Those who want to get as close to antiquity as possible and feel the spirit of the Russian settlement should go to Gorodets, a small town located in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Gorodets is the same age as Moscow. On its territory there are a large number of attractions and museums that combine deep antiquity and a rich cultural and historical heritage.
Below is a list of Gorodets museums in the Nizhny Novgorod region with a description, a visit to which should be a mandatory part of the excursion program.
Museum of Good
The rich collection of the museum contains antiques and everyday utensils of Russian life, which are commonly called “dobro”, hence the name of the museum.
The Museum of Good in Gorodets is located in a mansion built in 1906. At one time, the house was owned by a wealthy merchant Plekhanov. The museum building is very picturesque and is considered one of the city’s attractions. Most of the exhibits that visitors can see in the exhibition halls were found in the mansion during reconstruction.
Here you can see dishes, samovars, stuffed animals, old money and other small household items from Russian homes.
The museum is located at: Embankment of the Revolution, 12.
How to get to Gorodets
Gorodets is located 440 km from Moscow. This City, of course, is not suitable for a one-day trip from Moscow, but I recommend including it on a trip along the M7, at least for a day. By the way, the road to Nizhny Novgorod is now wonderful, the highway has been repaired, we usually get there in 4.5 hours.
From Nizhny Novgorod – 60 km. The journey by car from the Nizhny Moscow railway station took about 1.5 hours one way.
For tourists without a car, which we were on that trip, getting to Gorodets is not very convenient, because there is no direct train there, and we did not risk taking the infrequently running bus. We chose for ourselves the simplest, but not economical, way to travel to Gorodets from Nizhny Novgorod - we ordered an individual transfer. It would take more than two hours to travel by bus, the route starts from the Kanavinskaya bus station, see the schedule on Yandex.schedule.
Architecture of Gorodets
"City of masters"
On the Gorodets embankment there is a large-scale tourist complex built in 2009. The City of Masters Museum is the hallmark of Gorodets - this is a magnificent merchant city with houses made of massive log frames. Carved gates, platbands, window shutters and balcony sheathing deserve special attention.
In the “City of Craftsmen”, tourists will learn about the history of the origin of various artistic crafts in Gorodets and can take part in the manufacture of some simple household utensils. On the territory of the museum complex master classes on ancient Russian painting, painting, pottery, and wood carving are held. In addition, fun festivities and holidays are regularly organized on the territory of the complex, where you can try on traditional Russian costume and taste delicious dishes of national cuisine.
In addition, the museum has a large number of exhibition halls, which contain clothing and household items, and recreated rooms and other living spaces of ancient houses. In one of the halls you can take part in a traditional Russian tea party and treat yourself to gingerbread and sweets. On the territory of the “City of Masters” folklore games and magnificent holidays are held, in which everyone can take part. Such a pastime will leave an unforgettable impression and create a great mood.
Why go to Gorodets?
- Gorodets is the most ancient city in the Nizhny Novgorod region. It was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1152, almost the same age as Moscow.
- In Gorodets there is the only “Museum Quarter” in the Nizhny Novgorod region, demonstrating the atmosphere of a merchant village of the 19th century, where every house is an object of cultural heritage. Small museums are welcoming. How many ancient things we saw, how many stories we heard - Gorodets knows how to reveal the secrets of the past, charm and make you fall in love.
- Get acquainted with the folk crafts of Gorodets.
- Gorodets is ready to boast of gold embroidery - one of the oldest and unique types of highly artistic folk art in Russia. It is difficult to confuse Gorodets painting and wood carving. Bright boxes, boards, and dishes show festivities, tea parties, the famous Gorodets horse and rider, and folk holidays. The carving is based on a floral ornament with dates, lions and fairy-tale coastlines.
- And on July 22-23 of each year, the All-Russian Folk Art Festival takes place in Gorodets - the streets of the city turn into a fair, full of goods made by folk craftsmen from all over Russia.
- Visit the Museum and Tourist Complex “City of Masters”. On the banks of the Volga rises an ensemble of wooden structures dedicated to the history of wooden architecture in the Nizhny Novgorod region. A luxurious princely tower, more reminiscent of a city. The only thing missing was the harnessed troikas with ringing bells and a motley crowd of Russian people in folk costumes, so I had to use my imagination. There are several exhibitions inside: works of ancient Russian painting, Gorodets paintings, gold embroidery, pottery. In an organized group or independently with advance booking, you can attend master classes in modeling, drawing, working with fabrics, and gingerbread painting.
- Try Gorodets gingerbread. Tula is not the only place where signature gingerbreads are baked; Gorodets also keeps the ancient Russian secrets of producing the delicacy. By the way, there is also a gingerbread museum, and unlike Tula, it welcomes not only groups and pre-registered tourists, but also everyone. Although they didn’t tell us anything special inside, they didn’t kick us out either.
