If you decide to spend your winter vacation in Moscow, be sure to set aside a couple of days for trips outside the city - the Moscow region offers many leisure options for every taste: calm walks through snow-covered noble estates, visiting ancient cities, excursions to open-air museums, taking active species sports, etc. The choice of places where you can go on a one-day tour is so great that, if you wish, you can explore only the outskirts of the capital for the whole vacation.
Unusual places in the Moscow region
When planning a winter vacation in the Moscow region, think in advance how you will travel. It is better to travel with children in your own car or on sightseeing buses. Trips to the most interesting corners of the Moscow and neighboring regions are offered by many travel companies in the capital. If you tolerate public transport well, you will be glad to know that minibuses, buses and electric trains go to many villages and towns of the Moscow region.
Kolomna
Moscow is separated from Kolomna by 100 km of Ryazan highway. It is worth coming here if you want to stroll along the streets of an ancient Russian city founded in 1177.
The main architectural local masterpiece is the Kremlin with the Cathedral complex, two monasteries and residential buildings. The territory of the former impregnable fortress, which never once surrendered to the enemy, is partially surrounded by high walls. Of the 16 Kremlin towers, only 7 have survived to this day. The most famous Kolomna tower is called Marinkina in honor of Marina Mnishek, who languished here in captivity. An excellent view of the river opens from the Kremlin.
Everything in the Kolomna Kremlin - cafes, souvenir shops, etc. - is decorated in the old style. It seems that time stood still here somewhere in the 19th century.
Manor Bykovo
There are a lot of old estates with beautiful parks, ponds, decorative buildings in the Moscow region. For winter walks, you can choose any. We advise you to go to Bykovo, to which the Ryazan highway will lead.
In the 18th century, this estate belonged to a relative of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, Mikhail Izmailov. The Renaissance red-and-white palace, built on a small hill in the second half of the 19th century under the later owners of the estate, the Vorontsov-Dashkovs, is best seen from the park, from the triangular-shaped pond. You shouldn't come close to the manor house - a tuberculosis sanatorium worked there for a long time. So just admire it from afar.
But you can walk in the park for hours. Be sure to find a charming gazebo by the famous architect V. Bazhenov on one of the ponds.
Do not forget to visit another local architectural masterpiece - the Gothic Vladimirskaya Church with a free-standing belfry.
Manors in the suburbs
Ethnomir
In the Kaluga region, in the village of Petrovo, there is an unusual park "Ethnomir". On the territory of 140 hectares, dwellings of different peoples of the world are collected - huts, igloos, yurts, plums, etc. Historical interiors have been recreated inside each pavilion.
In the sector dedicated to the North, Siberia and the Far East, look for a husky breeding nursery. Dog sledding can be booked here. In the ethno-courtyard called "Podvorie", where Russian wooden buildings are collected, there is a good playground. In the closed pavilion "Street of the World" master classes are held on the creation of various products from scrap materials. In the area of the cafe, located near the lake, they ride on snow-scooters.
New Year, Christmas and Maslenitsa are celebrated in Ethnomir on a grand scale: they light a fire, have round dances, and stage performances.
Yakhroma
55 km from Moscow is the city of Yakhroma, known to all alpine skiing lovers as a place where 4 winter parks with good tracks are equipped. One of them is called Yakhroma.
Local routes, and there are about a dozen of them here, are simple and gentle. The difference in elevation is at best 65 meters. The length of the longest track is 650 meters. These slopes are intended, rather, for those who are not yet very confident in skiing. There are training slopes for children. Experienced instructors will be able to work with your offspring and give some great advice.
Kids love the 3 cheesecake runs. Absolutely everyone - both adults and younger guests - will appreciate the skating rink.
You can stay in the Yakhroma park for several days. There are two hotels and a cottage town for tourists.
Moscow region sanatoriums
Sanatoriums, country park-hotels, recreation centers - these are blessed places far from the bustling city, where you can spend your vacation in peace and quiet, spending time with family and friends or just enjoying reading and walking alone. The sanatoriums, which are open all year round, offer their guests a variety of medical, wellness and supportive programs. The resorts Volna, Zvenigorod, Krasnaya Pakhra, Pushkino, etc. receive good reviews.
The choice of recreation centers in the Moscow region is so great that in order to attract customers, the management of such boarding houses comes up with various "chips" that attract the attention of tourists. For example, the Country Resort hotel near the Verbilki railway station contains a small zoo where camels, horses and wolves live. Park-hotel "Orlovsky" in the Leninsky district offers accommodation in original Russian interiors. All buildings of the art-estate "Veretyevo" near Dubna are designed to remind of the era of the pioneers. The fishing club "Litvinovo" in the village of the same name guarantees excellent lake winter fishing.
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