There is a village called Vyatskoye, 38 kilometers from Yaroslavl. A village that on October 15, 2015 became the first member of the Association of the most beautiful villages in Russia! Having learned about this event, I decided to go there to see the delights of the village with my own eyes.
2. This is what one of the most beautiful villages in Russia looks like. Central square with restored mansions from the 18th and 19th centuries.
3. Hills, ravines, summer "amphitheater".
5. In some places Vyatskoye looks like this.
6. And now the fun part. Why, unlike most villages and hamlets in Russia, Vyatskoye has not collapsed, but is developing. The answer, of course, lies in money.
There is a businessman in Yaroslavl, Oleg Zharov, who, according to local residents- I was looking for a place for a summer house in the vicinity of Yaroslavl. I came to Vyatskoye, fell in love with the local beauty, and decided to take on the restoration of the village. I bought an architectural monument of the 19th century - the house of honorary citizen Bogorodsky, restored it, and the dacha is ready.
7. Zharov did not stop there, and over the past few years, more than 30 half-abandoned mansions have been restored, several museums have been opened, and a church has been restored with the businessman’s money.Ascension of Christ built in 1750.
8. There are also opponents of Zharov’s “policy”. They say he buys and restores mansions with only one goal: to sell them, and thereby become richer. And it develops everything around and ennobles it, only in order to build an elite cottage village. In any case, every year new jobs appear in the village, and abandoned architectural monuments are restored.
9. Zharov also received the state prize “For his contribution to the revival and development of traditional cultural and historical values.” He was invited to the Kremlin and seated next to Putin and Medvedev. Where Medvedev said: “How about we go, Vladimir Vladimirovich, to Vyatskoye? At least the roads will be repaired before our arrival.” .
Apparently they never made it, and part of the road from Yaroslavl to the village of Vyatskoye is a toa Yamutokanavu. This is where our short journey to the most beautiful village in Russia begins.
10. Here it is Vyatskoye, an open-air museum of Russian rural life.The main idea of the museum is to present to tourists the life of the Russian village as it was several centuries ago.
11. The village is more than 500 years old in total. AND known in the history of Russia for its crafts, noisy fairs and bazaars, schismatics, “going to the people,” and talented people. For example, the sculptor A.M. Opekushin - the author of the monument to A.S. Pushkin in Moscow (on Pushkin Square), Pyotr Telushkin - the founder of “Russian mountaineering”, who alone, without insurance, repaired the wing of the angel that crowned the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, the poet Nekrasov, who found images of his heroes in Vyatsky.
12. On the central square there is a restored fire station, now a museum in the building.
10. The parking lot next to the depot is completely filled with tourists' cars. There are even guests with overseas numbers.
11. We park next to the tourist buses.
12. And along the Ukhtomka River, which flows through all of Vyatskoye, we go to get acquainted with local life.
14. On the right bank of the river there is a museum - black bathhouse.
15. One of the central streets.
16. A rickety hut.
17. Bathhouse with a swimming pool.
18. It’s hard to believe, but, a residential building. There are even satellite dishes hanging on the front side of the façade.
19. Almost destroyed temple.
22. The restoration work of the next mansion is carried out mainly by visitors from neighboring countries.
23. Fragment of a restored mansion.
24. The restored house of the photographer Kokoshkin, an architectural monument of the late 19th century. Perhaps one day the dangling wires will disappear and it will look really good.
25. One of the most beautiful buildings in the village of Vyatskoye. Inside Museum of Russian Entrepreneurship, or “The History of a Village That Wanted to Become a City...”.
26. On the third floor The museum has a large exhibition of household items.
27. On the second floor is the largest collection of musical instruments and boxes in Europe, many of which are still in use. The collection, as we were told at the museums, belongs to Zharov.
29. Organola.
30. Punched tapes for organola. And here it’s worth retelling what the museums told us.
In the old days, when a girl was married off, it was important what kind of hearing she had. And if the betrothed had problems with this, then before playing a piece of music for her future husband, a punched tape was inserted into the organola. The girl could only press the pedal and imitate playing the keys. The music sounds beautiful, the groom is happy, everyone is happy.
Maybe it's just a story, but it was told convincingly.
31. We will consider the Sberbank branch to be the ugliest building in the village, if this booth can be called a building. By the way, speaking of Sberbank, 3 days ago we closed our mortgage! We accept congratulations. Maybe one day I’ll even write about what it was like to live under the yoke of Sberbank.
