The main attractions of Arzamas are considered to be unique monuments of Russian architecture and religious buildings. In the center of the city there is a cathedral square, next to which there are cathedrals, buildings of yesteryear and museums.
You can understand what the city looked like a hundred or two hundred years ago on Gostiny Ryad Street. One of the most famous streets of Arzamas, the street goes down sharply, because the city is located in a hilly area.
There are steps for the convenience of pedestrians. Dozens of shops are located on both sides of the city's main shopping street.
Be sure to visit the city's temples. Now there are much fewer religious buildings left in Arzamas than at the beginning of the 20th century. If it were not for the destruction of churches during Stalin's times, tourists could see more than 30 churches and 4 monasteries.
What are the surrounding areas famous for?
To visit a village and not visit its surroundings is simply a crime:
- every day, except Monday and Tuesday, from 10:00 to 16:00 you can go to the village of Lvovka;
- If you go further south from the village, then you should definitely visit the Luchinnik grove. Thanks to its elevation, the clearing offers stunning views of the surrounding area, and if you are tired of walking, you can quench your thirst with clean ice water from a real spring.
Wide Maslenitsa in Boldino
When visiting Boldino during the most non-tourist season - winter, you can catch such holidays as “Maslenitsa”, “Yuletide fortune-telling” and Russian-folk gatherings. The village of Bolshoye Boldino is worth visiting, and preferably more than once. This place is famous for its special ecology and strong energy. If possible, you should spend a few days traveling and then the trip will leave an indelible mark on your soul.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=DdsMMhTdlss
Arzamas - city of churches
Many churches, temples and monasteries have always been built in Rus'. The city of Arzamas did not stand aside either. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 4 monasteries and 36 churches. Unfortunately, today's list of holy places has been significantly reduced, and only 1 monastery and 17 churches are open to parishioners.
St. Nicholas Convent
Located in the very heart of the city - on Cathedral Square. Founded during the time of Ivan the Terrible, since then it has been rebuilt and expanded several times. Today it is a white stone building with a small territory, which has several valuable shrines:
- the miraculous icon of the Mother of God, which unexpectedly cleansed itself from the patina of time;
- icons and particles of the relics of the holy martyr Tatiana and the blessed Matrona of Moscow;
- ark with the relics of saints.
Churches and temples
Right there on Cathedral Square, which is the historical and territorial center, there are all the main churches, a description of which we will get acquainted with below:
- The Resurrection Cathedral is the pride of local residents. Occupies a dominant position among other buildings.
- Church of the Epiphany (Epiphany) - a beautiful two-story religious building is located on the territory of the Nikolaevsky Women's Monastery, forming the appearance of the main city square.
- Church of the Life-Giving Spring - famous for its beautiful carved iconostasis and the rare icon “Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary”;
- The Church of St. Nicholas is an elegant three-tiered building with magnificent interior decoration.
The rest are scattered throughout the city, and it will take more than one day to get to know them in detail. Thanks to the abundance of churches, Arzamas attracts faithful parishioners and pilgrims from distant corners of Russia, including Moscow. You can freely enter any church, but taking photos and videos in many of them is prohibited.
Tips for staying in Arzamas
When planning a trip to an unfamiliar city, you need to carefully prepare so as not to miss a single detail. Therefore, you need to choose a hotel, make an excursion plan, and also decide which establishment is most convenient to eat in in advance.
Where to stay
If you want to see the interior decoration of all the temples and visit all the sights of Arzamas, you should stay in the city for several days. To do this, you should check into a hotel. There are several modern hotels equipped with comfortable rooms:
- Four-star hotel "Reavil". Located at Karl Marx Street, 10 - in the very center of the historical district of the city.
Hotel "Reavil" - elite, recently built, stylized as city antiquity - Hotel "Kommersant". Located on Parkovaya Street, in house number 1G. You can get there by buses No. 1 and No. 4.
- Guest house "Bunin". The address is Lenin Avenue, 146. To get to your destination, you need to take bus route No. 1.
What to bring as a souvenir
Arzamas is rich in souvenirs. Wooden crafts are produced here: a variety of boxes, stands, cutting boards, decorative dishes and much more. The choice of wooden products is truly large, so every tourist will find something to their liking. Textiles are also popular souvenir products in Arzamas. Here you can buy an embroidered apron, cap, gloves, collar, and stockings.
