The Ryazan region is an amazingly beautiful area located in the center of Russia. The region is full of natural picturesque monuments, a variety of natural bewitching landscapes and has favorable climatic conditions and ecological environment.
The Ryazan region is also home to beautiful artificial ponds, healing mud and pure mineral springs. Here in the south there are long-lasting feather grass steppes and dazzling green broad-leaved forests, and in the north in the Meshchersky National Park there is European taiga.
It is impossible to imagine the Ryazan region without the Oka, one of the most exciting and largest European rivers, crossing the region. Oka is rich in incredible landscapes, which is why it is attractive for tourists and lovers of all kinds of river cruises.
Meshchersky National Park
The Meshchersky region in the Ryazan region is an island of unique Russian untouched nature. Since ancient times, this beautiful forest region has attracted writers and artists, numerous lovers of quiet relaxation and nature with its small churches, rivers and lakes.
In 1992, it was here that the Meshchersky National Park was created, with a total area of 103 thousand hectares. The park covers the territory of the Klepikovsky lakes, the adjacent lowland swamps, a tributary of the Oka - the valley of the Pra River, as well as many raised swamps and a system of shallow lakes.
Origin of the lake
The history of the lake has 3 versions:
- The first version says that the lake was formed as a result of the descent of a glacier in ancient times. After the passage of the glacier, a deep hole was formed, which then filled with water. This conclusion is made due to the presence of relict plants in the water.
- The second version says that White Lake is of karst origin; it was formed due to the dissolution of limestone rocks underground and the filling of the resulting underground cave with water. This version is confirmed by the unique depth and extraordinary purity of the lake; here, even in the middle, the bottom is clearly visible.
- Recently, some publications claim that the lake was created due to a meteorite fall. There are even scientific reasons for this conclusion. Thus, local historian from Ryazan A. Kalashnikov expressed the opinion that the rocks extracted from the bottom of the lake have traces of heat treatment, which may be the result of a powerful explosion that occurred more than 10,000 years ago.
St. John the Theologian Monastery
The ancient St. John the Theologian Monastery is located in the village of Poshupovo on the banks of the picturesque Oka, among the beautiful nature of the Ryazan region. The monastery was repeatedly devastated by the Crimean Tatars, but after each raid it was rebuilt.
At the beginning of the 17th century, an attempt was made to move the monastery to the village of Vysokoye, under the protection and protection of border guards. But due to the fact that the icon of John the Theologian disappeared from the church in Vysokoye every time and reappeared in its old place, they decided to leave the location of the monastery unchanged. Today it is a functioning monastery with daily services.
Ryazan
Ryazan is one of the oldest cities in Russia.
Almost a thousand years of history is reflected in its cozy streets and unusual museums. Today's Ryazan is very multifaceted. On the one hand, it is a modern city with a developed hospitality and entertainment industry, attracting youth groups, family travelers, and business tourists. And on the other hand, there is a kind of nature reserve, where you can find the ancient manor house of academician Ivan Pavlov, meet the legendary Evpatiy Kolovrat and the mysterious crying baroness, try the favorite delicacy of all children - the famous lollipop “cockerel” on a stick.
Here you will definitely find something close to you!
Territory of the Ryazan Kremlin
Oka State Biosphere Reserve
The Oka Nature Reserve is an incredibly beautiful place and the most picturesque corner of the Ryazan region. The reserve has the most diverse and amazing nature of the region, including: bogs, rivers black with peat, crystal clear lakes, majestic deciduous forests and much more.
Every spring, hundreds of thousands of birds fly to the Oksky Nature Reserve. These are about a hundred species of passerine birds, cranes, geese, waders, herons, rakshas, gulls, etc. The reserve protects unique species of animals and plants, and only in its forests is it possible to admire the rarest orchid - the Lady's slipper.
The famous Oka meadows are full of the smells of herbs and attract with a variety of colors. About 900 species of vascular plants have been identified in the flora of the protected zone of the Oksky Nature Reserve. About 40 species of fish, 62 species of mammals, 6 species of reptiles, 266 species of birds and 11 species of amphibians live and give birth in the reservoirs, meadows and forests of the reserve.
Museum-reserve of S. A. Yesenin in the village of Konstantinovo
The complex takes you into the atmosphere of Sergei Yesenin’s childhood and youth. Manuscripts, photographs, and household items tell how the poet’s relatives and friends lived, how his most famous works were created.
The local landscapes deserve special attention: water meadows, the steep bank of the Oka and endless blue distances.
House of Sergei Yesenin in Konstantinovo
Iberdsky. Alexander Nevsky Church
The temple in the name of Prince Alexander Nevsky is located a few kilometers from the village of Iberdsky, Ryazan region, in a beautiful secluded place. The picturesque landscape of the monastery is decorated with the small river Iberd with a handmade wooden bridge flowing at the foot. The holy spring and font located near the temple are especially popular among tourists.
Previously, on the site of the Alexander Nevsky Church there was a convent, which was completely destroyed in the 1930s; the remains of the foundation of the destroyed temple can still be found today in the tall grass. In the early 1940s, a new stone church was erected on the site of the destroyed monastery, and a year later it was consecrated in honor of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky.
Ryazan Kremlin, territory and museums
Address: Kremlin, 15 Phone: Website: https://www.ryazankreml.ru/ Opening hours of exhibitions: from 10-00 to 17-15 Cost of entrance tickets: from 60 to 120 rubles, a single ticket for all exhibitions – 270 rubles . How to get there: By trolleybus No. 1 from the Ryazan-1 or Ryazan-2 railway stations, get off at the Sobornaya Ploshchad stop.
