Sightseeing in Kostroma - what to see. Complete travel guide
It is still not known where the city name Kostroma has come from. There are two versions of this. “Kostrum” is a Finno-Ugric word for “fortress”. But the second version is more interesting and patriotic. Pagan Slavs celebrated the beautiful holiday called Kostroma. It was dedicated to the god of the Sun, Yarilo, and was very important for the cycle of summer rites. Kostroma was a thatched doll that was burnt for the god of the Sun.
According to available data, the city was formed in 1152 by Yuri Dolgorukiy, a famous Suzdal duke. Kostroma often saw internal feuds and was destroyed to rubble. Then, it was attacked by the Mongol Tatars. The city was restored by Yaroslav from Vladimir who built the first wooden church here. The reign of his son was one of the most glorious pages in the history of Kostroma. Exactly Vasily became the prince of Vladimir and the head of all the princedoms of northeastern Rus.
Kostroma saw large fires many times and even was burned to the ground. After the large fire in the 15th century, Moscow Prince Vasily ordered to build only stone buildings in the city. In the 12th century, Kostroma became a trade center where many talented craftsmen, iconographers, bricklayers in the civil service lived. Kostroma was repeatedly visited by Russian Emperors, which contributed much to the city development. Today, Kostroma is a small industrial town with a well-developed tourist infrastructure. It is visited not only by business tourists, but also by fans of Russian history.
Kostroma is a real trove of unique historical attractions. In the 18th-19th centuries, the city gained an important trading status. In the 18th century, market stalls started to be constructed here. They were finished at the beginning of the 19th century. Market stalls have been preserved to this day. The project of the big beautiful building was created by the German architect Karl von Kler. Since its construction, this building has been preserved almost in its original form.
Another interesting architectural complex is the House of S. Borschov. It was built in the first half of the 19th century for the General S. Borschov. In 1847, the building was completely destroyed in a fire. The owners gave away the mansion to the merchant A. Pervushin who restored it and opened here the guesthouse called London.
In 1913, the Romanov Museum was opened in Kostroma. It is located in the beautiful historic building that resembles the Russian palace with its exterior. The museum has been open for over a hundred years. It houses the collection of unique masterpieces, archeological exhibits, and pieces of applied art.
Another unique culture object is the Kostroma Sloboda Museum Reserve opened over 600 years ago. The outdoor museum is located in an incredibly beautiful area. In its territory, there are unique monuments of Russian architecture. Most of them were built in the 18th century. Beautiful wooden houses and outbuildings were “transported” out of the territory that was at risk of being flooded. The guests of the museum have an opportunity to see old beautiful huts, churches and other constructions of wood. Some huts house the collections of historical artifacts.
The Museum of Jewellery Art is a special culture venue here. It was opened in 2013. Kostroma has been notable for the high-quality jewellery manufacturing for several hundred years. The best jewels from local masters are presented in the museum now. Its collection is quite small and includes almost 500 exhibits. These are watches made of precious metals, tableware, decorative weapons, cigar cases, seals, and other valuable accessories. The museum houses several precious exhibits created by masters in the 17th century and the collection of old church utensils.
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Kostroma and surroundings
Reference information
Map of all castles
Survived castles around Kostroma
♥ Castle 'Ipatiev Monastery' , 2.5 km from the center. On the map
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Sightseeing in Russia: things to see
We should start from describing the most famous places of interest of the capital. Kremlin is the main symbol of the city and an internationally famous attraction. This is a very important historic and architectural landmark, and every building on its territory is a new page in the history of the country. The Red Square is located in front of the eastern wall of the complex. During several centuries the square was a witness to many important historic events. The Red Square was constructed on the site of numerous wooden houses, which made the threat of fire very real and, therefore, their presence was inacceptable near the royal residence. Nowadays, there are many exhibition halls, museums, parks and churches near the Red Square and the Kremlin complex.
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All about Kostroma, Russia - sightseeings, attractions, touristic spots, architecture, history, culture and cuisine. Prepare your trip together with OrangeSmile.com - find out the 'must see' things in Kostroma, which places to visit, which excursions to take, where the breathtaking views are waiting for you. Planning your trip with this travel guide will help your to get the most out of Kostroma in few days.
