Exactly two hours by the highway M8 "Kholmogory" and you are in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Pereslavl is one of the cities of "Golden ring", the place of birth of Alexander Nevskiy and the place of the Russian fleet (the first flotilla was built by Peter I on the lake Pleshcheevo). One of the most ancient temples in the country - Transfiguration cathedral of the XII century, several monasteries (including acting ones), city ramparts of the XII century and a lot of other interesting things, it will suffice for a weekend!
On the first day, barely arriving, enjoy the panorama of the town and lake, then head to the farm with a stop at Blue Stone. A thousand years ago on the shores of Lake Pleshcheyevo the Slavs were weaned from paganism, converting the ancient inhabitants of these places to Orthodoxy.
Enter Pereslavl and turn from Moskovskaya street to Goritsky Assumption Monastery. Climb the belltower of Epiphany church or monastery walls and look around: you will see both the town and the lake Pleshcheyevo. There are no many-storeyed houses in Pereslavl, the panorama of the town almost has not changed since pre-revolutionary times - all the same belfries and the white field of ice lake. At the territory of the monastery the bust of Jury Dolgorukiy, the founder of the town, is established. If you look closely you will discover that the bust exactly repeats the upper part of the monument standing on the Moscow Tverskaya Square.
Then go to the functioning Nikitsky Monastery, one of the oldest in Russia. The nuns of the monastery believe that the first church (from which everything started) was founded in XI century, in the pre-Mongolian times. Nevertheless, the oldest building of the modern monastery is the Nikitsky Cathedral of the mid-16th century (it has been restored recently). By the way, Nikitsky Monastery is depicted on Prokudin-Gorsky's photos. In principle, for more than a hundred years the overall appearance of the monastery has not changed.
Let's look at the Blue stone, the ritual pagan 12-ton stone lying near the lake Plescheyevo.
And now, having had a good freeze in search of a stone, you can (if the car has high ground clearance and good winter tires) drive to the village of Knyazhevo to visit the Akimov family. Boris, the head of the family, used to be the founder of the cooperative "Lavka Lavka", now he has a farm (look at the shaggy mangalitsa pigs!) and a restaurant, where his wife Olga is the chef, and her sons and daughters help her in the kitchen and in the hall. Just make an appointment in advance! They take visitors on Friday from 16.00, on Saturday from 14.00, and places for each day are limited. +79670276579 - Olga. **[Farm Website](http://happypeople.group/knyazhevo?utm_source=website&utm_medium=roadtrip&utm_campaign=road.travel)**
Pereslavl Azimut - it is a huge wooden chalet and three dozen different cottages, built on the project, created in the studio of Totan Kuzembaev, the best Russian architect, working with wood. The cottages have several bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and the rooms lead to a double-height living room, from which you can reach a yard with a playground and a barbeque. The hotel has a spa and a very good restaurant. **[Book a room at the hotel](https://www.booking.com/hotel/ru/azimut-pereslavl.en-gb.html?aid=1175344;sid=73e1de8cb5c535eab4ef8c54117448db;all_sr_blocks=378271702_120593050_0_42_0;checkin=2021-02-13;checkout=2021-02-14;dest_id=-2979931;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=378271702_120593050_0_42_0;hpos=1;no_rooms=1;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;sr_pri_blocks=378271702_120593050_0_42_0__283500;srepoch=1612198535;srpvid=f80a7703db0a01cc;type=total;ucfs=1&)**
After having breakfast at the hotel and having examined the art objects in its territory, we will drive back to Pereslavl, we will see the oldest in the central part of Russia white-stone temple, the town ramparts of the XII century and the "Fortune".
Park in People's Square, there's plenty of room. Have a coffee at the café "Vysoko", then walk along the Trubezh River along the embankment ramparts preserved since the XII century.
Along the rampart you will reach the Spaso-Preobrazhensky cathedral: one of few preserved in Russia pre-Mongolian temples. By the way, Alexander Nevskiy, the native of Pereslavl, was christened in it. The cathedral is opened for visiting only from May for September and in not rainy weather. It is possible to see it from outside at any time of year.
In the Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God of the Purification there is an exhibition hall where you can see and buy pretty good pictures of local artists.
On the first day we had a walk on the territory of the Goritsky Assumption Monastery. Today - visit to the museum part. At the moment the following expositions and exhibitions are open for visiting: ["Wooden sculpture and carving XVI-XIX centuries"](http://museumpereslavl.ru/ru/museum/exhibit/detail/1bc9086e-9d8c-11e5-90fb-55a88fa2d635/) ["The Art of the Russian Village"](http://museumpereslavl.ru/ru/museum/exhibit/detail/44461b1b-9d8e-11e5-90fb-55a88fa2d635/) ["Красной нитью"](http://museumpereslavl.ru/ru/museum/exhibit/detail/63c665c6-6290-11e9-92ec-55a88fa2d635/) ["The Beagle sets sail" Amazing World of Nature of Zalessky Krai](http://museumpereslavl.ru/ru/museum/exhibit/detail/f7a95b05-9cd0-11e5-90fb-55a88fa2d635/) ["The Edge of War"](http://museumpereslavl.ru/ru/museum/exhibit/detail/45ca23c5-9d83-11e5-90fb-55a88fa2d635/) [Decorative and applied art XVI-XIX c.c. "Riznitsa"](http://museumpereslavl.ru/ru/museum/exhibit/detail/0f8b96d0-9da1-11e5-90fb-55a88fa2d635/) ["Wreath to the manor houses"](http://museumpereslavl.ru/ru/museum/exhibit/detail/5809b01f-9d81-11e5-90fb-55a88fa2d635/)
Further on - lunch at "Popov meadow" tavern.
The last place of the route is the estate "Botik of Peter the Great", the boat "Fortuna" from the poteshnaya flotilla is kept there. *You can leave your car on the opposite side of the street - in the parking lot of the Botik Café.
And home to Moscow!