Meet Podolsk. The museum of local lore, noble family estates, ancient churches and modern urban sculpture create an original look for this second-largest city in the Moscow Region.
Podolsk is easily accessible from the capital: it is only 15 km from the main highway - the Moscow Ring Road. You can spend a day or two here with pleasure, sightseeing and enjoying the feeling of a cozy town that traces its history back to the 18th century.
Meet Podolsk
First stop in Podolsk - Museum of Local Lore (Soviet Square, 7). The most amazing thing is that it was created by the inhabitants of the city themselves. After a decision was made in the 70s of the 20th century to create a museum (at that time on the Karl Marx Square), they began to bring family heirlooms, preserved household items, photographs and documents. Materials about the nature of Podolsk were presented by the biologist Z. Shekhtel. The found archaeological objects also entered the museum fund.
Gradually, the Podolsk Museum of Local Lore grew, the expositions occupied more and more space, and in the 90sit was decided to move the museum from a two-story house to the Ivanovskoye estate.
But soon the estate became too crowded: after all, the museum fund was constantly replenished, for example, with paintings by city artists. And in honor of the 230th anniversary of the city, the museum received a restored old mansion as a gift - in the 19th century it housed the chambers of offices. The building located in the center of the city (Sovietskaya Square, 7) houses the Podolsk Meridian exposition. It occupies seven rooms on the second floor.
The description of the Podolsk Museum of Local Lore will be incomplete, not to mention educational work. Employees arrange excursions, including walking tours around the city, organize exhibitions, and hold meetings.
Branch
Still in the left wing of the Ivanovskoye estate (1 Parkovaya St.) there is a branch of the Podolsk Museum of Local Lore. Three halls contain interesting expositions that tell about the life of the townspeople, their occupations and trades. One of them is dedicated to the finds of archaeologists. The garden pavilion houses an exhibition of the natural features of the region and the city.
But the estate itself is of interest. It was built at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries for one of the representatives of the Count Tolstoy family. The building is made in the classical style, the facade is decorated with columns and a portico. The steps offer a beautiful view of the Pakhra River.
Other museums in the city
Walking along Lenina Avenue, you can look into house 47, where the Podillya Museum is located. basisThe exposition is the house of one of the founders of the October Revolution, V. I. Lenin: the architectural appearance of the building, its interiors have been preserved in their original form. There is also an archaeological collection of 2.5 thousand items - tools, dishes, jewelry, bronze and iron products.
Slightly further, on Lenin Ave., at 113, there is an exhibition hall. On the area of 2 thousand m2 various art projects, exhibitions of both eminent artists and beginners - students of the art school are held. The hall is equipped with lighting and sound equipment, allowing you to organize grandiose events.
The poster of Podolsk is constantly updated, thanks to the events held in the exhibition hall.
Temples in Podolsk
There are a lot of ancient churches in Podolsk, pleasing with grace. The Church of the Resurrection on the banks of the Pakhra River is the oldest in the city. The date of its foundation is lost, but it is known that already in the time of Ivan the Terrible it received parishioners. At the beginning of the XVIII century. the wooden building burned down, and the new stone one was the main temple in the city for a long time. During the Soviet years, the church housed a tank repair workshop. The temple was restored only in the 20th century. It is located in the house 24 on the street. Red.
Walking down the street. Bolshaya Serpukhovskaya, it is impossible not to notice the Church of St. George the Victorious, built not so long ago, in 2006. It is designed in the tradition of ancient Russian hipped temples and is made of wood. Decoration - five gilded domes.
When passing through the Cathedral Square, you should look into the Trinity Church. It was built to celebrate the endPatriotic War of 1812 according to the plan of the famous architect O. Bove. The church withstood in the most difficult times, it served services even in the Soviet years. The style of the temple is Empire, it is crowned with five domes.
There is a three-tiered bell tower nearby. It is in the Trinity Church that the icon of the Mother of God of Jerusalem, which has miraculous power, and the relics of 140 saints is located.
And another unique church in Podolsk, Znamenskaya, is located in the village of Dubrovitsy - the former estate of Prince Golitsyn. It was erected by domestic and invited from Italy masters at the expense of Prince B. Golitsyn. Designed in a unique for Russia "baroque" style, reminiscent of a Catholic church. Snow-white stone walls, numerous sculptures of the apostles on the facade, decor made of stone flowers, grapes, fruits - you will not find another church like this! The temple is crowned with a gilded crown.
Homesteads
Noble estates are surprisingly well-preserved sights of the city of Podolsk. Such a variety of classic Russian estates is nowhere else. Each of them is now a museum.
Ostafyevo estate is better known under the name "Russian Parnassus". The estate, which belonged to Prince A. Vyazemsky, became a haven for many poets and writers, among them Pushkin, Gogol, Griboedov, Karamzin and others. At the end of the XIX century. the owners opened access to the estate, which became the Pushkin Museum. Poetry festivals are being held today at Russian Parnassus.
The museum of history andin the Shchapovo estate, which began to be built in the 17th century. Today, visitors come to enjoy the sounds of the organ, take a walk in the landscape park.
Here are other estates that attract attention in Podolsk:
- Dubrovitsy. The Church of the Sign of the Virgin has been perfectly preserved.
- Red. The picturesque park is the main attraction.
- Vorobyevo. Made in the style of a classic Russian estate, surrounded by a linden garden.
- Plescheyevo. It is known for the fact that the composer P. Tchaikovsky often rested here.
- Polivanivo. The building was designed by the famous Russian architect V. Bazhenov. Soldiers who died during the war of 1812 are buried on the territory of the estate.
- Rodnevo. Made in an eclectic style by architect N. Eichenwald.
Walking through the streets
Podolsk is nice and easy to walk slowly, looking at the monuments and city sculpture.
What to see in Podolsk? Here are the monuments that are worth your time:
- to Empress Catherine II and the working class of Podolsk on Vokzalnaya Square;
- St. Peter and Fevronia on the street. Chekhov;
- to those who participated in the liquidation of the Chernobyl accident (B. Zelenovskaya St.);
- memorial in memory of those who died during the Second World War on the square. Glory;
- on Kirov Street - a monument to Podolsky cadets and A. S. Pushkin;
- on Cathedral Square - a monument to the grenadiers who, under the command of General Miloradovich, defended the capital from Napoleonic troops;
- Russianhero (Vysotnaya st., 1);
- on Khudozhestvennaya Embankment - a monument to the Golden Fish, and on Sovetskaya Square - a Singer sewing machine.
Walking along L. Tolstoy Boulevard, it is worth stopping by the unusual fountain composition rotating in jets of water (and in the evening with illumination). This is Tolstoy's most famous heroine Natasha Rostova dancing at her first ball.
