info@childreninmoscow.ru
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Beyond the MKAD Full day/weekend trips (see also further information headings below on Borodino, St Petersburg and The Golden Ring): >> Resorts (see also Summer Beaches and Skiing on the Parks page) Le Meridien Country Club: Krasnogorsky r-n, tel. 926 5911, www.lemeridien-mcc.com Sorochany Resort: Dmitrovskoye Region, tel. 788 8540, www.sorochany.ru Volen Resort: Dmitrovskoye Region, tel. 993 9502, www.volen.ru Quick links: www.istraholiday.ru >> www.aquaprek.ru >> www.heliopark.ru >> http://voronovo.podmoskovie.info/ >> www.morosovka.ru >> www.algol-club.ru >> www.abramcevo-hotel.ru >> www.club-vodnik.ru >> www.higina.ru >> www.kolkunovo.ru >> www.myshkin-inn.ru >> www.eurovolga.ru >> www.seliger.ru >> http://tssr.ru/main/commerc/svyatogorovo >> www.foresta.ru >> Golden Ring (see also entry below) and other day/weekend trips Sveta Kurilkina: Sveta offers traditional Russian culture and activity tours around Chernigov Skit and Sergei Posad Monastery. English speaking. Ideal for visitors and those wanting to experience the Russia just outside of Moscow. Please email her for further information and prices: svetstours@hotmail.com (www.pancake-hill.ru) Russia destinations, including the Golden Ring and Galina’s Dacha (Zareche, 70kms from Moscow): www.tsarvoyages.com, www.russianvoyage.ru -- Update: Unfortunately Galina's Dacha burnt down in June 2009, although Galina plans to restore it (to help, please visit: www.galinadatcha.com) Borodino Battlefield (see also entry below): Moscow-Minsk Road, www.borodino.ru Specialist travel agents: www.2days.ru/russia.html, www.russiatravel-pdtours.netfirms.com Circle of ancient Russian towns NE of Moscow: www.waytorussia.net/GoldenRing/GoldenRing.html >> Further afield (see also entries below) St. Petersburg: B&B accommodation +7 812 571 8311, Natalia Sorokina (Russian, English). Individuals and small groups welcome; tourist and cultural advice also provided Star City (Zvyozdny Gorodok): space research and training centre where cosmonauts have lived and trained since the 1960s, open for tours in English organised by www.toursinrussia.com (see monthly schedule). Visit includes seeing the centifuge and altitude chambers, space simulators and museum. Akulova Gora (near Pushkino, 20kms MKAD) tel. 460 9913, www.akulovagora.ru: Siberian husky dog sleigh rides through the surrounding wooded countryside. Family-run since 1995. Under 5s must be accompanied by an adult. Advance booking essential Bird Park, Voroby Village, Kaluga region (75kms MKAD), tel. 8 (48439) 93426, www.birdspark.ru: great collection of birds, including ostriches, in this private zoo and farm, as well as variety of other animals, suspension bridge, botanical gardens, horse/pony-riding, paintball, eco-trail, art exhibitions, cafe and accommodation (see also "Kaluga" article link below) Pskov: One of Russia's oldest towns, located near the Estonian border. Paloma Tours organise English-speaking traditional Russian culture and activity weekend trips (also sailing in summer, skiing in winter). Please visit http://paloma.ellink.ru/ for more information >> Article links to Phoebe's out-of-town walks Kaluga: Link to “Tepees, Toucans and Telescopes” article from “Phoebe’s Weekend Walks” column in The Moscow News: http://www.mn.ru/feature/20090811/55384856.html (issue 30, 2009) Zvenigorod: Link to “City of Bells” article from “Phoebe’s Weekend Walks” column in The Moscow News: http://www.mnweekly.ru/local/20090706/55381690.html (issue 25, 2009) Klin: Link to “Nutcrackers and Christmas Trees” article from “Phoebe’s Weekend Walks” column in The Moscow News: http://www.mnweekly.ru/travel/20091214/55396102.html (issue 48, 2009) Borodino Battlefield Moscow-Minsk Road (2 hour drive from Moscow) On 26 August 1812, Russian troops withdrew after a bloody battle against the French here, during which losses of up to 58,000 men led to Napoleon’s eventual defeat. A week after the Russians withdrew, Napoleon’s Grande Armee marched into an empty Moscow; Moscovites had left the city with all their supplies after setting their houses on fire. The battlefield is now popular with historical re-enacters, military history buffs and picnickers. Every September, enthusiasts wearing handmade costumes and carrying replica weapons stage a mock battle in the fields. School-children also attend a smaller event on the last Sunday in May (‘The Steadfast Tim Soldier’) and WW2 buffs attend the ‘Moscow is Behind Us 1941’ festival on the second Sunday in October. There are over 200 memorials on the site, including one monument dedicated to the French, and several museums with interesting military-related exhibits (including a toy soldier museum). There are also plenty of trenches in the field itself for younger children to run along. www.borodino.ru Sightseeing in and around