The main symbol of the city is the goose, so in Arzamas you can find many souvenir figurines of this bird. They are made from a variety of materials: the cheapest are clay and wooden geese, and the most expensive are glass and bird feathers.
The goose is the main symbol of Arzamas
Popular souvenirs are onion dolls that serve as washcloths, as well as clay toys. Exact copies of objects that people use in everyday life are made from clay here. So, you can find small cups, jugs, teapots, etc.
Another option for souvenirs are items made from leather and bast. These can be wallets, key holders, baskets, flowerpots and more. As a rule, such a souvenir is decorated with the inscription “Arzamas”, which will remind you of a pleasant trip.
Gorodets Local Lore Museum
In 1918, the city administration opened a new gallery. A few years later, the gallery was given a merchant's house and given a new name in the form of the Gorodets Local History Museum. The museum exhibits more than 15 thousand exhibits with an ethnic focus. The compositions will be of interest to visitors who are interested in folk creative art. Tourists will be interested in intricate hand-embroidered scenes and historical weapons.
Visitors are presented with archaeological finds and objects that clearly characterize folk crafts. In the museum you can find rare exhibits: gold embroidery items, exhibits of decorative and applied arts, unique clay whistles, ancient wooden paintings. They also stage scenes from the life and everyday life of the Russian people.
Advice! The museum cannot be viewed in one day, so tourists are advised to stay in nearby hotels.
Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Torg
Founded in the 15th century, it became widely known in 1612, when from its porch Minin called for the creation of a militia. Initially, the church was wooden, but in the second half of the 17th century it was rebuilt at the insistence of the landowner Dranishnikov. His family became supporters of the Old Believers and fled the city. The head of the family remained committed to Orthodoxy and wanted to restore his honor.
During the 19th century, the temple was reconstructed several times, “overgrown” with new buildings. The Alexander Nevsky chapel, bell tower, and altar were erected. With the advent of the USSR, the abbot of the monastery was shot, and the building was transferred to the needs of a sports school. In the 90s, the temple was returned to the church. And by 2005, a complete restoration was carried out.
From Arzamas to Sarov Desert
The most important connection between Arzamas and Diveyevo is not in the main tourist and pilgrimage routes leading from the city to the Diveyevo monastery. The fact is that thanks to Arzamas, or more precisely, the monk of the Arzamas Vvedensky Monastery, the Sarov Hermitage was born, where the Monk Seraphim of Sarov subsequently labored.
The above-mentioned monk, John Fedorov, decided to retire to the Sarov forest, where he labored in prayer for 7 years. Subsequently, he built a temple, founded a monastery in 1706, became its abbot, and in 1711 wrote a communal charter.
A century later, a man came from Arzamas to the Sarov Hermitage again, but this time the artist Osip Semenovich Serebryakov. Five years before the death of St. Seraphim of Sarov, he painted his portrait.
The great Diveyevo ascetic, Blessed Pelageya Ivanovna, also came from Arzamas. She began her feat back in the city. But in 1837, the Diveyevo nuns took her with them to the monastery, which fulfilled the priest’s prophecy about the blessed one. She lived in the monastery for 46 years, and is now canonized as a locally revered saint. Her relics rest in the Kazan Church of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery.
Source "Nikola-Klyuch"
A 10-minute drive from Gorodets is the village of Beloglazovo, where a spring with healing water flows. According to legend, it was in this area, at the intersection of the streams of the source, that St. Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared in our world. The spring is unique due to the confluence of streams in a cross-shaped position. The water in the source is considered healing.
Every day anyone can drink or get water. Scientists conducted research which ultimately revealed that the water in the source contains a high percentage of silver, micro and macroelements. Every year, pilgrims come to the spring and say prayers.
The source is always open to tourists. On the territory of the miraculous place, during the reign of Peter I, a chapel was built in which you can confess or receive communion, and accept the Christian faith. The water in the spring never freezes and is famous throughout the city for its softness and healing properties.
Where to go in Arzamas with a child
You should definitely come to Arzamas with your child. It may be interesting for him to visit the house-museums of famous writers.
