旅人る - Tabibito

 

Ustyuzhna

 

An old, very interesting and somewhat inaccessible city in Vologda oblast.

 

Although Ustyuzhna is far from large cities, there is no reason not to improve the city center.

 

Mologa River. There were no large ships on it since the 1960s.

 

Many two- and even three-storied brick merchant mansions.

 

One of the most unusual sights is the wooden water tower at the intersection of Veselova Street and Rosa Luxemburg Lane.

 

Other wooden houses.

 

The number and variety of churches in Ustyuzhna are compensated by the fact that half of them are in a completely ruined state. The bell tower and domes of the Church of the Resurrection (1771) on Torgovaya Square were cut off.

 

The main city cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (1690) is now a museum. In addition to the bell tower, it recently lost one of the crosses.

 

On the site next to him, someone was trying to draw the outlines of either Russia or the United States.

 

A small cemetery church of St. Basil the Great (circa 1900) on the western end of the city. Recently the arched belfry was restored, but in a greatly simplified form.

 

On the other bank of Mologa is the Temple of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (1781).

 

You can come inside; in the refectory the outlines of the Evangelist Luke are preserved, and under the ceiling in the main volume there are the remains of an ornament.

 

The two most beautiful churches are in good condition. Almost in the very center is the multi-colored Church of the Annunciation (1690-1694).

 

On the eastern outskirts of the city is the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (1694) with a free-standing hipped bell tower (1767). This style is called Stroganov baroque.

 

There are very interesting wall paintings inside, but the temple employees looked very unkindly from the porch and clearly wanted to act like Cain to Abel in this fresco at the entrance. Let's consider this visit to Ustyuzhna a preview.

 

Memorial plaques to a participants of a special military operation in Ukraine have already begun to appear at schools. This senior sergeant was killed in action in April 2022.

 

Details.

 

Ustyuzhna is extremely cat-friendly.

 

And cats here are unusually contemptuous.

 

Have you ever seen a dove chick?

 

Getting in (as of August 2023): the nearest airport and the nearest big city is Cherepovets. 1 hour 30 minutes by car or 2 hours 30 minutes by bus. It is somewhat easier to get here by car from St. Petersburg (via Tikhvin) than from Moscow.

 

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