The Vologda Territory can rightfully be considered the center of Orthodox Russia. Here you can feel the rich historical past, saturated with architectural monuments and the most important shrines of Orthodoxy. If you had a chance to visit Vologda, and you have two free days left, then they can be most usefully spent on getting acquainted with the sights of this amazing city and its environs.
The second day can be used to visit the Kirillovsky Belozersky Monastery and the Ferapontovskaya Mother of God-Christmas Lavra. You can also go to the city of Cherepovets or visit the Brianchaninovs' estate. With great benefit, 1 day will be spent visiting the architectural and ethnographic museum “Semenkovo” in the open air.
First day
To rationally use your free time, you should become a member of an individual walking tour. You need to choose the route that would be able to dedicate as much as possible to acquaintance with the most iconic places of the city. It must be understood that Vologda is one of the most important centers of Orthodox culture, steeped in the traditions of monasticism and religious asceticism.
Along with this, it is worth paying attention to numerous museums and architectural monuments of wooden architecture. It is physically impossible to see all the interesting objects within 1 day, so travelers decide for themselves which of the proposed educational walks will suit their taste. Below you can find a summary of the most popular city tours.
Monument to the 800th anniversary of Vologda
The date of foundation of the city is considered to be 1147. According to the version of the ancient manuscript “The Tale of the Miracles of Gerasim of Vologda”, who came to the river bank at that time, a monk named Gerasim founded the Trinity Monastery. Over time, a settlement grew around this holy monastery, which laid the foundation for the city.
In 1959, by decision of the Soviet government, a memorial building dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the city, in the form of an obelisk with bas-reliefs depicting historical events that took place in Vologda, was installed on the embankment near the intersection of Vorovsky and Burmaginy streets on the city embankment. Polished granite slabs brought from the Far North served as the material for the construction of the pedestal and the obelisk.
At the base of the monument there are four niches oriented to the cardinal points. Relief slabs are installed in these alcoves-kokoshnits in the following order: North – the image of bargaining on the Lazy Square of the ancient settlement, East – the scene of the battle of the townspeople with the Polish-Lithuanian invaders at the beginning of the 17th century, South – the scene of the assertion of the Bolshevik power in the city and West – a bas-relief with the inscription “In memory of the 800th anniversary of Vologda”.
Bench “Let's sit and have a look”
In 2015, on the occasion of City Day, an unusual bench appeared on the embankment, forged by blacksmiths participating in the international festival Voice of Crafts. The inscription “Let's sit and have a rest”, laid out in large metal letters on the back of the bench, according to the intention of the manufacturers, is dedicated to the peculiarities of the local dialect, where even the letter “A” is pronounced like “O”. This phenomenon was sung in many works of the Vologda poet and writer Nikolai Rubtsov.
There is a tradition – guests always want to sit on a bench and take a picture, which is considered a good opportunity to make a cherished wish. A year later, after the installation of the monument, additional details were installed on the bench: an accordion and an open book of poems. Their appearance on the forged seat is associated with a memorable date – the 80th anniversary of the Vologda poet N. Rubtsov.
These items were not chosen by chance. The writer was fond of playing the accordion, and the book reflects his poetic legacy. Finding a forged symbol of the Russian northern dialect “Okanya” is easy. The bench is installed on the observation deck next to the Kremlin garden.
Vologda Kremlin
In ancient manuscripts, there is a mention of the exact date of laying the stone citadel on the site of present-day Vologda. The decision on this was made by Tsar Ivan the Terrible on April 28, 1566. The fortress was originally called Nason-city. The fortification occupied a convenient defensive position. The Kremlin was covered from the north by the Vologda River, and a wide ditch was dug in the east, which later became the Zolotukha River.
On the other sides, ditches with earthen ramparts were also dug. The channels were filled with the waters of the Sodima River. Today, on the territory of the Kremlin, there are: Sophia and Resurrection Cathedrals, the Bishop's Court, the Church of the Intercession with the chapel of Joachim and Anna. Guests of the city can learn from a professional guide the history of the construction of these ancient structures, arrange a photo session against the backdrop of the temple and the bell tower.
