An inspired land on the Volga shores: Ivanovo – Ples – Palekh

Breakfast.

Moving to Kineshma, one of the richest Volga cities in pre–revolutionary Russia.

At various times, Kineshma was a city of fishermen, salt workers, manufacturers and merchants, and now it is the second largest and fastest–growing city in the Ivanovo region.

The historical center of Kineshma has preserved to this day the charm of the county merchant town of the end of the 19th century, which is depicted in the famous paintings by B.M. Kustodiev.

On the high bank of the river, there are still mansions, manors, temples, shopping malls and green boulevards, along which the prototypes of A. N. Ostrovsky's heroes once walked.

During the walking tour, we will see the main beauties of this cozy old town and visit the Trinity Assumption Cathedral.

Lunch (extra charge).

Transfer to Yuryevets, the town of Andrei Tarkovsky, Alexander Rowe, the Vesnin brothers and Archpriest Avvakum, named after George the Victorious.

One of the most ecologically clean cities in the whole of central Russia with unforgettable views of the great Russian river Volga. In the middle of the 20th century, the oldest city in the Ivanovo region had to go under water. But Yuryevets stopped the sea: a three-kilometer dam was erected to protect its unique monuments.

We will walk along the old streets and the renovated embankment of the city, which is included in the rating of the ten best public spaces in our country, visit the places where Andrei Tarkovsky spent his childhood years and visit the museum named after him.

Visit to the Vesnin Brothers Museum.

The museum tells about the creative path of three brothers: Leonid, Viktor and Alexander Vesnin – outstanding architects, the founders of constructivism.

The house, which once belonged to the Vesnin family, contains children's and youth drawings by the brothers, mock-ups of theatrical decorations, the first, still classical architectural drawings and bold constructivist projects, the most famous of which were the Mostorg department store and the ZIL Palace of Culture in Moscow, Ivselbank in Ivanovo and DneproGES.

Entrance ticket for an additional fee.

Return to Ivanovo.

Breakfast.

Moving to Palekh, a world–famous village of artists, which still retains a special, creative atmosphere.

The Palekh icon painters painted the temples of the Novodevichy Monastery and the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and the caskets created by local craftsmen won the highest awards of art exhibitions around the world.

We will visit the main temple of Palekh – Holy Cross Cathedral, famous for its paintings.

According to art historians, this is the last painting in the history of art, created in the traditions of ancient Russian fresco painting.

During the walking tour, we will see the old houses where famous Palekh craftsmen lived and worked, we will be able to immerse ourselves in the world of fairy tales and re-read the works of classics in the Museum of Lacquer Miniature.

Visit to the Palekh Art Museum.

Moving to the city of Yuzha, which already at the end of the 19th century had everything for a comfortable urban life: a hospital, schools, a gymnasium, an almshouse, a landscaped park and even a cultural center – the People's House, where you could come to chat with friends, drink tea, play billiards, and most importantly – watch performances, which were staged on the stage of the National House.

The streets of Yuzhi are a real museum of carved platbands.

Hundreds of carved facades and lace windows have been preserved here, each of which is unique: it is almost impossible to find two houses with the same architraves.

It's time for lunch.

Moving to Kholui– a village that is called "Russian Venice" in the spring, since it is possible to move around it only by boat due to the flooding of the river.

The lackey has long been famous for talented icon painters, and gained worldwide fame thanks to its special style of lacquer miniature.

We will walk along the embankment, which has inspired more than one generation of famous artists, visit the temple complex with ancient icons and visit the Kholui lacquer miniature art factory, where we can see with our own eyes how cardboard, clay and stones turn step by step into a small work of art.

Return to Ivanovo.

Breakfast.

Transfer to Vichuga, which is called the "city of white columns".

Many magnificent neoclassical monuments, designed by outstanding architects of their time, have been preserved here.

The building of the textile factory is decorated with the thickest columns in our country – they are thicker than the columns of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

The Red Church of Vichuga, which we will visit, is one of the largest churches in Central Russia, which harmoniously combines elements of the Assumption Cathedral and the bell tower of Ivan the Great in the Moscow Kremlin.

We will take a walk through the city park and, if desired, we can visit the Local History or Art Museum of Vichuga.

Moving to Shuya, the city of Russian Christmas, merchants and industrialists, new martyrs and Soviet anti-religious experiments, the only city in Russia that gave the name to Tsar Vasily Shuisky.

Lunch (extra charge).

We will stroll along Shuisky Arbat, framed by merchant mansions, admire the grandiose ensemble of the Resurrection Cathedral, which has long housed the miraculous Shuisko-Smolenskaya Icon of the Mother of God, admire the severity and proportions of the tallest freestanding bell tower in Europe, and see Russia's first monument to the poet of the Silver Age (Konstantin Balmont), a native of these places.

Enterprises founded in tsarist Russia continue to operate in the city, for example, the Shuiskaya Vodka factory, whose products can be purchased, as well as soap brewed in Shuya, another famous brand of the city.

Visit Pavlov's merchant mansion.

This is a rare example of a provincial palace. Rather modest on the outside, inside it enchants with state halls, stucco ceilings and Parisian sculptures.

Return to Ivanovo.

Breakfast.

Moving to Ples is an ancient city with an amazing and rich history, inspiring artists from all over Russia.

It is impossible to single out one thing in the image of Ples: its nature, history and culture are firmly intertwined and together create an amazing mood of this beautiful city.

The image of Ples is inextricably linked with the work of the outstanding artist Isaac Ilyich Levitan. The master of the "mood landscape" painted about 200 paintings here.

In memory of the artist, one of the highest points of the city is named Mount Levitan, and a House Museum has been opened in the house where he stayed.

We will take a walk through this incredibly cozy, chamber city – a real open-air museum that attracted not only artists, but also cinematographers.

We will visit the Isaac Levitan Memorial Museum, which recreates the life of the late 19th century, and contains many original items.

In addition to Levitan's own works, there are paintings by his friends and a brief chronicle of the artist's life – in photographs and reproductions.

It's time for lunch.

Free time in Ples to visit additional museums.

Return to Ivanovo.

Free time in the city.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Transfer to Gavrilov Posad, founded in the 15th century, a city of horse breeding traditions, located in the heart of Ancient Russia, in the Vladimir-Suzdal Opole.

The history of the city is closely connected with the palace stud farm, which originated here under Ivan the Terrible. In the middle of the 20th century, a new breed of horse, the Vladimir heavy horse, was bred at the State Stud Farm.

It is from this city that the famous brewers Sinebryukhov come from, who today control almost half of the Finnish beer market.

We will visit the Dvortsovy Zavod Museum and tasting center, which is the only Museum of Russian national beverages in the world, where more than 20 ancient recipes are known - from brew and broth to liqueurs, tinctures and bread wine. And of course we will be able to taste a lot.

Additional entrance fees are about 300 rubles.

Tasting with snacks is additionally charged when booking the tour.

We will see the picturesque temple complex and stroll through the central square of the city, which is recognized as one of the best urban spaces in the country, opened in 2019.

Transfer to the railway station.

Departure from Ivanovo by any train after 17:30.