Baturina Yuliya, Shutterstock
Vologda is a city that knows how to surprise. From him you expect provincial modesty, a patriarchal way of life and endless “carved palisades”. And on the spot you learn that Ivan the Terrible saw it as the new capital of Russia, that the Vologda Boulevard entered the top of the best public spaces in 2020, and modern industrialists managed to create the best factories for the production of gourmet sturgeon caviar and blackened silver here. But behind curly wooden fences in the current Vologda, you will have to hunt. However, at least one can be found near the center of crafts, which is popularly called “Carved Palisade”. Most of all in Vologda there are churches and other religious buildings with old paintings and beautiful views from the bell towers. The choice of museums due to the wide development of crafts is also good. And the main starting point for all excursions, whether group or individual, is the city center: the intersection of Pobeda Avenue and Kremlin Square. Pedestrianized Kremlevskaya Square– the first place where you should go to explore the city's attractions. Next to it are the most famous of them: Bishops' Court, also known as the Vologda Kremlin – the residence of local bishops, Sophia and Resurrection Cathedrals, Museum of Lace and art gallery, and across the street from the square are monuments to the poet K. Batyushkov, the girl-muse, the Tree of Desires and the temple of Alexander Nevsky. From the square, a stone's throw to the banks of the Vologda River and Cathedral Hill, from where a noble view opens. Vologda Kremlin, or Bishop's Court – a complex of buildings laid down under Ivan the Terrible. Corps and walls of the 15th-19th centuries, as well as two-hundred-year-old churches, have been preserved from it. In terms of area, the Vologda Kremlin was supposed to be twice as large as the Moscow one and was conceived as a single ensemble, but the original plan of Ivan the Terrible never materialized. Sugar Vologda Kremlin /er/b8/erb8fivtp40k4o00o8s8csgo8.jpg The oldest stone building in Vologda is one of the main pearls of the Vologda Kremlin — built in the 16th century. The formidable king personally supervised its construction. Yes, they say, once a stone fell on Ivan the Terrible's head from the ceiling of this cathedral. The monarch ordered to dismantle the building, but she miraculously managed to avoid destruction. True, for many years the cathedral was not consecrated. Today, the Cathedral of Sophia the Wisdom of God is one of the main shrines of the city, its main pride is the perfectly preserved frescoes and iconostasis of the 18th century. Back to news » Back to news » The most Vologda monument — and Vologda residents are known for their round-eyed dialect — stands on the embankment near the Kremlin Garden. Newlyweds and tourists like to take photos in this peculiar lacy rounded frame. Not far from the monument to the letter O on the same embankment, there is a carved forged bench “Let's sit and have a drink”, and in the garden itself there is a Wishing Millhelping dreams come true. “O”na most /bl/qg/blqg1tub3xw8s44w8ow0w0s84.jpg Monument in honor of the anniversary of Vologdalaid down in 1947, and opened 12 years later. From afar, it resembles a large oven, but in fact, what seems to be a furnace are bronze bas-reliefs framed by kokoshniks. Everyone tells about an important page from the history of the city: here is an old bargain, and the attack of the Poles, and the heyday of Soviet power. The place chosen for the monument was not easy: the first church of Vologda once stood there. Tourists will find a lot of interesting things within a few hours drive from Vologda, and not only in Veliky Ustyug and Cherepovets, for which it is not a pity to spend a whole day. The architectural and ethnographic Semyonkovo Museum presents a collection of original wooden buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries. Ferapontov Monastery is famous for its unique collection of frescoes by Dionysius. The elegant Bryanchaninovs' estate in the village of Pokrovskoye impresses with its intricate decor, and Russian North National Park — not only with natural wealth, but also with a miracle of engineering thought — a system of gateways. Cathedral courtyard in Veliky Ustyug /b6/iv/b6iva15gyrcwooskk0k0kk044.jpg
Sights of Vologda
Kremlevskaya Square
Vologda Kremlin
Sophia Cathedral
Monument to the letter O
Monument in honor of the 800th anniversary of Vologda
Outskirts of the city
The best museums and theaters in Vologda< /h2>
You can start your acquaintance with museum Vologda from the Museum of Lace: after all, it was this craft that the city became famous for. Its exposition tells about the history of Russian and European lace and contains hundreds of capes, napkins, shawls, jewelry and other items of fantastic beauty. The Vologda Regional Art Gallery constantly hosts exhibitions where you can not only see the works of famous Russian artists and sculptors R. Falk, P. Konchalovsky, Z. Tsereteli, but also discover talented local painters O. Borozdin, D. Tutundzhan, M. Laricheva and others. The Red Bridge Gallery is a stronghold of contemporary art in Vologda, presented in the form of paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures. At the Museum “The World of Forgotten Things”the interiors of the 19th and 20th centuries have been recreated; atmospheric literary and musical evenings are held in them. The Museum “Vologda exile”, which tells about the life of convicts exiled to “sub-capital Siberia”, evokes quite different feelings – disturbing. Among them were N. Berdyaev, V. Molotov and even I. Stalin himself.
