Kostroma

Kostroma

Kostroma is a cozy city on the Volga shores. It is the regional center of the Kostroma region. Kostroma is a part of the Golden Ring of Russia and has a historical status. The settlement also holds the title of "City of Labor Valor."
Perhaps it is in Kostroma that you can find unique locations that fully reflect the Russian flavor. Unique architectural monuments and important places have been preserved here, the history of which dates back to the times of Ancient Russia.
Historians have found out that before the appearance of an urban settlement here, Finno-Ugrians lived in the area. This is evidenced by the finds found on the territory of Kostroma and in its vicinity. These are fragments of unique ceramics, weapons and jewelry typical of the inhabitants of this people.
Being the oldest and most beautiful city, Kostroma itself is a remarkable location. It is interesting to walk here, looking at the old buildings and cozy streets of Kostroma. Below is a description of the most interesting places of the settlement, which should be visited first.
The main place for meetings and walks in the city can be called Susaninskaya Square. It was built in 1823 according to the general plan for the reconstruction of the settlement.
The square was conceived in the form of a semicircle, but then it was decided to make it with "faces". 7 streets of Kostroma lead to this place with rays, so it will not be difficult to find it. The historical place was originally called Yekaterinoslavskaya and received a new name in 1835.
In 1917, it was named Revolution Square. Then a sports ground and a park area were built here.
In the 67th year of the last century, a new monument to I. Susanin was erected on the square, which was destroyed earlier, and at the end of the century it was restored to its historical name.
Kostroma Embankment is one of the main avenues of the settlement. There is just a street in the city called the Embankment, but the main coastal avenue is called Pervy May Street.
There are interesting locations of Kostroma city on the avenue.
Here you can see Ostrovsky's gazebo with an observation deck, the main river station, the monument to V. I. Lenin and visit the local beach. Near the embankment there is a lime park, where you can hide from the sun in the shade of trees and enjoy the singing of birds.
The famous historical location of the settlement is considered to be the fire tower located on Susaninskaya Square. The building was erected in 1825, and it was the main place of surveillance of buildings on fire. From a height of 35 meters, all the surroundings of the settlement were surveyed, and in case of an emergency, a signal was given in the form of a raised ball and a bell ringing. If the balloon was red, then the fire occurred in the center of Kostroma, and if it was blue, then on the outskirts. Today, the tower is an original architectural monument decorated with stucco and containing Ionic capitals. The tower is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and houses a museum of "Firefighting". 
All tourists of Kostroma are advised to visit the Shopping Malls, which have been an architectural landmark since the reign of Catherine II. In the 17th century, the sale of resources and products of Kostroma craftsmen was well developed here. The first shopping center in the district was built here, which became famous throughout the province. A fire that broke out in 1773 destroyed most of the trading shops, as a result of which, by order of the Empress, the construction of new buildings for trade began. According to the master plan, all new buildings were built of stone. Shopping malls were no exception, and soon the area in the city center became known as "Gostiny Dvor." The rectangular building, which houses various shops with products, is joined by the Church of the Savior in the Rows. The wooden temple of the same name was built on this site even before the fire. The new design of the Shopping Mall building suggested changing the appearance of the church according to the general style. Architect S. Vorotilov managed to harmoniously fit the ancient temple into the overall picture of the new retail premises. The territory of the Shopping malls occupies the area from Susaninskaya Square to the former Kremlin. The area inside the rectangle also houses shops. The building has rounded corners — this decision was made so that passing carriages would not touch them. For a long time, the architecture of the rows has changed somewhat, but most of the historical buildings of the former Gostiny Dvor have survived to this day. 
Snow Maiden's cave. Every child in Russia is familiar with such fairy-tale characters as Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden. Many people know about the grandfather's place of residence, but not everyone will answer the question of where his famous granddaughter lives. In the city of Kostroma, you can find a beautiful teremok with carved decorations and wooden courtyard buildings. It is located at 38 Lagernaya Street. This beautiful corner is simply saturated with magic and fabulous references. At the entrance to the territory there is a well-known boulder with an inscription about three paths. In the courtyard, visitors are greeted by the hostess of the house, the Snow Maiden, who treats them, according to Russian tradition, with bread and salt. She will show the guests her house and tell them about her life. The Snow Maiden will also contact her beloved grandfather, and her cat Bayun will show the guests a performance. Visitors will see the secret room of Wonders with various creations of local children, and then enter the Ice Room. After the tour, they can visit the on-site restaurant. 
The Military History Museum. Another attraction of the settlement is the building of the former guardhouse. In 1781, a wooden structure was erected on this site to house the main guard of Kostroma. After 40 years, the building fell into disrepair, and it was decided to build a new one. The project was handled by master P. Fursov, who also designed the Fire Tower. The Empire-style guardhouse was located in the city center in 1826. In Soviet times, there was a registry office here, and then the premises were transferred to the Kostroma Nature Reserve, which made a Literary Department in it. Today, the Military History Museum is located here. 
Tchaikovsky Street is home to the city's Central Park, where locals and tourists often enjoy spending their free time. The park is equipped with comfortable places to relax, and also has entertainment locations on the territory. The park has observation decks with views of the surroundings and the river, the Vladimir Church and chapel, a monument to V. I. Lenin, attractions for children, tents with food and drinks, as well as a sculpture in the form of a flower clock. The park has access to the embankment, so its visit can be combined with a tour of the main street of Kostroma. 