Private, state meetings are different in subject matter, but they all create a single harmonious space.
Exposition “Old Vladimir”
Location of exhibits: an old water tower built at the beginning of the last century. In its architecture, it resembles a part of the castle miraculously transferred from fantasy books, paintings, films. Its neo-Russian style, external design in its conciseness have something in common with fortification fortifications. In the halls of the exposition, you can learn a lot of interesting things about how the city lived before the revolution, what excited and delighted the residents.
With the help of 800 exhibits, historians managed to recreate the interiors of a tavern, a pawnshop, and a rich city house. The exposition contains old photographs of streets, temples, famous local residents, authentic old handmade icons, pre-revolutionary magazines, books, newspapers. There is an observation deck on the roof of the building.
Golden Gate
The object is part of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve. The gate is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is one of the hallmarks of the region. At the top of the 20-meter building is a church. It is hard to imagine, but once there were 6 similar gates in the city, created by princely craftsmen in the same style. Fires, wars have repeatedly changed the appearance of the only surviving building. It survived miraculously.
A visit to the golden gate gives you the opportunity to get acquainted with the external and internal parts of the ancient monument. A military-historical exposition is opened in the church building. Its main rarities: samples of weapons, awards, banners, trophies, personal items, portraits, photographs of heroes of different wars.
Gilded (according to another version: completely gold) gate leaves, thanks to which the attraction got its name, have not yet been found. Most likely, they were drowned in the Klyazma River 800 years ago or safely stored in an ancient cache.
Museum Center “Chambers”
The complex is a structural subdivision of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve. The Center occupies a place in the building of the Offices. The huge house standing between the cathedrals will be interesting to see first of all for those who are interested in the history of architecture, the work of the last baroque master and the first genius of Russian classicism, Carl Blanc.
The building is 100% an example of the classical style. Its exterior is completely devoid of the slightest hint of eclecticism. One of the most famous sights of the complex: the main staircase. This structural subdivision of the museum-reserve is interesting because it closely cooperates with foreign private collectors.
Exhibitions of many rarities here become world-class events. There are 3 permanent exhibitions in the center. One of them is aimed at a children's audience. An art gallery with paintings by prominent Russian artists is the main pearl of the collection. In the chambers, the atmosphere of noble houses is so authentically recreated that big and small visitors to the exhibitions get the feeling of traveling in a time machine.
Historical Museum
This part of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve is also located in an old building. The majestic house was built on the border of the XIX-XX centuries. It was originally intended for an educational institution, library, archive, museum. The building seems to be much older because it was built in pseudo-Russian style.
With its internal, external examination, you can find a lot of unusual architectural elements. All expositions of the complex are devoted to the history of the Vladimir region. There are especially many rarities here, reminiscent of the period when the princes ruled. The museum atmosphere can be safely called fantastic.
Mirrors are installed in the corners of the rooms, the combination of the play of light, theatrical elements creates the effect of complete immersion in the medieval atmosphere. An ancient Orthodox cross, a collection of jewelry from a townswoman (her jewelry was created by craftsmen almost 800 years ago) are the most famous exhibits of the art object.
Museum of Crystal and Glass
Viewing the collection on the territory of the Trinity Church can be easily combined with the study of interesting design elements of this building. It was built shortly before the revolution with donations from Old Believer merchants. The pseudo-Russian-style church is magnificent, it is somewhat reminiscent of Moscow‘s GUM. Cross masonry was used in the construction of the temple.
If we exclude the religious interpretation of building technology, the following fact attracts attention: it is this arrangement of bricks that gives the buildings maximum reliability, that they can withstand even strong earthquakes, direct gun attacks. The first museum exposition will soon celebrate its half-century anniversary.
Unique items made of crystal, glass in it are located in a very original way. The light pouring from the stained-glass windows, well-installed lighting, mirrors give them a glow. Things, accessories, dishes made of glass and crystal were created by masters of different generations, but all the exhibits harmoniously look together despite the difference between color schemes, styles, and manufacturing technologies.
Demetrius Cathedral
There is a version that the building was erected 800 years ago by the personal order of the legendary Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest. The ruler went down in history as a loving father of many children, a talented military leader, and a far-sighted politician. His reign was a golden age for the region. It is this thought that comes to mind when looking at the building, which is included in our time in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The white-stone temple from the outside is decorated with skillful carvings. It is symbolic that on its facade there is an image of the biblical King David. The church looks majestic at any time of the day, it reminds of the former power of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. Regular worship services are not held in the temple, so there is an opportunity to slowly examine the details of the interior decoration.
