The Valdai land is perhaps one of the most picturesque areas of the middle belt of Russia. Local areas are buried with picturesque ponds and thick green forests. This is a favourite place for recreation and everyone will find entertainment here: bathhouse, fishing, cycling, wakeboarding and much more. In addition, it is one of the oldest regions where trade and handicrafts were born centuries ago, the surrounding towns and settlements are imbued with centuries-old history. Your family will love this route as it includes several thematic museums, famous estates, historical sites and natural sites.
The first day of the trip, like a brisk start, will fill you with vivid emotions and give a wonderful feeling of rest. You will paint in the manor house, take whimsical pictures with toys and admire the beauty of architecture.
One of the most famous owners of the estate was artistic and theatrical figure SI Mamontov. In his presence, such famous personalities as: Polenov, Vasnetsov, Repin, Serov, Vrubel and other artists, musicians, actors. Here they created works of architecture, fine and decorative art, collected items of peasant life, staged and decorated amateur performances. The museum offers a variety of creative programs for children of different ages. They consist of a sightseeing part and a creative task. Operation mode: Wednesday-Sunday - 10:00-17:00, Monday and Tuesday are weekends.
Welcome to the restaurant with a magnificent view of the ponds and Sergiev Lavra. Here you will be very comfortable with children, as they have many sofas. Make sure you try cheesecake for dessert.
When you come to this museum, you will get a lot of good impressions, it will be very interesting for both children and adults. For those who want to "stretch their brains a little" there is an interesting quest "Toy Factory". You will be able to visit the room of soap bubbles, ribbon maze and make a lot of unusual pictures as a memory. The museum office is open from 10:00 to 17:00, Visit to the museum from 10:00 to 17:30, Weekend: Monday and Tuesday. The last Friday of each month is a health day.
The Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra is a monastery founded in the XIV century by St. Sergius of Radonezh. Here you can order a sightseeing tour with a visit to the three main cathedrals. Experienced guides will acquaint you with the shrines, architecture and sights of the monastery. Children will surely enjoy the educational programs "Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra through the eyes of a child" and "The army of Russia and the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra".
The day was full of emotions and impressions! It's time for dinner and a well-deserved rest in a cozy grill bar. There is a children's playroom for nebrows. Be sure to order the dishes cooked on the grill.
In the first half of the day you will visit the city of Klin and such interesting places as: the Museum of Christmas Toy, which was opened at the factory for glass blowing and the legendary house-museum of PI Tchaikovsky. In the afternoon you will break away from civilization and get into a real forest fairy tale.
The museum consists of 12 halls and two production and painting workshops, which will tell you about the origin and development of the glass industry in Klinska Land. You will have the opportunity to see a world with a rich history of Christmas tree toys and watch the difficult work of master glass blowers and painters. Opening time: Tuesday - Sunday from 09:00-17:00, Monday afternoon off
The Tchaikovsky House Museum is one of the oldest memorial museums in the world. The Memorial House - the heart of the museum, its appearance and interior decoration, as well as the old park and manor buildings that make up the whole - all together recreates the color of the era, its atmosphere. When you're here, you'll immerse yourself in the history of such a great man. Opening hours: all days from 10:00 to 18:00, except Wednesday and Thursday.
It's time to plunge into Georgian culture and taste colorful and nourishing dishes. Be sure to order khinkali, a specialty of the restaurant.
It is a protected natural area with the status of a national park and is a national treasure. It is located in the Tver and Moscow Regions, in the Upper Volga lowland. In the XVI century there was a hunting hut of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. In 1920s Lenin liked to come to these forests for spring hunting. Feel the silence and calmness, forget about crowded places, city traffic and noise of the city. It's time to relax and enjoy the splendor of nature.
The monument to the legendary "Katyusha" is located at the turn to Konakovo. It is a monument to the soldiers of the 185th Infantry Division.
This is the place where you will have a magnificent view of the river and enjoy the gastronomic delights of the prepared dishes. The menu offers Italian cuisine. Note the risotto with seafood.
The journey continues, and today it will be dedicated to acquaintance with the city of Tver. The age of the city is at least from the end of XII century, the first mention in the chronicles around 1208-1209. For centuries, the city has experienced ups and downs, complete destruction and revival, but still survived and continues to thrive. Tver is located on the Upper Volga, at the confluence of the rivers Tvertsa and Tmaka, in the forest zone.
Make a stop on Sovetskaya Square and take a couple of photos as a memory. Here you will see the monument to Mikhail Tverskiy - the great Tverskiy prince.
The palace was built in the second half of the XVIII century. The luxurious mansion was erected on the square in the central part of the city. The St. Petersburg Trakt, connecting the northern capital with Moscow, passed through Tver. The Empress Catherine the Great herself also used the high state ranks. So it was decided to build a small palace here, where you can comfortably rest and spend the night after a long journey. Hence the name of the palace - track. Working hours: Wednesday-Sunday - from 11:00 to 18:00, Friday - until 20:00. The cash desk closes an hour before the end of the museum. Tuesday - reception of excursion groups by appointment, Monday's the day off.
Take a memory photo with Mikhail Krug.
It's an American family-style cafe. Here you can try such hits as: sandwiches, punkies, eggs and bacon, waffles and much more. There's a huge selection of coffee for lovers. The chip of this place is too tasty and large portions of desserts. Notice the raspberry Napoleon.
