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Vologda region

Vologda region – Father Frost Homeland.

The history of ancient Vologda land can be traced up to 25 thousand years back. At the beginning of Common Era it was inhabited by tribes the Ves’, who lived around the White lake, and the Chud’ Eastward from Kubenka Lake. Today this people living in the region number about one thousand. Ancient Vologda served as gate to the North, was a large trade and manufacturing centre, and had an important strategic significance.

Vologda is rightly called “the open-air museum”. Minor settlements in its outskirts, Kirillov, Ferapontovo, Totma, Vytegra or Goritsy, host dozens of extremely beautiful wooden and stone churches, monasteries, and fortifications that have been preserved their mystery and charm for 300 years. In 12th-15th centuries, a large number of Russia Orthodox monasteries were founded here, such as Gleden Trinity monastery, Michel the Archangel monastery, Kirill and Ferapont monastery in Belozerie. According to Russia Orthodox Church, almost 2/3 of Russian saints lived in Vologda land. Ancient architectural ensembles of local towns form the unique appearance of Russian North. The elaborate paints of Dionisiy’s fresco in Ferapont Monastery, the graceful drawings and deep colors of Sumorin Monastery of the Festival of the Saviour in Totma attract thousand of people from all over the world.

Very many old, wooden, private houses can be found in Vologda as well. Traditional carvings there can make fences, sun blinds and roofs look like real lace.
Besides the old cultural heritage, visitors can get acquainted with a number of new museums. One of the most interesting can be found in Vytegra. There at the local reservoir docks a real B-440 submarine is moored. The museum is absolutely unique because all the interior is preserved as it used to be when the submarine functioned.

Wherever you go within the Vologda area, you will not be able to miss the fairy town of Veliky Ustyug. It is beautiful in any season, but especially so in snowy winter. In the fairy palace outside the town Grandfather Frost (Russian Santa Claus) lives. You can not only visit his workshop, or send special greetings to friends and family, but you can even meet the man himself in person! Ice figures, scintillate snow, the wonderful nature - splendid rest for your children and for all family.

In February, the Maslenitsa festive time is celebrated in Vologda and other small towns nearby. Maslenitsa is a traditional Russian festival that hails back to pre-Christian times. People say goodbye to bothersome winter and meet a long-awaited spring. This festival lasts the whole week and is supposed to be the merriest and the wildest in Russia. It is accompanied by diverse old customs. For instance people eat pancakes throughout all the Maslenitsa week with butter, honey and jam. It is believed that the more pancakes are eaten during Maslenitsa the happier the next year will be.

The Vologda region has kept for you not only historical monuments and architecture, but also their natural environment. This feature opens opportunities for ecological tourism. Ecological tracks are laid on territory of National park «Russian North», which in itself is a unique landscape territory.

Originality of this land is in the large variety of Vologda national crafts. Vologda is the main center of lace making in Russia. Special tatting technology using various patterns formed the unique style of Vologda lace. Other folk crafts of Vologda are also widely known, such as Veliky Ustyug silver black finishing, Shemogda elm carving, or black glossy ceramics.