32. Russian Post Office.
33. Fragment of a restored architectural monument. Everything was done quite well, even the smallest elements of stucco were preserved and restored.
34. From the yard this house looks much sadder. Perhaps it is implied that no one will set foot in the yard.
35. Outskirts of the village.
36. A neighboring village, and a country road home.
p.s. Perhaps some information about the businessman Zharov, and about the village of Vyatskoye, in some places does not correspond to reality. As they say, what you bought for is what you sold for. In general, the businessman is a great guy, he is developing his native land. After all, as practice shows, most of our rich people buy villas abroad, apartments in Dubai, and go live overseas.
Who said that only big cities can they be beautiful and attractive? The world is full of charming and impressive villages and small towns that have their own significance and historical value, and you can read about some of the most interesting ones below.
Alberobello
Located in southeastern Italy, the village of Alberobello is famous for its stone huts with conical roofs called trullo. These structures have the opposite effect of splendor and brightness, they look rather drab and modest, but at the same time they are excellent examples of ancient building techniques, although in fact they are no more than a few centuries old.
Pariangan
According to legend, Mount Marapi in western Indonesia was the first place where the Minangkabau people settled. Today, this active volcano towers over the village of Pariangan, where the Minangkabau people still live. This picturesque place boasts a large number of well-preserved buildings, as well as an old mosque. This village is protected due to its great cultural and historical importance.
Savoca
This village, located near the easternmost point of Sicily, is next to the famous tourist city Taormina. Savoca may not have the same vibrancy as its neighbor, but it can attract people in other ways. It has a timeless, deeply Sicilian charm that made it the perfect location for Coppola's iconic film The Godfather Part II. The Vitelli bar, which can be seen in the film, is still in business, but there are also a large number of churches, residential buildings and other ancient buildings that you can admire.
Goreme
Goreme is not Big city ok in the center of Asia Minor, in the heart of Turkey. Situated among the world famous hoodoos, this town is the perfect destination for those who want to see these striking rock formations. There is a certain sense of another world about this settlement, founded more than two thousand years ago. It is especially worth paying attention to the fact that many of the residential buildings are made directly into the rocks - the same goes for some churches, which are beautifully decorated.
Madison
The city of Madison was founded more than two centuries ago and named after President James Madison - and it is considered one of the most beautiful small towns in the country. However historical value The city doesn't end there - here you can also find various examples of pre-war architecture, which give the city its charm. It is said that General Shepard spared this city during the war because it was too beautiful to destroy.
Huscar
Until recently, Júzcar was an average village located in southern Spain. As in most of these villages, all the walls of the buildings were whitewashed - until 2011, when they were all painted blue in honor of the premiere of the feature film "The Smurfs". And local residents liked this change so much that they refused the film company Sony Pictures, which offered to repaint the walls back to white after the premiere, and now they are the main attraction.
Reine
Reine is located in the Lofoten Islands in Norway and is one of the most attractive and beautiful places beyond the Arctic Circle. The unexpectedly mild climate means that residents and tourists alike can enjoy the incredible surroundings without any hassle.
Sidi Bou Said
This village is located north of the capital Tunis and sits on the very edge of a cliff, offering incredible views of the Mediterranean Sea. But the views are not all that this place can boast of, you can also pay attention to the colors of the houses - the combination of blue and white prevails here, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
Wengen
The Swiss village of Wengen is one of the most picturesque in Europe, thanks to which it attracts thousands of tourists both in summer and winter. It is located high in the Alps and is ideal for ski tourism. It is also worth noting that there are no cars at all, which makes the air incredibly clean, reduces noise levels and creates an atmosphere of silence.
Shirakawa
This small village is located on the island of Honshu, nestled among rocks and the place that receives the most snow per year in the world. Because of this, residents came up with a special type of housing called “minka”. Such houses are equipped with a thick triangular roof, reminiscent of the hands of a praying person - this shape helps to provide adequate resistance to snow.
Burano
Burano is a tiny archipelago consisting of four islands located in the Venetian Lagoon. What makes this village stand out from the rest of Venice and all other villages in the world is that the residents painted their houses in different bright colors. This feature has become so important to the village that you now need special permission to repaint a wall a different color. And initially this was done by fishermen to distinguish their houses in the fog.
Biburi
Located in the west of England, the village of Bibury has a thousand-year history and is one of the most picturesque places in all of Great Britain. It is famous for its stone cottages in the Cotswold Hills. A walk through the streets of this village can be a real journey back in time.
