Address: 25 Bogoyavlenskaya Sq. (Богоявленская пл., д. 25)
Directions and transportation: The monastery is located on one of the central squares of the city, and close to the Kotorosl River. There're two entries: one from Bogoyavlenskaya Square, and the other is from Kotoroslnaya Embankment. The entrance on Bogoyavlenskaya Square has ticket office outside the gates, in the corner tower, close to Pervomaiskaya St. The Kotoroslnaya Embankment entrance has till in the gates, to the right side as you enter.
Website: http://www.yarmp.yar.ru (choose your language at the bottom of the page)
Tel: +7-4852-30-38-69
The length of an average visit: 3h
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10am-5.45pm. The museum ticket office closes at 5pm. May-September: the territory of the monastery is open until 7pm, last entry at 6.30pm. October-April: the territory is open until 6pm, last entry at 5.30pm.
Admission: Combined ticket to all exhibitions: General 500RUB/ Free for children under 16. Separately, exhibitions cost between 30₽ and 80₽. 3D film about the hurricane that hit the town in 1953, and wrought significant damage to Rostov and its kremlin.
Accepted payment methods: Cash or card
Accessible to English speakers: Two exhibitions have singboards in English, the rest are only in Russian. You book a guided tour in English.
Guided tours: Yes. Call ahead to book it.
Restaurant: No
Shop: Yes. There's a bunch of souvenir shops along the wall on Kotoroslnaya Embankment side. Postcards, leaflets, and books are also sold in some of the museums there.
Tips: Your combined ticket to the monastery is valid for 2 days. So if you are tired or bored, you can always come and see the rest the next day.
TO SEE
Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour
Спасо-Преображенский Монастырь
Although kremlin in Yaroslavl was destroyed a long time ago, Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour is the closest you can get to a kremlin, and it's what the locals call it. A fortified monastery founded in the 12the century, once the most prosperous monastery in Yaroslavl, it was abolished after the revolution, and has been serving as a museum reserve for almost a century now. This place, like no other in Yaroslavl, has a very rich history. Several important Orthodox Christian gospels were written here, the famous icon of the Virgin Mary of Tolg was painted here, and the most celebrated Old East Slavic poem, the Tale of Igor's Campaign was miraculously discovered here in the end of the 18th century. The place was burned down by the Mongols, and sieged by the armies of False Dmitry II during the Time of Troubles, but it has withstood everything and today the oldest building in the city, the Holy Gate, is located on its territory. There're several museums and various exhibitions scattered over the territory of a former monastery.
Music & Time Museum
Музей "Музыка и Время"
Music & Time is the first private museum in Russian, opened in 1993 by illusionist John Mostoslavsky who accumulated a large collection of antique musical instruments, clocks, bells, grammophones, porcelain, samovars, icons, and loads of other objects. John bought and restored a complex of 18th-century houses which once belonged to a local merchant, and converted them into museums, one building after another. Today there're 3 museums on the territory of the complex: the Music & Time Museum, Museum of Porcelain, and Museum of Samovars and Icons. John used to run tours around the museums himself, but, sadly, he died in July 2015, and now it's his son and several members of the staff who take you around the museum and tell you about the ollection. The best part of it is that you can listen to the old recordings, grind a street-organ, dismantle the music box to see how it works, and try playing a tune on the bells.
Yaroslavl Museum of Modern Art
Музей Современного Искусства
New addition to the modern art scene in Russia, and the first contemporary art museum in Yaroslavl region, Yaroslavl Museum of Modern Art opened its doors in January 2016 with a superb exhibition called Around the Square. The exhibition is entirely dedicated to Kazimir Malevich's famous Black Square. Neither of the original 'squares' are there, but the exhibition is not about them. It's about the influence they had and continue to have on the modern art a century after their creation. Most of the works are pretty recent, yet some famous names like Pavel Pepperstein, Viktor Pivovarov, or art group Mitki are on the list. The museum occupies a beautiful neogothic building which once belonged to a prominent Yaroslavl surgeon Nikolai Bibikov. The museum runs excellent guided tours (although only in Russian at the moment) where you can learn about each and every work of art presented at the exhibition, as well as about the history of the building, and a long and arduous process of its restoration. The exhibition is open until 25 March.
History of Yaroslavl Museum
Музей Истории Города Ярославля
A beautiful mansion on the Volga embankment with intricate stucco decorations once belonged to a prominent Yaroslavl merchant. Today, this mansion houses a cozy museum dedicated to the 1000-year history of Yaroslavl. The main exhibition has 6 rooms on the two floors of the building. It's rather brief, and only concentrates on the crucial moments of city history, from the legendary fight between the Prince Yaroslav and the bear, the mongol invasion, the Time of Troubles, the 18th and 19th century development of Yaroslavl as a city of merchants, and then the revolution and Soviet years. The annexe of the building houses another permanent exhibition called 'The history of medicine in Yaroslavl' and traces the period from the pagan healers until today. Don't miss the memorial in the garden dedicated to the victims of wars and purges.
