Road Trip in Russia – The Unknown Giant
Moscow – Modern Capital with Rich History
The journey begins in Moscow. The country’s capital is home to over 11 million residents. Begin your tour at the Kremlin, the center of power in Russia. Princes and tsars resided here before St. Petersburg became the capital of the Russian Empire in 1721. Since 1918, the Kremlin has once again been the seat of government. The dimensions of the building will impress you. Already the Kremlin wall, which surrounds the area, is of enormous size. It measures 2,235 metres in length. It is up to 19 meters high and 6.5 meters thick. You should plan half a day to visit the site and join a guided group. This way you will learn the most about the rich history of this structure.
After that, you can pay a visit to the Lenin Mausoleum. Snow-white-like, the revolutionary leader lies here in a glass coffin and can be viewed. You should also have seen the state armoury. Here you will find the Tsar’s treasure, the coronation robe of Catherine the Great, the ivory throne of Ivan the Terrible and countless treasures more. You can spend weeks in Moscow, but you will only ever have seen a fraction of the sights. The best impression of the city, however, is gained by those who put aside the guidebook and simply let themselves drift. Leave the tourist paths and stroll through unknown streets. Discover new dishes in a restaurant. Drink your first (?) Russian vodka in a bar and get into conversation with the locals. This is how you get to know today’s Moscow.
Yaroslavl – One of the most beautiful cities in Russia
At some point, the journey continues and it takes you straight to Yaroslavl. Although the place is only 265 kilometers away from Moscow, you should plan five hours of pure driving time due to the road and traffic conditions. But it is worth it, because one of the most beautiful cities in Russia awaits you in Yaroslavl. Not for nothing the old town belongs since the year 2005 to the UNESCO world cultural heritage.
Visit first the magnificent monastery, which was already founded in the 12th century and then repeatedly expanded. The oldest still preserved part of the monastery is the Christ Declaration Cathedral which was built between 1505 and 1516. Inside you can see an impressive scene of the Last Judgement, which covers almost the entire west wall. Afterwards you have the opportunity to stroll through the old town and perhaps pay a visit to the Prophet Elias Church, which impresses with its magnificent murals. Yaroslavl also has no shortage of good restaurants. Visit the Poplawok. First-class Russian specialities are offered here in a dignified atmosphere.
Rybinsk – place with gigantic reservoir
You only have 80 kilometres to go to get to the last stop on this road trip. Rybinsk is an old port city and is located right on the Volga River. There is also a gigantic reservoir, with an area of almost 5,000 square meters, to see here. It was built in the young years of the Soviet Union. 130,000 people lost their homes because of it.
Today a museum reminds of the flooded places. Now if you are looking for a good hotel after a busy day, you should choose the Mercure Korprino Bay. It is located a little outside the town on the shore of the lake and offers pleasant comfort.
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Road Trip in Russia - The Unknown Giant