Five most attractive villages in Russia. How the most beautiful village in Russia lives Villages in the mountains of Russia
The Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Russia was created several years ago with the aim of developing tourism, preserving national heritage and original architecture in rural areas. As a result of several competitions and competitions, the Association was replenished with picturesque villages from different parts of the country, and some of them managed to get into the guide to the most beautiful villages. We have highlighted the most striking of them and hasten to tell you about their history, attractions and geographical location.
Vyatskoe
Vyatskoye is an ancient village located in middle lane Russia, namely in Yaroslavl region on the Ukhtanka River. This place was the first to be included in the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in 2015. The history of the village begins in the distant 16th century: in the early days of its existence, Vyatskoye became famous as the patrimony of the patriarch. Later the village was known as a place of cucumber fishing, large fairs and bazaars. IN this moment the place is more like a vast museum complex, attracting thousands of tourists at any time of the year. Preserved houses and architectural buildings of the 18th century, the presence of a dozen museums and amazingly beautiful nature make Vyatskoye extremely attractive. For the convenience of tourists, there are several hotels, restaurants and even a cinema and concert hall, and thanks to its close location to Yaroslavl, the flow of people wanting to see Vyatskoye does not dry out. A number of festivals and traditional events are held here annually: Harvest Day, Red Hill, Russian Wreath Festival, and the “Province - Soul of Russia” festival. The historical and cultural complex of Vyatsky was recognized as the best in Russia, and the village has more than once become the winner of many national and state awards.
Not every city can boast as many museums as the village of Vyatskoye: at the moment there are ten of them. Some of them attract attention with their extraordinary themes and intriguing names: on the territory of the village there is a museum of angels, a museum of love stories, a museum of Russian entrepreneurship, “Russian Bathhouse in Black” and other fancy museums. In addition to the museum complex, there are several active churches in Vyatskoye. In addition to architectural attractions, the village is famous for several healing drinking springs, and its area is recognized as the most environmentally friendly in the region.
How to get there?
Vyatskoye is located in the Nekrasovsky district of the Yaroslavl region. The distance from Yaroslavl is only 30 kilometers along a straight road. Travel time by car will be 40 minutes. Buses leave from Yaroslavl daily. The current schedule of buses and minibuses can be easily checked on the official website.
Photo source: kulturologia.ru
Desyatnikovo
Following famous place with a developed ethnoculture - the Old Believer village of Desyatnikovo. Thanks to its preserved architecture, way of life and local traditions, the village was included in the UNESCO list. The first mentions of it refer to XVIII century. Desyatnikovo is located in Buryatia, a few kilometers from the regional center - the large village of Tarbagatai. Desyatnikovo joined the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in 2016. The architecture of the village is unique: historically, the Old Believers exiled here several centuries ago gathered in one place the culture of several peoples, which mixed with local traditions. Desyatnikovo differs from other settlements in its unusually bright wooden buildings. Information about the architectural features of the village of Desyatnikovo is available here.
Main attractions
Each house in the village is a local pride and landmark due to its unique painting method both inside and outside, construction method and preserved customs. Another important object cultural heritage in Desyatnikovo there is a functioning St. Nicholas Church.
How to get there?
From the capital of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, to Desyatnikovo along the federal highway “Baikal” you will have to cover about 60 kilometers and 11 kilometers from the regional center of Tarbagatai. You can get there from Ulan-Ude by minibus.
Kiltsa
The village of Kiltsa is a picturesque place known since the 17th century. It is located in the Mezensky district of the Arkhangelsk region at the mouth of the river of the same name. Kilza belongs to the Arctic zone of the country and was officially included in the Association of Beautiful Villages quite recently due to the preserved hundred-year-old wooden buildings, the traditional way of life of the local residents and the presence of fabulous nature around. Any residential building is an indicator of the skill of northern architects.
