Moscow region

The Moscow region, located in the central part of the Russian Plain between the Volga and the Oka rivers, is a region rich in histo­ry, national traditions of the Russian people and unique historical and cultural landmarks, many of them included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The Moscow region contains 47 thousand square kilometers of land, its territory larger than such European states as Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The region's population is over

7 million people.

The Moscow region is main­ly woodland, the forests taking up the third of its territory.

The Moscow region has over 2,000 rivers/ lakes and water reserves, including such major artificial reservoirs as Istrinskoe, Mozhayskoe and Klyazminskoe.

There are more than 60 species of mammals inhabiting the Moscow region (elks, foxes, wild boars, stoats, etc.), as well as numerous birds and over 40 species of fish.
The nature's heritage is an undisputable wealth of the Moscow region, demanding a considerate and caring treatment.

The Moscow region is the historically shaped cultural and economic center of Russia.

The entire history of the region is inseparably connected with Russia's history and culture, its land a witness to the nation's most cel­ebrated events. It was here that the Russian state system, the national culture and arts were born.

The Moscow region's cultural heritage shows itself in the combination of the elements of the traditional way of life, the highest achievements of architecture and the works of art that were created on this land.

The region solicitously cherishes the memory of the outstanding figures of Russian culture. From here, many lit­erary artists, musical wonder­workers and masters of the brush and the chisel drew their inspiration. The land of the Moscow region was home to Pushkin and Lermontov, Turgenev, Gogol, Chekhov, Repin, Leo Tolstoy and Tchaikovsky.

Over 300 country estates of the nobility are preserved throughout the region, many of them linked to the lives and works of prominent poets and writers, musicians and artists, scientists and public figures.

The Moscow region is especially rich with its splendid churches, over two thousand in all. Among the most remarkable are the XIV century white-stone St. Nicholas church in the village of Kamenskoe of the Naro-Fominsk district and the XV century Assumption Cathedral in the town of Zvenigorod, which are two of the oldest stone churches of the Moscow region.

The region's monasteries present another striking example of historical architecture. In Russia a monastery was not only a spiritual and cultural center, but a political one as well.

During an enemy attack the monastery served as a mighty fortress, providing shelter for the residents of neighboring towns and villages while defending the borders of the Moscow principality.

Architectural ensembles of the Trinity Sergius Lavra, the Joseph- Volotsky, New Jerusalim and many other monasteries belong to the most outstanding achievements of the ancient Russian architecture.

For six cen­turies the Trinity Sergius Lavra was the center of the Russian Orthodox Christianity and one of the symbols of the Russian state.

Today the Moscow region is one of Russia's most dynamically devel­oping regions. The Moscow region is proud of its developed industry, including high-tech production, such as computers, aviation and space electronics.

Over half of all Russia's "science cities" (4) are located here, having at their disposal the best-trained scientific personnel and the most advanced technologies.

The Moscow region has an enormous potential for the develop­ment of tourist and recreation sphere. Favorable climatic conditions, good ecology, local landscapes, considered "typically Russian", a mul­titude of world-famous tourist attractions, developed medical and health sector (over 1,000 recreational objects including sanatorium-and-spa treatment facilities, holiday resorts and children's health camps) - all this attracts tourists from all over the world.

In the last few years the Moscow region saw the construction of comfortable tourist, sports and entertainment centers with the condi­tions necessary for family recreation.

The combination of a unique recreational and tourist potential with a developed tourist infra­structure makes the territo­ry of the Moscow region highly attractive both to Russian and foreign tourists alike.

The Moscow region provides all the conditions for the development of the main types of tourism and recreation and, naturally, above all, for the cultural and educational tourism.

Rest and health treatment in the Moscow region too, unfailingly, remain in popular demand.

Rapidly developing are business, pilgrimage and sports tourism, the latter including xross-country and mountain skiing, horseback rid­ing, diving, windsurfing, hunt­ing, fishing, ecological and cruise trips.

The region is covered with dozens of excursion routes, acquainting tourists with history, architecture, culture, art, folk handicrafts, scientific and technological achievements.

The main tourist centers of the Moscow region pri­marily consist of the region's ancient towns. There are 22 ancient historical towns in the Moscow region, each of them unique and unparal­leled. Visits to the Moscow region's historical towns never fail to attract keen interest among the Russian and foreign tourists.

Sergiev Posad

The town of Sergiev Posad was founded in the XIV century. The town played a crucial role in the develop­ment of the Russian state, for many centuries remaining the center of Russian Orthodox Christianity.

Thanks   to   the   unique nature of its historical and cultural  landmarks  Sergiev Posad   has   been   declarede ancient Russian towns coma tourist center and included among th posing the Golden Ring of Russia.

The town's main sight is the Trinity Sergius Lavra, an architec­tural ensemble inc­luded in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Another point of great interest for tourists is the State History and Arts Museum and Reserve and the Toy Museum.

Kolomna

The first mention of the town of Kolomna can be found in a chronicle dated 1177.