Hallstatt
The village of Hallstatt is located right on the shore of the lake, near Salzburg, in the heart of Austria. It is not only incredibly picturesque, but also has an impressive history behind it. It has always been incredibly rich thanks to its salt mines, and it is famous for its culture, which is associated with the ancient Celts. Today, the village's appeal is so great that a full-size replica with houses and a church was built in China.
And I
This village is located on the cliffs of Santorini and benefits from such an incredible location. Residents and visitors can get astounding views of the Santorini volcano. Elegant white houses, gleaming in the bright sun, dominate the village, but are dominated by the ancient castle and the mill, which is one of the most iconic buildings.
Eze
Eze is an incredibly beautiful and picturesque town located along the shores of the French Riviera. It rises to an altitude of 1,400 feet above sea level and offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and other surrounding areas. Besides the views, Eze boasts a famous medieval charm thanks to its well-preserved centuries-old buildings.
For real travel gourmets, it has become too hackneyed a destination. Meanwhile, Michelin-starred restaurants and the highest quality contingent today are more likely to be found in godforsaken outskirts, picturesque and unusual. ELLE presents 12 of the most beautiful villages and small towns in the world that will become the pearl of your route.
Cozy medieval village of Yvoire, located on the French coast Lake Geneva, officially bears the name of the most beautiful and most flourishing village in France. Everything here is compact and incredibly nice - medieval architecture, narrow streets, colorful souvenir shops, local lake fish in restaurants and only 5 hotels where tourists come from all over the world. Something is blooming in the gardens and on the streets of the city all year round, but it is especially beautiful in Ivoire in the summer - it is literally buried in vegetation. The rhythm of the city is surprisingly unhurried - residents are busy producing flowers and souvenirs, and the main local entertainment is walking along the medieval castle of Chateau d'Ivoire or the pier where swans swim among the boats.
By the way, Yvoire won a special prize at the French national competition, where it was named the most authentic village that has preserved the signs of medieval life in its original form.
Mountains and the mirror surface of Lake Geneva are the main features famous resort Evian, which is located on the border of France and Switzerland, in the foothills of the Savoy Alps. Since the end of the 19th century, the most famous mineral water in the world of Evian.
The resort gained its fame thanks to the healing properties of this water, which has become a worldwide brand, and today people come here for the incredible beauty of the place, as well as to improve their health. Evian is located on the shore of the lake and is Small town with a huge amount of entertainment - equestrian and golf clubs, casinos, cafes and restaurants, as well as the Thermes Evian thermal center with an impressive list of procedures based on the mineral water of the same name.
The main hotel of Evian is the Evian Royal Resort - a luxurious palace on the very shore of the lake, occupying almost 50 hectares of park with swimming pools, wellness centers and hotel service of the highest standard.
The Evian resort is famous for its Golf Academy, where the international women's tournament - L'Evian Championship Golf Club - takes place. The special lifestyle of this club with elegant lunches at the Chalet du Golf, cocktails and receptions traditionally attracts the cream of European society.
The place of power of every figure in secular life, Cote d'Azur It is famous, among other things, for its incredibly beautiful landscapes, local roses and the freshest oysters. One of the most picturesque villages of the French Riviera, located on the road from Nice to Monaco, is called Eze, and its history dates back to time immemorial - it was founded by the Phoenicians. The observation deck of this heavenly place, the cactus garden and the Church of Penitent Sinners of the White Brotherhood are a favorite place for tourists all over the world.
This village in Gloucestershire is considered the most beautiful and most English village in the world. At least, such experts on local life as William Morris thought so. A narrow street over the River Colne leads to a picturesque bridge, and St. Mary's Church, surrounded by lovely 17th-century English houses, illustrates the ideal authentic European village.
Listed World Heritage UNESCO, village The village of Shirakawa-Go, located in the northern part of the Japanese Gifu Prefecture, in the Sokawa River valley, consists of only six dozen houses. Previously, the village was isolated from the outside world and was not marked on any geographical map- the dense forests surrounding it were considered impenetrable. Today, curious tourists are taken by bus to the famous architecture of the houses in the "Gassho" style.
They say that it was Vietnam with its amazing nature that served as the setting for the fantasies of the designers of the film “Avatar”. And this is not surprising - there are no such landscapes anywhere else. Aesthetes and travelers have a special passion for the small fishing village of Cua Van - its small houses are supported by rafts and literally stand on the water, surrounded by the cliffs of Ha Long Bay. In one of these raft houses there is also a village school - students come there by boat.
