With ancient Vyazma, Dorogi-ne-dorogi.ru opens a series of publications about small towns in Russia. The city with centuries-old linden trees is located in the Smolensk region. There are no ugly offices made of glass and concrete, but 14 churches of the 17th century and the quiet banks of the Vyazma River have been preserved. A holiday for those who want to plunge into the silence of the Russian outback, which has not yet been affected by the tourist fever. We'll tell you what's worth seeing in Vyazma and why you should go there.
Vyazma is the same age as Moscow. Like the capital, it was often destroyed, but the city center was preserved in its state at the beginning of the last century. During the Great Patriotic War, many buildings were destroyed. Before the war, there were 35 churches in the city, but only 14 remain. But the atmosphere of a bright, provincial Russian city has been preserved - openwork churches, two-story houses, old trees.
What to see in Vyazma
The main attractions of Vyazma are the churches. Almost all the churches in the city are open, you can go in and look at the ancient icons.
John the Baptist Monastery and Hodegetria Church
The most beautiful temple in Vyazma is the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” (XVII century). It is located on the territory of the St. John the Baptist Monastery (XV century). The temple is snow-white, openwork, with graceful domes. And on the territory of the monastery you can feel that this is a monastery, and not a tourist attraction with endless souvenir shops. There are well-tended flower beds and a vegetable garden in the backyards.
Museum of Local Lore
We all went to similar museums as schoolchildren. Nearby are mammoth tusks, unknown how they were abandoned in Vyazma, and elegant dishes from the century before last. There are halls dedicated to peasant life, and a large exhibition about the war (the city was under occupation for two years).
If you book a tour in advance by phone, you can find out how great the history of Vyazma is.
The city is ancient; over the centuries it was captured by Lithuanians, Poles, French, and Germans. In the winter of 1654-1655, Vyazma became the residence of the Russian tsars. Alexey Mikhailovich temporarily moved here. Then Moscow architects built the Kremlin in the city. The Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower has still been preserved (you can quickly walk to it from the museum).
In Vyazma you don't need a car . The main objects, except for distant monasteries, are located close to each other.
Come to Sovetskaya Square with the Lenin sculpture in front of the Palace of Culture building. Opposite it, on the other side of the square, find a monument to Lapt and the Pernovsky Regiment . This is a grenadier regiment that liberated Vyazma from the Napoleonic army. There were other regiments, but this one was the first to enter the city.
Other monuments of Vyazma:
- General Efremov - not wanting to surrender, he shot himself in the Vyazma “cauldron” in 1942. Even the Germans recognized the general’s courage and buried him with military honors. After the war, he was reburied in Vyazma, a hero of the Russian Federation posthumously.
- Actor Anatoly Papanov
- To participants in the battles of 1812 - installed on the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vyazma.
- Karl Marx
Khmelita - Griboedov's estate
Interiors of the Khmelita estate
Imagine the wilderness of the forest, the Smolensk region in its pre-revolutionary form. There are no factories, no shops, but only villages, forests, rivers and fields. And in the middle of this stands an old blue and white manor. The manor house was built in the 17th century in the Elizabethan Baroque style, rare for provincial architecture. This is the Griboyedov estate. You should definitely book a tour of the halls of the estate. It is well preserved - mahogany furniture, tile stoves, silk wallpaper, antique books.
From Vyazma to Khmelite the drive is about 30 km, the road is good. But the estate closes early (earlier in winter than in summer), keep an eye on the schedule.
Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called “Hodegetria”
The church in these places appeared in the 17th century and is popular among believers throughout the region. The attraction is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This is a unique example of Russian architecture, a creation created at the turn of change, when the tent style was becoming a thing of the past. Only three such churches have survived in the country: in Vyazma, Putinki and Uglich.
The temple is located on Dokuchaev Street, 48A.
Giant umbrella over a bus stop
What to visit : The most original sculpture of the city is located. The bus stop, made in the form of a brick semicircle with a round window, is covered by a huge umbrella.
Where: Sovetskaya Square.
Why it’s interesting: The monument appeared on March 8, 2014, in honor of Women’s Day, as a gift from the city administration.
Vyazma on the map of Russia: geography, nature and climate
Vyazma on the map of Russia is located on the Smolensk-Moscow Upland . Vyazma is located 175 km from Smolensk and 210 km from Moscow. The city stands on the Vyazma River , which is a tributary of the Dnieper.
Sand, gravel, peat and clay are mined in the area. The city stands at the place where the Vyazma River changes flow from south to northwest. In addition to the Vyazma River, within the city there is a large lake Bozino and numerous creeks.
Epiphany Church
This is a functioning temple in Vyazma, with a rich iconostasis. The building is snow-white, with blue domes, and is open to visitors by believers. It was built in the 18th century entirely with donations from local residents. The architecture of the building is elegant, it is made in the Baroque style.
A local history museum has been opened in one of the cathedral's premises. The church still operates a library, a Sunday school, and an Orthodox camp for children.
Thematic exhibitions and fairs with the participation of folk craftsmen are often held on the territory of the temple.
The temple is located on Paris Commune Street, 18.
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
This is a brick structure erected from 1782 to 1785. The bell tower of the church is free-standing, and the temple itself was built in the Baroque style. The church is also known for the fact that in 1812 liberation battles from Napoleonic troops were fought near its walls.
The church is located at Sovetskaya Square, 3 and since 1970, after restoration work, it has housed a local history museum.
And another monument to a native of Vyazma - Anatoly Papanov
What to visit : a monument to People's Artist of the USSR Anatoly Papanov, who was born in Vyazma and lived here until he was 8 years old - before he moved with his parents to Moscow.