Tverians in the old days were called "Tver goats", and there are several versions of the origin of the nickname, through which the goat became one of the symbols of Tver. This is where you learn about them. The collection of the museum has grown to 4000 exhibits: images of goats from all over the world, "goat" coats of arms, flags, toys, coins, masks and souvenirs, as well as stories about goats and everything associated with them. The museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00, on Sunday from 12:00 to 21:00, Monday is a day off.
There's a gas station coming up. If you are tired, make a comfortable stop - come for a coffee!
The women's monastery was founded in the late 19th century. The ensemble includes the Kazan Cathedral, St. Andrew's Cathedral, the Church of St. Cyril and St. Neonila, the Chapel of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, the overhead chapel and a number of household buildings.
You must be pretty hungry after such a long road. This restaurant has a very tasty home-cooked meal, you'll love it.
Valdai is an amazingly beautiful place between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Here, on the shore of a large forest lake Valdayskoye is located the ancient town of Valday with its picturesque surroundings. Feel the peace and quiet, forget about the crowded places, city traffic and noise of the city. It's time to relax and enjoy the splendour of nature.
It is an Orthodox monastery of the Novgorod region, standing on the Selvitsky Island in Lake Valdai. The monastery has an ancient history: it was built by the will and efforts of Patriarch Nikon. The antiquity of the temples and the beauty of the local nature annually attract a large number of tourists and pilgrims to the monastery. Be sure to climb the observation deck.
Where did they come from when the bells came in? How were they born and how long do they live? Here you will find the answers to all these questions. Valday's bells are one of the brands. The art of casting bells has long made the city famous, so it's no wonder that the Valdai has a chic bell museum. Here you can learn about their history, listen to the chimes and learn a lot of interesting things. Operation mode: 10:00-18:00. Weekend is Tuesday. Sanitary day - the last Wednesday of the month.
Wonderful restaurant with a chic selection of fresh fish dishes. In warm seasons there is a terrace with stunning views of the Valdai nature.
The Valdai National Park has eco-trails that allow you to see the pristine nature without damaging it. Depending on the route, you can walk, bike ride or go on a real hike in Valday.
Fresh food, great lake view and courteous staff - all these are the main ingredients of your wonderful dinner, enjoy! Visitors recommend tasting dishes cooked on open fire.
Seliger is a magical lake country and a popular resort. Seliger is usually called a lake, but in reality it is a grand hydrosystem made up of endless blue pluses and small bodies of water, rivers, large and miniature islands connected by straits and canals. Travelers go to these regions, similar to illustrations of Russian fairy tales, to relax in the bosom of wondrous nature, to see curious historical sights, to visit holy places associated with the names of famous ascetics.
The monastery was founded in 1594 and received the name of the Nilov desert on behalf of St. Nil. It is located on the island Stolobnyj picturesque Lake Seliger. An interesting fact is that originally the project of this cathedral was developed as a project of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, but it was not accepted in the capital, and, failing as St. Isaac's on the banks of the Neva River, the temple was realized as Epiphany on the banks of Seliger. Be sure to climb up to the observation deck.
It's time for lunch and some rest before visiting the national park. It serves a beautiful borscht and has a playroom for little guests.
You have to spend time in silence and unity with nature. Take your time anywhere, find your ideal place and just be in the moment. If you're lucky with the weather, be sure to take a swim. Dream of the beautiful and go on to adventure.
It was such a busy day that it was time for dinner. Rest after the road and have a good meal. Restaurant offers European and Russian cuisine.
And here comes the final day of the journey. On the way home you'll have to look into Volokolamsk and admire its ancient Kremlin. In front of you will be a memorial to the heroes of Panfilov. In Istra you will find a contact zoo where you can feed, pet and embrace animals.
Volokolamsk products are very well known in these regions. Buy different products with you on the road.
It is a monument of culture, history and architecture that dates back to the XI century (and human settlements can be traced back to the I millennium BC). Here stands one of the oldest temples of Moscow Russia - Resurrection Cathedral of the XV century. Architectural ensemble of the Kremlin includes: Resurrection Cathedral, St. Nicholas Cathedral in memory of those killed in the Crimean War, the bell tower of the Resurrection Cathedral, a fence with towers and chapel and the Church of the Nativity of Christ. The St. Nicholas Cathedral is home to a local history museum. Mode of operation:. Tuesday through Friday 9:00-17:00; Saturday and Sunday 10:00-17:00.
On the top of the hill there are figures representing the soldiers of six nationalities who fought in the division of General Panfilov. Monuments are impersonal. This is a collective image of those people who died here in the name of their Fatherland. The heads of the statues were turned to the west, from where the enemy tanks appeared on November 16, 1941. The memorial complex itself is located so that behind the backs of the figures was the capital, which they defended at the cost of their lives.
You will be very pleasantly surprised by the delicious homemade food and friendly atmosphere.
When you enter the zoo you will get a glass of fresh vegetables to feed your animals. Here you can pet animals and take pictures with them. There is a children's playground and a cozy cafe in the open air. Get positive emotions. It's opening time: Summer period (May-September): Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00, Monday is a day off. Winter period (October - April): Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, Monday's a day off.
The temple is a gorgeous pearl of these places, built in traditional Russian style. From afar, the view of the temple pleases the eye: a high bell tower, silver domes crowning the temple, the building itself, built of red brick at the junction of centuries. You will always remember this beautiful place with running small rivers, thick forests, deep ravines and hills.
It's time for the long-awaited dinner! Try the seabass with the vegetables, they say it's very tasty. Sum up this trip and spend the sun watching nature fall asleep around you.