Main attractions
Kilca is primarily known for its votive crosses, which can be seen at the entrance to the village. It was customary to place votive crosses on any occasion, both happy and sad. The indigenous people have a special attitude towards them - it has long been believed that placing a votive cross is the strongest amulet against misfortune. In addition, Kiltsa became famous for its incomparable architectural style, characteristic of northern rural settlements: every residential building, decorated with patterned platbands and carved balconies, is a work of folk art.
How to get there?
Kiltsa is connected by road to the village of Kimzha, also part of the Beautiful Villages Association. This place is quite inaccessible. The nearest highway is 12 kilometers away along the winter road; in summer it is not easy to get there by car. At the moment, the administration is faced with the issue of building a road to develop tourism. The place belongs to a rural settlement, the center of which is the village of Kozmogorskoye. Map and additional information about geographical location available at the link.
Photo source: krasaderevni.ru
Kimzha
Another village, Kimzha, is no less famous in the Arkhangelsk region. Just like neighboring Kiltsa, the village is located in the Mezensky district. Kimzha joined the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in 2017 and immediately took an honorable first place in this list. It has been known since the 16th century, and the permanent population of this Arctic village is very small - no more than a hundred people. Each house in the settlement, like a living museum exhibit and keeper of history, is of great interest to visiting tourists. For those who are interested in folklore and customs of indigenous peoples, Kimzha is a real treasure: the local population strictly observes traditions, celebrates events according to the canons, sings carols at Christmas and gathers folk choirs for the holidays. But according to one of the folk legends, local settlers have the gift of divination and witchcraft, for this reason residents of neighboring areas still call them blacktropes. Until the middle of the last century, paganism and Old Believers were widespread in Kimzha, which left their mark on the modern way of life. The main and important activities of the local population are hunting, fishing, and berry picking.
Main attractions
The visiting card of the village is the museum complex “The Northernmost Mills in the World”. One of these mills is currently functioning, the other is the Northern Mills Museum. These two mills were built at the end of the 19th century and are monuments of regional importance. Odigitrievskaya Church is the only local landmark of the Mezen type of construction, preserved from the beginning of the 18th century.
How to get there?
From Arkhangelsk to Kimzhi 350 kilometers. You can get there at any time of the year by plane; in the summer, ferries ply along the Mezen River. It will be easiest for motorists to drive along scenic road Arkhangelsk-Belogorsky-Pinega-Kimzha. By official version, public transport does not operate in this area, but there are private transportations from Arkhangelsk. Detailed information You can find information on how to get to the place on the website of the village of Kimzha.
Photo source: tourinfo.ru
Oshevensky Pogost
The Arkhangelsk region can be proud of the presence of many ancient settlements with preserved ethnoculture: another village located on the Churiega River in the Kargopol district of the region and accepted into the Association of Beautiful Villages - Oshevensky Pogost. It is no coincidence that the village was included in this list: some architectural structures have been preserved here since the 15th century, and local residents still observe rituals inherent to this place. Tourists come here to see local traditions: watch how ritual cookies are baked, learn how to bake pies, go to a real black bath and try out ancient spinning wheels. Master classes are held especially for visitors, and you can stay in a guest house.
Main attractions
The current Holy Dormition Alexander-Oshevensky monastery, located at the entrance to the village, is a national pride. An attractive building with an octagonal dome, the Church of the Epiphany has existed since the 18th century and is also famous for its painted ceiling. Detailed history villages is available at the link.
How to get there?
The settlement of Oshevensky Pogost is located 45 kilometers from Kargopol. You can get there by road from Kargopol by car.
Photo source: korsar-travel.ru
Kinerma
The Karelian settlement of Kinerma is a real original village, where the rural way of life is still actively supported. The first mention of the village dates back to the 16th century. Kinerma was burned by Swedish troops and restored, destroyed by Polish-Lithuanian troops, but still retained its original appearance to this day. Kinerma was admitted to the Association of Beautiful Villages in 2016, which caused a huge flow of tourists to the village and its surroundings. Most of the surviving residential buildings recognized as architectural monuments. For all interested guests, master classes are held here with demonstrations of folk crafts and the preparation of traditional dishes.