Where: on 25th October Street, in front of the post office.
Why it’s interesting : Despite the fact that Anatoly Dmitrievich himself has since been to his small homeland only once, in the early 80s, the people of Vyazmich have not forgotten their famous fellow countryman, having erected a monument to him.
The competition, in which 15 sculptors from all over Russia took part, became an exhibition of Papanov’s films and theatrical roles, beloved by the people. Among them were General Serpilin from “The Living and the Dead,” Lyolik from “The Diamond Arm,” Kopalych from “Cold Summer of ’53,” the mayor from “The Inspector General,” and Kisa Vorobyaninov from “12 Chairs.”
The “neutral” option, based on the opinion of the townspeople and the point of view of the actor’s widow and daughter, won – there is no point in looking for the best sculptural embodiment of Papanov. The great artist did not fit into the confines of one role, brilliantly embodying both dramatic and comedic roles, voicing everyone’s favorite cartoons, such as, for example, “Well, wait a minute!”
The sculptor depicted Papanov in a shirt with an open collar, sitting on a bench and telling something. The monument was erected on October 31, 2012.
Video review of Vyazma sights
Vyazma will certainly appeal to fans of city tours in Russia. And after watching the promotional video we specially selected for you, you will be convinced that this provincial city is quite an interesting place.
Vyazma is a traditional Russian city, visiting which you will have the warmest impressions. In spring it blooms, in summer it is buried in greenery, in autumn it soothes the soul with melancholic leaf fall, and in winter it glitters with snow-white caps on the trees. Therefore, it is quite easy to choose the time of year in which it will be more pleasant for you to plunge into its unforgettable atmosphere and get acquainted with its interesting history.
Church where two saints were baptized
What to visit : Church in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord with the chapels of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the icon of the Mother of God “Burning Bush”.
Where: Strakhovoy Lane, 4.
What's interesting : The small Transfiguration Church, in which two saints of the Russian Orthodox Church were baptized: St. Macarius (Glukharev; 1792-1847) and Martyr John (Popov; 1867-1938), stands on a hill, east of the historical center of Vyazma. The church was erected in 1736 at the expense of the merchant Ivan Grigorievich Vyaznev.
On the western wall of the Transfiguration Church, fragments of paintings from the mid-19th century have been preserved, depicting Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, and the Slavic enlighteners Cyril and Methodius. Like them, Saints Macarius (Glukharev) and John (Popov) devoted their entire lives to missionary activity.
Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
This church appeared in the city between 1770 and 1776. This is a four-tiered structure with five chapters. The largest repair work was carried out in 1851 and 1891. Later, repairs were carried out several times, in 1978 and 1982, but due to lack of funds, the work was never completed. The temple came into the possession of the diocese, but services are never held there.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
This is the main cathedral of the city, built in 1676. Located on the left bank of the river, on the territory of the fortress. The first mention of the St. Nicholas Church (old name) is in the chronicles of 1015. In 1635 it was renamed Holy Trinity Cathedral. In 1812, the building was completely burned. Later, the temple was restored with funds allocated by the merchant Sabelnikov in 1847.
Today it is a two-altar cathedral, made in the classical style typical of Moscow churches at the turn of the 16th century. The decorative elements of the building are made in pseudo-Russian style.
The temple is located on Nagornaya street, 1.
Stele "Vyazma - the city of military glory"
The stele is located on Soviet Square. Nearby there is a monument perpetuating the glory of the Pernovsky Regiment and the “Mother’s Heart” monument.
In 2009, the city received the title “City of Military Glory” and already in 2011 the grand opening of the stele took place.
This is a high column (6 meters), topped with the coat of arms with the heraldic shield of the Russian Federation. The coat of arms depicts a double-headed eagle with several small gold-colored crowns and one large one, connected by a ribbon. The eagle holds a scepter with its right paw, and an orb with its left.
On both sides of the stele there are cubic granite pedestals, on which the main events that took place in Vyazma are depicted: graphic scenes of the Patriotic War and the Second World War.
Svetlana Savitskaya's plane
Between Repin Street and 25th October Street, on the territory of a small city square, a monument to Svetlana Savitskaya was erected. This is a real MiG-17 model aircraft. It was on this aircraft that Svetlana began her training.
The design of the monument is presented in such a way that it seems that an airplane is taking off. Savitskaya is an honorary citizen of the city and twice a hero of the Soviet Union.
Khmelita
How to get to the Khmelita estate From Vyazma by bus or minibus “Vyazma-Pigulino” to the “Khmelita” stop. Travel time is about 40 minutes. By car you should drive along the M-1 Moscow-Belarus highway, colloquially “Minka”, to Vyazma. At the 231st kilometer of the road there will be a sign “Khmelita Museum-Reserve”. The distance from Vyazma is 37 kilometers.
In the vicinity of Vyazma, at a distance of three tens of kilometers, there is the estate of Alexander Griboyedov, the author of the poetic comedy “Woe from Wit” - Khmelita. The poet's fame has eclipsed the famous Vyazemsky gingerbread - thousands of guests come to the estate every year to soak up the atmosphere in which the Famusovs, Mollins, and Skalozubs lived. It was here that the future author of the immortal comedy became acquainted with the life of the noble estate in his childhood and youth.
You will be greeted by a magnificent park ensemble:
- Century-old oaks
- Fancy linden trees
- Cascade of ponds
- Manor house in luxurious baroque style
The Khmelita Museum-Reserve includes the museum of Admiral Nakhimov, a native of these places. It is located in the former cheese factory of the estate.