In the park of culture and recreation you can spend time riding rides
In addition, by visiting the Park of Culture and Recreation, you can go on rides, take part in competitions and fun games. The Arboretum and Planetarium will be fascinating for the child. A small copy of the Eiffel Tower will definitely delight any boy or girl.
Walking tour of Arzamas
The center of Arzamas is Cathedral Square, over which the Resurrection Cathedral (1814-1842, classicism, architect Mikhail Varentsov-Korinthsky) rises gigantically. The length and width of the building are 64 meters each. You should go inside - there are large frescoes depicting biblical scenes. Adjacent to the cathedral is the Church of the Virgin Mary (1823); on the square you can also find a brick magistrate building (1740-1750). Gostiny Dvor Street runs down from the square, completely preserving the buildings of the 19th century - old shops and shops that look very colorful. Having reached Uritsky Street, turn right - there is the house of the merchant Shkarin (early 19th century) and a whole galaxy of ancient buildings on the Upper Teshya embankment. You can also turn left, onto Lenin Street - there is the white Vladimirskaya, or Zosimovskaya, church (1802) with a round dome, then the Smolenskaya (1797) and the Nativity of Christ (1850-1852, architect K. Ton) churches. If you cross the bridge over Tesha, you will find yourself in the village of Vyezdnoye, a former Cossack settlement, notable for the Smolensk Church (1843). Viezdnoye is also the birthplace of Alena Arzamasskaya, the legendary Mordovian Amazon robber, comrade-in-arms of Stepan Razin. Karl Marx Street goes in the opposite direction from the square. Along the way you will meet the A.M. Museum. Gorky (No. 17), turning left, you can visit the A.P. Museum. Gaidar (Gorky St., 18) in his childhood home. Having walked the street to the end, you can go deeper into the park named after. Gaidar, or you can turn right and go out onto the square. Lenin - there is the main attraction of Arzamas, the Transfiguration Cathedral (1638-1643), left over from the monastery. Then the historical part of the city ends, and the rows of new buildings of the socialist era begin.
The railway station in Arzamas (Arzamas-1 station) is located far from the center, and if you come here from Nizhny by train, pay attention to the monument in memory of those killed on June 4, 1988 (then a freight train with ammunition exploded at the station, resulting in 91 people died). The monument is made in the style of Salvador Dali - an alarm clock is built into the ugly iron structure
Transit trains Moscow - Kazan, by the way, do not call at this station; they go through Arzamas-2, which is also on the outskirts of the city. Both stations are connected by city bus No. 1. Arzamas can be considered as a base for traveling around the south of the region.
Route for exploring Arzamas on your own for 1 day
How to spend 1 day in Arzamas:
- You should start your sightseeing from Cathedral Square. Cathedral Square of the city of Arzamas
- Enjoy the views of the Resurrection Cathedral and St. Nicholas Monastery.
- Go to the Museum of the Russian Patriarchate.
- Take a look at the city's Central Market.
- Visit the Historical and Art Museum.
- Get to Kalinina Street and visit the memorial complex with the eternal flame.
- Admire the Water Tower, which is located near the memorial.
- Go to the monument to internationalist soldiers.
- Drive to Gorky Street and visit the A.P. Museum. Gaidar.
- If you want to take a walk in the fresh air, get to Lenin Street and visit the recreation park named after A.P. Gaidar.
Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
The beautiful church resembles the Resurrection Cathedral, but its size is smaller and its appearance is more austere. The Ilyinsky and Frolovo-Lavra chapels and the refectory were added to the temple. The church is decorated with a tented bell tower.
This temple, like the Resurrection Cathedral, was painted by Arzamas and Moscow masters. The church houses a work by the great Spanish painter Bartolomeo Esteban Murillo.
Count Saltykov received a gift - the painting “The Crucifixion of Christ the Savior” from the daughter of the Saxon king. The canvas still adorns the altar.
The Church of the Smolensk Mother of God is included in the register of monuments of all-Russian significance. Tourists and pilgrims from all over Russia come to see this beautiful temple.
Address: pl. Lenina, 37.
There is another ancient temple on Rozhdestvenskaya Street. The Church of the Nativity, of course, is smaller in size than the main city cathedral, but it also looks solemn and elegant.
