What to see in Kostroma in 1 day? It is possible The tour will be extremely rich and useful. Cultural attractions are concentrated in the historical center: when walking, you just need to walk some distance on foot. And if the weather suddenly deteriorates, it doesn't matter: you can go to one of the exhibition complexes and continue exploring the amazing city there.
Susaninskaya area
Today it is the centerpiece. Initially, there was a settlement on the high bank of the Volga. Artisans lived here, merchants traded. And at the beginning of the 17th century, the settlement turned into a New Town. After the fire of 1773, which destroyed all the buildings of the New City, the construction of the square began according to the approved plan. The original idea of the architects was to give the building a rounded shape. But after a while the decision changed: the area began to have pronounced edges.
Of course, there were some legends. When the building plan was brought for approval to Empress Catherine, she leaned over to get a better view of the presented masterpiece, and accidentally dropped her open fan. After that, the architect changed the concept: the square received the shape of a fan. Streets run down to its center from the outskirts, and a descent leads to the Volga, reminiscent of the empress's accessory handle.
The original name of the central part was in honor of the queen: Yekaterinoslavskaya. And so it was called until 1835: it was then that it began to be called Susaninskaya. True, the monument to the legendary peasant was erected later: in 1851. Guests of the city of that time noted the amazing beauty of Susaninskaya Square: they liked the cleanliness of the pavement, the well-groomed surrounding houses, wonderful firs and lindens. Everyone noted a wonderful view of the Volga and at the same time on 9 rays-streets descending to the center.
Unfortunately, the square was badly damaged in the first years of the October Revolution: the monument to Susanin and the Alexander Chapel were demolished, mature trees were cut down, and a square was laid out in the vacant place. Subsequently, there was a sports ground. At the same time, the name was changed: now the object has become known as Revolution Square. The former name returned only in 1992. True, it was not possible to completely restore the lost image: a monument to the hero was erected in a new place, and a memorial plaque was located in the old one. But as before, the view of the Volga is amazingly beautiful, and standing in the center, you can admire 9 ray streets.
House of Borshov
This city estate is the largest in the city. And General Borshchov began to build it after his retirement. First, an outbuilding was built of stone, and then the main building. Members of the imperial family were received in a rich house: Nicholas 1 visited, and later Tsarevich Alexander. A fire in 1847 damaged the manor. The heirs considered the restoration costly and sold the ruins to the merchant Pervushin.
The latter reconstructed the house and offered the city authorities to purchase it to accommodate government offices. The price was quite acceptable – 25 thousand rubles in silver. But as usual, the purchase was delayed. Pervushin raised the price, officials began to bargain. In 1857, the governor imposed a ban on the purchase, and directed the reserved funds to the construction of prisons in the province.
Pervushin, however, did not give in to despondency: he organized a fashionable London hotel in his own house. The business brought the owner a steady income. But in 1870 the city nevertheless decided to buy the estate. The building was once again reconstructed and placed in it the city court. Today, the manor pleases guests with a restored facade. This is part of the Susaninskaya Square ensemble.
Alley of Recognition
Initially, this place was just a wonderful alley for the rest of the townspeople. Benches are placed in the shade of trees, the space is paved with colored tiles. But after a while, for the celebration of the 855th anniversary of the city, the boulevard was reconstructed and began to be called the Alley of Recognition. It starts from Susaninskaya Square and continues to Peace Square. Prospekt Mira (the longest street in the city) is located to the right and left of the resting place.
Commemorative plaques with the names of famous Kostroma residents are embedded directly into the tile:
Conventionally, the alley is divided into 2 parts: the first is dedicated to the famous Kostroma residents, and the second is dedicated to the heroes and participants of the Great Patriotic War and home front workers. This segment was opened by the city authorities for the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory over Nazi Germany. The Alley of Recognition is always crowded. This is a favorite resting place of Kostroma residents; tourists also willingly visit the cozy shady square.
Hauptvahta
The building was erected in 1820. The architect Fursov has several goals at once:
The architect completed all the tasks. The guardhouse had 1 full floor and mezzanines: it organically complemented the Kalancha. S.S. was invited to decorate the facade. Povyranev: he decorated the building with a portico with the monogram of Alexander 1, and along the way depicted Russian weapons. In this form, the Guardhouse existed until the fire of 1847. The fire almost completely destroyed the building, but it was restored according to the surviving drawings. Subsequently, the Guardhouse was supplemented with windows and an extension made of stone.