Of all the Moscow region towns Kolomna, more than any other, can be consid­ered an open-air museum. The multitude of preserved architectural landmarks, retaining the features of the old town and the picturesque outskirts at the junction of the Moskva and the Oka rivers make Kolomna a center of attraction for numerous tourists. Kolomna is a living legend of Russian history. Its antiquities embody the nation's centuries old life itself.

Kolomna's XVI century stone Kremlin and its monasteries create an atmosphere of beauty and spiri­tuality. The town houses more than 400 historical and architectural monuments of federal and regional importance.

In the XIV century a remarkable architectural ensemble of the Savvino'-Storozhevsky Monastery was founded nearby.

Zvenigorod

Zvenigorod, founded in the XII century, is one of the oldest towns of North-Eastern Russia.

In the distant past the town served as an outpost of the Moscow principality on its western borders.

from Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery Zvenigorod houses another preserved landmark of ancient Russian architec­ture and the XI-XIV cen­tury art of town-planning -the Assumption Cathedral of Our Lady on Gorodok. The town is surrounded by unique historical landscapes.

Mozhaisk and its outskirts are the home to some of the unique archi­tectural landmarks. One of the town's most remark­able sights is the Novo-Nikolsky Cathedral, built in 1779-1820 in a nation­al-romantic style and con­taining fragments of the ancient gates and walls of the Mozhaisk fortress.

Mozhaisk

The first mention of Mozhaisk can be found in the chronicles of the year 1231 At the end of the XIV century and the first part of the XV century the town was the center of an apanage prin­cipality with its own coinage and active construction works.

At the beginning of the XVI century Mozhaisk was at the height of its golden age.

Mozhaisk is closely connected with the events of the 1812. Twelve kilome­ters to the west of the town spreads the Borodino field - the place of the biggest battle of the Russian forces against Napoleon's Grand Army.

Dmitrov

The town of Dmitrov was founded in 1154, its first function that of a fortress.

Dmitrov has a large number of pre­served monuments of history and architec­ture, including the majestic XVI century Assumption Cathedral. Several streets along both the historical center and beyond it have retained their XIX appearance almost without change, composing an origi­nal architectural ensemble.
The Dmitrov Kremlin Museum and Reserve contains one of the Moscow region's wealthiest departments of archeolo­gy and medieval history.

Serpukhov

The first mention of the town of Serpukhov comes from 1339.
Emerging    as     a fortress on the southern borders of the Moscow principality, Serpukhov for a long time remained its reliable outpost.

To this day Serpukhov has preserved its churches and monasteries, erected from the XVI to the XVIII centuries. Among them are the Trinity Cathedral, the Vysotsky and Vladychesky monasteries and the remains of the Serpukhov Kremlin wall.

Serpukhov is the home to Russia's only miracle-working Our Lady icon, The Undrainable Cup, to which there is attributed a miraculous power that can heal the faithful from an unhealthy weakness towards alcohol, as well as other ailments and sorrows.

A unique cultural landmark - the Serpukhov History and Arts Museum, recognized as one of the largest in Russia, is famous for its collection of paintings, sculpture and the works of applied arts by Russian and Western European masters.

Museums and Estates of the Moscow Region

The Moscow region has over 70 museums, picture-galleries and exhibition halls, many of them possessing priceless collections.

Arkhangelskoe Memorial Estate

Arkhangelskoe is the gem of the Moscow region, a stunningly beautiful memorial estate ensemble, as well as a wealthiest museum and reserve.

The museum's unique fund consists of a collection of XVII-XIX century Western European paintings (France, Italy, Holland), a collection of Russian art, mostly containing the works of serf artists, a small but highly fascinating graphics collection, a XVIII-XIX century furniture collection, objects of fine arts and handicrafts and book collection.

Address: Arkhangelskoe, Krasnogorsky district, the Moscow region, Russia

Abramtsevo Museum - Reserve

This is a unique literary and art center of the Moscow region, housing the XVIII cen­tury estate, the late XIX cen­tury "Russian style" architec­tural landmarks, displays dedi­cated to the lives and works of former owners and guests of Abramtsevo, including writers S.T. Aksakov,  N.V. Gogol, I.S. Turgenev, artists I.E. Repin, V.I. Surikov,
V.A. Serov, M.A. Vrubel, K.A. Korovin and others.

Address: Abramtsevo, Sergievo-Posadsky district. The Moscow region, Russia

The A.P. Chekhov State Literary Memorial Museum-Reserve "Melikhovo"

This XIX century mansion belonged to the great Russian writer Anton Chekhov. Here he wrote his play The Seagull and a number of short-stories. The museum's display is dedicated to the life and works of A.P. Chekhov.

Address: Melikhovo, Chekhovsky district, The Moscow region, Russia

The F.I. Tyuthchev Memorial Estate "Muranovo"

This museum preserves the memory of many out­standing historical and lite­rary figures of the XIX cen­tury and, above all, of the poets Evgenii Baratynsky and Fyodor Tyutchev.