Architect – K.A.Ton. The temple was built at the expense of the local merchant A.Ya. Zayashnikov. Construction lasted 7 years. The first parishioners were able to pray in the new church in 1852.
In the center of Arzamas is the St. Nicholas Convent. The monastery was founded at the end of the 16th century on Cathedral Square.
In the 19th century, nuns began to knit colorful boots and boots. The products were to the taste of local fashionistas.
Since then, fishing has become traditional for Arzamas. Original knitted items can be found in souvenir shops in the living room row.
Guests of the city will be interested in the exhibits of the Museum of the Russian Patriarchate and the Town Hall building. The museum complex opened in 2013.
This project was implemented by the Nizhny Novgorod Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve together with the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese.
The exhibits are dedicated to the activities of the patriarchs, among whom were clergy of high rank who lived in Nizhny Novgorod.
Address: pl. Sobornaya, 1a.
Many exhibits collected in Arzamas and surrounding villages are presented in the city history and art museum. Exhibitions of folk art and meetings with artists are held here.
The museum's collection includes thousands of exhibits from different periods. Arzamas has something to surprise its guests. The history of the fortress city began in 1578, and historians and ethnographers have found many antiquities.
Architectural structures in Arzamas
Arzamas, whose sights can surprise everyone with their beauty and uniqueness, makes you feel the subtle connection between the modern world and the life of the city several centuries ago.
Water tower
Opposite the Memorial complex dedicated to the victory in the Second World War, at the intersection of Karl Marx and Kalinin streets, there is an old Water Tower. The foundation of the tower was laid in May 1911. The building was used for its intended purpose until 1971. At this time, new pumps were put into operation and the water tower was disconnected from the network.
Currently, the tower is considered one of the decorations of the old city. On the upper tier of the structure they installed the coat of arms of Arzamas and the figure of a deer, which is a symbol of Nizhny Novgorod.
Ancient magistrate's building
For local governments, by decree of Peter I, special buildings with town halls or main chambers were built. Court sessions and meetings of merchants took place in these premises. The Arzamas Magistrate was built on Cathedral Square in 1721 in the very center of the city. The building is two-story, the lower floor was not used for its intended purpose, and its premises were rented out.
The uniqueness of the building lies in the fact that it has not been rebuilt and has retained its original features. Currently it houses the Museum of the Russian Patriarchate.
Alekseevsky Novodevichy Convent
One of the oldest architectural monuments of Arzamas is the building of the Alekseevsky Novodevichy Convent. It was created in the 17th century by royal decree. The complex included the Resurrection and Assumption churches and the hospital building. The church monastery was surrounded by a high wall with a bell tower, behind which were located other buildings of the monastery and the cells of the monks.
At the beginning of the 20th century, some of the buildings were destroyed and the monastery was abolished. A military unit is located in the premises of the monastery that have survived to this day. The building is located on Sovetskaya Street.
Neighborhoods of Arzamas
After exploring the sights of Arzamas, Nizhny Novgorod region, you can go out of town. Beautiful places await tourists here.
Desert Lakes
Desert deep-water lakes are a real miracle of nature. They are located just 30 km from Arzamas. Their banks are covered with broad-leaved and coniferous forests, and the reservoirs themselves occupy an area of more than 300 hectares and are located in a bizarre labyrinth. There is rich nature here; otters, muskrats, beavers, swans, and rare birds live here. Tourists who come from Moscow always try to relax for at least a couple of hours on the Pustynsky Lakes, away from the noise and dust of the capital.
Balakhonikha Cave
Not far from Arzamas there is a natural monument protected by the state - the unique karst Balakhonikha Cave. It is located in an abandoned gypsum quarry 5.5 km from the village of Balakhonikha. Finding it is not difficult: all local residents know how to get to the famous natural attraction. The Balakhonikha cave occupies about 54 hectares, and its interior decoration is amazing: stalagmites and stalactites, columns and curtains are full of bluish ice layers, vaults in the form of a cracked hemisphere hang over the cave halls, branched ponoras are connected by underground galleries.
How to get around Arzamas
When you come to see the sights of Arzamas, you can get around the city using local taxi services. Taxi prices are reasonable: one trip around the city will cost from 70 to 100 rubles. There is no metro in Arzamas. The transport network is represented by 14 city routes.