The Vologda State Drama Theater, the oldest in the region, stage intellectual comedies, waltz comedies, tragic farces, fairy tales and even kukaryamba. Chamber Drama Theatre, founded in 1999 by former members of the Vologda Youth Theater, boldly experiments with the works of F. Dostoevsky, K. Vonnegut, E. Hemingway, M. Tsvetaeva. The Teremok puppet theater is located in the building of the former church of Zosima and Savvaty of the Solovetskys, and its troupe puts on both classics like “Fly-sokotukha”, “Mowgli” and the immortal “Kolobok”, as well as less famous, but no less informative and funny “Shark – the enemy of the Radish”, “The Mysterious Hippo” and “Once Upon a Time in the Circus”. Vologda Youth Theaterat the very beginning of his work he was awarded the State Prize of the RSFSR. Stanislavsky, and in 1999 he received the Golden Mask. The repertoire includes performances for children and teenagers: from Aibolit and Undergrowth to The Cherry Orchard and 12 Chairs.
Vologda Youth Theater /5h/dj/5hdjb185bm8sokogosocskwc0.jpg
The best places for walking in Vologda
To see Vologda gingerbread wooden houses, you should look at Gerzen, Blagoveshchenskaya and Chernyshevsky streets. Several notable buildings have been preserved there, best reflecting the unique local style. Herzen Street is crossed by the ennobled Pirogov Boulevard, along Oktyabrskaya Street there is a green square of the same name.
Fair views of the sights and the Vologda River open from Prechistenskaya embankment and the embankment of the 6th Army. From the first one, you will see the Church of Dmitry Prilutsky and the Red Bridge Museum, from the second – the building of the Pedagogical Institute, the Governor's House, the monument to K. Batyushkov and part of the Kremlin Garden. An amusement park and catamaran rentals are open in the Kremlin Garden. A little away from the center there is a large Peace Park with an observation deck. Even further towards the next bend of the Vologda River lies the Botanika Parkwith a charming orchid museum.
Vologda wooden house /a4/c8/a4c88faq06oss8ck8woo4skk8.jpg
Unusual places in Vologda
Where to go in Vologda in looking for the most unusual sights? First of all, to the Stone Bridge. This is the name of the shortest street (aka the bridge) of the city, where the administration building and the Passage Hotel stand. In search of thrills, head to the abandoned Skulyabinsk almshouse. They say it is full of ghosts: voices, creaks and footsteps are heard all the time. Another place with devilry is the house of the nobleman Puzan-Puzyrevsky (it is his ghost that allegedly wanders through the rooms until now, apparently complaining about the family curse of the family name). The mansion is notable for the largest wooden columns in the city.
The Vologda response to the Brussels Manneken Pis is a monument to the Pissing Dog, which was actually conceived as a monument to the first lamppost.
The metal dog, which lifted its paw in front of the very first lamppost, to which the monument was supposed to be dedicated, turned out to be much more popular than the “basic” attraction.
They wanted to erect a monument to the lantern, but it turned out differently Pukhov K, Shutterstock/4b/p1/4bp1nioscjeocc4s0s8gs0ss8.jpg
When is the best time to go to Vologda
The most successful period for a trip – it does not matter whether a tourist travels for one day or for a couple of weeks – from the second decade of June to mid-August. In June, there are white nights here: it is very romantic to spend them on the open terraces of the cafe. In July, you can swim in rivers and lakes: the surroundings of the city abound with beaches, they are in the areas of Verkhny Posad, Zarechye, near Sokol and Cherepovets. August is good for walking: everything is still green, but not hot.
In December-January, Vologda turns into a beautiful fairy tale: wooden tower houses look colorful in winter decoration, restaurants prepare special menus, the city offers entertainment programs for children and adults.