On the second and upper tiers of the church there are 1,000 carved stones, decorated with figures of plants, birds, animals, fictional, real heroes. It is a pity that some of its exhibits have been replaced by replicas due to the threat of vandalism! An interesting fact: in Russia they knew very well about ancient heroes – on the walls of the Vladimir Christian church you can see the image of Alexander the Great.
Assumption Cathedral
The white-stone temple, the brainchild of Lombard masters, is called one of the visiting cards of the city and the region. Not only UNESCO recognized the value of the building, including it in the list of World Heritage Sites. History did it. The temple has become a standard for many centuries for Russian craftsmen who built Orthodox churches in different parts of the state.
The history of the cathedral dates back to the middle of the XII century. Fragments of frescoes created by canonized icon painters: Daniil Cherny, Andrei Rublev have been preserved in it to this day. The height of the cathedral exceeds 30 meters. Its decoration is striking in its splendor, but it must be taken into account: interior elements made of precious metals, precious stones, and rare wood species are only a few hundred years old.
The two-level temple was repeatedly rebuilt, restored after wars and fires. Little remains of the original appearance of the building. However, as a result, it became even more unique by combining different decorative elements.
The mix of style decisions only strengthened the overall harmony of the buildings. The utensils collected here were made during the reign of the Romanov dynasty. Orthodox pilgrims from all over the world seek to visit the temple in order to participate in divine services, worship the miraculous icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, the relics of Russian saints.
Forge-Museum of the Borodins
A unique place on the map of the Vladimir region, Russia is often called a living monument to an ancient craft. The forge is operational. Within its walls you can see the process of making various products by craftsmen: from figurines for decorating interiors to nails, souvenirs, and household utensils. The forge carefully keeps the ancient secrets and technologies of Russian forging.
At the same time, the forge-museum plays the role of a cultural and educational center where children and adults learn how to create iron products. There is always a queue to attend master classes. In the homes of many museum visitors, nails forged by them in the workshop are prominently displayed. There are no guides in the usual sense.
All the exhibits are shown by the blacksmith, who also tells about the history of the amazing place. A nice bonus: all things are allowed to touch. And one more thing: here it is possible to conduct a wedding ritual according to ancient rites, because in Russia they believed that a blacksmith was able to forge family happiness for newlyweds.
old pharmacy
The city landmark is located in the historical part of the regional center. In total, she worked for two centuries. The building has survived wars and revolutions. Today it is hard to believe that it was intended specifically for the storage and sale of medicines, because in its splendor it is more reminiscent of a noble mansion. In the new century, the old pharmacy found a second life: it turned into a museum. It will be interesting to visit for everyone who is interested in the history of pharmaceuticals.
In the pharmacy, specialists conduct individual and group tours. The exposition is devoted to the technologies for the manufacture of medicines. Its oldest rarities are about 200 years old. The pieces of furniture in the rooms are original. They give visitors an insight into the daily life of apothecaries. Workshops are regularly held in the building. It has a gift shop.
Lights of Vladimir
The facility is located in the very center of the city, it specializes in interactive tours and is part of the Evrika entertainment complex. This is another amazing place in the regional center, where you can easily travel through different eras, come into contact with the life of representatives of different classes, including nobles, merchants, and philistines.
The history of lighting in its antiquity surpasses the age of any architectural monuments. Fire was a source of worship for ancient people. They made sacrifices to him, prayed for the well-being of loved ones and the punishment of enemies. Here you can learn a lot of interesting things about the technology of manufacturing lighting fixtures.
Over the centuries, the last ones have gone from torches to elements of the “Smart Home” system. The exhibits are old household items that visitors are allowed to touch with their hands. The complex regularly hosts workshops on making and decorating candles, painting gingerbread, light painting, and 3D graphics. Due to the high popularity of events and expositions, the management of the complex recommends that visitors sign up for excursions and training sessions in advance.
spoon museum
Cutlery was and remains a symbol of well-being, wealth. Today, the presence of sets of various spoons in the apartment, the house will not surprise anyone. But once a person came to visit with his spoon wrapped in a clean rag. And it was considered the norm.
Spoons in Russia, like tables, were called God's hands. To this day, a huge number of all kinds of objects, superstitions are associated with them. Visitors to the museum will learn more about them, where unique table setting items created in different parts of the world are stored.
It is noteworthy that a special attitude towards spoons can be traced among various peoples. On Egyptian cutlery, for example, the gods are depicted. Those who are interested in the history of the Scandinavian countries will be interested to look at Viking spoons with runic symbols.
A significant part of the museum exhibits is made of silver. Many things exist in single copies. In total, the collection contains 20,000 items, including those that previously belonged to the imperial Romanov dynasty.