St. Petersburg A child-friendly sightseeing walk along Nevsky Prospekt towards the Neva, starting at the Russian National Museum, next to the Grand Hotel Europe: The hotel dates from the 1820s, restored in the 1990s. L'Europe restaurant in the hotel serves an excellent Sunday Brunch from 12:30-4:00pm, with live jazz and a supervised children's room on the balcony level (tel: +7 812 329 6622). The Russian National Museum also dates to the 1820s, built for Grand Duke Mikhail (Alexander I and Nicholas I’s brother). It was turned into a museum in the late 19th century and houses the largest collection of Russian art (including works by Rublev, etc). There is a small park in front of the museum, where children can run around. The nearby Gostiny Dvor shopping mall, constructed 1757-1785, was renovated after the Siege of Leningrad. Continue to walk down Nevsky. Turn right before the bridge over the canal to visit the Saviour of the Spilt Blood Cathedral. Mosaics and restoration work. Built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Park nearby with children’s entertainment. Cafes and ice-cream cafe by canal; touristy but cheaper prices. Canal boat trips available (negotiate price). Back on Nevsky: Kazan Cathedral opposite. Built 1801-1811. The stone colonnade encircles a small garden and fountain. Closed for services in 1929, opened as Museum of Religion and Atheism in 1932. Premises now shared. Continue walk down Nevsky. The ‘La Strada’ restaurant nearby has a supervised children’s room (see further information below). Touristy artist area outside small church on right, which was used as a warehouse during the Soviet days. Stroganoff Palace (built 1750s, now art museum) on left before corner, next to the Chocolate Museum (the outdoor restaurant in the courtyard with telephones on tables is touristy, the is food expensive for its quality, and it's generally not recommended!). The Hermitage and Winter Palace is at the end of Nevsky on the right. One of the world’s oldest and largest museums. Exhibitions from pre-historic to modern in approximately 400 halls. Former Tsars’ residence. Nicholas II Palace Square and Alexander Column. 155 feet, 8 inches tall: single monolith of red granite 83 feet, 6 inches. Weighs 600 tons, erected in under two hours in early 1830s. Cross over road to embankment, turn left and walk along River. Restaurant on moored ship is good for a break. River boat trips available from pier. Cross road to famous Peter the Great horse statue, erected by Catherine the Great. Usually wedding parties gather here for photos. Also touristy photos with people dressed as Peter and Catherine. Sometimes short horse-rides available. Leads to St Isaac’s Cathedral behind it. There is a children’s outdoor playground behind the statue to the left. Visit St Isaac’s and walk up to the observation level on the colonnade for great views of the city. The world’s fourth greatest cupola cathedral. Built in 16th century, can house audiences of 10,000. 112 solid granite columns weigh 114 tons each. Approximately 400 reliefs and bronze structures. Paintings, mosaics etc. Astoria Hotel in front of St Isaac’s is where Hitler was planning to deliver his victory speech. Art deco architecture. Opened 1912. To continue sightseeing around the Neva: Spit of St. Basil’s Island, Rostral Columns and Stock Exchange (built 1810). Peter and Paul Fortress founded in 1703 by Peter the Great when the City of St. Petersburg was founded. 18th century cathedral, burial place of Peter and other Tsars. City History Exhibition. Prison Museum. Outdoor restaurant overlooking river. Locals sunbathe along the fortress walls and swim in river here, all year round. Other sights in town: Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was murdered - built in early Russian Classical style. Alexander Nevsky Monastery, founded by Peter I - originally home to 16 churches within complex; only five survived the 20th century. Peaceful and beautiful cemetery where notable cultural and artistic Russians buried (18/19th centuries), including Dostoyevsky and Tchaikovsky. Kirov Ballet (Mariinsky Theatre), built 1859 - book tickets for a performance during your stay in St. Petersburg. Bridges - the ‘Venice of the North’ has over 500 bridges, from pedestrian bridges over canals to large drawbridges over the Neva (make sure you don’t get caught on the wrong side when they open at night!). Peter the Great’s hut - preserved as it was for 300 years. Short walk from here along river to Aurora battleship, located next to Navy School - a blank gunshot from the ship signalled the start of the October Revolution (1917). Took part in Russo-Japanese War (1904/5). Summer Gardens - lovely walks, good for children to run around. Palaces: Tsarskoe Selo - Amber Room (now restored). 