“Where to go for the weekend with children?” — this question always interests Muscovites, but especially with the onset of warm weather. For one day you can get to the ancient cities of the Moscow region, and for two you can go deeper into neighboring regions, especially since now comfortable express trains go there “Central Suburban Passenger What to see in Tula?”, a 7ya.ru reader recently asked. It turned out that there was a lot, a lot - and the weekend might not be enough. My 9-year-old daughter and I set off on the Moscow-Tula express early Saturday morning from the Kursk station and after just over two hours we found ourselves in the city of gingerbread, samovars, Filimonov toys and weapons factories.
A city with character
Modern Tula cannot be called a metropolis of the new century. Despite the abundance of industrial enterprises in the city, it does not at all look like a technological center looking to the future. Everything here is quiet, simple and modest, despite the fact that the city has something to boast about.
It has more than enough tourism potential, but little ambition. Such is the character of the Tula people, who from time immemorial are accustomed to doing business, and not playing tricks. Tula is the homeland of skilled blacksmiths, capable of shoeing a flea and making a gun for the army. And in calm, peaceful times, you can surprise with samovars, and ones that even today you just want to put on the table. The city is sincerely proud of its long history and, it seems, does not want to change anything at all: not in its architectural appearance, which was seriously damaged during Soviet times. Not out of habit: paying tribute to the past, Tula remains the original spiritual center of Russia, where it’s nice to come for a day or two to immerse yourself in this amazing atmosphere.
The spirit of history can be seen in the historical center of the city, which, according to various sources, was founded either in the 12th century or in the 16th century. The first version is supported by evidence from chronicles in which Tula is mentioned in 1146. If we count from this date, then the city is already nine centuries old, which means it is included in the cohort of the oldest Russian cities. Founded as a fortress designed to protect the borders of Rus' from the attacks of the Crimean Tatars, it has preserved both ancient and spiritual fortifications: there are many ancient temples and churches.
Museums of the past and future: “Old Pharmacy” and “Experimentoria”
You can mix the past and the future in one bottle by visiting two completely different museums on the same day. In the “Old Pharmacy”, among the herbs, recipes yellowed by time and bottles with intriguing inscriptions like “Poison-Gift”, you are transported to the end of the 19th century, and, having seen under a microscope a real flea, savvy by a local craftsman-miniaturist, you go to mix perfumes from fragrant essential oils .
And then - to the scientific amusement park "Experimentoria" in the "Maxi" shopping center. Even those children who were in the Moscow Experimentanium will discover new exhibits here - and maybe even understand the physical principle of this or that miracle. Although, of course, rather than listen to explanations, it’s better to freeze your shadow, play on the invisible strings of a laser harp, or get lost in a mirror maze!
Bicycle with iron square wheels
How to get to Tula
The city is located 173 km from Moscow. This means that you can go here from the capital by car: the road will not be tiring. Your own transport opens up additional opportunities to explore not only the city, but also its surroundings, which are no less interesting than Tula itself.
There are also high-speed trains from the capital in this direction. Travel time takes 2-3 hours. If you get from St. Petersburg, the distance will be longer - 900 km, so you need to plan half a day for a trip by train or car.
The city itself has a developed transport network: you can get around by minibuses or trams. But if you are strictly interested in the sights of Tula, you won’t have to go anywhere. All the most valuable, interesting and historical things are concentrated within the city center, where it is most convenient to walk without rushing anywhere.
What to see in Tula in 1 day on your own
The city is exceptionally good because it is easy to get around without a guide. You won't be able to get lost or miss something important, even if you want to. Everything here is close and compact, and one starts getting acquainted with the city, of course, from the Kremlin.
The Tula Kremlin is a perfectly preserved 16th-century building that differs from its counterparts in other ancient cities. The Tula Kremlin was not built in a hurry before an enemy raid, but in a balanced, thoughtful manner, according to a regular plan. Therefore, it is absolutely logical, regular rectangular in shape, neat both inside and outside.
Its high red brick walls are crowned with turrets and battlements in the shape of a swallowtail. Historians believe that Italian craftsmen were involved in the construction, who gave the defensive structure an elegance uncharacteristic of the 16th century. Another difference is that it is located not on a hill, but in a lowland, so you won’t be able to contemplate the surroundings from the fortress wall. But you can devote time to exploring what is within the walls of the fortress. And here are powerful towers, two of which house museums, and the oldest Tula churches.