Gingerbread House Museum
A delicacy loved by children and adults dates back to ancient times. The art platform was created to preserve unique technologies, recipes for baking gingerbread from natural products. The museum and entertainment complex is called a tasty city brand. It's never boring here.
The complex is not 10 years old, but it is very popular with tourists of all ages. It can also be compared to a huge photo zone, where the ideal semi-legendary atmosphere of pre-revolutionary Russia is recreated. The entire staff of the complex is dressed in bright folk costumes, sewn according to the patterns depicted in ancient engravings.
Visitors can take pictures in bright elegant clothes, plunge into the atmosphere of Russian holidays, whose attributes were and remain delicious gingerbread. In the house for children and adults, master classes are held on creating gingerbread houses, baking, painting gingerbread, making dolls, whistle toys.
Museum “Our military childhood”
A touching poignant exposition recreates the life of the 40s of the fatal years of the last century. Items for her are collected by numerous enthusiasts all over Russia. The initiator of the creation of the site: the regional organization “Children of War”. Behind every item in the museum are the fates of children whose lives were crippled by the war. All interior items, books, utensils, clothes in its premises are authentic.
Of particular value are the newspapers located on the premises, on whose pages the workers of the village, the leaders of production, polar explorers, and pilots are depicted. It was then that representatives of the younger generation were equal to them. Here, silence reigns in the halls, interrupted only by excursions. The owners of many things are no longer alive, and the objects remained as a memory of them and their hungry, destitute military childhood.
Museum of Science and Man Eureka
The entertainment complex is considered by the townspeople and tourists to be one of the best places for a family vacation. Such establishments are usually built in metropolitan areas. Vladimir became an exception to the general rule. A huge interactive exposition is dedicated to the achievements of various fields of science and technology.
The main value of visiting the scientific and educational center: new knowledge of a practical orientation. Mechanisms are allowed to touch, turn on and off, experiment with them. So children learn better knowledge of physics, chemistry, optics, mechanics. They turn into real discoverers, learn a lot of interesting and important things about the world around them.
The scientific and educational center constantly hosts master classes for all ages. It has an educational toy store and large-scale children's parties. Specialists have developed interesting excursion programs for young people. The Center actively conducts career guidance activities.
Museum of Author's Dolls and Teddy Bears
Adults love toys just as much as children. It's just that dads, moms, grandfathers, grandmothers, older brothers and sisters in everyday bustle forget about the happiness that dolls and teddy bears once gave them. A unique collection can be viewed in the city center and enjoy the amazing sensations of returning to the country of children's dreams.
The museum was created by Marina and Vasilisa Chirkovs. He is young, but known far beyond Russia. Mom and daughter make dolls for private collectors, they strive to preserve the unique technologies for making toys from safe natural materials.
They turned their hobby into a profession, a source of income. The Chirkovs performed a real miracle: they transformed the idea of an ordinary exhibition into the concept of a unique art space that attracts people from all over the world.
Center for Fine Arts
The establishment is located in a house where, according to local legends, ghosts live. The facts that visitors periodically see the spirit of Dolgorukova in the building and hear ancient music resounding from nowhere, the clatter of feet, are difficult to ignore. Even opponents of mysticism recognize the presence of eerie anomalous phenomena. The building was built over 200 years ago, its inhabitants changed, but it was almost always associated with the world of beauty.
The Regional Center for Fine Arts will soon celebrate its 30th anniversary. The ghosts probably liked the Novosel, because many artists, photographers, sculptors manage to receive interesting offers from foreign museums, non-standard orders after exhibitions in a haunted house. The main part of the exposition is the work of local masters. The Fine Arts Center is a popular venue for music festivals.
Grandmother-Yagusya fairy-tale museum
The entertainment mini-complex operates in an interactive format. Its history began with a gift and souvenir shop. The trading hall is open to this day. Tourists tend to buy beautiful things there as a memento of visiting the city.
All the goods offered in it are created by masters of folk crafts. This also contributes to the amazing atmosphere of a private fairy tale museum. The entrance to it you will not confuse with anything. It resembles the facade of the hut of Baba Yaga … This is how Russian folk tales depict it.
The mini-complex occupies 3 rooms. All exhibits are allowed to be touched. Numerous guests of the fairy-tale world love to use Yagi costumes and take selfies against the backdrop of the characters. The Serpent-Gorynych looking out the window looks very authentic. He is either smiling sweetly, or wondering how best to bite the visitors.
The figures of goblin, kikimor, various nightmares reinforce the impression of the reality of what is happening. Chained Koshchei is not bored here in prison. He condescendingly looks at how the guests examine the figures of Yaga and her relatives: cute and frankly scary witches, fly agarics, and other representatives of local, foreign evil spirits.