In 1918, the Guardhouse ceased to be used for its intended purpose: there was a bathhouse, a bank, a commandant's office, a children's library, and a Literary Museum in turn. The building is a branch of the Kostroma Museum-Reserve: it houses an exposition dedicated to military history. The value of the Guardhouse is not only in its architecture: the arrested participants of the December Uprising, members of the Narodnaya Volya organization, fighters for the freedom of Poland were kept here. The guardhouse is an object of the cultural heritage of Russia, it is protected by the state.
Fire Tower
The fire tower is included in the list of cultural sites of UNESCO. Kostroma was a city built of wood. Sources report 14 fires that completely destroyed all buildings. To prevent such incidents, Governor Baumgarten ordered the construction of a Fire Tower. This work was entrusted to Fursov.
The main task: to ensure control of fires in the city. Additionally, the mayor wished that the building became an element of the architectural ensemble of Susaninskaya Square. The construction turned out to be unexpected: the tower repeats the outlines of an ancient temple, decorated with 6 porticos. At a height of 35 meters there was an observation deck, where a fireman was on duty around the clock. If fire was detected, he would ring the bell and release a colored ball. If red, then the center burned, blue – the outskirts. In the dark, the signal was a colored fire.
The building was equipped with premises for personnel, nearby were sheds for carts, and later for cars, barrels filled with water, inventory (buckets, axes, hooks) were kept. When a fire was signaled, firefighters immediately went out to extinguish it. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Fire Tower became part of an architectural reserve. Now the museum of the Fire Department operates in a unique building. Tourists get acquainted with exhibits dedicated to the development of firefighting. The exhibition is interesting for adults and children.
Romanov Museum
If the weather suddenly turned bad, you should go to the Romanov Museum. This is an unusual place where antiquity and modernity are combined. At the end of the 19th century, the archival commission took the initiative to create its own museum. And the main part of the exhibition was to be the history of the Romanovs.
In 1903, the idea was approved by Nicholas 2. But the unstable political situation in the country postponed the implementation: only in 1909 the first stone was laid. The project was partially implemented: in 1913 the center was opened as a museum of the royal house of the Romanovs. In May 1913, Nicholas 2 and his family became the first visitors to the exposition. They left a note in the memorial book.
Today the center offers permanent exhibitions to its guests:
In addition, the center organizes thematic exhibitions.
Nobility Assembly
The peculiarity of the center is a lively atmosphere. All stands are carefully thought out and neatly organized. It seems to visitors that the hospitable owner of the house is about to appear around the corner. Not only tourists like to come here, but also Kostroma residents. The building was built in the 18th century by order of the merchant Durygin. Then, after dilapidation, it was bought by the city authorities. And at the beginning of the 19th century the house was reconstructed.
The work was carried out under the guidance of the architect Prave:
Today the center hosts regular and thematic exhibitions. Visitors will see:
All expositions have interactive applications, with the help of which visitors can fully immerse themselves in the events of centuries ago. The administration regularly arranges lectures on the history of the Kostroma and Russian nobility, holds thematic exhibitions for children and adults.
Drama Theatre. A.N. Ostrovsky
This unique theater was organized in 1808. The building was built in 1863 and has been preserved in its original form, with the exception of a small restoration and renovation of the interiors. During the war with Napoleon, the theater became a haven for the troupe of the Moscow Imperial Theatre. Close proximity to the capital's actors determined the traditions of the theater.
For the first time in the province, Ostrovsky's plays were staged on its stage. For all the years of work, the audience saw all the plays of the playwright, with the exception of the Abyss. Maria Ermolova, Mikhail Shchepkin, Valentina Fedotova shone here. Name A.N. The Ostrovsky theater received in 1923, and in 1967 the bust of the playwright, which had previously been in the museum-estate Shchelykovo, was moved here. During the years of Soviet power, the theater named after A.N. Ostrovsky was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
Since the end of the 20th century, the Ostrovsky Days festival has been taking place on the stage. At first it was held every 5 years, now it takes place annually. The best theaters in Russia present their performances to the jury. Today, tourists can not only admire the building built in the style of Russian classicism, but also attend performances for children or adults.
Trading rows
Already in the 16th century, Kostroma became an economically important city of the Russian Empire. Trade became intense, and a place was allocated in the center of the city for merchants' shops. The buildings, of course, were made of wood. The fire of 1773 completely destroyed the malls. It was then that the city authorities decided to restore the shops in their original place, but already made of stone.