The fare for a bus or minibus costs about 20 rubles. The last public transport routes operate from 22:20 to 23:00.
The sights in Arzamas can be seen in one day. The most popular places to visit are located in the city center close to each other. Walking along the narrow streets and enjoying the beauty of Orthodox cathedrals, the traveler has a good opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life and get a new charge of positive energy.
Article design: Mila Friedan
Epiphany Church
Recommend a place
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The Epiphany Church is located in the city of Arzamas, Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia. The temple is located on the territory of the Nicholas Convent.
There are several versions about the date of construction of the temple, but the most reliable one points to 1811. As historians note, the church project was developed by local architects. Since that time, the building has been rebuilt 5 times, acquiring new architectural features.
A special feature of the church building is its two-story layout. The first floor is occupied by cells for sick nuns and a hospital church, and the Church of the Epiphany itself is located on the second floor. The church is one of the buildings that forms the appearance of the Cathedral Square of Arzamas. Not far from the church there are other buildings of the monastery, including the famous Holy Gate.
Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ
One of the most beautiful temples in the city. Construction of the cathedral in honor of the victory over Napoleon began in 1814. Due to lack of funds, the work lasted for 28 years.
The five-domed cathedral turned out the way it was intended: solemn, richly decorated, with beautiful frescoes on the pediments. Forty-eight columns decorate the structure.
The dimensions of the structure are impressive: 64 m wide and 64 m long, and the height of the middle cross is 47 m. The temple is visible from several kilometers away.
The unique appearance of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is the merit of the famous architect Michael of Corinth. The talented master wanted his brainchild to be unique. The Arzamas Cathedral is rightfully considered one of the most majestic and original churches in Russia.
The cathedral is located on a high hill and is the main temple of the city. Address: pl. Sobornaya, 1.
Museum of Good
The museum building was designed in 1906. Initially, the mansion belonged to the merchant Plekhanov, who loved overseas wonders and revered the traditions of his people. In 2009, a treasure was found in the merchant's house. Only after this did the museum open at the beginning of 2011.
Some of the valuables were distributed to museums across the country, some exhibits are presented in the Gorodets Museum of Local Lore. The found specimens are dedicated to the life and traditions of local residents of the early 19-20 centuries. Tourists of antiques will be interested in locks of unusual design and dishes forged by blacksmiths. The museum has a separate exposition of the Russian stove, presenting options for its design during the princely reign.
Top attractions (10)
alphabetically by popularity
Literary and Memorial House-Museum of A.P. Gaidara16
The country's only memorial house-museum of Arkady Gaidar was opened in October 1967 in the city of Arzamas. The Literary and Memorial Museum of A.P. Gaidar will include three museums: the memorial and household house-museum of A.
Park of Culture and Leisure named after. A.P. Gaidara14
The beautiful city park, founded in 1957 in the very center of Arzamas, was named after the children's writer Arkady Gaidar. On an area of thirty hectares there is a green area with paved paths, a small pond, a “Little Country” playground, attractions, a chess club, a memorial area and several monuments.
Museum of the Russian Patriarchate in the Magistrate building11
In the center of Cathedral Square, surrounded by churches and monasteries, there is a unique building built in 1740-1750 - the building of the city magistrate. The magistrate is a local government body established by Peter the Great, the town hall.
Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God10
Opposite the city of Arzamas, on the other bank of the Teshu River, Ivan the Terrible settled six hundred Cossack families to form the Cossack Vyezdnaya Sloboda. Subsequently, the sovereign's palace village began to be called Vyezdnoye.
Balakhonikha Cave9
The south of the Nizhny Novgorod region is famous for its caves and karst sinkholes. Picturesque panoramas, rocky cliffs and precipices with sheer walls attract climbers, tourists and simply nature lovers.
Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”9
Of the many ancient Arzamas churches for which the city was famous for three centuries, only two remained undestroyed and have retained their former appearance and purpose to this day. These are the Resurrection Cathedral and the church in the name of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Life-Giving Source,” built in 1794 on the site of an older one.
Church of the Nativity8
An original architectural landmark of the “golden age” of the city of Arzamas is the Church of the Nativity of Christ, built on the site of a 17th-century temple. In 1845, the foundation stone of the new Church of the Nativity of Christ took place at the expense of the Arzamas merchant-farmer A.