The Borodinsky State Military History Museum-Reserve
This museum and reserve was established in 1839 on the place of the Battle of Borodino. It is the oldest of the museums created on former battlefields. The museum is included on the list of Russia's most valuable cultural heritage objects. The territory contains XIX-XX century fortification structures, monuments and architectural landmarks. The exhibitions display authentic objects including weapons, military costumes, documents, archeological findings, per­sonal possessions and fine arts. Annually, on the first Sunday of September, a military-his­torical festivities titled The Day of Borodino take place.

Address: Borodino, Mozhaisky district, The Moscow region, Russia

The P.I. Tchaikovsky

State Memorial House and Museum
The house fully retains the original everyday decor of the com­poser's last years, including his personal possessions, library and archive.
Address:
48, Tchaikovsky, si., Klin,
The Moscow region, Russia

Sergiev Posad History and Arts State Museum-Reserve

The museum was founded in 1920 on the basis of art treasures of the Trinity Sergius Lavra and is considered one of the largest depositories of Russian art. The uniqueness of the museum is defined by its location within the walls of the ancient Trinity Sergius Monastery itself.

The monastery's architec­tural ensemble includes more than 50 structures by Moscow, Pskov and Yaroslavl builders and serves as an integral part of the museum and reservation complex. In 1993 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Address: Lavra,Sergiev Posad,The Moscow region,Russia

Space Mission Control Center

The Space Mission Control Center provides operative control over orbital space stations, piloted transport and automatic cargo space­crafts.
Tourists will see the room from which the communications with the cosmonauts are carried out, the control system for the International Space Station and will learn fascinating details about space explo­ration. Address: Korolev, The Moscow region, Russia

Cosmonaut Training Center named after Y.A. Gagarin

Here Russian and foreign cosmonauts undertake intensive training necessary for space flights of different duration and complexity. The primary training of the cosmonauts for independent work in orbit are provided by flight simulators. The tourists will get acquainted with three of them: the Mir Space Station, the underwater laboratory, and the centrifuge.

Address: Zvezdny Gorodok (Star City), The Moscow region, Russia

Tourist Souvenirs of the Mo
For ages the Moscow region has been famous for its fas­cinating handicrafts that became the symbols of Russian art itself.
Folk handicrafts have a key place in the historical and cultural heritage of the Moscow region* constituting a sig­nificant part of the region's tourist resource and the basis of Russian souvenir industry.

Sergiev Posad Toys

The town of Sergiev Posad has long been famous for its painted nesting Matrcshka dolls, wearing traditional cos­tumes. This unique handicraft was born in Russia's major spir­itual culture, hub - -.the Trinity Sergius Monastery. In the XVII century the Sergiev -Posad district has already been mam the famous for its carved goods and toys, the said craft beinj source of income for the residents of Sergiev Posad.

The Sergiev Posad Toy Museum   presents the works by local artists made for the Tsar's children.

Gzhel

Gzhel chinaware deserves a special place in the history of Russian ceramics.

In contrast to other similar crafts, the works of Gzhel artists distinctly demonstrate the national Russian style of painting and ornamental design.

Gzhel craftsmen produce tea-sets, glasses, ashtrays, fig­urines and a large selection of vases.

The white with blue ornament Gzhel figurines to this day remain the best souvenirs

Verbilki China

The village of Verbilki is one of the oldest Russian china centers. The local china factory, founded by British merchant Gardner in the XVIII cen­tury, manufactured highly artistic products made in the best Russian folk traditions. Their greatest fame came under the new owner, the mer­chant Kuznetsov.
Contemporary craftsmen produce thin-walled hand-painted china, small-scale sculpture, decorative chess-sets and tea-sets with different ornamental designs.

Pavlovo Posad Shawls

The production of fabrics with printed patterns is an old handicraft originating from the late XVIII cen­tury, characteristic of the Bogorodsky district of the Moscow province, tradi­tionally including the town of Pavlovsky Posad. Since the middle of the XIX century, the town produced scarves and shawls with printed designs, evolving the motif of floral ornament beloved by the Russian art and immensely popular in the mid-XIX century.

Zhostovo Decorative Painting on Metal

This style of decorative painting originates in the early XIX century from the village of Zhostovo.

For over 200 years local blacksmiths and artists make metal painted trays, their shining black lacquered surfaces ablaze with fabulous white-rose bouquets, framed within the golden ornament. The compositions are predominated with images of cultivated and wild flowers arranged into bouquets.

The artists of Zhostovo lovingly preserve the traditions of lacquer painting on metal.

Fedoskino Lacquer Miniatures

The village of Fedoskino is located in the Mytischinsky district of the Moscow region. Fedoskino lacquer miniature originates from the XVIII century. Lacquer boxes of different sizes and shapes, manufactured in this village, are widely known. In the bright, festive, richly colored works of Fedoskino craftsmen, the traditions of national creative arts come fully into view.