An unforgettable experience will leave a visit to the State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum, located in St. Sophia Cathedral. It will be interesting to see the Bishop's Court, the former home of the Vologda bishops. Archaeological excavations are constantly being carried out on the territory. The found artifacts are exhibited in the museum.
Museum “The World of Forgotten Things”
The unusual name sets the museum visitors in a lyrical mood in advance. The expositions of the institution are devoted to the cultural and everyday life of the townspeople in the pre-revolutionary era at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. In the former mansion of the merchant Panteleev miraculously preserved the atmosphere of a bygone era. Much has been added to the interiors of the rooms by local residents who have kept various antiques.
On the first floor, visitors will see the interiors of the living room, the office of the head of the family, the dining room and the nursery, recreated with great accuracy, reflecting all the nuances of the life of the merchant class. All furniture has been restored by local craftsmen. The guide will talk about the family traditions of that time. The exhibition “History of the Vologda portrait of the 18th-19th centuries” was organized on the premises of the second floor.
The collection of portrait painting was formed from the portraits of noble estates brought from all over the region. On the third floor, in a spacious hall, thematic exhibitions of artifacts from the collections of the descendants of noble families of that time are held.
House Zasetsky
One of the most beautiful monuments of wooden architecture is located on Leningradskaya Street. An architectural monument of federal significance, the Zasetsky House was built in the 90s of the eighteenth century, at the end of the nineteenth century it was significantly rebuilt. The building is a one-story wooden mansion with a mezzanine and a portico with four columns. The façade is decorated with window casings, figured balcony balusters and finely carved white corner frames against the background of green walls.
The openwork of the carved details of the exterior of the house creates the impression of lightness and airiness of the structure. The mansion was built in the style of classicism. The original mahogany door panels and a real Dutch tiled stove have been preserved in the interiors. Initially, the mansion belonged to the well-known local historian A.A. Zasetsky (1717 – 1784), the author of the first book about Vologda.
Komsomolsky square
One of the first parks in the city was laid out by order of the Governor-General of the Vologda province N.P. Brusilov in 1824, thus, the authorities of the region were preparing for the arrival of Emperor Alexander I. That is why the park complex got its name – Alexander Garden. It gained popularity as a place of cultural recreation for the townspeople. Now Komsomolsky Square is equipped here, adjacent to Revolution Square.
Previously, a military brass band played here in the summer on Sundays and holidays, creating a unique atmosphere of peace. The park was finally formed in 1839. Since then, this place has not gone unnoticed by the city authorities. And today Komsomolsky Square remains one of the most visited places of recreation for local residents and guests of the city.
Sophia Cathedral
Sophia Cathedral of the Wisdom of God – this is the full name of the Sophia Cathedral, which is the oldest stone church that has been preserved in Vologda. It was erected on the direct orders of Tsar Ivan IV (the Terrible). The date of completion of the construction of the religious building is considered to be 1570.
Sophia Cathedral is one of the main attractions on the territory of the Vologda Kremlin. It is better to visit the shrine accompanied by a professional guide who will tell you a lot of interesting things, including the legend associated with the temporary desolation of the temple. The king was angry when, during one of his visits to the cathedral, a fragment of stucco fell on his head from the vault, causing a slight injury.
Finishing work resumed only in 1587 during the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich. Currently, the St. Sophia Church is the cathedral church of the Vologda diocese. Everyone who gets inside the cathedral is struck by the beauty of the frescoes of the 17th century, which have preserved the clarity of images and richness of colors.
Resurrection Cathedral
Initially, the temple building was conceived as a building for religious rites in the winter season, and therefore retained the definition as a “warm” cathedral. The original building was built with numerous miscalculations, and dangerous cracks appeared in the supporting structures. The church was demolished. The new construction of the temple resumed on the site of the demolished eastern tower of the Kremlin. The final date of completion of construction is 1776.
After a long break connected with historical events from 1917 until 2015, the Church of the Resurrection, along with the St. Sophia Church, was declared the current cathedral of the Vologda diocese. The temple is open for visits daily from 8.00 to 19.00, except Monday and Tuesday.