Assumption Cathedral . This is a majestic building from the 18th century, located on the territory of the Kremlin. You need to enjoy its appearance from afar in order to see it in its entirety. It is worth taking in the light walls, the gilded domes, and the rich decor with elaborate bas-reliefs and ornaments. It’s amazing how an Orthodox church can so closely resemble either an elegant box or a fairy-tale palace. Nevertheless, this is the current and main temple of the local diocese and one of the main historical sites of Tula. It is impossible not to notice that the cathedral is in perfect condition. It is beautifully restored and is perceived as the heart of the Tula Kremlin.
pixabay.com/
Epiphany Cathedral . This ancient building is also located in the Tula Kremlin and is also included in the cohort of interesting places in Tula and the region. Built at the beginning of the 19th century, it was not used for its intended purpose for long. In Soviet times, the Orthodox church was turned into either a palace for athletes or a flying club. The building was mercilessly rebuilt, thereby changing its original appearance beyond recognition. In the 70s, they decided to place a weapons museum here, and to this day, part of the famous exhibition is located in the already restored cathedral.
Elegant shopping arcades built in the 19th century have also been preserved on the territory of the Kremlin. And the first city power plant, which does not fit into the appearance of the complex at all. To explore all this, you will need at least four to five hours, and only then you can go for a walk along the city streets.
Not far from the Kremlin there are other interesting ancient buildings. This is the Church of the Annunciation, which is barely younger than the Kremlin walls and is a functioning temple. These are two nearby churches of the Assumption Convent, the view of which you can admire and go further to the Nikolo-Zaretsky Church . Its architecture may not surprise you, but its purpose is unusual for Russian cultural traditions. The temple was built by the famous Tula dynasty of industrialists, the Demidovs, as a necropolis. And today it serves as a tomb for several generations of a once rich and powerful family.
Gingerbread Museum
After street walks, the feet naturally go to the Kremlin “Museum of International Gingerbread” - so cozy, all covered in toys, pillows and gingerbread, even the water heater is dressed in a motley colored case.
We go for the smell of cardamom and vanilla
Tula printed gingerbreads are a well-known brand, a monument to gingerbread stands on the main square near the administration of the Tula region, and even a fashionable nightclub with hookahs and a view is called “Gingerbread”. But the museum will tell you about Chinese yuebings and Christmas gingerbread, which are sold everywhere in Europe, and about Pomeranian roe deer, and about the once lost glorious Vyazma gingerbread. Well, about our closest relatives - Gorodets gingerbread.
What can’t you make gingerbread without? No honey. Thanks to honey, the gingerbread does not mold, does not turn sour, it only becomes stale - and even then, if you steam it in a water bath, it will be as good as new.
The gingerbread business has existed in Tula for 332 years, and previously only men worked in factories - a woman was unable to knead elastic dough in a vat. Now—glory to technological progress—everyone can take up the production of gingerbread, regardless of gender.
The craftswoman shows how the filling is put in, and lets you touch wooden printing forms - old and new, which are cut out by specially trained people - banner makers. In the old days, the famous patterns of printed Tula gingerbread with flowers and herbs were borrowed from their neighboring gunsmiths - their settlements in Tula were nearby.
Now the Tula Dairy Plant has come up with the idea of adding gingerbread to drinking yogurt! Two unexpected flavors - classic and mint - were packaged in familiar rectangular bags and painted to look like gingerbread. You can try the drink on a tour at the plant itself or buy it in local stores.
Sights of Tula - what to see in a couple of days
If time permits, do not pass by the original building, built in the shape of a hero’s helmet. It is located next to the Nikolo-Zaretsky Church. This unusual building houses one of the main tourist sites of Tula, its pride and true historical value - the Tula Weapons Museum .
Approaching it, you are surprised by the impeccable surrounding cleanliness and order. It is noticeable that Tula residents value and honor the weapons traditions of their city. The museum’s collection is not only the largest in Russia, but also the oldest: the order for its creation was issued personally by Peter I. And by decree of Empress Catherine II, the Chamber of Rare and Exemplary Weapons was created at the local arms factory.
Since then, the collection has been tirelessly replenished, adding samples released for special dates, for example, in honor of the visit of Tula by members of the imperial family. So are new, modern, combat and hunting weapons produced by the Tula arms factory and other Russian factories. In the 20th century, the collection grew so large that it had to be moved to a separate building. Today, museum collections allow visitors to get acquainted with a stunning variety of weapons from the Middle Ages to the present. Therefore, the excursion will be interesting for adults and children.