- Visit the monastery in honor of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, founded in 1154 by Prince George (Yuri) Dolgoruky. Alexander Nevsky died within the walls of the monastery, having received monastic tonsure and schema in Gorodets. At the turn of the 14th–15th centuries, the monk Prokhor, who went down in history as Prokhor of Gorodets, an ascetic and ally of Andrei Rublev and Theophanes the Greek, labored in the monastery. It is believed that Elder Prokhor was the teacher of Andrei Rublev. At the beginning of the 17th century, the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God became the patronal shrine of the Ruling House of Romanov. With this icon in 1613, the great nun Maria blessed her son Mikhail Fedorovich, the future founder of the Romanov dynasty, for the Russian kingdom. The monastery was visited by Peter I and Catherine II. In 1804, the Monk Timon of Nadeevsky, a disciple of Seraphim of Sarov, who for 14 years was the builder of the Gorodets Monastery and the abbot of the monastery, was tonsured into the mantle at the monastery. In 2009, the monastery was completely recreated and on September 12 it was consecrated by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.
- Get aesthetic pleasure among the picturesque landscapes, admire the majestic Volga from the height of the steep bank.
Carved houses in Gorodets
Gorodets Local Lore Museum
The museum was opened in 1918. It is located in the building of the estate of the merchant Oblaev Jr. The building itself is already a monument to the eclecticism of the 19th century with characteristic features of the Art Nouveau style.
The rich exhibition of the Gorodets Local History Museum includes more than 15 thousand exhibits and includes halls dedicated to the history of the city and peasant life. A collection of ancient weapons is presented to guests. One of the halls is dedicated to the unique nature of the Gorodets region and the Nizhny Novgorod region.
The special pride of the museum’s collection is the Grand Duke’s helmet, which was made in the 12th century, the seal of Alexander Nevsky from the 17th century, and a carved cabinet dating back to the 19th century.
The museum displays a large collection of gingerbread boards. In addition, in the Gorodets Museum of Local Lore you can see modern products made by local craftsmen. Visitors are presented with embroidery, painted dishes and whistles.
Churches and Temples
Gorodetsky Feodorovsky Monastery
Address: Proletarskaya Square, 34 Telephone: 8 (8316) 19‑11-08, 8 (8316) 19‑16-62 Website: https://feodorovskiy-monastyr.ru Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:00– 17:00
There is a version that it was in this monastery that Prince Alexander Nevsky took monastic vows, but no direct evidence of this has been found at present.
A monastery has been formed on this site since the founding of Gorodets in the middle of the 13th century.
The main shrine of the monastery is the Fedorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, which, according to believers, has healing miraculous powers.
Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Address: pl. Proletarskaya, 34 Phone: Website: https://pokrovpb.cerkov.ru Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8:00–18:00
This is the main operating temple of Gorodets, built in 1824. The church is notable for the wooden image of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary above the entrance, made by local craftsmen.
Church of the Archangel Michael
Address: st. Zagorodnaya, 16 Phone: Website: https://arch-michail.ru Opening hours: Mon-Sun 08.00-18.00
Also one of the currently operating and one of the most ancient churches in Gorodets. The temple building was built in 1339 and underwent restoration under Soviet rule in the mid-40s of the last century.
Currently, the church is a state protected object as a monument of ancient Russian architecture.
The temple has several shrines:
- parts of the relics of Saints Theodore of Ostrog and Macarius of Zheltovodsk;
- the icon of Our Lady Gerontissa, brought from Athos from Greece;
- icon with holy soil from the burial of St. Paisius the Holy Mountain.
Samovar Museum
The samovar museum welcomed guests for the first time in 2009. It is located in the house of the merchant Grishaev. The richest collection of samovars in Russia and the world is presented here. The exhibition includes more than 200 samovars, which are made in various techniques.
The variety of exhibits is amazing. The pride of the museum is a huge samovar with a capacity of 53 liters, as well as the world’s smallest samovar, designed to hold 75 ml. It is recommended to visit the museum with a guided tour. Qualified guides will tell you a lot of interesting things about this simple device for heating water and answer all your questions. The museum building is located at: st. Embankment of the Revolution, 11.
Gorodets Museums
Gorodets Museum Quarter
Russian samovar tower
I really didn’t think that the Samovar Museum in Gorodets would give Tula a head start, with which this item of Russian everyday life is primarily associated. I recommend taking the excursion, otherwise you will not get that boost of energy that the museum employee dressed in a national sundress generously gives. He will talk about the most interesting samovars from the collection, sing songs, so much so that many visitors could not resist and spontaneously organized a choir.