Resurrection Cathedral7
On the high hill of Arzamas stands its main decoration - the Resurrection Cathedral. The majestic temple, surrounded by monasteries and churches, can be seen tens of kilometers away in clear weather. The grandiose cathedral was built according to the design of the outstanding architect Mikhail Petrovich Korinthsky in honor of the victory of the Russian people over Napoleon in 1812.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery7
One of the main attractions of the city of Arzamas is the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, built in 1638 on the territory of a monastery. The oldest architectural monument is the main temple of the monastery, founded in 1556.
Nicholas Convent4
On the Cathedral Square of Arzamas stands the St. Nicholas Monastery, founded in 1580 by decree of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Initially, the wooden building belonged to the St. Nicholas Church, where a convent was later founded.
Museums of Arzamas
In Arzamas you can visit interesting museums that contain valuable information about the history of the city and the people who lived in it many years ago.
Museum of the Russian Patriarchate
The museum is located on Cathedral Square in the center of the old city. The building housing the museum's exhibits is considered an architectural monument. Experts are confident that the building is of historical value, because it is the only example of what a city magistrate looked like in the mid-18th century that has survived to this day.
The museum is a unique project of interaction between the Orthodox Church and government authorities. The exhibition is presented with rare materials from the life of Patriarchs Sergius and Nikon, who were natives of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Also in the museum you can learn a lot of interesting things from the life of the Patriarchs who lived at the beginning of the 20th century. Entrance to the museum is free.
Literary Museum A.P. Gaidar
Small museum of A.P. Gaidar is located on Gorky Street, 18. Talentedly selected materials about the life and work of the writer will not leave lovers of Russian literature indifferent. Close to the modern building in which the main exhibition is presented is the house of the writer’s family. The furniture and things that surrounded A.P. were preserved in it. Gaidar in his childhood.
Museum entrance prices:
- adult visitors – 90 rubles;
- pensioners – 70 rubles;
- students – 70 rubles;
- disabled people – 50 rubles;
- schoolchildren - 50 rubles;
- preschoolers - free.
A single ticket for entry to both museums is not sold; visiting each is paid separately.
Historical and Art Museum
History buffs will be interested in visiting the Arzamas Historical and Art Museum. The museum is located on Cathedral Square. It contains exhibits telling about the development of the city and region since their foundation. The museum was founded in 1957.
The museum's collection is presented by:
- archaeological finds;
- a collection of unusual fabrics from which clothes were made several centuries ago;
- porcelain collection;
- old coins;
- old printed books;
- painting and graphics.
The exhibition of the Arzamas Historical Museum consists of 4 departments:
- Antiquities of the region.
- The city and its inhabitants of the late XIX - early XX centuries.
- Art department.
- Arzamas goose.
A visit to the museum will cost adults 50 rubles, for schoolchildren and students the entrance fee will be 30 rubles, preschool children can visit the museum for 20 rubles.
My impressions and photos of Arzamas
As I wrote above, we ended up in Arzamas on the way to Diveevo. We didn’t have much time to get to know the city, so we limited ourselves to a quick look at the streets from the car window and a short walk around Cathedral Square. However, our discoveries awaited us here too.
It was May 11, Saturday of Easter week. Bells were ringing everywhere, and buses with pilgrims heading to Diveevo stopped every now and then on the square. At some point, my eyes even began to flicker from all these skirts and scarves.
Arzamas made an ambivalent impression on me. The churches, in general, seemed to be restored, but many interesting old civil buildings were, unfortunately, in disrepair.
In Arzamas
Standing out on Cathedral Square is the red building of the Magistrate, or Town Hall, built in the Baroque style in the mid-18th century. Now it is planned to create a museum of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate within its walls.
Arzamas, Town Hall (Magistrate)
Town Hall (Magistrate)
As I mentioned above, it was Easter week - on these days everyone is allowed to climb the bell tower and ring the bells. They rang in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”. It was built in 1794 as a warm winter temple.
Arzamas, Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”
A wooden staircase led to the bell tower, which at times seemed quite flimsy. We were lucky - there weren't many people. But when we descended, a whole crowd of pilgrims rose to meet us. I wonder how they fit on the bell tower?