How to get to Vologda
< p>There are direct flights from Moscow to Vologda 2-3 times a week. The departure airport is Vnukovo, the flight takes 1.5 hours, the ticket price is about 5500 RUB. From St. Petersburg fly at the same time and for about the same money, there are direct flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Performs flights from both capitals “Vologda Aviation Enterprise” on the Yak-40. You can get to the city from the Vologda airport for 26 RUB by bus number 36, which stops near the entrance to the terminal, and by taxi for 400 RUB. Traveling to Vologda by rail will be inexpensive and comfortable. From Moscow, trains run every day from the Yaroslavsky railway station, the journey takes 6.5–8.5 hours, for a reserved seat they ask from 1200 RUB. Direct trains from St. Petersburg start from Ladoga Station several times a week, travel from 11.5 hours, a reserved seat costs from 1700 RUB.
Vologda Airport Evgenii Panov, Shutterstock/2e/26/2e26qjpjmmzooo4wcgsg8ckg0.jpg
Buses Moscow – Vologda (or Moscow – Cherepovets with a stop in Vologda) leave from the bus stations “Bitsa” and “Northern Gate” every day. A ticket costs from 1350 RUB, the trip takes from 7 hours. From St. Petersburg, buses to Vologda run daily from the Nevsky shopping center and the bus station on Obvodny Canal. The journey will take from 9 hours and from 1200 RUB.
On a personal car from Moscow, you can drive in 6 hours along the M8/E115 highway, along the M7 it will be 2 hours longer, but along the way you can see Vladimir. From St. Petersburg, the fastest way to go is along the E105 and A114 highways – it will take 8.5 hours. If you prefer the A119 highway, you will see Ladoga, Onega and White lakes, but you will lose from 1.5 hours.
Where to eat in Vologda
For a quick snack, the cafes Tsarskie Pirogues (Sergey Orlov St., 6), Parisianka (Pobedy Ave., 8) and Kitchen (Sovetsky Ave., 2B) are perfect: you don’t have to wait a single minute – you bought it right away ate. If not only delicious food is important, but also an unusual interior, find the Parovozov cafe (Leningradskaya St., 97B): drinks are delivered to the table there by mini-trains, and instead of windows there are TVs on which the image of the road runs outside the window – one you are on the train alone. Party lovers are delighted with the Employment Center pub (17 Mira Street): parties are held there, whole cauldrons of soups are brewed at the “end of the month” (whatever that means) and craft drinks are served. Restaurants La Rosa Rossa (off. site) and Sonata (off. site) invite you to sit beautifully. The former is famous for its assortment of cheeses and seafood, the latter for its elk steaks, Olivier with crab and farfalle with Vologda porcini mushrooms.
The average check in Vologda cafes is from 1000 RUB for two, in a restaurant – from 2000 RUB.
Where to stay in Vologda
In Vologda, it is interesting to live in a cozy house with carved railings and platbands on the windows. Just in such buildings the hotels “Library” and “Palisade” were located. In the top reviews – hotels “Angliter”, “History”, “Svetlitsa”, spa hotel “Aura” (website): cleanliness, staff, food at the level. When choosing accommodation options, it is important to keep your priorities in mind. There are hotels in beautiful places, with a large territory and parking, but far from the center, and there are no frills, but surrounded by restaurants and overlooking the main monuments of antiquity. In Vologda, there is a poor choice of 5 * hotels and hostels, most of the hotels are 3 *. The spread of prices for a double room in a “three-ruble note” is from 1700 to 4700 RUB, for a bed in a hostel you need to pay from 600 RUB.
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What to bring from Vologda
Worth a look at Vologda enamel – jewelry, icons, boxes with the finest painting, “lace” rings, brooches, filigree bracelets, and, of course, to the famous blackened Veliky Ustyug silver of the factory “Northern Black”.
Linen, lace and birch bark are the most popular gifts from Vologda. Tueski, tablecloths and napkins, capes, shirts, bags are not only practical, but also very beautiful. Painted scooter felt boots and Kurakinskaya ceramics — figurines, crockery, stove tiles will be a vivid reminder of a trip to the city. Take a thermal bag or a thermal bag to Vologda so that you can bring the most delicious butter and selected black caviar from the Vologda plant in freshness. Sweet tooths will like unusual apple cheese and Vologda condensed milk.