TO SEE
THE MUSEUM OF RUSSIAN DESSERT
МУЗЕЙ РУССКОГО ДЕСЕРТА
About
The Museum of Russian Dessert is quite new, but it's already changed address, moving from the barracks in the centre of town to a 19-century merchant house close to the river. The refurbishment slowly continues, there's yet a lot to be done, heating in particular. As for now, the museum is only heated by the titanic Russian oven installed in one of the rooms on the ground floor. This is where most of the worksops and cooking lessons take place. There's also a large room upstairs with dozens of cupboards preserving piles of centuries-old items related to traditional Russian desserts. They usually run 1h long guided tours in Russian or English where they tell you everything about the traditions of tea drinking and dessert making in Russia. Worksops and culinary classes are only in Russian but they're planning to invite English-speaking guide soon. The museums introduces new workshops every season. At the moment, they teach how to make Russian cracknels, gingerbread, pies, and chocolates. Most of them are run in the weekends, but it's best to call them a day or two in advance and ask about the schedules worksops and tours. If you're travelling in a group of 4 or more people, you can book your own guided tour or workshop for the time that is most convenient for you.
Don't forget to pop into their shop. Honestly, it sells pretty much anything you can imagine from delicious homemade desserts to a vintage jar or a painting by a local artist.
Address
23/2 Frunze St. (ул. Фрунзе, д. 23/2)
Go to Website (only in Russian)
+7 968 897 35 59
+7 915 093 70 93
Mon-Sun 10am-8pm
Average visit duration: 1h
Guided tours in English
General 300₽ (400₽ on weekends)/ Children 250₽ (350₽ on weekends).
Workshops (only in Russian): 800₽ for baking Russian cracknels; 1500₽ for pies; 2500₽ for Guriev porridge.
Cash or card
About
This old fortified monastery was founded in 1398 by St. Savva, who was a disciple of the famous St. Sergius of Radonezh. Even today the monastery is still dominated by the golden-domed Cathderal of the Nativity with ancient icons and frescoes, built around 1405. There're very few cathedrals of this period that have survived in Russia. Many of Russian tsars favoured this monastery, and often came for a visit, some monarchs even stayed there for quite a long time. The legend has it that Zvenigorod (transated from Russian as 'the ringing city') was named for the capacity of local bells to ring so loud that they could be heard in Moscow, and thus to warn Moscovites against the approach of an enemy. Although the original bell perished in war, the new one, instaleld in 2003, is no less titanic. It's total wight is 37 tonnes which makes it one of the biggest bells in the world.
There's a free admission to the territory of the monastery but you need to pay if you want to visit the exhibitions inside the monastery. The ticket office is located on the left side as you enter the monastery. There's a cozy café and a bakery at one of the towers serving traditional Russian food. For souvenirs, head to a large shop in the white building next to the cathedral.
Address
Directions: the monastery is located just off Karinskoe highway. If you walk from the centre of Zvenigirod, follow Frunze St., and then continue walking along the highway until you see the square with stalls and signboards of the monastery. Turn right and walk up the road, and then turn left at the barriers with a sentry box. You'll see the entrance to the monastery further up the road.
Go to Website (only in Russian)
+7 495 933 79 78
Mon-Sun 6am-until the end of the evening service
Average visit duration: 1h30min
Accessible to English speakers
Audioguides in English, German and Russian (200₽)
SAVVINO-STOROZHEVSKY MONASTERY
САВВИНО-СТОРОЖЕВСКИЙ МОНАСТЫРЬ
MUSEUM OF HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE AND ART
ИСТОРИКО-АРХИТЕКТУРНЫЙ И ХУДОЖЕСТВЕННЫЙ МУЗЕЙ
About
The museum consists of 4 separate exhibition venues located on the territory of the monastery. Three of them are housed in the former tsarina's chambers, built for the wife of tsar Alexis in mid-17th century. One of the exhibitions is actually called the Tsarina's Chambers (Покои Боярыни), it is dedicated to the life of Russian nombewomen in the 17th century. The original interiors were meticulously recreated, and today, it feels like being in a Russian fairytale with brightly painted walls, golden chandeliers, and cast-iron chests. There's also an archeological exhibition called 'Ancient Zvenigorod', with pottery, coins, arms, and jewellery found at the site of the monastery. And a temporary exhibition dedicated to the House of Romanov, with pictures and items related to this royal family, from tsar Michael I in the beginning of the 17th century until the last tsar Nicholas II who abdicated in 1917. Finally, there's an art gallery with temporary exhibitions located outside the fortified part of the monastery, next to the monastery hotel.
Address
Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery (Саввино-Сторожевский монастырь)
Directions: as you enter the gates of the monastery, walk straight towards the golden-domed cathderal, and turn left before it, walk down the hill and you'll see a red-bricked building with porches, this is where three of the exhibitions are located. The forth one is located outside the fortified part of the monastery, next to the monastery hotel.
Go to Website (only in Russian)
+7 495 992 94 64
+7 915 393 55 65
Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed on Mondays
Combined ticket to all exhibitions: General 200₽/ Senior 160₽/ Students & Children 120₽. Ticket to 1 exhibition: General 50₽/ Senior 40₽/ Students & Children 30₽. Photography 50₽/ Video 150₽. Audioguides in English, German, and Russian (200₽)
Average visit duration: 1h