The drawings of the architect from Yaroslavl Kler served as the basis for the working project. But the architects (Fursov, Metlin, Stasov, Vorotilov) linked the project to the area. Work began in 1775, and in 1793 the work was completed. Merchants' shops were combined into a gallery.
Each shop has:
The floor dimensions of one shop were 4.5mx7m. Each point corresponded to the arch of the gallery. The first stage started working in 1791. These were the rows where they traded in red goods: fabrics, leather, books, furs. When planning, it was necessary to decide how to fit the temple into the shopping arcade. But the architects coped with the difficult task, and now the stone church of the Savior in Ryady adorns the gallery.
The red rows turned out to be so elegant that residents came here for daily walks. Subsequently, the architects erected Big Flour, Small, Gingerbread, Live Fish, Fish, Meat, Kvass, Green, Butter, Saddlery, Vegetable Rows. The result was a whole trading city with its own descent to the Volga, the main route for the delivery of goods. The complex has not changed much: it has survived to our time in its original form. And today there is trade.
Museum “Provincial City of Kostroma”
Kostroma is interesting not only for antiquities associated with the development of the city, but also for new cultural objects. This is exactly what the center “Provincial City of Kostroma” has become. It is located in the very center of the city – Trading Rows. A hundred years ago, small things were traded here. Therefore, part of the complex is called the Small Rows.
Tourists are offered an interesting exposition dedicated to the development of the provincial merchant class. The stands present genealogical trees of the most famous surnames throughout Russia, personal items, home interior items. It is very interesting to get acquainted with advertising and marketing of the century before last. Then the guests go to the hall with an interactive exposition. It is dedicated to the bell business.
The industrialist Zabenkin's plant cast bells for churches in the Russian Empire. The exhibition is complemented by imperial tableware: lafitniks, shtofs, faceted bottles. And the most interesting is the souvenir shop. Here you can buy products of local artists, artisans, confectioners, gingerbread craftsmen. And if you want to drink coffee, you should visit the local coffee shop, which serves an excellent drink.
Church of the Savior in Ryady
Inscribed in the Trading Rows, complements the architectural ensemble. The church was first mentioned in documents in the early 17th century. This place was called a market near the Kremlin. The church was built of wood. But in 1766 it was rebuilt with the money of the merchant Stefan Belov: the temple became stone.
The church is dedicated to the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, although the people continued to call it Spasskaya. During the reconstruction of the Trading Rows, the temple ended up in the place where the Red Rows were built. They did not dare to move it, the architects entered the building into a shopping complex. At that time, a gate bell tower was built, from which an amazing panorama of the Volga was opened. In the 19th century, the chapel of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos was completed. It was heated, so it began to be used for services in the winter.
Even later, the territory was fenced off to separate it from the Trading Rows. After the October Revolution, services in the temple were banned. At different times there were a museum, warehouses. The bell tower was demolished. At the end of the 20th century, the building was restored and returned to the church. The architects carried out a large-scale work, since only 2 photographs have survived. Today, the frescoes of the late 19th century are being restored.
Museum of Nature of the Kostroma Region
The complex was founded in 1958. Then it was a branch of the Kostroma United Museum-Reserve. In 2001, the collection of the center expanded significantly: therefore, it was decided to create an independent unit. The basis of the exposition was the materials accumulated by the society for the study of the native land. The society has been working since 1912, collecting data on the nature of the province. Unique collections after the October Revolution were transferred to the city museum of local lore. In 1926, the center received a collection of entomologist Rubinsky as a gift. The collection became the highlight of the exhibition.
Visitors were also invited to view excellent dioramas:
Later, the exhibition was supplemented with dioramas:
There are interactive screens in the halls, with the help of which visitors can more fully explore the nature of the region.
Museum “Fairytale Land of the Snow Maiden”
Everyone knows that Grandfather Frost constantly lives in Veliky Ustyug. And where does his beloved granddaughter live? Of course, in Kostroma! The fairy-tale house is arranged on the basis of the center of additional education Origins. The employees and the administration did a tremendous job to make the guests fall in love with the homeland of the fabulous girl, so that they would like to come here again. The building of the center itself is a monument: it is a former salt shop built in the early 19th century. Inside, visitors are greeted by a hospitable hostess, who introduces the magical kingdom of Berendey.