A village without roads or “Dutch Venice” is the name given to this wonderful place, located on water canals with a total length of about 7.5 km. Here and today only the water transport. Giethoorn was founded in 1230 by a small group of refugees from the south of the country, but only gained worldwide fame in the 20th century, after Dutch director Bert Haanstra filmed his famous comedy Fanfare here in 1958.
The village in the Bernese Alps is home to just over 1,000 people. Meanwhile, the place is so popular among visitors that, according to statistics, for every local resident there are from 5 to 10 tourists, depending on the season. There are several reasons for this - nearby there is a popular ski resort and the amazing Kriegsloch cave, which, according to legend, predicts the approach of war. The region is also famous for its puppet theater and Mendelssohn music weeks. Driving cars is prohibited here, so as not to spoil the purest mountain air.
The volcanic island of Santorini is one of the most romantic places on the planet. You have to climb from the port along winding and dangerous serpentines, but it’s worth it - the residential part of the island offers fantastic views of the sea, the horizon and typical local buildings - white houses with blue roofs and church domes. According to legend, this place, a favorite place for couples for a peaceful honeymoon, is designed to test the strength of feelings - the sunsets of the village of Oia, the most beautiful point of the island, are so beautiful that only truly people in love can look at each other, and not at the maddening the beauty of nature. At least that's what the legend says.
For a long time, Russian villages were forgotten, which is completely unfounded. Of course, some of them are in poor condition, while others are completely abandoned and have disappeared from the face of the earth.
According to the 2010 census, there are more than 150 thousand rural settlements in Russia. And there will certainly be several to compete for the title of the most beautiful. And in 2014, the “Most Beautiful Villages” association was created, which supports the development of rural tourism. Let's go to a small virtual trip through some of these villages.
Village of Bolshoy Kunaley, Buryatia
The village of Bolshaya Kunaley is located on the banks of the Kunaleyka River. The village appeared at the beginning of the 18th century and since then has lived its measured and quiet life. There are not many residents in the village - about a thousand people.
The peculiarity of the village is its houses. Made of timber, they are all painted in bright colors, with carved shutters and painted fences, and are somewhat reminiscent of a children's fairy tale.
Vyatskoye, Yaroslavl region
The village of Vyatskoye received the title of the most beautiful village in 2015. The village is actively developing in the tourism sector; there are ten museums alone. The houses here were built in XVIII-XIX centuries, they once belonged to merchants, and some were drinking establishments. There are thirty monuments of cultural and historical heritage here, so there is definitely something to see. And tourists have taken a liking to the village: 80 thousand travelers visited here in 2014 alone.
Desyatnikovo, Buryatia
Another village from Buryatia amazes with its colorfulness: the houses here are painted with bright colors, and all this goes well with the green hills and endless open spaces surrounding the village. Here you can truly feel Russia, vast and beautiful: around there are centuries-old forests, untouched valleys with clean springs, berries and mushrooms, as well as the steppe.
Oshevensky Pogost, Arkhangelsk region
Only 73 people live in Oshevensky Pogost, but this did not stop the village from joining the association of the most beautiful villages in Russia in 2016. At the entrance to the village there is monastery, founded back in 1453. In addition, a whole block of traditional northern wooden buildings, headed by the Church of the Epiphany with a bell tower, has been perfectly preserved here. Well, local residents are trying to preserve their original traditions.
Kinerma, Karelia
Kinerma is located in the Pryazhinsky district of Karelia and last year was awarded the title of the most beautiful village in Russia. IN locality 17 houses, 10 of them are considered architectural monuments. All the buildings here are built in a circle, in the center of which there is a 250-year-old chapel and an old cemetery.
And, of course, all the attributes of a village: a well with ice water, a bathhouse, a barn with a souvenir shop, and a restored traditional peasant house. There is also a mini-hotel in Kinerma, stylized as bygone times and furnished with antique utensils.
True, local residents were already quite tired of the flow of tourists, and at the beginning of 2017 information appeared on the Internet that they were asking to periodically close the road sign)
Kimzha, Arkhangelsk region
This is the youngest village that bears the title of the most beautiful (received it in February 2017). There are 71 historical monument, including the Odigitrievskaya Church of the early 18th century. Kimzha is somewhat reminiscent of a museum of wooden architecture, but everything is real here: strong log huts, wooden mills, large courtyards and a river where locals go fishing.
And the local residents, until 1951, had a curious tradition: they did not have a cemetery, and all the dead were buried according to their last will. Most often these were plots of land, and sometimes courtyards of houses. It was believed that this way the ancestors would be able to protect their territories from harm.
