**Kurgan - Chimeevo - Kargopolye - Isetskoe - Yalutorovsk** Be inspired by the ancient and not only history of the Trans-Urals! See miraculous and obroshchenie icons, visit archeological excavations, find out what the Decembrists were like in exile and how they changed the Trans-Urals. Learn how to make national dolls, drink Russian tea and try the real loaf, and, of course, enjoy the picturesque views! There are 2 activities in the itinerary (Russian tea drinking and a master class on making folk dolls), which must be booked in advance. **Tour features:** - Unique places for history lovers; - Lots of hiking in the historic center of the cities; - The itinerary is ideal for travel Friday through Sunday, but it can also be done with a Tuesday through Thursday start; - There are 2 activities that need to be booked in advance; **Recommendations:** - Don't forget SPF sunscreen if you like to walk outdoors; - Bring swimming gear if the weather is hot; -Carry covered clothing for temple visits.
Today there will be a lot of churches, you will see miracle-working Mother of God Chimeyevskaya, visit Russian tea-party or try Russian loaf at the manor "Russian hut", "zero in" at the "zero kilometer" of Kurgan and see fire-pit, built in XIX century. And in the evening you'll have a Mexican-style dinner. Excursions and master classes in the "Russian hut" manor should be booked in advance.
Get out early, today will be a busy day and a lot of churches, monasteries and cathedrals, as well as Russian tea with loaf and a working fire tower of the XIX century.
Once in this small temple there were full-length icons and a huge iconostasis. But in times of oppression of Orthodoxy - beautiful decorations died. But the feeling of coziness remained and it's worth a look in this church.
This monastery is one of the spiritual centers of the Urals and Trans-Urals. The miracle-working icon of the Kazan Mother of God of the 18th century is kept here. According to legend, once it simply sailed into the village on the river Niyap. Rumors of the miracle began to spread around and attract pilgrims. At the monastery there is a holy spring with a font, where you can draw water and refresh yourself on a hot day, as well as a shop with delicious baked goods. Don't forget to buy pastries for the road - lunch will be late today!
On the way to the next point of the trip you can admire the ornate church built in 1821.
An interactive museum in a real hut from 1922 is the best way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient village life. Here you will learn how to weave brooms, weave and matchmaking according to the Russian traditions, carry a yoke and mow the grass. You can visit the bath day, learn about the traditions of Russian tea drinking and try the real loaf. Choose the theatrical tour according to your taste and don't forget to sign up for it in advance on [website](http://rusizba45.ru/).
The stella at the entrance to the city hints explicitly that you are in Barrow!
The first thing you should do is go to a cozy city café for lunch. It offers delicious soups, hot drinks and desserts.
"Kilometer Zero" is a reference point for all Kurgan roads. The monument in the form of a bronze figure of the postman at the milepost was opened during the celebration of the 333rd anniversary of the city in 2012.
Do you want to learn more about the history of Kurgan and the prominent natives of this city? Then be sure to check out the local Museum of Local Lore. The museum even has its own Kunstkammer. Not as large-scale as in St. Petersburg, but very interesting.
This majestic brick building from the beginning of the XX century is one of the two main cathedrals of the Kurgan diocese and a favorite temple of the citizens. Inside there is a reliquary with a part of the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky. By the way, in 2018 the shrine was almost stolen - the thief was caught up already in the city garden.
Go for a leisurely stroll through the centre of Kurgan. On Sovetskaya Street you will find several pretty nooks, one of them is Baron Rosen's park-square. Decembrist Andrew Rosen came here with his family in 1833 and struck a blow to gardening: he bred and planted new varieties of ornamental and fruit trees, broke the flower beds. Locals turned to him for seeds and gardening advice and they still look after the historic garden today.
The composition "Girlfriends", better known to the citizens of Kurgan as "Reading Girls", is the only example of garden sculpture in the city. The plaster figures of girls in the 1950s were made by sculptor Anatoly Kozyrev: according to the urban legend, he used two real-life residents of the city at that time as models.
Surprisingly, this fire tower of the XIX century - an outstanding monument of architecture of the XIX century and a symbol of the city - is still used for its intended purpose. The wooden structure, 27 meters high, stands on the building of the fire station, where the fire department No. 9 of the city of Kurgan is located.
Corner of Mexico in Kurgan. The colorful tavern is located in the building of a shop of the end of the XIX century. Here they masterfully prepare Mexican and European cuisine, and the chefs don't mind experimenting with the ingredients.
