The most ancient monastery in Russia, wooden architecture and "Devil's Bridge

The first mention of the church on the right bank of the Torzhok River is dated 1163. At that time there was a wooden church here.
A bright building in the Empire style was erected in 1822. In 1842 a small church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem was built nearby. The Our Savior and Transfiguration Cathedral was especially decorated with gold frescos and utensils, as well as luxurious folio books. Local noblemen and merchants were not stingy on financing.
Unfortunately, in 30th years it was completely plundered and the bell tower was demolished.

Once the city was surrounded by a wooden wall with 11 towers. In the XIV century stone fortifications were built here.
In 1139, the Kremlin was taken by Yury Dolgoruky. In annals this is the first direct mention of the town. Only a moat and a rampart on the Upper castle mound survived until nowadays.
Nowadays the Kremlin has an exposition of the All-Russian Historical and Ethnographic Museum. The model of the Mikhailovskaya Tower has been reconstructed, and there is also a showplace. You can try on armour and weapons.

• Entrance ticket to the exhibition:

Adults - 50 rubles. Students, veterans, pensioners, children under 16 - free of charge.
The exposition is open for visitors: From April 1 to October 31: from 09:30 to 20:00. From November 1 to March 31: from 09:30 to 18:00.

The monastery was founded in 1038, 12 years before the Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra. It owes its name to Boris and Gleb, the first Russian saints. There are no recordings of the older saints yet. It was founded during the reign of Yaroslav I Vladimirovich by boyar Efrem.
In 1607 after an attack of Poles on Torzhok the monastery was badly damaged.
The Vvedenskaya church was built in 1620. It is the oldest preserved structure of the monastic complex.

New Ascension stone church was consecrated in 1854. At that time an old road leading to Staritsa passed next to it.
Like many others, it was erected on the site of an older wooden church. It is a "warm" variation of the nearby Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God.
The church has not been working since 1939. During the war, it was severely damaged and continued to deteriorate. The restoration works are planned to be carried out in the nearest future.

The unique pine log church was first mentioned in written sources in 1625. However, the date of construction is considered to be 1717. In that year the church was dismantled, moved, consecrated and called the Old Ascension or Tikhvin church.
Inside it was richly decorated. The 5-tier iconostasis struck the eye. It did not remain, and here paintings on the walls can be seen even now.

For lunch you can drop in at a cozy cafe in a historic building on the waterfront. There are delicious pies with a variety of fillings, a large selection of teas and good coffee.

The pedestrian bridge was opened for the 1000th anniversary of Torzhok. Earlier it was used for transport movement.
From the bridge there is a beautiful view of the river Tvertsa and the city. Now on the bridge as a sign of eternal fidelity lovers like to leave locks.
Near him, on the right bank of the river, is the Chapel of the Exaltation of the Cross rotunda, built in 1804. Behind it you can see the main square of the city. In ancient times there was a pier and merchants from different cities and countries gathered here.

From the XIII century Torzhok was famous for its unusual art - gold embroidery. Clothes, footwear, church attributes were decorated with the graceful vegetative ornament. A dress made of blue satin was embroidered with golden lilies for Catherine II. The empress liked the gift so much, that she took the masteress with her to St. Petersburg.
The main exhibit of the museum is a 12-meter belt, included in the Book of Records of Russia. It took two years to create it.
Before visiting, it is worth ordering a tour by phone: 8(910)840-10-30.

• Hours of operation:

Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The ethnographic museum is located on the territory of the late 18th century manor. There are 19 monuments of wooden architecture of the XVIII-XIX centuries: chapels, dwelling houses, barns. A linden alley and three beautiful cascade ponds are preserved on the territory of the museum.
One of the most striking sights in Vasilyevo is the 100-meter "Devil's Bridge" with grottoes. It is created from huge boulders without any mortar. The bridge was once used to film the final battle between the forces of darkness and light in Night Watch.

• Entrance fee - 100 rubles.

for students - 50 rubles. for pensioners - 50 rubles. Free for children under 16 years old.
Opening hours: May 1 to August 31: Wednesday-Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, box office until 18:00. Monday and Tuesday are days off.
September 1 to April 31: Wednesday-Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., box office until 5:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday are days off.

An amusing monument has recently appeared here - "The place where a curb turns into a kerb".
Moscow and St. Petersburg are used to calling many things differently: parades and entrances, arches and gates, benches and benches. It turns out that one of the reasons for some of these differences is the reforms of Peter the Great.
At that time two cities were actively borrowing new words from other cultures. Moscow gravitated towards French, Peter - towards Dutch.

You can have dinner at a local fish restaurant. Here they catch fresh fish from their own pond.
Good food, pleasant interior. In addition to fish, the menu includes kebabs, salads and desserts.

Pristine nature, bell museum, island monastery - you'll see all this tomorrow, but for now it's time to rest.