Everything is here:
Children will not be bored: a separate excursion is organized for them, which is conducted by an experienced teacher. And at this time, their parents, under the guidance of another employee of the center, will be able to take a fresh look at the work of A.N. Ostrovsky.
Kostroma Kremlin
The first buildings of the Kremlin were located on the Sula River. But due to regular raids by river robbers (ushkuiniki), the entire complex was eventually located on the high bank of the Volga: it was more convenient to repel enemy raids. The Assumption Cathedral was built on the territory of the Kremlin when Ivan the Terrible ruled. It was the first stone building in the city.
This is what helped the cathedral survive the fire of 1773: the Zdvizhensky Monastery, located nearby, was completely burned out, and in the Assumption Cathedral only the interior paintings were damaged. Unfortunately, ramparts, ditches and walls have not been preserved: today you can see part of the eastern rampart. And in 1934, the Bolsheviks destroyed the entire temple complex of the Kremlin, and on the site of the planned monument to the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, a monument to Lenin was erected (the new government did not hesitate to use the pedestal prepared for the royal family).
The square has become a favorite place for walks of the townspeople. Work is underway to restore the destroyed Kremlin complex. Money is donated by philanthropists, caring Kostroma residents, city authorities. Reconstruction began with the construction of the Assumption Cathedral.
central park
If after a walk through the historic center you want to relax in the fresh air, you should visit Central Park. It bears the name of the leader of the world proletariat, whose monument rises above the river. But the complex was broken long before the installation of the monument: in 1830.
Conventionally, the park is divided into 2 zones:
You should definitely stop at the observation deck: a wonderful view of the Volga opens from here. And then you should go down the stairs to the embankment to the pier.
Jewelery Museum
It is impossible not to visit the Museum of Jewelery: after all, it was that land that gave birth to entire families of jewelers. The products of the masters were worn by noble persons and ordinary people, unique items made of gold and silver were ordered by Russian churches and monasteries.
The center has a permanent exhibition where you can get acquainted with the technique of applying filigree, casting. Products of famous families of jewelers living in Krasnoye Selo are presented. Thematic expositions dedicated to the works of modern jewelers are constantly held. And no guest leaves disappointed.
House of the Mayor G.N. Botnikova
Gennady Botnikov is an honorary citizen. He ruled the city for 14 years. During his work appeared:
And for his family, the mayor built a mansion in the city center. At that time, the house had a decent area: 350 sq. m. The philanthropist Kuzovlev offered to restore the dilapidated building. According to the surviving descriptions and photos, 10 rooms were reconstructed. And the furniture here is exclusively antique. There are no fences, so the guests have complete confidence that the owner left for a minute, but will return soon.
Epiphany-Anastasia Monastery
The Epiphany Monastery was organized by the Monk Nikita in the 15th century. All buildings were made of wood, so the complex was remodeled and rebuilt several times. And later women were attached to it: Anastasiin and Krestovozdvizhensky. It was in Anastasiyin that the miraculous Feodorovskaya icon of the Mother of God was kept. During the Troubles, the complex was looted. And what the troublemakers did not do, the Bolsheviks did: the Nikolsky Cathedral built in the 18th century was blown up. Today you can admire the Cathedral of the Epiphany and the refectory.
Terem Snegurochka
The magical girl, like Santa Claus, receives guests from Russia and neighboring countries. The way to her tower is easy to find by funny inscriptions. But even if you don’t read, you won’t be able to get lost: tourists are constantly moving here.
And there is something to do at the Snow Maiden. At your service:
Gifts for friends can be purchased at the souvenir shop. Such a trip to visit a fabulous girl will be remembered by both adults and children.
Kostroma Sloboda
The idea of creating an open-air museum arose when the territory was flooded as a result of the construction of the Gorky hydroelectric power station. It became clear that the monuments of wooden architecture would also go under water. The first exhibit was the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, transported from the village of Spas-Vezhi. Then the exposition was replenished with the Church of the Holy Mother of God, originally built in the village of Kholm.
Today in Sloboda you can see baths, barns, shops. All buildings are allowed to enter. There are a lot of people here both in winter and in summer. In autumn, the administration of the complex organizes Capus evenings for guests. Tourists are involved in harvesting vegetables for the winter. Fermentation is made according to old Russian recipes. And for the children, the animators hold competitions in the fresh air.