Main attractions
The Chapel of Our Lady of Smolensk with an iconostasis, operating since the 18th century, is the main local attraction. The village has an ethnocultural center in a restored historical barn with traditional hedges, a well and a black sauna. A significant part of the attractions are the oldest residential buildings. You will see detailed information about services and attractions in
An endless ribbon of Russian roads winds under the wheels, and Russian villages stretch along it, appearing and disappearing. Villages are almost disappearing, having lost their identity and hospitality. Somewhere they look at you with empty windows, somewhere they gape like ashes, somewhere they bristle with high, hopeless fences. Like abandoned old people who have no one to help. My heart aches when I look at them. Where did the open carved shutters, the willow fence and the good-natured grandmothers on the rubble go?
For real beautiful villages in Russia There are not very many left, they are painstakingly collected and numbered by specialists from historical and conservation organizations in order to carefully preserve the remaining crumbs. Today there are a little more than a dozen on the list of “not yet lost” ones. Each of them is interesting from the point of view of history, architecture, and traditional way of life. Each will leave a mark on the heart after visiting.
So, the most beautiful villages in Russia:
The most colorful villages
Village Desyatnikovo. Buryatia. The first mention was in 1746.
The village of Desyatnikovo consists of five streets.
Currently, 778 people live in the village of Desyatnikovo.
The village of Desyatnikovo is located near the Selenga River.
Village of Atsagat. This word translated from the Buryat language means “stone”.
There are about 100 households in the village of Atsagat.
Atsagat datsan. Founded in 1825.
The village of Tarbagatai is one of the largest Old Believer villages in Transbaikalia.
The village of Tarbagatai is located along the Kuitunka River (the right tributary of the Selenga)
The village of Tarbagatai was founded in the 1710s.
The village of Bolshoy Kunaley was founded in 1765.
The name of the village of Kunaley is “hunilla”, which translated from Buryat means “assembly” or “fold”.
The village of Kunaley preserves the identity, culture and traditions of its ancestors.
Lost among the mountains and meadows with fragrant herbs, very similar to each other and not at all similar, there are four villages in Buryatia, located approximately at the same distance to the east and south of Ulan-Ude.Desyatnikovo, Atsagat, Tarbagatai and Bolshoi Kunaley. Almost all the buildings in these villages are painted on the outside with bright colors: red, orange and blue, and the interior walls, furniture and even ceilings are painted even more brightly. Such traditional decoration was very typical for wealthy peasant houses. Traditional folk costumes are no less colorful; one gets the impression that these villages are home to the most cheerful people in the world who do not want to part with their childhood. Meanwhiletraditional culture of Tarbagatai villagewas declared a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO. And the village of Atsagat is also one of the religious centers of the region. Back in 1825, a datsan was built here, raising more than one generation of lamas. And local herbs can be found even in atlases of Tibetan medicine.
The oldest villages
The village of Staraya Ladoga was founded in 753.
Until 1703 Ladoga was a city.
According to the Novgorod Chronicle, the grave of Prophetic Oleg is located in Ladoga (according to the Kyiv version, his grave is located in Kyiv on Mount Shchekovitsa).
When the daughter of the Swedish king Olaf Shotkonung, Princess Ingigerda, married the Novgorod prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1019, she received the city of Aldeigyuborg (Old Ladoga) with adjacent lands as a dowry (veno), which has since received the name Ingermanlandia (land of Ingegerda).
Afanasyevskaya Church in Varzuga.
Temple of the Assumption Holy Mother of God in Varzuga.
The main source of income for the local population at all times was the sale of salmon caught in the Varzuga River.