On the bell tower of the Church of the Life-Giving Spring
View from the bell tower of the Church of the Life-Giving Spring
On the bell tower of the Church of the Life-Giving Spring
Bells of the Church of the Life-Giving Spring
View from the bell tower to Cathedral Square, Annunciation Church and Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery
In the bell tower of the Church of the Life-Giving Spring
Cathedral Square had a slightly disheveled appearance - there were cars and people everywhere, everything was moving in some kind of chaotic order. Here is also the Central market, and all sorts of shops, and the city park named after Lenin, where comrades with swollen faces sat on benches. There were also beggars wandering around “for Christ’s sake” (I really don’t like this crowd; even when the old women are fine, but when the young girls, who can be worked for, beg for alms, that’s too much). Add to this car parking and bus stops.
Cathedral Square
Cathedral Square
Cathedral Square
St. Nicholas Monastery in Arzamas
At the entrance to the market
But the most powerful impression is made by the Resurrection Cathedral. He's not just big - he's huge. And at the same time - very proportional. Unfortunately, you can’t take pictures in it, so you’ll have to take my word for it – it makes an equally strong impression inside. The Resurrection Cathedral was built in 1814-1842 in honor of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. The cathedral project was carried out by the architect Mikhail Petrovich Korinfsky (1788-1851), a native of Arzamas, a student of the architect A.N. Voronikhin.
Resurrection Cathedral
Resurrection Cathedral
Across the field (Vyezdnovskie meadows) you can see the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God (Smolensk Church). It was built in 1815, but the bell tower was built much earlier, in 1721.
Smolensk Church (Onsite)
Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God (Viezdnoye)
Then we set off along the road leading to Diveevo. On the way out, in Vyezdnoye, we made a stop - from here a beautiful view of Arzamas opens up.
Panorama of Arzamas
Church of the Life-Giving Spring and Resurrection Cathedral
Annunciation Church and Transfiguration Cathedral
We didn’t stop anywhere else until Diveevo itself. But a story about him next time. To be continued…
Ideally, you need to stay in Arzamas for several days to leisurely get to know all its attractions. You can view a selection of hotels on Booking.com.
How to get there
You can get to Arzamas in several ways:
- By car. Three highways go through Arzamas: M5, P72 and P158. If you are coming from Moscow, it is better to use the M5 highway. The time it takes to travel from Moscow to Arzamas is approximately seven hours. The P158 highway leads from Nizhny Novgorod to Arzamas, and the route will take about two to three hours. Among other things, you can get to the city along the P72 road, which starts in Vladimir.
It is more convenient to get to Arzamas from Moscow along the M5 highway - By bus. By bus, the easiest way is to get first to Nizhny Novgorod, and from there go to the desired destination. Buses from Nizhny Novgorod to Arzamas go quite often, the whole journey will take about three hours, the ticket price is about three hundred rubles. Departure takes place from the Shcherbinki bus station. Disembarkation in Arzamas takes place at the main bus station, located at st. Lenina, 21A, in the very center of the city.
The bus station in Arzamas is located in the central part of the city - By train. There are two railway stations in the city of Arzamas: Arzamas-1 and Arzamas-2. Long-distance trains from many cities stop at the first of them, for example, Moscow, Kazan, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Samara, Saratov, Krasnodar, Adler, Sochi. From Moskovsky Station in Nizhny Novgorod, trains depart every day to Arzamas. The journey takes from two to three hours, the fare is 251 rubles.
Long-distance trains stop at the Arzamas-1 railway station - By plane. There is no airport in Arzamas. Therefore, if you choose the air route, you will first have to fly to Nizhny Novgorod to Strigino Airport, and then get to Arzamas on one of the above mentioned transports.
The closest airport to Arzamas is in Nizhny Novgorod
Urban transport
In Arzamas itself, buses run around the city, there are fifteen routes in total. They all stop in the central part of the city - the Cathedral Square stop. If you need to get from the outskirts of the city to the center, you should know that transport starts at half past six in the morning and ends at ten or eleven in the evening. The cost of the service is twenty rubles. It is also possible to get around the city by taxi.
Most routes in Arzamas are carried out in old LiAZ trucks
Where to buy souvenirs?
