Immerse yourself in a fairy tale: visit The Manor of Ded Moroz in Veliky Ustyug!
In the very heart of the Vologda region, in the picturesque town of Veliky Ustyug, you will find the Manor of Russia's main winter wizard — Ded Moroz. It's a place where fairy tales come to life and dreams become reality. Travelling here will be an unforgettable adventure for the whole family!
How to get to Veliky Ustyug?
By plane
The fastest way is by plane. They are 5 flights a week: from Vologda (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and Cherepovets (on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). The flight duration is about an hour. It is more convenient for tourists from the capital to get there via Cherepovets, the flights will be connected.
By train
If you want to go to Veliky Ustyug on your own, you will have to go first to the town of Kotlas (it takes 18-20 hours from Moscow and 23 hours from St. Petersburg). And from there, by bus to the town. From Kotlas Yuzhny (Southern Kotlas) and Yadriha stations you can get to Veliky Ustyug by bus (the bus awaits the arrival of Moscow and St. Petersburg trains) or use taxi services, which you either take on the spot or order in advance in Veliky Ustyug by the arrival of the train. The drive time is still about an hour and a half.
By car
From Moscow the way by car will be about 900 kilometres, from St. Petersburg 1100 kilometres. From Moscow the way lies via Yaroslavl and Vologda along the M8 highway (Moscow - Arkhangelsk). You can drive from St. Petersburg to Veliky Ustyug via Tikhvin and Vologda. There are three petrol stations in Veliky Ustyug. Parking in the town is not much of a problem.
What to do in the Manor of Ded Moroz?
- First of all, to visit the fairytale Tower-chamber, where the wizard lives. There are 12 rooms in the Tower-chamber and each room has its own purpose: there is a study, a dressing room, a library, a laboratory, and many others that one would never see in an ordinary house.
- To walk along the fairy tale trail, where guests are greeted by Ded Moroz's assistants and characters from favourite children's fairy tales.
- To visit the Ice cellar of Ded Moroz. Where do you store your winter clothes? In an ordinary wardrobe? And the main wizard of the country — in the Ice cellar. It is here where Ded Moroz puts his winter clothes in a transparent wardrobe to recharge them for the next winter with the power of the great North, to fill them with frost and winter magic. And there are also beautiful ice sculptures here, which look like huge sparkling lollipops that do not melt even in July.
- To drop by the forge of Ded Moroz, where you can see how metal comes to life literally before your eyes in the hands of a skilful master and turns, for example, into a forged heart or a horseshoe.
- The only northern zoological garden is located in the fairy tale of Ded Moroz. The zoo of the country's main wizard is even special: the animals live not in small cages, but in large enclosures with wooden fences. And the zoo is surrounded not by a stone jungle, but by a real pine forest. Ded Moroz's assistants counted more than 400 animals and birds on the territory of the Manor. You can meet here: bear, wolf, fox, moose, reindeer, beaver, camel, African ostrich, common racoon, yellow-throated marten, demoiselle, white stork, owl, peacock, pheasant and many others.
- To take a ride on a miracle stove, dog sleds and go down a Russian slide.
What else is in store for you at the Manor?
At the Manor hotel and Manor compound, offering cosy rooms in tower-chambers where you can relax after a busy day.
Cafe and restaurant with traditional Russian cuisine, where you can try local culinary delights.
Souvenir shops featuring local craftsmen make great keepsakes.
Activities and entertainment
A variety of entertainment options are available at any time of the year:
In winter: sleigh rides, masterclasses and quests, as well as participation in New Year festivities
In summer: walks along picturesque trails and ponds of Ded Moroz, northern summer nights on the Sukhona River, river excursion to Veliky Ustyug and participation in the festival dedicated to the New Year's Halfway Point.
Plan your trip in advance so that you have time to enjoy all the wonders that the Manor of Ded Moroz has to offer. Detailed information about the programs, schedule and reservations can be found on the official website of the Russian Ded Moroz.
Come to Veliky Ustyug and give yourself and your beloved ones an unforgettable experience visiting Ded Moroz!
