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Vologda
07.12.2012 17:05
http://www.travel-to-russia.net/
About the City
Vologda is a city and the administrative, cultural, and scientific center of the Vologda region and is located on the Vologda River. The city is a major transport hub of the Northwest of Russia and has a rich history.
Vologda is none other than Russia’s butter capital! That’s right, the town is famous for its dairy products and all you need do is mention butter and quality together and every Russian will invariably reply "Vologda butter."
In addition to irresistible dairy products, Vologda is also renowned for its incredible lace productions. It’s really quite tough to describe in words what Vologda lace looks like. The material is so fine that it has almost a spider's-web effect to it. This together with some of that Vologda butter would really make a great set of souvenirs since they are things you really don’t come across all that often in the West.
Vologda is included in the list of the Russian cities of especially valuable historical heritage. It is one of Russia’s most preserved cities and architecture-lovers and photographers will definitely enjoy the harmonious combination of stone monuments and wooden architecture. The town has 193 monuments of architecture and history of federal significance.
The Sights
A good recommendation to start with would be the Vologda Kremlin which, as you can easily imagine, is the city's historical centerpiece. Essentially it’s a 17th-century fortified enclosure of churches, archbishop's chambers and other cool buildings. It was built as a church administrative centre to accompany St Sofia's Cathedral.
After investigating the Kremlin you can head over to Vologda’s oldest museum which is the Peter the Great house museum. Now, when you hear Peter the Great and house museum, you probably start to think large palace, but unfortunately this one is a tiny, late-17th-century stone house that supposedly hosted Tsar Peter I during his visits to Vologda. It first opened back in 1885. Exhibits you can find there include Peter’s death mask and red tunic, underlining his remarkable height. (So the great part wasn’t just an ironic nickname or anything)
Another museum that might take your fancy is the Museum of Forgotten things. This is actually quite a cool place that is housed in a restored home with period furniture. It’s an interactive museum that aims to give an understanding of Russian life in the 19th century. Guests are encouraged to attempt to set the dining-room table with imperial china, play period music on a gramophone and learn the complicated norms of receiving guests. This is something really unique, since after all, where else can you try the Russian guest experience, 19th century style?
You can finish your day with a trip to one of the many local cafes or maybe even decide to go try a beer down at the authentically wood-furnished Bochka beer bar, which means barrel in Russian.
The History
The year 1147 is considered to be the foundation date of Vologda. The city takes its name from the Vologda River that flows through the city. Its name means "the pure one" in the language of indigenous Finno-Ugric population.
The advantageous geographical location at the intersection of waterways made the city of Vologda an bone of contention and cause of wars in the 13th and 15th centuries. Late in the 14th century Moscow's grand prince Vasily Dmitrievich annexed Vologda to his possessions. After that, Vologda became an appendage of Moscow's princes.
Having taken Moscow's side against all-comers from its inception, Vologda was rewarded by Ivan the Terrible, who deemed the quaint city worthy of his living there (in fact some Volga-born residents are firm in their belief that the city was a contender for Russian capital), and a perfect site for a grand cathedral.
Under Ivan the Terrible Vologda expanded rapidly and soon became one of the most important trade centres in Russia. At that time the city dealt with Siberia, England, Holland and other countries where the navy routes were laid through the White Sea.
Up to the 17th century Vologda was an important centre of industry, commerce and arts but with the development of Arkhangelsk and then St Petersburg, Vologda was pushed into the background. At the start of the 20th century, many political undesirables (like Josef Stalin and religious philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev) were exiled here. And, for a few months in 1918, Vologda became the diplomatic capital of Russia.
But coming back to the Vologda of today, we can see a town rich in history, architecture. Vologda's highly skilled workers are mainly employed in industrial plants, service, education, medicine and culture. The city's enterprises Produce is in high demand in Russia, and even has a ready export market in the USA, Finland, Holland, Germany, England and other countries.
It may not have become the Russian capital under Ivan the Terrible, but Vologda is definitely as worth a visit as it ever was!
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