Perhaps it was the harsh northern weather, frosts, winds and ice that contributed to the fact thatthe most ancient villages in Russialocated in the north-west, in the Leningrad and Murmansk regions: Staraya Ladoga and Varzuga. Let’s not argue about who is older; we’ll leave it to the experts; the history of both of them goes back more than 600 years. , which stands on the Volkhov River, is considered the starting point of the great journey “from the Varangians to the Greeks”; one of the three Varangian brothers called to Rus' ruled here. She was the biggest shopping center even before Novgorod, and the walls of its fortress were stormed by the Swedes. It absorbed the entire culture of the North Russian peoples. stands on the banks of the river of the same name, which flows into the White Sea. Its main decorations are wooden churches, of which there are as many as five built here, built without a single nail, like many religious buildings of northern craftsmen. Was herePatriarchal House of the Solovetsky Monastery, therefore, the lands and springs around are holy. And the main trade of the local residents was salmon fishing and pearl mining, which the Varzuga River gave birth to.
The harshest villages
The first mention of Teriberka dates back to the 16th century.
The village received its name from the Teriberka river of the same name, the name of which, in turn, according to one version, goes back to the outdated name Kola Peninsula- Rub.
Until 1984, Teriberka had no road connections and could be reached either by sea or by helicopter.
The village of Esso received its name in 1932.
Almost the entire village of Esso is heated using natural geothermal waters.
The village of Esso is called “Kamchatka Switzerland”.
Every year in March, the international sled dog race “Beringia” starts from the village.
They are harsh not because of the characters of the local residents, but because they are located in such places that it is unclear how people can live here, and even build such beautiful villages. They are scattered on the two extreme sides of our country: on the Barents Sea and Esso on . Teriberka appeared on the Kola Peninsula back in the 16th century, but became very famous only now, after filming of the film "Leviathan". Here, in the tundra zone, where the cold sky meets the cold earth and is reflected in the cold water, there was a commercial whaling village. Today this village is beautiful, perhaps only because of its nature, because most of the infrastructure is abandoned and is in a very poor condition. It is the combination of the decline of civilization against the backdrop of harsh landscapes that makes this place eeriely beautiful. On the contrary, the village of Esso is full of health in the middle of snowy Kamchatka, because it is surrounded on all sides by hot thermal springs. Live here happy people who even manage to grow grapes in such a climate. And every year the most famous dog sled race.
The very first and the very last villages
The ancient merchant village of Vyatskoye is located in the Nekrasovsky district - one of the most environmentally friendly and historically significant areas of the Yaroslavl region.
The village of Vyatskoye was first mentioned in documentary sources in 1502 as the center of the metropolitan Vyatskaya volost.
The village of Vyatskoye is a unique urban complex of the 18th – 19th centuries with more than 50 registered architectural monuments, former merchant and peasant houses, tea and tavern establishments, and almshouses.
In the museums of the village of Vyatskoye there are interactive programs, such traditional holidays as Red Hill and Harvest Day are being revived, and new ones are being created - the Russian Wreath Festival and the Birthday of Peter Telushkin.
The first mention of Kinerma dates back to 1563.
In one of the books the village is called Samsonkovo Posidene. According to the scribe books, there were four farms in the village at that time.
Kinerma was bankrupt twice during the Russian wars with Sweden and Poland.
The literal translation of the name Kinerma sounds like precious land.
Not long ago, Russia joined a world association that is looking for the most beautiful villages in each country on earth. The main selection criteria: the village must be alive, and not museumized, no more than 2,000 inhabitants must live in it, and the rural way of life must be preserved. Each village found is solemnly awarded the honorary title of “Most Beautiful”, given a corresponding plaque, and a special inauguration ceremony is held. After which the village is included in the list of its own kind. There are only six officially recognized beautiful villages on Russian territory, but we must not forget that the list was opened only in 2015. The village, or rather the village, was recognized as the very first beautiful . Ancient merchant houses, almost each of which is an architectural monument, as well as ten museums of completely different types: from traditional to polytechnic. The last village to be included in the listin Karelia, whose inauguration took place on June 10, 2016. The village, which was included in the scribe books back in the 16th century, and began its history with four farms, now consists of only 16 ancient Karelian houses, the Chapel of the Smolensk Mother of God and five residents, two of whom have a family tree with local roots going back 500 years.