Lace Museum
The institution dedicated to one of the types of folk craft is the only one in the Russian Federation. The Lace Museum is on the list of cultural objects of federal significance. The largest art object occupies all two floors of a stone building on the central Kremlin Square. Numerous exhibits are placed on one and a half thousand square meters of the building.
The central exhibition reflects the history of the emergence and development of the lace industry from the end of the century before last to the present day. The expositions are divided into several thematic areas. These are “Lace in cult objects”, “Production of lace products in the period from the 20s to the forties of the last century”, etc. The museum regularly hosts fashion shows with demonstrations of clothes with lace trim of various types. It will be interesting for guests of the city to visit the salon-shop and take lace-making lessons in the creative workshop.
Theater of the Young Spectator (Pushkin People's House)
In 1899, the townspeople vigorously celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of the popularly beloved poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. Under unanimous approval, a voluntary fundraising was announced for the creation of the Pushkin People's House. In total, 20 thousand rubles were collected, 10 thousand of which were subsidized by the Ministry of Finance. Under the guidance of the Moscow architect Popov G.I. the project of the building was created in the shortest possible time. Already in 1904, the townspeople could visit the Pushkin House.
The building was built in the style of Russian classicism. The facade of the house is decorated with a portico with six columns with a high pediment. Inside the theater there are two stages with halls designed for 425 and 88 spectators. Throughout the history of its existence, the cultural building has changed its purpose. At one time it was the House of the Revolution, a drama theater, and finally, today it houses the Theater for Children and Youth.
Zero kilometer of roads in the Vologda region
A few hundred meters from the main building of the administration of the city district along Pushkinskaya street in house number 16 there is an art object called “Kilometer Zero”. It is made in the form of an alcove, under the arch of which there is a stylized milestone from the times of the Russian Empire. At the top on both sides are 19th-century lamps.
On top of the memorial building there is an inscription in large letters: “Kilometer zero of the roads of the Vologda region”. Since the time of Peter I, the distance between cities has been measured between post offices at number 1. Where the memorial sign was installed at one time, the First Post Office of the city was located. Initially, distances were measured in versts. When switching to the metric measuring system (1 verst = 1.0668 km.), Everything was recalculated in kilometers.
This can be seen in the bas-reliefs on the sides of the pillar. So the distances are: to Moscow – 461 km, Yaroslavl – 195 km, St. Petersburg – 655 km and Arkhangelsk – 797 km. For guests of the city, the art object is interesting because here you can hear from the lips of a guide how such a science as cartography was born in the Russian Empire.
House of Peter I
If you have some free time, then it is worth visiting and inspecting the house of Peter I. This seemingly unsightly building was built at the beginning of the 17th century. It was intended for living in it, as they said then – “people of the vile class”. The house belonged to the owners of the estate, the brothers Gutman, who, in turn, were on fairly friendly terms with the emperor of the Russian Empire. Despite its original purpose, the house was converted into a comfortable dwelling for the king.
Peter I liked to stop there for the night on the way. Here he stayed five times from 1692 to 1724. The royal hotel has vaulted ceilings and Dutch tiled stoves. All furniture is original and made in the 17th century. The imperial clothes, a copy of the death mask and a plaster print of his hand are kept here.
Second day
If the main sights of the city have already been explored, then the next free day can be devoted to an educational trip out of town. It can be done on one of the proposed routes by local travel agencies. These are out-of-town excursions called: Kirillov, Ferapontovo, the Semyonkovo architectural and ethnographic museum, the Bryanchaninovs' estate and Cherepovets. After reviewing the summary of the routes, you can go on a trip, both in your own car, and as part of a group of tourists with a guide on the bus.
Kirillov
The ancient city of Kirillov is located 130 kilometers northwest of the city. Next to it is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments – the current Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. Snow-white high fortress walls and imposing towers on the shores of Lake Siversky present a grandiose panorama of amazing beauty of the architectural ensemble of Russian architecture of the 15th-16th centuries.
Buses run regularly by organized groups of tourists. You can also get there by private vehicle. Only local guides are allowed to work on the territory of the monastery, so here you can use the services of a guide individually. Here they will tell the story of the emergence of the Lavra, founded by the monk Cyril.