And don't be surprised if you see a cat or two walking in the exhibition hall or sleeping on a windowsill. It's Kuzya and Anfisa, two museum cats and local darlings who have their charity in the hall, next to the central stairs.
My Favourite Teddy Bear Museum
Музей "Мой Любимый Мишка"
The museum is entirely dedicated to the symbol of Yaroslavl, once the totem animal of local pagan tribes and now featured on the Yaroslavl coat of arms - the bear. The owner of the museum, Olga, has been collecting teddy bears for over a decade. Finally, in 2009 she rented a space in the centre of the old town, and decided to open a museum there. For her, teddy bears are much more than just a business. She's an excellent storyteller, and her guided tours are absolutely great. She'll tell you everything about the history of teddy bears, show you loads of various pictures related to teddy bears, let you hold her own shabby vintage teddy bears. Olga always stresses that the shabbier the bear is, the happier was the child who owned it. Frayed bear means that the child was allowed to play with his teddy bear and it's wasn't locked away and only given for special occasions as was the case in many families. Each bear in the museum has its own history. There's one that survived the siege of Leningrad, and hid in air-raid shelters with the child, other that came from Nazi Germany with a Russian soldier, who brought it for his child. Many toys were given by locals and visitors to the museum, others sent to her from all over the world. Olga mends the toys herself. She often receives boxes with old toys, sorts them, mends them, and find missing parts. Her collection includes 19th-century Steiff teddy bears, all kinds of Soviet teddy bears, Olympic bears, as well as modern variations.
Address: 8 Sovetskaya St. (ул. Советская, д. 8). Note that the museum is due to move to a new space on Pochtovaya St. in March 2016. Look for our updates.
Directions and transportation: Walk outsite the main gates of the Trinity Lavra and turn left. Walk along the wall of the monastery until a corner tower with a statue of a duck on top of it (it's known as the Duck Tower). The large building of the museum is going to be to your right, a bit further down the street which leads towars the main Krasnoy Armii Avenue.
Tel: +7-4852-73-16-00
Opening hours: Wed-Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Close on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Admission: General 100₽/Children, Students and Seniors 60₽. Guided tours 300₽ for a group of up t0 20 people.
Accepted payment methods: Cash
Accessible to English speakers: No. But the owners plan to introduce English translations after moving to a new building.
Guided tours: Only in Russian (30min long)
Permanent Exhibitions:
Treasures of Yaroslavl
Сокровища Ярославля
The most popular exhibition on the territory of the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour is located in the former living quarters of the monks. These monk cells were built in the 17th century in the traditional Russian style, so the doorways are very low and narrow, and the windows are tiny. The treasures are mostly of religious nature: there're presents of Russian tsars to the churches and monasteries of Yaroslavl, icon frames with precious stones, golden chalices and crosses, religious embroideries, the oldest are dating back to the 13th century.
It's the only exhibition on the territory of the monastery which has full English translations. Photography is prohibited inside the building. Exhibition is closed on Tuesdays.
Icons of Yaroslavl from XVI-XVIII C.
Иконы Ярославля XVI-XVIII вв.
This small exhibition is located in the Eastern tower of the monastery wall, and includes beautiful icons painted in the monasteries and churches of Yaroslavl region, as well as isonostasises, altar screens, and beautifully decorated holy doors.
The exhibition is closed on Mondays. Captions are translated into English, but not the information panels.
Tale of Igor's Campaign Exhibition
Выставка "Слово о Полку Игореве"
One of the biggest exhibition in the museum reserve, it tells not only about the Tale of Igor's Campaign but also about the history of Old East Slavic literature in general, and gives the historical perspective, the realities in which these works were written. One room is dedicated to Musin-Pushkin, an art collector who discovered the manuscript of the Tale of Igor's Campaign in this monastery in the 1780s. There's also a room dedicated to modern adaptation and translations of the poem in other languages.
The exhibition is closed on Mondays.
Nature of Yaroslavl Region
Природа Ярославского Края
Although this may seem today like a collection of all dusty stuffed mooses and hares among the discoloured panels, it is indeed the oldest exhibition of its kind in Russia, as well as the oldest exhibition on the territory of the monastery. The museum opened in 1865, and was so popular that even the royal family with the heir, and the future Emperor Alexander III visited it while in Yaroslavl. The collection hasn't changed much since then, and it is today the museum of an old type of a museum, as much as the museum of local nature. The majority of items on display are stuffed animals, fish, birds, and insects which live on the territory of the region.
The exhibition is closed on Thursdays.
History of Yaroslavl Region
История Ярославского Края
The exhibition tells about the history of Yaroslavl from when it was founded in 1010 by Yaroslav the Wise, until the late Middle Ages. The exhibition did seem a bit outdated, and it's currently being renovated, so you'll only see a small part of it which is open to public at the moment.
The exhibition is closed on Mondays.
Yaroslavl Fair Exhibition
Выставка "Ярманка"
The exhibition occupies only one room, but it has loads of interesting items on display. A century ago, annual Yaroslavl fair was one of the largest in Russia. And at this exhibition you can see what it looked like, what people sold and bought there, what they were entertained with, how goods were transported, etc.