There are sales points in Murom that are worth visiting to purchase local souvenirs and gifts:
Name of shop | Location |
Souvenirs | st. Lakina, 6 |
Exhibition hall "Ofenya" | pl. 1100th anniversary of Murom, 2 |
Idea "Print" | st. L. Tolstoy, 94 |
Cosiness | st. Lenina, 29 |
Souvenirs | st. Priokskaya |
Souvenir shop | st. Lakina, 9 |
Murom is a city that will welcome you with its warmth, atmosphere and beautiful architecture.
Recently, new attractions have been added to Murom. The city is very popular among numerous pilgrims and tourists. Guests, in addition to standard excursions, are encouraged to take advantage of unusual excursion routes offered by creative local residents.
Article design: Ilchenko Oksana
Interesting places in the city
Murom, whose attractions are popular among tourists, is famous for its Orthodox shrines, ancient objects and modern architectural solutions.
Monument to Ilya Muromets
The great knight was a real person, and according to legend, he came from the village of Karacharovo located near Murom. In 1999, in the central part of the city, on the territory of Oksky Park, local residents erected a monument to their famous fellow countryman. Ilya Muromets is depicted in the image of a monk-hero: in military armor, from under which the monastic robe is visible.
In his right hand is a sword held high, and his left hand holds a cross pressed to his chest. Near the pedestal there are figures of griffins resting their left paws on a shield. The height of the monument from the pedestal to the blade is 21 m. The author of the monument is the sculptor V.M. Klykov.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery
The monastery is the oldest building on this land; it was first mentioned in 1096. According to the chronicle, the community appeared on the site of the farmstead of the first local prince, Gleb. For a long period it served as one of the main defensive city lines. After the construction of the Transfiguration Cathedral and the attack by Lithuanian troops, the monastery suffered.
After this event, the monastery territory was rebuilt several times. A stone fence, several churches and outbuildings were erected. Later they founded a religious school and built a bell tower. The entire temple complex occupies a space of 200 m long and 150 m wide. Currently, there is a functioning men's monastery here.
Cable-stayed bridge
The cable-stayed bridge, built in 2009, was voted the most beautiful pontoon in the country by popular vote. A bypass highway has been laid along it, skirting the city and connecting Arzamas and Vladimir. The structure, 15 m wide, has a length of 1.4 km and stands on 3 main supports - 2 on each bank and one in the center.
Their height is more than 85 m. The length of the cable-stayed spans is 230 m. Before the construction of the new bridge, its functions were performed by an old pontoon, which could only be used in the summer. In winter we crossed the river by ferry. This problem was solved in 2 years of construction work with 8 billion rubles.
The throughput capacity of the structure is about 5 thousand cars per day. The structure can be seen from many points in the city. The cable-stayed bridge is located in the Navashino district, in the southern district of Murom.
Monument to Peter and Fevronia
Saints Prince Peter and Fevronia are considered protectors of family and devotion. This influenced the fact that in Murom in 2012 a monument was created called “Love Union - Wise Marriage.” Located near the Holy Trinity community, the bronze sculpture represents two massive figures of spouses placed next to each other.
Peter holds a sword in his hands, which represents power and fortitude. St. Fevronia covers the shoulders of her beloved with a veil, which personifies female wisdom. Behind them, on a pedestal, at the feet of the couple, lurks a rabbit, which serves as a symbol of the couple’s unity with the surrounding wildlife. People who come here rub the animal's nose for good luck.
Monument "Murom Kalach"
A monument dedicated to the “Murom Kalach” was erected in the settlement in 2012. This event coincides with the 1150th anniversary of the founding of Murom. The small sculptural composition is located near the central bazaar, near the Noble Club restaurant complex. The above baked product is considered an ancient pastry in Rus'.
According to legend, Murom kalach began to be made back in the 14th century. It was baked using a special technology, and nowadays the recipe for making real wheat round bread is considered lost. According to legend, when Catherine II visited the city and tried the baked goods, she granted the settlement a new coat of arms depicting 3 rolls.
The architectural form of the product is made of granite at the expense of local entrepreneur I. Zinoviev. Together with the pedestal, the sculpture has a height of 180 cm, the width of the composition is 1 m, and its weight is 100 kg. Sprayers are installed near the sculpture, thanks to which the stone baked goods have the smell of fresh bread. Object location: pl. 1100th anniversary of Murom.