Guests will admire the nearby Vologda Tower and the bell tower, visit the cookery and refectory chamber, see the archimandrite and monastic cells, enjoy the crimson bells and admire the unique beauty of the frescoes on the walls of the Assumption Cathedral. To have a photo shoot, you need to pay a fee at the entrance to the monastery.
Ferapontovo
Almost near the city of Kirillov, 20 kilometers within the village of Ferapontovo, there is the Belozerskaya Mother of God-Christmas Lavra (monastery). In 2000, by the UNESCO session, the monastery architectural complex was included in the World Heritage List. Believers and ordinary travelers from many regions of Russia flock here to pay tribute to the shrine and admire the frescoes of the 16th century on the walls of the temple in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, painted by the followers of the Moscow icon painting school Dionysius and his sons. Murals covered 600 m2 of interior surfaces of the cathedral.
The originality of the pictorial art of Dionysius is expressed by an amazing mixture of soft colors, the perfect harmony of religious subjects (the Last Judgment, Akathist to the Mother of God, Ecumenical Councils, etc.). The proximity of the two shrines from each other makes it possible to visit the Kirillo-Belozersk Lavra and the Ferapontov Monastery for 1 day.
Architectural and Ethnographic Museum “Semyonkovo”
12 kilometers from the center, near the village of Semyonkovo, in 1992, a museum of Russian architecture of the mid-19th – early 20th century was opened. Old houses and buildings were dismantled and brought to the village from all over the region. Here they were reassembled on site and installed according to the architectural plan. Replenishment with new art objects occurs constantly.
The Architectural and Ethnographic Museum has the status of federal significance. Guests of the exhibition complex can walk along the streets between the facades of wooden houses, look inside and admire the interiors of those times. On the territory of the museum there are 16 estates of row buildings.
Away from them there is a churchyard with a tent St. George's Church built in 1700. Most of the exhibition area is occupied by an agricultural complex with a variety of facilities designed for grain processing. There is a car park in front of the entrance to the museum.
Manor of the Bryanchaninovs
An architectural gem – the Bryanchaninovs' estate is located 28 kilometers from the regional center in the village of Pokrovskoye. The noble nest, built at the beginning of the 19th century, is a monument of history, culture and gardening art of federal significance.
The central part of the house is a two-storey stone building with an attic, two pairs of Corinthian columns and a balcony with a balustrade. On both sides there are outbuildings connected to the central building by one-story galleries. This is the only architectural monument of the Vologda Territory that has come down to our time, practically retaining its original appearance.
The park complex is an example of landscape art of the 19th century. It is located in the form of three terraces descending the hillside. Visiting the estate in an organized group, guests will hear the history of the Brianchaninov family, who owned the estate until the beginning of the revolutionary events of 1917.
Cherepovets
Another day of your stay can be spent with interest on visiting the neighboring Cherepovets. The large settlement was given the status of a city in 1767. The city owes its name to the first mention in a 15th-century manuscript of this area called Cherepoves. The main attractions of Cherepovets include the historical and ethnographic museum “Galsky Manor”, the house-museums of Milyutin and Vereshchagin, the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, monuments to the founders of the city, metallurgists “Continuity of generations” and nurses.
Museum-Estate of the Leontiev Nobles
It is worth spending one day to go to the neighboring Yaroslavl region. Here, in the region of Rostov the Great, the village of Voronino, the nobles of the ancient Leontiev family lived for three centuries, owning a beautiful estate. The revolution of 1917 left the nest of nobles in desolation for many years. And only after many decades the pearl of the region was again in the hands of the heirs – the direct descendants of the noble noble family.
They put a lot of effort and financial resources, thanks to which this open-air museum became an attractive tourist center – the richest collection of artifacts, where you can learn a lot of interesting facts about the fate of the nobles who lived here. Here guests will plunge into the atmosphere of romanticism of a bygone era. Every day hundreds of tourists arrive here who rush to enjoy the local beauties and admire the ancient monuments of architecture.
Groups of tourists, accompanied by professional guides, go to the village of Voronino by bus. In 4 hours, transport overcomes 290 kilometers. At the end of the tour, travelers return back. There are options for the route with an overnight stay in a hotel plus meals.