TASS / Novoderezhkin Anton
Among the main Tula museums, a special place is occupied by the Samovar Museum , located almost at the walls of the city Kremlin, in an original building with columns, a chapel and a high spire. It was founded in 1900, when the number of samovars in the collections of the local historical and architectural museum became alarmingly large. The exhibition was separated and continued to be filled with works by local artists. Samovars, large and small, of all shapes and colors, kitchen and travel, with filigree decoration and fancy spouts - the museum’s collection contains real works of art and samples from private collections, which are centuries old. And even though the museum itself is small, with only two halls, it leaves a rich impression. Guests are pleased with the collection and the authentic decoration of the premises with antique furniture and tableware, demonstrating scenes of tea drinking.
And one more must-see object of an independent excursion program in Tula, of course, is the Tula Gingerbread Museum . Once here, you will make a lot of discoveries for yourself. Firstly, you will learn that gingerbread cookies are not decorated by hand, but “printed” on boards, and therefore their patterns are always so neat and varied. Secondly, they come in truly enormous sizes, about five kilograms. And here you can even buy such an exhibit. And thirdly, in Tula gingerbread is valued so much that local confectioners prepare special samples for holiday dates, for example, the anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 and the anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo. And not all of these samples are eaten: some are preserved as real museum exhibits.
Weapons museum
If we talk about military history, then men and boys will probably first run to the five-story Weapons Museum, opened for the 70th anniversary of the Victory. Since the time of Peter the Great, Tula residents have been engaged in the production of weapons - and continue to do so in the 21st century. Those who made weapons for state needs were called “kazyuks” and were the most successful among their fellow workers - and the most eligible bachelors, of course.
Gigantic heroic helmet - Museum of Weapons - visible from afar
It is better to walk around the Weapon Museum on your own with children, because the detailed, engineering-accurate explanations of the guides are not always clear even to adults. But those who want to study the structure of the main weapon of the Great Patriotic War - the Mosin rifle, marvel at the tiny Lefoshe revolvers that can fit in a fist, and also inspect a hundred other types of weapons, keep coming, especially when the museum is open until 8 pm on weekends.
The exhibition is huge and very technologically advanced: computer attractions, virtual narrators, videos describing exhibits, dugouts and trenches, as well as a play area where you can dress up in military uniforms from different eras - it’s better to start your tourist day with such a big “dish” than come to the museum in the evening.
What to see in Tula with children
After exploring the city museums to your heart’s content, you can head to the Kazanskaya embankment. Previously, this part of the bank of the Upa River was under the jurisdiction of the Tula Arms Factory and was closed to citizens. Several years ago, the embankment was successfully returned to the city, reconstructed and turned into a wonderful place for walks, relaxing and active recreation.
Walking here along the beautiful paved paths along neat lawns, you understand why Tula is regularly included in the TOP 5 ratings of the most well-groomed and comfortable cities in Russia. Cozy benches, nice bridges over the lawns, stylish lighting at night and spectacular illumination of the walls of the Kremlin, which is located right there, parallel to the embankment - all this is impressive and evokes a good feeling of envy (why is it not like this everywhere!). Here on the embankment there is a children's play area with sports and children's playgrounds, a climbing wall and swings.
wikipedia.org / Vladimir Elistratov / CC BY-SA 4.0
Another stunning place for family walks is the P. Belousov Culture and Leisure Park, which occupies an area of more than 100 hectares. This is a huge green area in the heart of the city, well-groomed and landscaped, where you can calmly wander between lawns and flower beds, enjoying the fresh air. Or send the kids to have fun at the amusement park, of which there are many here. You can visit the zoo, where roe deer, rabbits and gazelles live, feed the swans in the pond and be amazed by the many bright, talkative parrots.
And if you want more communication with animals, the whole family can head to the Tula Exotarium. This is the only reptile and amphibian park in Russia, in the collection of which there are more than 500 species of snakes. Lizards, toads, crocodiles and geckos also live here. And at the entrance, guests are greeted by the figure of a tyrannosaurus, affectionately nicknamed by the local population “the monument to the mother-in-law.”
Southern resorts
Anapa
Flower clock in Anapa
The advantages of Anapa for holidays with children are clear. These are beaches with pleasant soft sand and convenient access to the sea, a lot of entertainment, water parks, and all-inclusive hotels. Anapa has a beautiful embankment with lots of playgrounds. There are many interesting places and natural attractions in the surrounding area. Nearby is the Utrish National Park .
Personally, I don’t like places where there’s nowhere for an apple to fall during the season. But I can’t write about Anapa in this topic. Anapa is good with children not during the peak season. In autumn it is not so crowded. In winter and early spring, with the onset of the ski season, Anapa compares favorably with Sochi, where there are crowds at this time. Many remote parents prefer Anapa to Sochi and spend the winter months there.