More than 40 small settlements are members of the Association of the most beautiful villages in Russia. The selection criteria are strict: these must be “living” villages (that is, not museums, but those in which people actually live) numbering up to 2,000 people, ensuring the preservation of the historical appearance of their buildings and being surrounded by an interesting landscape.
Association experts also consider it important to have authentic wooden sidewalks in combination with good road infrastructure in the village so that it is accessible to tourists.
1. Vyatskoye: An ancient merchant village
If you want to see a real merchant village, go to Vyatskoye. One and a half thousand people live here permanently, and all of them are simply in love with their village. It has perfectly preserved ancient buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, including a hotel, restaurant, and trading shop.
Anastasia Stepanova / Museumfest.ru
In addition, there are unique museums of everyday life, where you can see very rare objects. For example, the “Museum of Kitchen Equipment” displays egg cookers and toasters that were used back in the Russian Empire, and the Sounds of Time museum contains antique barrel organs and gramophones.
Anastasia Stepanova / Museumfest.ru
How to get there: from Yaroslavl by bus No. 123 (from the Cosmos shopping center). Travel time is 40 minutes.
2. Totma: City of Russian-American Friendship
Valentina Pevtsova/TASS
Medieval Totma is located in a very picturesque place, on the banks of the river of the same name. There is a legend that when Peter I came here for the first time, he said: “It’s not a city, it’s darkness,” and that’s where the name comes from. And today with It's worth coming here to see churches in the "Totem Baroque" style, as they are called: tall white temples decorated with lace ornaments.
Konstantin Kokoshkin/Global Look Press
Every year on July 26, the small town of Totma celebrates Russian America Day at the same time as Fort Ross in Northern California. It would seem, what is the connection between these places? It turns out that Fort Ross was founded by a native of Totma, Ivan Kuskov, who in 1808 led a sea voyage to the shores of Western America. In 1990, the house where Kuskov spent the last months of his life became a branch of a museum complex that houses documents and objects related to California intelligence. Today, residents of Totma and Fort Ross have a tradition of jointly ringing bells in the churches of Totma and Fort Ross, which is broadcast via video link.
How to get there: From Vologda by any bus towards Veliky Ustyug. Travel time is 4 hours.
3. Kimzha: Arctic village of the 16th century
It’s hard to imagine, but the Russian Arctic was inhabited 400 years ago. The Old Believer village of Kimzha in the Arkhangelsk region is a clear confirmation of this. Here every house is a treasure trove for a historian and a monument to northern wooden architecture. Almost all the houses in the village are over a hundred years old - and families still live in them.
Tourist information center of the Arkhangelsk region
In the village you can see not only residential buildings, but also the northernmost wooden mills in the world.
Tourist information center of the Arkhangelsk region
How to get there: from Arkhangelsk by car along the Arkhangelsk-Belogorsky-Pinega-Kimzha road. Distance - 350 km.
4. Oshevensky Pogost: Wooden churches of the 18th century
Pavel Kononov/Sputnik
In the Arkhangelsk region, a lot has been preserved wooden churches, but many of them are not in the best condition. It’s worth coming to Oshevensk to see northern wooden architecture with your own eyes. Particularly worth paying attention to is the Church of the Epiphany from 1787, one of the largest surviving wooden churches in Russia.
Vladimir Smirnov/TASS
Here you can also see old wooden houses. The village is small - only 70 people live here permanently, but tourists are always welcome in Oshevensk. Guests are told about local customs, shown a real Russian “black” bathhouse, and also taught traditional crafts.
Vladimir Smirnov/TASS
How to get there: from Arkhangelsk you first need to get to the city of Kargopol by bus No. 521 (travel time 8 hours), and then by bus to Oshevensk (travel time 1 hour).
