Zvenigorod or Russian Switzerland

Zvenigorod is one of the most ancient cities of the Moscow region. Here are interesting churches, museums and one of the most revered Orthodox monasteries of Russia — the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. The relics of St. Sava, to which pilgrims flock, are kept in this monastery. People come to the city also to visit the family estate of A.S. Pushkin, the summer house of the Russian writer Prishvin, as well as to taste traditional Russian sweets like pastilles and gingerbread in the Museum of Russian Dessert. And, of course, in Zvenigorod one needs to hear the bells ringing.

Zvenigorod is located 70 kilometers west of Moscow on the banks of the Moskva River. According to the chronicle, the city was founded in 1152 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. The heyday of Zvenigorod came during the reign of Prince Yuri Zvenigorodsky, when the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery and the Cathedral of the Assumption were built here. In the XVII century the Great Moscow Highway (Bolshoi Moskovsky trakt) or the Royal Road passed through Zvenigorod. Now it is the Rublevo-Uspenskoe highway, one of the shortest federal highways along which the cottages of famous Russian politicians and businessmen are located.

At the end of the XVII century Zvenigorod became an industrial center. Here there were metallurgical plants of the entrepreneur, philanthropist and patron of arts Savva Morozov. Before the revolution of 1917 Zvenigorod district was one of the most developed ones in the Moscow province. After the Second World War Zvenigorod turned into a sanatorium-resort city famous for the forest parks and clean air, which has a beneficial effect on health. Thanks to these factors the city is called Russian Switzerland.

The unique Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery is an amazingly beautiful monument of ancient Russian architecture, the main attraction point for travelers. From here it was convenient to warn Moscow about the approaching enemies, as the monastery stood on a high hill, from which the surroundings are beautifully viewed. This can be also seen today from the observation deck, located directly in the monastery. Several magnificent cathedrals in Zvenigorod as well as old Russian estates also attract attention.

In local restaurants one can taste traditional Russian dishes: potatoes stewed with meat and mushrooms in tagine, mushroom soup and pies with meat, cabbage and other fillings. In the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery it is impossible to pass by the shop, where they sell delicious monastic bread and other pastries. Visitors also praise the fish smoked on alder, which can be found in the refectory. From drinks it is worth tasting cold kvass in the summer, and in winter a warm sbiten — a drink consisting of water, honey and spices (or various herbs).

In short, Zvenigorod is an ideal place for a holiday, where one can take a walk, and learn interesting facts of the Russian history, and have very tasty lunch.

Get directions

Zvenigorod can be reached by public transport and by car. Electric trains run from the Belorussky and Savyolovsky railway stations of Moscow. The journey takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. One can also take a bus: No. 455 from Tushinskaya metro station, No. 452 from Kuntsevskaya metro station and No. 881 from Strogino metro station.