In summer, with children, choose accommodation not in the city center. Take a closer look at the villages near Anapa - Vityazevo, Dzhemete, Blagoveshchenskaya village . The sea there is cleaner and the beaches are good. And to relax as a savage, go to the Bugaz Spit . Seeing dolphins near the coast is not at all unusual there.
Read a review of beaches and attractions of Anapa
Sochi - Rosa Khutor
The Skybridge suspension bridge in Skypark is not at all a child's entertainment.
Sochi is beautiful and rich. To ensure your holiday here is 100% perfect, I advise you to do the same thing - go outside the peak season. Keep in mind that Sochi is not only a beach destination. Rosa Khutor on Krasnaya Polyana is the most popular ski resort in Russia. When the ski season opens, it gets crowded.
Where to go with children in Sochi:
- Sochi Park. A modern amusement park, proudly called “Russian Disneyland”. Included in the top 25 best parks in Europe.
- Dolphinarium Riviera. One of the largest European dolphinariums with excellent shows.
- Oceanarium. With a 44 m transparent tunnel, a huge viewing window and 30 aquariums.
- Nikola Tesla Museum in the Olympic Park. Exciting scientific and electrical Tesla shows. This is a place for older guys. The show is prohibited for children under 6 years of age and pregnant women.
- Apery. Funny and amusing, they will cheer up any bore or crybaby. The nursery is scientific, located in Adler.
- Husky center in Sochi. Ethnocenter on Mount Akhun.
Read more about holidays in Sochi
Gelendzhik
The largest outdoor water park in Russia is located in Gelendzhik.
I included this resort in the selection, but I have an ambivalent attitude towards it.
On the one hand, there are many advantages for holidays with children in Gelendzhik. Here is where to go and what to see:
- 2 cable cars,
- wonderful safari park
- water park "Golden Bay" (the largest in Russia),
- dolphinarium,
- beautiful embankment with children's playgrounds.
The Gelendzhik embankment is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest sea promenade in the world. There is an amusement park. The village of Kabardinka is located 20 minutes from the city . It’s worth going there to take a walk with your children in the very beautiful Old Park.
But there are also significant disadvantages, the main one of which is problems with water. There are a lot of people in summer. The sea in the center is dirty. For swimming it is better to choose the surroundings of Gelendzhik.
Read more about Gelendzhik and its beaches in our guide.
Evpatoria
Sunset on the swan lake Sasyk-Sivash near Evpatoria.
From the Crimean resorts, I took two into the selection - Evpatoria and Yalta. I selected not by the cleanliness of the sea, but by the presence of infrastructure and interesting things in the city itself and nearby.
If you prefer a quiet holiday or are going on a trip with very young children, there is no need to go to Evpatoria. There are too many people here in the summer, families with children. From year to year, as in Anapa, outbreaks of rotavirus occur (inevitable in a warm sea). Take a better look at Kanaka , the outskirts and outskirts of Feodosia and other less crowded places. This is our article to help.
I’ll tell you what’s worth seeing with children in Evpatoria.
“Banana Republic” is the largest water park in Crimea with a lot of attractions for the whole family. There is another water park “At Lukomorye” , it is smaller and closer to the city center. This is a themed water park, designed in the style of Pushkin's fairy tales. The largest dolphinarium . It works all year round. There is also an Aquarium, Tropic Park and Dino Park with a rope town. The Pirates of the Black Sea Museum will attract all fans of Jack Sparrow and lovers of sea adventures.
There are many delicious confectionery shops in Yevpatoria with local sweets. In Frunze Park there are attractions and trampolines for children. The children's theater "Golden Key" gives very cool performances. This is probably the best children's theater in Crimea. Older schoolchildren will be interested in the historical sights of ancient Evpatoria.
Yalta
Pelicans roaming freely around the territory in the Yalta Zoo “Fairy Tale” / photo by the author
Not the best resort on the Crimean coast for a beach holiday, especially with children. Yalta has other advantages - gorgeous views, magnificent parks and palaces located in the surrounding area, and a large selection of entertainment.
It is better to come to Yalta not in the summer. Or in summer, choose hotels with their own convenient beaches.
Interesting places in Tula and the region
If you come to Tula by car, spend at least a day exploring the sights in the area around the city. It is impossible to ignore the Yasnaya Polyana estate, where for half a century the great Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy lived, loved, worked and received famous literary guests.
Here, in Yasnaya Polyana, located about 20 km from Tula, there is a large museum complex. Its main exhibit is the Leo Tolstoy House Museum, in which everything has remained unchanged since the death of the writer. Personal belongings of the Tolstoy family, books and paintings, and the table at which the writer worked are kept here. There are several other notable buildings on the estate. This is Volkonsky’s house, in which, according to researchers, Lev Nikolaevich’s grandfather once lived. This is the outbuilding in which the little prince was born and spent the first years of his life. This is a stable where 30 horses live today, and those who wish can ride under the strict guidance of an instructor. And also a birch alley, called the “prespekt” by the writer himself, a large pond, an English-style park, the writer’s favorite bench and the grave in which he is buried.
