Vologda Kremlin is historical and architectural complex located in the central part of Vologda. It was founded as a fortress in 1567 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible and played the role of defensive fortification in the 16th-17th centuries.

By the 1820s the Kremlin walls and towers were dismantled. Today the territory of the Kremlin is a historical and trade center of Vologda. Several architectural monuments built at the same time as the Kremlin were preserved. They are standing on the Kremlin Square. Photos by Ilya Pokrovsky.

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Tags: churches · Vologda city

Once this place located in Moskovskaya oblast was a large estate, the family nest of Soymonov nobles. The estate was founded in the 18th century by Pyotr Alexandrovitch Soymonov. Main buildings of the estate were constructed by N.A.Soymonov including Znamenskaya church built in 1797.

Znamenskaya church is the only remaining building of the former estate of Teploye. Photos by Denis Frantsouzov.

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Tags: Abandoned · churches · Moskovskaya oblast

There are about 400,000 various historical and cultural monuments in Smolensk oblast of Russia. The territories of the region also played an important role in Russian military history. Unfortunately a lot of the architectural monuments are abandoned and if nothing changes they will be lost forever in near future. Photos by Denis Frantsouzov.

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Tags: Abandoned · churches · landscapes · smolensk oblast

For a small fee you can go up the bell tower of Voznesenskaya Church (Suzdal, Vladimirskaya oblast) and see in detail the origin of well-known Russian bell ringing.

Tags: churches · Suzdal city · Vladimir oblast

Kurba is an old Russian village of Yaroslavl oblast situated 20 km southwest of Yaroslavl on the open high place on the right bank of the river Kurbitsy. The main attraction of the village is the Church of Kazan Mother of God Icon.

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Tags: Abandoned · churches · Yaroslavl oblast

Tutaev is one of the towns of famous “Golden Ring” of Russia located in Yaroslavl oblast. The churches of Tutaev are picturesquely scattered on the hilly banks of the Volga and attract numerous tourists and architecture lovers from all over the world. The following nice winter views of Tutaev churches were taken by Petr Ushanov.

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Tags: churches · Yaroslavl oblast

Wooden сhurch of St. Prophet Elisha is located in a deserted village Yakovlevskaya of Podporozhsky area (Leningrad oblast) on the shore of Lake Sidozero. The church built in 1899 and closed in 1939 is being in significant disrepair now. The photos were taken by roving-wiretrap.

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Tags: churches · Leningrad oblast

The Church of the Transfiguration located in the village of Krasnoye (Staritskiy district, Tverskaya oblast) is one of the rarest in the region pseudo-Gothic buildings of the 18th century.

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Tags: churches · Tver oblast

Belozersk is one of the oldest towns in Russia. It was first mentioned in 862 as Beloozero (“White Lake”). The town was located away from the present day Belozersk, on the northern shore of Beloye Lake, near the village Kisnema.

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Tags: churches · Vologda oblast

The Church of Vladimir Icon of Mother of God located in the village of Bykovo (Moskovskaya oblast) was built in 1789. White stone church constructed in Russian Gothic style has no worthy counterparts in the church architecture of Moscow region, and, perhaps, in the church architecture of Russia in general.

By the side of the street on which the church is standing, in the depths of the old park, Bykovo mansion is located. The current building of the estate was built in 1856. The photos were captured by Denis Frantsouzov.

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Tags: churches · Moskovskaya oblast