Tutaev - a Pearl on the Volga

Tutaev is the former city of Romanov-Borisoglebsk, which is 35 km far from Yaroslavl. The Volga River divides the city into two parts: Romanov and Borisoglebsk, which were formed as separate settlements in the second half of the 13th century. In 1822 by the decree of Emperor Alexander I they were merged into one city of Romanov-Borisoglebsk. And in 1920 it was renamed Tutaev.

The history of Tutaev is inextricably linked with Orthodox relics. In the XVII-XVIII centuries a stone Resurrection Cathedral appeared in the city with its famous Icon of the All-Merciful Saviour and the fresco depicting the construction of the Tower of Babel. The Church of the Annunciation and Kazan Transfiguration Church are also worthy of attention. The latter became a decoration of the city and a motive for paintings by the famous Russian artist Kustodiev. Thanks to its temples Tutaev became a pearl on the Volga: there are no more churches in the Russian cities so picturesquely situated on the hills along the river.

Romanov-Borisoglebsk helped the development of the Russian fleet during the times of Peter the Great. The Emperor founded plants here where they made nails necessary for the construction of ships. Local weavers produced linen cloth for sails and sent them to the St. Petersburg shipyards. Here in the city near the Volga Peter the First brought a herd of sheep fleece from Germany and ordered the breeding of the famous Romanov breed, which still wins prizes at prestigious competitions of the world.

Today Tutaev is a typical Russian outback where it is still customary to drink hot tea from a saucer with a snack with pies filled with apple pastille and salted pike perch (pikeperch fillet). In addition, Tutaev is famous for its baranki — rolls made of choux paste in the form of an intricate elongated ring: the museum «Romanov Baranka» «tells» about them and the bakery art.

And the most surprising thing about Tutaev is the lack of bridges. There is still a regular ferry service, thanks to which people move from one bank of the Volga to another. This city seems to be frozen at the turn of the XIX — XX centuries. Its provinciality and the unremarkable beauty of the Volga banks, to which church domes are strung like beads, invariably conquers the heart of any tourist.

Get directions

Tutaev is located not far from Yaroslavl, to where more than 10 trains depart daily from Moscow — the journey time is 4 hours. Then by bus — about 40 minutes. In summer a motor ship goes to Tutaev from Yaroslavl. At the Schyolkovsky and Yaroslavsky Bus Terminals in Moscow one can take a direct and transit bus to Tutaev: it takes 5 hours to get to Tutaev. By car from Moscow along the Yaroslavskoe highway before turning to Kurba and Velikoye, traveling time is 4 hours.