Today you'll learn what obroshchie icons and shashmura are, see cave paintings and learn about the customs of ancient tribes that lived in the Bronze and Iron Ages.
After breakfast, arrange to leave your car in the hotel car park - you'll have a walking tour of the city before lunch.
On a hill with a wonderful view of the Tobol River stands one of the most beautiful cathedrals of Trans-Urals - Bogoyavlensky. Looking at it, it's hard to believe that this temple was built in the XXI century. And that's because it is almost an exact copy of the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist of the XVII century in Uglich.
Stop by and visit another famous Decembrist, Wilhelm Küchelbecker. The poet, public figure, and close friend of Pushkin lived here with his family from 1845 to 1846. The wooden house has been recently restored, filled with authentic documents and things, and now it looks as if it was during the Decembrist's life.
In the period from 1830 to 1857 in Kurgan 13 Decembrists lived: the museum is located in the house of one of them - Mikhail Naryshkin. He lived here with his wife Elizaveta: the former maid of honor of the Empress was the first of the Decembrists' wives to obtain permission to follow her husband into exile. In the 1830s it was one of the city's richest houses, where the Decembrists and local intellectuals met. Now the museum has restored the interiors of the rooms, collected documents and artefacts of the time.
Now it's time for lunch. The restaurant has a great selection of meat dishes and a good wine list. After eating, take a walk to the hotel where the car is parked - time to move on!
A museum with a rich collection of paintings by Ural (and not only) masters. Check [website](http://xn--j1aef2a.xn--p1ai/) to see if there's an interesting art exhibition going on right now - there are some interesting temporary exhibitions.
And the car needs a refresher once in a while.
Do you know what "dvoedane", "obroschen icons", "shashmura" and "lestovka" are? Probably not, but you can find out in this museum. They will tell you about the local people, the history of Old Believers and the customs of the primitive tribes who lived in the area in ancient times.
Cafe IQ is one of the best in Yalutorovsk. Visitors love it for its delicious pasta and pizza.
Today you will visit Decembrists, will admire "Siberian baroque", will learn how to make folk dolls and mould pots, will look at real tent and will try Siberian cuisine. Master-classes in Yalutorovskiy ostrog must be booked in advance.
Leave your car at the hotel car park and go exploring the town of Yalutorovsk.
The museum complex of Yalutorovsk consists of the local history museum, the historical and memorial museum, the nature museum and the museum "Trading rows" - all of them are interesting in their own way. The local history museum is a real repository of time: here you will learn how about 10 000 years ago in these lands appeared the first settlements of fishermen and hunters, you will see the household objects of ancient people and will hear a story about the first industrial enterprise of the city. Spoiler alert: it was a five-storey steam mill!
Yalutorovsk was one of the largest settlements of Decembrists. They were active and not indifferent people, so they actively developed the town during their exile. One of the few surviving houses of that time belonged to the famous Decembrist Muravyov-Apostol, now there is a museum with three memorial rooms - a hall, the master's study and a living room. You must come here to see how the disgraced noblemen lived in the middle of the 19th century.
Now that you know the history of this city and the role of the Decembrists in it, find out how industry and trade developed in this area. The museum building itself deserves special attention: it is located in a former 19th-century complex of warehouses, commercial and residential buildings, which were used for selling, storing goods, and accommodating visiting merchants.
The cathedral was built in 1837 in the architectural style called "Siberian Baroque". The two-story stone church featured a wonderful facade decor and an abundance of patterns, but in 1931 it was blown up and dismantled for bricks. What do you see now? The cathedral was restored in the early XXI century from old photographs, and now it is once again proudly towering above the Tobol River.
In the ostrog you can see a piece of archaeological excavation, experience rustic life and take part in traditional folk entertainments. In the craft workshops you can try making a rag doll, moulding a pot or weaving a canvas. Are you looking for something more active? Try archery, chopping wood and running with a cleaver. See a list of all the activities on [website](http://ostrog-yal.ru) and be sure to book in advance!
Go back to the hotel for lunch. On the menu of the lobby cafe you can find both traditional Russian dishes, such as pike-perch cutlets, and European cuisine. After lunch, pick up your car from the car park and head back.
If you've never seen a tent or thrown a spear, don't miss your chance to do so at the open-air historical and ethnographic museum.
At the end of the trip, stop by the museum-restaurant "Chum" for dinner - by the way, it is included in the list of "The best restaurants outside the two capitals" according to the international travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller. There is an atmospheric interior, live music in the evenings, and, of course, Siberian cuisine made of local products is served here.