The Kremlin was built in several stages, and its final appearance took shape in the mid-eighteenth century. The dominant feature of this architectural ensemble is rightfully considered the Assumption Cathedral, which was built according to the design of the Russian architect Ya. Bukhvostov in 1693-1699.
Often the walls of such structures are hidden behind powerful fortress walls, while the Ryazan Kremlin is surrounded by natural barriers - two rivers and a deep dry ditch. That is why nothing will prevent you from taking successful photographs of it from different angles.
Interestingly
In addition to eight temples, a bell tower and deep ditches, there are several museum exhibitions on the territory of the Kremlin:
- An exhibition dedicated to the history of the Ryazan Museum-Reserve is located in the Oleg Palace - the most “secular” building of the Kremlin, where the church administration lived.
- The Singing Building hosts a permanent exhibition telling about the national customs, everyday life and holidays of the Russian people.
- Hotel Cherni, which at one time served as a resting place for wandering monks, will tell you about the secrets of the first Ryazan settlement - the most ancient settlement on the territory of Ryazan.
- In the Consistory Building you can see fragments of wall paintings depicting scenes from the life of the justice authorities of that time: courts and litigation.
Consistory Corps
Von Derviz's estate
Kiritsy is an amazing and beautiful place in the Ryazan region, having a combination of bygone splendor, decline and harmony. It is here, on the right bank of the Prony River, that a magnificent architectural structure is located - the von Derviz estate. The site for the construction of the estate complex was a ravine with a small smooth descent to the river.
Once on the territory of the estate there were many attractions, including hanging bridges over ravines, a horse yard, a fence, a system of ponds, grottoes and entrance gates. Unfortunately, many of these unique buildings have not survived to this day. The same buildings that “survived” were slowly destroyed over the years.
Old Ryazan
One of the largest cities of Ancient Rus', the first capital of the Ryazan principality, Russian Troy, the only medieval Russian city that turned into a classic “dead city” - all this is Old Ryazan.
Today, Old Ryazan is the largest archaeological site in Russia, where many treasures were found, objects from which can be found in the Ryazan Historical and Archaeological Museum-Reserve.
Every year archaeological expeditions, scientific camps and, of course, excursions for the curious are held here.
Settlement Old Ryazan
Come to Ryazan! We will advise the best, find a guide, answer questions, give advice and help. Information provided by the Tourist Information Center of the Ryazan Region
Airborne Forces History Museum
Address: pl. Margelova, 1. Phone: Website: www.odnoklassniki.ru/muzeyvdv Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 13:00, closed on Monday.
It is known that Ryazan, namely the Ryazan Airborne Military School named after Margelov, is considered the birthplace of the Russian military elite - the airborne troops.
It is in the building of the school that the museum of the history of this type of troops is located. Here you can see an exhibition of the banners of the air force from the Great Patriotic War, a collection of military weapons and equipment, parachutes and small arms.
River walks
Address of the Ryazan river shipping company: suburban pier "Ryazan" Telephone: , 246-446 Website: www.teplohod62.ru Schedule: steamships run at intervals of once every two hours. The first one departs at 12 noon, the last one at 10 pm. Ticket price: adult: 300-400 rub. (depending on the route); for children – 150 rub.
The Ryazan River Shipping Company offers two excursion routes along the Oka. In the first option, the ship will pass the mouth of the Trubezh River and turn around at the road bridge to Solotcha. This route lasts one hour.
The second option is that moving down the Oka, the ship turns around at the Shumashinsky Islands (landing on them is not provided). The total duration of this route is one and a half hours.
A boat trip along the Oka is an excellent opportunity to admire the panorama of the Ryazan Kremlin, the Hill of the Savior on the Yara and the church of the same name, and take interesting panoramic photographs of this part of Ryazan.
The pier from which pleasure boats depart is located not far from the Ryazan Kremlin complex. You just need to walk along the embankment and go down to the pier.
Ryazan Art Museum named after. I.P. Pozhalostina
Address: st. Svobody, 57 Phone: Website: https://www.artmuseum62.ru Opening hours: daily from 11:00 to 19:00 (entrance until 18:00), except Monday and the first Friday of each month. Ticket price for adults: 60 rub.
The museum houses a rich collection of many of the most famous masters of Russian landscape painting. These are works by Levitan, Shishkin, Repin, Savrasov. There are unique works by Italian masters, including Francesco Guardi - “Venetian Landscape”.
The museum is housed in a building of considerable historical value - this is a striking example of the Russian architectural school of the classicism era of the late 18th century.
Pavlov House-Museum
Address: Pavlova street, 25 Phone: Website: www.museumpavlov.ru Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 17:00, closed on Monday, the last Friday of the month is a sanitary day. Ticket price: 55–110 rub.
Everyone has heard about Pavlov's dog, thanks to which the famous physiologist substantiated his theory of reflexes. But it’s unlikely that everyone knows that the scientist himself – I.P. Pavlov lived and worked in Ryazan, and the house-museum located on the street of the same name tells about this.
This rather cozy and ancient museum (the estate building itself is a well-preserved wooden house of the 19th century) displays a collection of personal belongings, books and household items of Academician Pavlov; the original furniture and interior elements are well preserved here. Recommended for visiting to anyone interested in the history of Russian biological science.