TASS / Lystseva Marina
Much further, 130 km from Tula towards Bogoroditsk, is the famous Kulikovo Field, where in 1380 the historical battle of Russian troops with the horde of Khan Mamai took place. Kulikovo Field is not just a geographical name. This is a memorial complex, an open-air museum, on the territory of which a monument-column to Dmitry Donskoy was erected and the temple of Sergius of Radonezh was erected. And in the village of Monastyrshchino, located here, every year in September they organize a festival of folk traditions “Bylina”. Guests are invited to have fun, test their strength, see the local temple and museum, and ride on an old britzka to the Green Oak Forest, where the epoch-making battle took place several centuries ago.
Neighborhoods of Tula in winter
The Tula region is famous for its estates, whose history is connected with famous personalities. They are actively visited in the summer, tourists go there in the winter as well. Moreover, life in these estates does not stop; concerts and festive evenings are also held here. In addition, the snowy decor gives these ancient buildings and the trees around them a magical look. Among the fun activities that are available in winter, we note horse-drawn carriage rides and walks along the dusty paths of local parks.
Perhaps the most famous estate in the vicinity of Tula is Yasnaya Polyana
" This museum-reserve is protected by the descendants of the famous writer. It was here that he was born and it was here that he spent a significant period of his life. In winter, there are fewer tourists in Yasnaya Polyana and therefore a calmer atmosphere reigns.
Yasnaya Polyana in winter
Not far from the museum-reserve there is a railway station of the same name.
Previously, Tolstoy himself often visited it, and now a museum has been organized here in his honor.
There is a place in the Tula region connected with the life of another famous Russian writer. “Bezhin Meadow” is the former estate of I.S. Turgenev. Nowadays there is a museum exhibition in the outbuilding of the complex. Another estate of the same writer is located 30 kilometers from “Bezhin Meadow”. It is called “Spasskoye - Lutovinovo” and represents an entire architectural complex at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries.
On the picturesque bank of the Oka River there is the Polenovo estate. The author of the buildings located on its territory was V. D. Polenov himself, a Russian artist. When creating projects, he mixed half-timbered and Art Nouveau and complemented them with medieval elements. Now in the estate you can study its history, as well as get acquainted with the works of modern painters.
Polenovo Estate in December
Another estate worth visiting is Dvoryaninovo. Previously, it belonged to A.T. Bolotov, a scientist and writer who stood at the origins of the creation of agronomy in Russia. Of course, it is advisable to explore the local park in the summer, but in winter you can devote more time to the museum exhibition.
New Year in Tula 2022
The city is also attractive in winter, as there is usually snow at this time of year. And the usual excursion program can be greatly diversified with active recreation. At the southern exit from Tula there is the Dolina X ski complex, where you can ski down the mountain slopes and try your hand at downhill snowboarding.
An analogue of the complex within the city limits is the small village of Forino, 20 km away from Tula. Here you can also ski and snowboard from equipped slopes. Or learn to ski confidently with the help of an instructor.
Large hotel complexes are preparing special programs for guests for the New Year. Places should be booked in advance, as domestic tourism destinations are much more popular this year than in the past.
TASS / Ryumin Alexander
What to bring from Tula
The choice does not seem to be great, but it is not so. In addition to gingerbread cookies, which are definitely worth buying, in different sizes and shapes, you can also buy other sweets. In Tula they make wonderful marshmallow - Belevskaya from honey, nuts and berries. And Suvorov's sweets from the local factory are well known outside the city. They are also made from natural ingredients: nuts, dried fruits and juices.
In addition to goodies, you need to bring a samovar from Tula. Which to choose? Any, be it for a large feast or a small decorative one that will decorate every kitchen. Or even a fake one; souvenir shops sell these too. Tula accordions, souvenir guns and whistle toys - this is a short list of souvenir purchases in this amazing city.
Filimonovskaya toy
For those who want peaceful entertainment, visit the Folk Art Center “Always In Sinika”, whose fat, dense, dirty-gray mass becomes snow-white after firing. But since this clay quickly becomes covered with cracks when drying, it has to be smoothed over with a damp hand all the time, involuntarily narrowing and elongating the body of the figurine - hence the elongated proportions of the Filimonov toy. And then the toy is painted so brightly that it pleases the eye!
