In the next days castles, fortresses of Leningrad and Pskov regions are waiting for us. Our journey will begin in Ivangorod, where we will get acquainted with the work of the famous artist Ivan Bilibin and see the massive Ivangorod Castle. On our way from Ivangorod to Pskov we will find ourselves on the shore of Lake Peipsi and enjoy its majesty and tranquility. We will see deserted streets of Pskov and its ancient Kremlin, charming with its identity.
At the beginning of the day we will meet the history in Gostilitsa manor. We will stop for lunch in Kingisepp and spend most of the day in Ivangorod, which is much more interesting than it may seem at first sight. * Please, pay attention that to enter Ivangorod Fortress you have to make an application for visiting in advance, at least four days in advance. How to do this, you can learn in [official Vkontakte group](https://vk.com/ivangorodfortress?w=wall-57835167_3034). Ivangorod is included in the border zone, so you must have a passport and a pass made in advance!
Ingermanland is a distant past. Nowadays, the village of Gostilitsy in the Leningrad Region. Nearby there is a small waterfall flowing from the grotto. A crooked bridge over the river, there are paving stone paths in the forest. Through the holes in the ruins of the palace you can see the Church of the Trinity of the Life-Giving.
The route to Ivangorod is not rich in gastronomic delights, so you can stop for lunch in Kingisepp. The family café HoRoSho lives up to its name. There is plenty to choose from on the menu. The portions are large, the food is delicious. In the interior there are a lot of cute handmade details, which adds to the atmosphere of coziness. The cafe is open from 12 o'clock.
Do you remember the children's illustrations from fairy tales about the Grey Wolf or the Firebird? The exposition is dedicated to their author. The furniture from Ivan Bilibin's Leningrad office was also transferred to the museum. It is not easy to pay with cards in the city, but there is a Sberbank building across the street, where you can withdraw cash. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Note: Ivangorod is a frontier zone, residence in the city requires a permit, it must be prepared 3 working days in advance, the list of required documents and contacts for registration see in the first message [Ivangorod museum group](https://vk.com/ivangorodfortress).
Ivangorod Fortress and Narva Castle exist peacefully opposite each other, separated by the Narva River and connected by the "bridge of friendship". The fortress is considered to be the largest in the Leningrad region. A sense of peace fills the space. There is a Small Powder Barn on the territory, it is open from Wednesday to Sunday, the fortress is open every day.
In the fish hall you can taste and buy smoked fish. Your friends will surely be pleased with such a tasty souvenir! Please note: On Monday the tasting room closes at 16:00, from Tuesday to Sunday it is open until 18:00.
If tasting the fish doesn't satisfy your hunger, head to Quiet Dvorik for dinner: they say they make the tastiest pizza in town. Ahead of you is the road to Gdov. Be prepared for the fact that it is poorly lit.
Along Lake Peipsi we will drive to the very tiny and two-storey town of Gdov, then move to medieval Pskov. We will wander through the streets, not looking at the details and trusting the rhythm of the city.
In the morning we say hello to Lake Peipsi, the main lake of the city. It's so big that you can't see the opposite shore. You can walk along the shoreline to the village. The buildings of the houses are amazing. Built here probably out of everything they could. On the way one can see signs warning about the federal border. One feels at ease here.
Here you can imagine what the city looked like before its destruction by the Nazis, hear stories about Gdov from the museum staff. This small museum is worth our attention! The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday.
Gdovsk is a city of two-storey houses. There is a construction of walls made of boulders, often for this area. The border zone is with Estonia, but no passes are required here, as well as no foreign passports. During excavations before the restoration, hundreds of bodies of NKVD prisoners shot during the repression were found on the site of this temple. Historical place, memorable.
We have lunch in the Pskov region. A wooden log cabin and an exit to the Chudskoye lake. Here delicious kvass, bread is baked by themselves, products are also of their own production.
There's a gas station coming up. If you are tired, make a comfortable stop - come for a coffee!
A huge, truly impregnable fortress, preserved to this day in virtually pristine condition. It leaves a strong impression of this amazing place, one feels like a time traveler, except that the cars in the parking lot near the Kremlin bring back to reality. The Kremlin is open daily, the museum is closed on Mondays and on the last Tuesday of the month.
The Prikaznaya Palata used to be the centre of management of the Pskov land. Now it is a museum, and opposite there is a tourist bureau and a souvenir shop. Everything that archaeologists managed to find during excavations is in the Dovmont Town. Some buildings are gradually restored. The feeling that you get to the Middle Ages, only breathing a peaceful air and demonstrating tranquility. The museum is closed on Mondays and on the last Tuesday of the month.
Parking in front of the park's main entrance. The industrial development is skillfully integrated into the tranquil natural landscape. The landscaping is on a par with European parks.
You can spend the evening at the tavern table. It's a nice place if you're not in a hurry to go anywhere. The cuisine is simple, but tasty. The prices are democratic.
At the beginning of the day we will find ourselves on a peninsula in the Leningrad region. Our journey will end in the city of Pushkin. More precisely, in the museum-reserve "Tsarskoe Selo", among palaces, ponds and bridges.
A short stop at Theophilus Hermitage. The monastery was founded at the end of the XIV century, today little is left of the ancient buildings, the white temple was built in the two thousandths. The ruins of the old temple look majestic, this place makes one think about a lot of things.
On the hill of the peninsula rises a partially surviving monastery with a difficult fate. An ancient park surrounds the walls of the monastery, while the peninsula itself is surrounded by Lake Cheremetskoye. Now there are two temples on the territory, from one of which there are ruins. The entrance gates have survived.
We'll have lunch in a cozy café with a beautiful stylized interior. We will definitely try the soups - they know how to make them here!
Our journey ends at Tsarskoye Selo. English park. Pleasant bridges over the ponds. An observation platform on one of the towers in the park. And if the weather is not conducive to long walks, you can warm yourself in the arsenal. The entrance to the arsenal is 7 people every 15 minutes until 17:00, the museum itself is open until 18:00. Be sure to buy in advance [tickets](https://www.tzar.ru/visitors/workinhours/armoury). The arsenal is open at weekends, public holidays and vacation days.
If you've been to the palaces and the Lyceum of Pushkin, check out the Armory, a museum dedicated to World War I. Entrance to the museum is 7 every 15 minutes until 17:00, the museum itself is open until 18:00. Be sure to buy [tickets](https://www.tzar.ru/visitors/workinhours/greatwar) in advance. The museum is open: Saturday, Sunday, holidays and public holidays.
Let's have dinner at the inn, there's wonderful Russian cuisine and atmosphere. Everything is delicious here, even the most common bread.