5. Kinerma: Traditional Karelian village
Ilya Timin/Sputnik
Residents of Kinerma have still preserved their traditional way of life: they engage in agriculture, Karelian crafts - and are happy to share their knowledge with guests, and they also teach how to cook Karelian dishes.
Ilya Timin/Sputnik
In the village itself you can see a wooden chapel from the 18th century with a preserved iconostasis, as well as residential buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, which are already recognized as architectural monuments.
How to get there: from the Petrozavodsk bus station by bus towards Savinovo. Travel time is 2.5 hours.
6. Bolshoi Kunaley: Old Believer village in Buryatia
Visitburyatia.ru
Buryatia is a region where mostly Buddhists live, but not far from Ulan-Ude there is an ancient village of Old Believers. It was founded by the first 200 settlers in 1765, and to this day the descendants, more than a thousand of them, have preserved the rural way of life.
Visitburyatia.ru
The wooden houses of the local residents are especially impressive: bright, decorated with contrasting carved frames and unusual ornaments. You won't pass by!
How to get there: from the Ulan-Ude bus station by regular bus. Travel time is 2.5 hours.
7. Staraya Ladoga: The ancient capital of Northern Rus'
This is not only one of the most beautiful villages in Russia, but also one of the oldest! It was founded in the middle of the 8th century, and a stone fortress from the 9th century, as well as the St. George Church and the Assumption Cathedral from the mid-12th century have survived to this day.
Alexey Danichev/Sputnik
It is believed that in ancient times Staraya Ladoga was the capital of Rus'. According to legend, Prince Oleg the Prophet, who reigned at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries, is buried here, on the largest hill. Whether this is true or not is not known for certain, but the picturesque views Staraya Ladoga you will definitely like it.
Ruslan Shamukov/TASS
How to get there: from St. Petersburg to the city of Volkhov by train (2.5 hours), then by bus No. 23.
Association "The Most Beautiful Villages of Russia" unites rural settlements with outstanding historical, cultural and natural heritage in order to promoting the preservation and better use of this heritage, the development of rural tourism, the involvement of rural residents in the processes of self-development and increasing the attractiveness of rural areas. “Living” (not museumized) villages, villages, towns, villages, auls and other rural settlements with a population of no more than 2,000 people, which have preserved, at least in part, the rural way of life and have an expressed desire to develop in accordance with goals and objectives of the Association, observing its criteria (link).
Mission
Inspire people to love rural Russia!
Target
Preservation and effective use of rural cultural, historical and natural heritage, human potential of the village.
Tasks
- Creating positive examples of rural development based on a more comprehensive use of the existing recreational potential of the village.
- Creating preconditions for the development of rural settlements by increasing their visibility, increasing tourist attendance and, thus, promoting their sustainable development.
- Stimulating local initiatives and facilitating the emergence of new attractive jobs in rural areas, including for youth and women.
Team
The founder and president of the Association is Professor RGAU-MSHA named after. K.A. Timiryazeva, Doctor of Economics Merzlov Alexander Valerievich. The leadership of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of France and the French Embassy in Russia provides active assistance and support to the project. In addition, a team has been formed consisting of experts and practitioners of rural development, see.
Join the Association
Participants in the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Russia receive many opportunities for development.
Federation of the most beautiful villages of the World (Earth)
The Federation of the Most Beautiful Villages on Earth was created in 2003 and unites national associations that have existed for more than 5 years. Younger associations, including the Russian one, are associate members.
Cultural guides
Five most attractive villages in Russia
The Russian cultural heritage portal “Culture.RF” and the Perspektiva Foundation have developed a guide to rural tourism as part of the all-Russian campaign of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation #vacationinRussia. The tourist guide, designed to increase the popularity of rural tourism, includes tempting and unexpected routes.
1. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE. Vyatskoye (Yaroslavl region)
This Russian outback was in caring and loving hands. The village has not only its own website (no one will be surprised by this), but also a map of attractions, the ability to online book huts and even its own press center.
