Our Chinese department:
09:30 Meeting with the guide at the railway station in Kovrov. The sign "Crafts of the Russian land".
Kovrov is the second largest and largest industrial center of the Vladimir region. The main enterprise is the armory named after Degtyarev, who produced machine guns and supplied our army with weapons during the Second World War.
Museum of clay toys. Master class: we sculpt or paint a clay toy.
Lunch at a cafe in the city.
Transfer to Mstera (54 km).
Mster. There is something fabulous in this name. Before my eyes there are some magical images, wonderful nature, outlandish animals, ornate temples, bizarre chambers…
Mstera is the largest lacquer miniature center in Russia. Less is known about embroidery (the white Msterian surface) and about jewelry. The locals are peculiar people, very resourceful and talented. Most of them are artisans.
The remoteness from the main highways forced the Russians to spin as best they could. And works of art began to come out from under their hands: icons, lacquer boxes with miniature paintings, lace, embroidery, hammered and jewelry.
Sightseeing tour of the village. The Msterka River, the high bank, the silhouette of the Holy Epiphany Monastery, the elegant domes of temples and the bulky contour of the bell tower are the undisputed architectural face of the village. Monument to Carp — locals are called "carp".
The Holy Epiphany Monastery. The courtyard of the Vyaznikovsky Annunciation Convent. There are about 40 monuments of civil architecture in Mster, which means stone and wooden residential buildings, shops and warehouses. Many of them are about 150 years old.
The Moscow Art Museum. The museum presents the best examples of Hungarian art crafts — embroidery, lacquer miniature, paintings by local artists.
A demonstration master class for children and adults at the museum's exposition opens up the opportunity to get to know the traditions of the Mstera masters more closely: with the painting of the lacquer miniature painting "The Boxes of the Mstera Chernolak pattern".
A master class in painting. Just inspiration, a flight of imagination and a good mood are enough. Professional craftsmen will provide materials, equipment and secrets of their craft.
Msterian embroidery. Msterian embroidery is famous for the fact that products with it, without having a face and a wrong side, look beautiful on both sides. Elegant small patterns of floral ornament, openwork images of human figures and architectural forms are skillfully created by the masters of the ministry.
The colored surface is the so—called "Vladimir seam", which is performed in large stitches with a predominance of red color. It is believed that this most complex technique is perfectly mastered only by the Mster embroiderers, continuing the artistic traditions of the past.
Acquaintance with the craft, meeting with the embroiderer.
Transfer to Shuya.
Visit to the Shuiskaya Vodka brand store. The products can be purchased at factory prices so that, upon returning home, you can impress your friends with unique tinctures.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Dinner for an additional fee — 600 rubles, paid together with the voucher.
