Provincial city of Vereya. Attractions worth visiting

Holiday - an event infrequent, so people try to plan it in advance. Someone wants to spend it at sea, someone goes to the mountains. Some prefer travel to Europe or Asia. But what if I want to spend a vacation with profit, but there is no money for a trip abroad? Then it is worth paying attention to the sights of Russia. An excellent option will be Vereya - a small provincial town, located in the Moscow region.

Vereya - the western gates of Moscow

Vereya, whose sights are connected with its history, was founded at the turn of the 13th-14th centuries. The history of the city has always been connected with Moscow. The chronicles tell about the battles of Russians and Lithuanians near this settlement. Subsequently, Vereya becomes a defensive point of the capital. The pillars became a symbol of the city, and in the people it was nicknamed "the western Moscow gates".
In the XVIII century the city began to develop and as a center of trade and crafts. Leather, shoemaking and blacksmithing skills developed here. Fishermen wove net nets, which became known not only in Russia, but also abroad.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, Vereya was captured by the French. Here they built fortifications to protect the Smolensk tract, along which the French brought supplies. But soon Napoleon and his army were forced to leave the city and, leaving it, Bonaparte ordered the troops to destroy it.

From the plunder Vereya and could not recover. Remoteness from the railways also played a role. From a large shopping center it turned into a small provincial province. Currently, about 5 thousand people live here, so the city is considered the smallest not only in the Moscow region, but throughout Russia.

How to get to Vereya?

The city is located in the west, 95 kilometers from Moscow. You can not get to the train directly here. The nearest railway station is 25 kilometers from the city. But you can get to Vereya by bus. Several long-distance flights run from Moscow. You can also visit the village by car. The way here will take approximately 1,5-2 hours.

What is the best way to plan a trip? It should be taken into account that Vereya is a small city, therefore all its survey can take about a day. Most tourists come here in the morning, on the very first bus, and leave the last flight on the same day. Sunday is not the best choice for a trip. On this day, closed museums and shopping arcades, so they will not be able to visit. What are the attractions of Vereya worth visiting in the first place?

Churches of Vereya

Ancient churches are what Vereya is famous for. Attractions of this species are the main reason for the trip here. Most of the temples and cathedrals need restoration, but this is what attracts tourists. After all, in Moscow and the Moscow region there are almost no such traditionally Russian landscapes.

The most ancient preserved church of Vereya is the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ. It was built in 1552 in honor of the capture of Russian troops by Kazan. According to legend, its construction began under the decree of Ivan the Terrible himself. Before the Revolution, the remains of General IS were also buried here. Dorokhova - the hero of the Patriotic War and the liberator of the city. After the revolution, the cathedral was plundered by the Bolsheviks. However, now it is actively restored, church services are held there.

The Old Believer parish is another place that Vereya can surprise: the sights of the Old Believers are very few. The Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin was built in the XIX century and still works.

The Church of the Epiphany of the Lord was built in the 18th century on the site of an old wooden church. It was built from white brick in baroque style to the donations of a local merchant. It is known for the fact that the icon of Admiral Ushakov is kept here. Now the temple is almost completely restored, services are held here.

Bykovo Manor

Architectural monuments are not only in the city of Vereya. Sights, reviews about which have received the greatest distribution, are in several kilometers from settlement. Here is the Bykovo manor, which is known for its Vladimir church. The temple is a unique pseudo-gothic monument. It was built in the XVIII century by order of M.M. Izmailov, who at that time was the owner of the estate. From the majority of churches it differs in that it is executed in European, and not in Russian style. The manor itself is now abandoned, but the temple works as usual.

Monument to Dorokhov - the liberator of the city

However, churches and temples are only a small part of what Vereya is famous for. Sights here can be seen everywhere. One of them is a monument to the liberator of the city during the Patriotic War - General IS. Dorokhov. The monument was opened at the beginning of the 20th century in honor of the centenary of the liberation of the country from the French. After the outbreak of the Civil War, the monument was destroyed. The remains of the general, which were kept in the city, were plundered, and the bones themselves were thrown into the ravine of the Protva River. At night the inhabitants of Vereya, risking their own lives, collected the remains and buried them. In place of the monument was a monument to Karl Marx, but it was also destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. Dorokhov's sculpture was restored only in the 50s of the XX century at the request of the inhabitants of the city. And after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the remains of the general himself were found and reburied.

Local History Museum Vereya

What museums can visitors of Vereya have to offer? The sights of the local lands are not too diverse, but even in these conditions, the Local History Museum of the city is always open to tourists. It was founded only recently, in 1996, but exhibitions are held regularly. The main exhibits are antique items: sewing machines, irons, gramophones, samovars, mirrors. There is also an exposition devoted to the Great Patriotic War.

Attractions Vereia and its outskirts are famous for preserving their historical appearance. Despite the proximity to the capital, the city was able to preserve the provincial way, which attracts tourists. It is worth to visit Vereya for those who want to feel the spirit of the traditional Russian village with its wooden houses and majestic churches.