Pereyaslavl-Zalessky

Pereslavl-Zalesskiy Kremlin

Spaso-Preobrazhensky monastery

Nikhitinsky monastery

Pereslavl-Zalessky is one of the oldest towns of the Golden Ring of Russia. It is located in 140 km from Moscow near one of the most beautiful and pure reservoirs of the Central Russia – lake Pleshcheyevo. The banks of the lake were inhabited long since, till the 10th century the Ugro-Finnic tribe Merya lived here and in the 11th century Slavic tribes came to this place. The reminding of these times is concentrated in the old town Kleshin, Alexander’s hill, mysterious Blue stone – the worship object of pagans. In 1152 the town Kleshin was transferred by Prince Yury Golgoruky to the creek of the river Trubezh and got its new name – New Pereyaslavl. At this time several defensive earth mounds were built. The cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour was also laid– a monument of the Vladimiro-Syzdalskaya school of architecture.

Nikitsky monastery

Nikitsky monastery, one of the oldest in the region is situated in the northern part of Pereslavl. It was founded in the end of the 11th - 12th century. It is famous for Pereslavl miracle-man Nikita, former collector of taxes. Enclosing himself from the inner world, the saint man became famous for numerous miracles including the healing of the Prince of Chernigov Michail. Ivan the Terrible devoted much of his time to the monastery realizing stone building of it.

Troitsky Danilov monastery

The monastery was founded by the Enoch Daniil at the place of the former fraternal cemetery. Reverend Daniil was the godfather of the first Russian tsar – Ivan the Terrible. The main cathedral of the monastery was painted by the famous artel of Guri Nikitin.

Fyodorovsky monastery

It was erected in 1304 in commemorate of the battle between the retinues of Moscow and Tver.It was under the special patronage of Peter the First’s family. Today it is under construction and it’s a nunnery.

The St. Nicolas’s monastery

It was founded in 1348 by the Reverend Dmitry Prilycky. From 1923 the monastery was in desolation and after 70 years it was revived. In 1999 the main Nikolsky cathedral was built anew. Now it is one of the most beautiful temples of the cloister.

Church of St. Simeon

This church is considered to be one of the beauties of the central town, distinguished by its decorative attire and rare appearance of the window surrounds. It was erected in 1771 in the style of provincial baroque.The single church which was not closed in the Soviet period – the church of the Protection of the Virgin. Its appearance has not changed since 1789 and it’s an example of the classical style in the provincial architecture of the 18th century.The church of 40 Martyrs is located on the bank of the Lake Pleshcheyevo. It was erected by Moscow merchants Chelyagin in the second half of the 18th century. The broach of its high belfry was a special reference point for fisher-men in rainy and foggy weather. Pereslavl – Zalessky is not only famous for its churches and architectural monuments but also by rich and even unique collections of its museums.The biggest provincial museum in Russia – Pereslavl Museum-Preserve – is on the territory of the Uspensky cathedral. The particular interest is attracted to one golden iconostasis made by famous engraver Yakov Zhukov. The museum also possesses several collections of the old Russian art (15th -18th c.), Russian painting (18th – 20th c.), fine and applied arts (16th – 19th c.)/ Russian and foreign guests are always impressed by costume programs “Match-making”, “Celebration of name day”, “Oh, these women…!”.

Museums:

Museum-estate “Botik”

The lake Pleshcheyevo is considered to be the cradle of the Russian navy. Here in the end of the 17th century tsar Peter began building of sea crafts, yachts, galleys, the so-called “poteshnaya flotiliya”. In 1803 a stone hall was built in the estate. Now it is a kind of museum for Peter’s boat “Fortune”, anchors and tacking from the other boats of Peter’s marine. The ensemble of the estate also includes the White palace, Triumphal arch, exhibiting hall Rotonda, where usual Peter’s assemblies tale place.

Museum of irons

The collection consists of more than 130 irons of the 19th – 20th centuries from Russia, Germany, Poland. Here you can see beaters, hand-made irons, the smallest (just 10 grams) and the biggest one (10 kilo).

Museum of kettles

The museum possesses kettles and samovars of the 19th – 20th centuries. You can get acquainted with a kettle-samovar, kettle-frying-pan, kettle-bird.

Museum of crafts

The history of the Pereslavl region’s crafts is represented here.Objects of peasant’s live, tools of crafts, agricultural tools (19th .) are exhibited here.

Museum of steam-engines

The museum under the open air has steam-engines, railmotor cars, trolleys, cars, tractors of the 19th – 20th centuries – transport of the period of Russian narrow-gauge railway.

Mardi gras

Mardi gras (February – March).Spring starts with the most popular holiday of Mardi gras. Guests will take part in festivals, costume balls, hot pancakes, and burning of Mardi gras doll – the symbol of Russian winter.