7 reasons to visit
the Vologda region

This is what makes the Vologda region unique first and foremost. The region is home to the largest Orthodox monastery in the world by area, the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, and 20 km away is the Ferapontov Monastery, recognized as a UNESCO heritage site. It cherishes the frescoes of Dionisius, the only painting of the great Russian master that has survived to our time. The other monastery - Spaso-Kamenny Monastery - is located in the middle of Lake Kubenskoye on an island only 120 meters long. It is one of the oldest communities of monks of the Russian North. Almost every town and village have temples, with their own history, with their own style. Totem Baroque alone is unique and unrepeatable!

Vologda itself is famous for its unique wooden architecture - these are mostly mansions built by wealthy noblemen and merchants. Many of the buildings have been restored in recent years by local patrons and look amazing. Some of them even became hotels, so when you come to Vologda, you can feel like merchants. Be sure to take photos by the carved palisade.

> Vologda city tours

The region is a harmonious blend of northern ancestry, warm-heartedness and modern standards of hospitality and it is very unusual! First of all, everything needs to be seen. Not far from Vologda there is the Semyonkovo ethnographic museum, where one can learn in detail how the Russian village was organized. Here its image is recreated: traditional wooden buildings of the northern districts of the Vologda region - Russian log cabins, barns, bathhouses, a chapel, a mill and an ice cellar - are displayed. Secondly, to hear and maybe even sing ancient songs and ritual tunes, and you will definitely never forget the interactive programs.

And if you want to travel further back in time, you need to get acquainted with the druzhina. And there are several druzhinas in the Vologda region - Belozerskaya druzhina, Sugorie and Zastavka of the Belozersky Princes, the last two are near Kirillov.

It is in the Vologda region where the main wizard of Russia, Ded Moroz, lives. His residence is located in Veliky Ustyug. The magical tower-chamber of Ded Moroz has 12 rooms. Each one 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. In the Estate one can ride down a slide, visit the fairy tale trail and the winter Wizard's zoo, create a toy in the workshop or make a wish at the throne of Ded Moroz. The Post Office holds millions of children's dream letters from all over the world. And there is also the ‘Ice Room’ - the only place in Russia where winter lasts all 365 days.

> Learn more about Veliky Ustyug

The most important thing is to try various meals. The Vologda region is very hospitable in this respect. First of all, the region is famous for its dairy products and the most famous brand is Vologda butter with a unique nutty flavour. Not every plant can produce it - only 7 factories in the region. Next to butter is the most delicious condensed milk in the world, the one with the domes of St Sophia Cathedral on the can. A must-try treat is Vologda ice cream, even in winter. Actually, there are a lot of delicious dairy products in the region: fermented baked milk, sour cream, kefir, snowballs, yoghurt, cheese, but children adore Vologosha - a milk cocktail of different flavors. Remember the sweets. Marmalade, marshmallows, pastille and sweets of the most unusual flavors are available in the Vologda region, but the Vologda specialty is cranberries in powdered sugar, remember from your childhood? And if you want something completely out of the ordinary, try chocolate-coated buckwheat, beetroot and carrot sweets or crisps.

> Where to eat in the Vologda region

Nature! The Vologda region is huge - the 26th largest region in Russia and 75% of its territory is covered with forests. There are 1287 rivers and 5300 lakes. Try your holidays on the banks of the region's largest river Sukhona, Beloe, Kubenskoye and Onega lakes, Rybinsk and Sheksninsky reservoirs, as well as in camping, glamping and recreation centers on hundreds of other lakes and rivers. There are more than two hundred specially protected natural territories in the region. The largest of them are the Darwin Nature Reserve and the Russian North National Park. Make sure to visit special places in the region: see the Opoki geological outcrop with 70 meters of Permian and Quaternary sediments, admire the sunset on Mount Andoma, walk along Mount Maura. Besides, the Vologda region is famous for hunting, fishing, gathering mushrooms and berries.

Discovering local folk crafts is task number one. Vologda is world famous for its lace. Here is the largest in Russia Museum of Lace and there are places where you can practice the role of a lacemaker or buy something interesting for yourself. Another town of the Vologda region - Veliky Ustyug is famous all over the world for its Northern Niello. There is a craft factory here, where jewelry, cutlery, crockery, panels and furnishings are made. In many towns and villages you can try your hand at masterclasses, mastering northern paintings, creating folk dolls, pottery, blacksmithing and birch bark weaving.

Don't miss the highlights! Vologda festivals! There are quite a number of them and they are to suit all tastes. And festivals in the region are held both in summer and winter.

• "City of Crafts"
• Gastronomic Festival
• Festival of historic re-enactment ‘Sky of the Slavs’
• VOICES Young Film Festival
• The Russian Troika
• Sports festival "In the snows of Kirillov"
• Ded Moroz's birthday
• Vita Lace International Lace Festival
• All-Russian Folklore Festival "Village - the soul of Russia"
• Summer in the Kremlin Theater and Concert Season

(Almost every festival has its own VK page)

> Event poster