Rostov - a City of Enamel and Bell-Ringing

Rostov is mentioned in the annals of the IX century. In XIII-XV centuries this city was the center of the principality, but later it lost this status. And nevertheless it remained large and considerable. Local princes minted their own coins, and the lands owned by Rostov reached almost Veliky Novgorod. Rostov was also an important spiritual center. In the middle of the XV century local bishops received the status of archbishops, and half a century later the Rostov Metropolitanate was formed. Rostov still carries the title of a serious religious center. At any time of the year pilgrims from all over Russia seek to the Rostov monasteries — Monastery of St. Jacob Saviour, Epiphany Abraham Monastery and others.

The troubled time at the beginning of the 17th century brought huge damages to the city, after which it slowly rebuilt again, and in the 1660s, thanks to the efforts of Metropolitan Jonah, received its main symbol — the Rostov Kremlin, which turned into a museum 200 years later. Today the Rostov Kremlin with its churches and chambers is the visiting card of the city.

In the XVII century Rostov became a trading city, and its fair was the third largest in Russia. Local merchants spent money on the development of the city as readily as they earned it. Families of merchants the Kekins and the Selivanovs forever entered in the history of Rostov through patronage and support for culture and education. A separate museum is dedicated to the life and business of the Rostov merchants.

One can visit amazing museums in Rostov. For example, Rostov Finift museum — «fiery painting» art on enamel. Another exposition of finift is located in the Factory Rostov Finift. Baklushas (billets for spoons) and Rostov onion are also decorated with their own museums. And Museum-Manor Leontiyevs Nobles will tell you about the daily life of local aristocrats of the past centuries.

Rostovites believe that the famous Russian fairy tale «By the Pike’s Command» (As if by magic) was born exactly on their land: after all, the pikes are in honor here. There is even a recipe of local soup from pike — Rostov ukha. The best opportunity to taste it is Rostov Veliky Ukha Soup Festival, which is held in the city in late spring. Onions are also in honor here. One can taste all the variety of dishes from onion in the cafe of the «Lukova Sloboda» museum. Other dishes of Russian cuisine can be also found here without difficulty: dumplings, cabbage soup, pickles and pies. In addition to Russian drinks kvass and sbiten, one also needs to taste Rostov mead.

Spring and summer are probably the best time to visit Rostov. In addition to the Ukha Festival, Rostov celebrates The City Day in May and hosts the Festival of Music and Crafts «Living Antiquity», where one can hear the most magical Rostov bells ringing, as well as the Folk Festival «Berezovoe Leto» («Birch Summer»). In July multi-colored balloons soar up the Lake Nero. It is the air balloon festival called the Golden Ring of Russia. August is also rich in events: in the last summer month the International Festival of Russian medieval monastic culture «Rostov action», the holiday «Alyosha Popovich — the hero of Rostov» with fisticuffs, historical dances and the craft fair are held. In September the gastronomic festival «Onion Fair» is held.

Rostov is an excellent option at least for a visit on the weekend. Over the weekend one can study not only the Kremlin, but also visit at least one monastery, a curious museum and go around the historic center, which has not changed much in the last hundred years, but also ride a boat along the Lake Nero to appreciate the landscapes of Rostov from the water. This city will remain in memory for a long time.

Get directions

The fastest way to reach Rostov is by railway. Rostov is the only stop on the way of the Moscow-Yaroslavl train, the journey time is less than three hours. The journey by bus takes 4 hours. From Yaroslavl one can get to Rostov in about an hour by bus or commuter train.