Address: st. Embankment of the Revolution, 11, www.gorodets-travel.ru.
Russian Samovar Museum in Gorodets
Gallery of goodness
I took the name of the museum in its literal sense, so I wondered to myself what could be presented in the exhibition to tell about human goodness and joy? It turned out that good means something that is “acquired through backbreaking labor.” I was impressed by the collection of assorted locks and keys, various household items, as well as a real treasure that everyone would like to find. The house in which the museum is located previously belonged to the merchant T.A. Plekhanov. The condition of the building is excellent; thanks to the initiative of the creator of the exhibition, Gorodets preserves traditional architecture.
Contacts: Nizhny Novgorod region, Gorodets, st. N. Revolyutsii, 10, link to the site is given above.
Gallery of goodness
Gorodets Local Lore Museum
Occupies the remarkable mansion of the merchant I.P. Oblaeva
Contacts: Nizhny Novgorod region, Gorodets, st. Lenina, 11, www.gorodmuseum.ru
Gorodets Local Lore Museum
Museum "Gorodets Gingerbread"
Contacts: Nizhny Novgorod region, Gorodets, st. Gorodets, st. Lenin st., 2,
website: www.gorodmuseum.ru
Oddly enough, what struck us most in the gingerbread museum was the chest of drawers - an example of virtuoso woodwork. There was no excursion for the two of us; they offered a master class, but we did not have the necessary time for this. We briefly examined the small museum ourselves: various forms of gingerbread, recipes, cooking tools... We bought a gingerbread at the souvenir shop for the path and, chewing the spoils, walked to the next museum.
Gorodets Gingerbread Museum
Museum "House of Countess Panina"
Contacts: Nizhny Novgorod region, Gorodets, st. Gorodets, Rublev St., 16,
website: www.gorodmuseum.ru
The atmosphere of the museum takes you back to the distant times of lordly life. The most amazing exhibits were the musical instruments of those years: gramophones, gramophones, the caretaker even started a music box for us. Fascinated by the sounds, we looked around other rooms of the estate and saw many clocks and books of that time. In addition to the exhibition, the house of Countess Panina is interesting from an architectural point of view, because there are practically no estates in the wooden Empire style left in Russia.
House of Countess Panina
Children's Museum on Kupecheskaya
Contacts: Nizhny Novgorod region, Gorodets, st. Lenina, 12,
website: www.gorodmuseum.ru
We didn’t have time to visit this museum, but the website says that inside there is a model of a school class with old school paraphernalia, as well as many handmade dolls.
Public “Museum of Memory of Alexander Nevsky”
Operating mode:
Every day from 9-00 to 18-00.
Order excursions by phone. 8(83161)925-43 or 8 910 381 11 37
The duration of the excursion is from 20 to 40 minutes.
Admission is free, you can leave donations for the development of the museum
Located on the second floor of the house of the merchant G.I. Tyukalov - D.N. Lapshina
Museum "Gorodets on the Volga"
Contacts: Nizhny Novgorod region, Gorodets, st. Lenina 9,
website: www.gorodmuseumgorodec.ru
The museum exposition tells about the life of citizens of various professions: merchants, doctors, firefighters, etc.
Gingerbread Museum
One of the most popular museums in Gorodets is the Gorodets Gingerbread Museum, which is located in the house of the merchant Petelin. Gorodets gingerbread has its own distinctive characteristics and is completely unlike other Russian gingerbreads. It is distinguished by its own recipe, shape, and design.
All the secrets of making Gorodets gingerbread can be learned during a tour of the museum. You can buy delicious gingerbread in the souvenir shop located at the museum.
Parks and monuments, streets
Monument to the Merchants of Russia
Address: st. Kirova, 2
The monument was erected in 2002, and its grand opening took place on September 15, the day of the celebration of the 850th anniversary of the founding of Gorodets.
The author of the monument was the sculptor Sergei Polegaev. This is the first example of a monument to the Russian merchants as a class.
The figure of the merchant demonstrates two pillars of the Russian entrepreneur: the Russian Orthodox Church, which the stone merchant holds in his left hand, and the wealth of his native land, expressed in the form of a casket with money.
Embankment of the Revolution
This street is considered one of the most beautiful in the city with a view of the Volga.
It is here that you can see ancient merchant mansions lined up in a row. Most of them are recognized as protected cultural and historical monuments of regional significance.
Tickets and opening hours
A ticket to the museum for an adult will cost 100 rubles, for schoolchildren, students and pensioners - 50 rubles. You can also order excursion services.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. Day off is Monday. The ticket office closes one hour before closing.