The exhibition is closed on Mondays.
Temporary Exhibitions:
Yaroslavl Repast Exhibition
Выставка "Трапеза по-ярославски"
This superb exhibition is dedicated to the history of food in Yaroslavl region, from the cultivation of crops to the traditions of serving food in the 19th-century restaurants. Yaroslavl region has long been known for its cheese and butter, pickles and sweets. And you can see old photos of peasants in the fields, merchants at the fairs, antique packages, various crockery and cutlery used in the 19th century, as well as recreated interiors of the restaurants and taverns which were once popular in Yaroslavl.
The exhibition is closed on Mondays.
Time Machines Exhibition
Выставка "Машины Времени"
This exhibition is dedicated to the inventions of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, and how the contemporaries saw them, how they tried to describe them. Bycicles, cameras, grammophones, typewriter and sewing machine, no doubt, change lives of many people. But it's even more interesting not only to hear century-old recordings, but also to read what people wrote about them in their diaries. Many items came from the funds of the Politechnical Museum in Moscow which is currently closed for renovation.
The exhibition is closed on Mondays. The exhibition is open until April 2016.
The Doll Country Exhibition
Выставка "Страна Кукол"
This exhibition shows a private collection of dolls from the end of the 19th century until the beginning of the 21st century. The majority of the collection are Soviet dolls, but there're also handmade peasant dolls, antique European dolls, and modern Chinese dolls.
The exhibition is closed on Mondays.
Address: 33a Volzhskaya Emb. (Волжская набережная, д. 33а)
Directions and transportation: The museum is located in the centre of Yaroslavl, on the territory of an 18th century merchant mansion. It occupies several houses on the territory of the former estate. The ticket office, and the Music&Time Museum are located in a small annexe, left of the main building. The main building is a pink three-storey house, which is occupied by the Museum of Samovars and Icons. The Museum of Porcelain is located in another building, in the back of the courtyard. To get to any of these museums, you'll need to go to the Music&Time Museum first, and buy your tickets there.
Website: http://музыкаивремя.рф (only in Russian)
Tel: +7-4852-32-86-37
The length of an average visit: 1h (for all museums), 20min for one museum
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10am-7pm
Admission: Combined ticket to all museums: General 400₽/ Children, Students, Seniors 200₽. Music&Time museum only: General 200₽/ Concessions 100₽. Museum of Samovars and Icons: General 150₽/ Concessions 100₽. Museum of Porcelain: General 100₽/ Concessions 50₽.
Accepted payment methods: Cash
Accessible to English speakers: Yes. Museums can only be visited on a guided tour, and there're tours in other languages.
Guided tours: Yes. There're tours in English and French. Call ahead to book. The tour costs 500₽ (250₽ for concessions) per group.
Restaurant: There's a restaurant 'Sobranie' on the territory of the museum (but doesn't belong to it).
Shop: Yes. There's a souvenir shop next to the ticket office at the Music&Time Museum. There's also a gingerbread shop in the main building, which sells various types of traditional gingerbreads from all over Russia.
Tips: There's a concert hall with an organ at the museum which organises regular concerts. Check the museum website for updates.
Address: 23A Tchaikovsky St. (ул. Чайковского, д. 23а)
Directions and transportation: The museum is located in the centre of Yaroslavl, just off Svobody St. You'll see a big Ring Premier Hotel building on the corner of Svobody and Tchaikovsky St. Walk along Tchaikovsky St. and turn right just after you pass the hotel. You'll end up in a back alley. Walk straight, and then turn left and enter the gates. You should see the sign just before the gates, pointing towards the museum.
Website: http://ymsi.ru (only in Russian)
Tel: +7-4852-68-20-67, +7-961-021-70-07
The length of an average visit: 1h
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 11am-7pm
Admission: With a guided tour: General 300₽/ Concessions 150₽. Without a guided tour: General 200₽/ Concessions 100₽. Free for children under 7.
Accepted payment methods: Cash
Accessible to English speakers: Not yet.
Guided tours: Yes, but only in Russian. If you speak some Russian, it's well worth taking a tour which lasts about an 1h.
Restaurant: No
Shop: No
Address: 17 Volzhskaya Emb. (Волжская набережная, д. 17)
Directions and transportation: The museum is located on the corner of Sovetskiy Lane and Volzhskaya Embankment, one block from the central Sovetskaya Sq.
Website: http://mukmig.yaroslavl.ru (only in Russian)
Tel: +7-4852-30-41075
The length of an average visit: 1.5h
Opening hours: Mon, Wed-Sun 10am-6pm. Last admission at 5pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
Admission: Combined ticket: General 130₽/ Concessions 65₽. To one exhibition: General 80₽/ Concessions 40₽. Free for children under 7. Guided tour in German: 1160₽ per hour per group.
Accepted payment methods: Cash
Accessible to English speakers: Partially
Guided tours: Yes, but only in Russian and in German. Book ahead.
Restaurant: No
Shop: No