The ancient merchant village of Vyatskoye is located in the Nekrasovsky district - one of the most environmentally friendly and historically significant areas of the Yaroslavl region. You can easily get here by car from Yaroslavl, the journey will take less than an hour. What is special about Vyatsky and why was it recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in the country?
The village of Vyatskoye is a unique urban complex of the 18th–19th centuries with more than 50 registered architectural monuments, former merchant and peasant houses, tea and tavern establishments, and almshouses. There are 10 museums on its territory.
The festival “Province is the Soul of Russia” is held in Vyatskoye. During the festival, young musicians, artists, and sculptors come here.
In 2015, at the Intermuseum festival, the museum community recognized the historical and cultural complex “Vyatskoye” as the best museum of the year in Russia, awarding the Grand Prix of the international festival.
View of the village from the bell tower of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. Photo: krasaderevni.ru/villages/vyatskoe
Black bathhouses on the banks of the Ukhtomka River. Photo: krasaderevni.ru/villages/vyatskoe
Church of the Resurrection of Christ in autumn. Photo: krasaderevni.ru/villages/vyatskoe
2. THE MOST HISTORICAL AREA. Uvek ( Saratov region)
Few people know that in the Saratov region you can find objects from all historical eras: from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. These unique monuments make the region one of the richest in cultural and historical terms in the entire Eurasian space. One of the main attractions of the region is now the outskirts of Saratov, in which, since the 8th century AD, there has been the largest urban center of the Golden Horde - Ukek.
Today the festival of historical reconstruction “One Day in the Life” is being held here medieval city" In 2016, the event will take place from September 2 to 4. Guests will see the work of medieval artisans, take part in master classes on birch bark weaving, and try their hand at archery and belt wrestling.
The historical site will feature several main locations: “Emir’s Headquarters”, “Russian Quarter”, “European Embassy”, “Bazaar”. In each of them the past of the Golden Horde will be recreated.
Village Uvek (Saratov region). One day in the life of a medieval city. Photo: ukekfest.ru/gallery
Village Uvek (Saratov region). One day in the life of a medieval city. Photo: ukekfest.ru/gallery
3. THE HAPPIEST VILLAGE. Esso ( Kamchatka Krai)
Getting here is not so easy. The village of Esso is located 600 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the very border of the tundra.
Numerous thermal springs turned a simple village into a geothermal resort. They also feed the year-round pool on the main square. Locals it is said that Esso can lay claim to the title of "The Happiest Village".
After all, there are no such coniferous forests as in Esso anywhere else in Kamchatka, and the Ichinsky volcano (3621 m) is the second largest (after Klyuchevskaya Sopka) from active volcanoes Eurasia. Hot springs heat houses and greenhouses in which cucumbers, tomatoes and even grapes grow! The climate in Esso is sharply continental, so in summer Esso is the warmest place in Kamchatka, and in winter the thermometer needle here can drop to −47 °C!
Festivals are held in Esso every year. The main event is held on the last Sunday of February: on this day the Beringia, an extreme sled dog race, starts.
The village of Esso (Kamchatka Territory). Photo: kamchatkatravel.net/special/esso-selo.html
The village of Esso (Kamchatka Territory). Photo: strana.ru/places/37245
4. THE OLDEST VILLAGE. Varzuga ( Murmansk region)
Varzuga is located just 20 kilometers from White Sea and is considered one of the oldest villages on the Kola Peninsula. She is almost 600 years old. Besides its age, its main attraction is the wooden tented Assumption Church. The temple was erected in 1674 without a single nail.
And here, every spring, Atlantic salmon rises up the river - this used to be the main fishery of the villagers. Today, the movement of fish attracts more and more tourists. Someone is coming to see unique phenomenon nature, and some go fishing - along the Varzuga River of the same name, camps for fishing tourists stretch for hundreds of kilometers.
The village of Varzuga (Murmansk region). Photo: v-varzugu.ru