18/19th centuries, 600 hectares of parks, palaces, pavilions etc. Catherine’s Summer Palace. Large art collection. Pavlovsk - 18/19th centuries, one of the largest landscaped parks in Europe. Slavyanka River. Summer Palace of Paul I - large art collection from 1780s. It’s possible to visit both Tsarskoe Selo and Pavolvsk on a one-day tour by road. Peterhof - ornate summer palace and large park, dating from 1705, on Gulf of Finland. Over 150 fountains and five monumental cascades. Museums, hermitage, palaces. Grand Palace built 1750s. Possible to visit Peterhof by boat from town. Children might also enjoy a visit to Planet Neptune, a shopping complex with a large oceanarium that houses over 4,000 species of fish. There is a coral reef and shark tank, as well as an underwater tunnel. Each aquarium or tank attempts to fully recreate natural conditions. Open 10am to 9pm (closed last Monday of month). Entrance from 80-500R. Address: 86 Marata Ulitsa (Metro Pushkinskaya). Further information: check the free in your pocket (www.inyourpocket.com), St. Petersburg Times (www.sptimesrussia.com) and Where, Pulse etc. magazines for current what’s on information, available at most hotels and cafes. There’s a large internet cafe on Nevsky Prospekt (in what used to be a beautiful art-deco ice-cream parlour!), and a child-friendly restaurant with a supervised children’s playroom just off Nevsky Prospekt at 27 Bolshaya Konjushenaya (www.lastrada.com.ru). For a relaxing family-friendly meal, try Makarov, which is centrally located with an indoor children's room and outdoor play area. Good food and friendly service with a homely feeling. Address: 2 Manezhny Pereulok. Tel: (812) 327 0053. Lake Ladoga (North of St Petersburg): a recommended and very rare opportunity to explore a largely uninhabited part of Russia on a boat trip lasting three to four days, which includes a guided visit to the Valaam Monastery, as well as fishing and swimming in fjords and Lake Ladoga. There is room for two adults and two/three children on board. You can decide on your own itinerary with Captain Gennady, a very experienced Russian sailor. Transfer both ways between St. Petersburg and Priozersk by car (a two hour journey) is also included, and sleeping bags and cooking equipment are provided. Guests need to supply their own food and should come suitably dressed (warm sporty clothes and waterproofs!). Lynne Barker-Privalova, a former BWC member, went on this trip and enjoyed it tremendously; foreigners here can’t often enjoy this kind of non-commercial adventure and the opportunity deserves to be snapped up! The operator’s number in St. Petersburg is 7921 1179 (Russian only). Link to “Grace and Wonder of the Northern Lands” article from “Phoebe’s Weekend Walks” column in The Moscow News: http://www.mnweekly.ru/local/20090528/55378019.html (issue 20, 2009). The Golden Ring This is a circle of ancient Russian cities and towns located to the North East of Moscow, full of history and architecture dating from the 12th century. The 'classical' route (counter-clockwise) starts from Moscow, and goes through Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov Velikiy, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy and Sergiev Posad. The towns are located relatively close to each other, so it’s possible to see them as a week-long trip or split them up into weekend trips, by car, bus or train. There’s a lot to see and children enjoy the outdoor aspect. Speak to one of the listed tour companies for more information on each town, including a map, suggested itinerary and detailed travelling times. Suzdal: some accommodation options: Pokrovskaya Hotel (in the Convent of the Intercession) – 49231/20889, Guest House Traktir Kuchkov – 49231/20252, Likhoninsky Dom (19th century) – 49231/21901, GTK Complex – 49231/20908, Jeff (private house) – 928 5246, 920 1755, Centre of Youth Tourism – 49231/20553, Alexei & Tatiana (Russian B&B) – 49231/20293. Charisma Travel organise trips to Suzdal with activities for all ages (www.charismatravel.net). Sergei Posad: Sveta Kurilkina offers the following: Chernigov Skit; sightseeing in Sergei Posad, including a Monastery tour (with church services) and Museum of Toys; Abramtsevo Estate tour, including the artists’ cottages; private banya; troika rides; skiing; Russian banquets. Ideal for visitors and those wanting to experience traditional Russian activities out of Moscow. Sveta is the perfect host and encourages full participation, but be warned: her banquets last for hours and include singing and lots of vodka! (www.pancake-hill.ru) Link to “Romantic Rostov” article from “Phoebe’s Weekend Walks” column in The Moscow News: http://www.mn.ru/travel/20100211/55411029.html(issue 04F, 2010). Link to “Picture-Perfect Pereslavl” article from “Phoebe’s Weekend Walks” column in The Moscow News: http://www.mn.ru/travel/20100506/55439569.html(issue 16F, 2010). |
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