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Kolomna is a city that stretches along the banks of three rivers and at the intersection of many land routes. Over the centuries, the rulers of the old Russian principalities fought for it; it was devastated by Tatars, conquered by Poles, but the city always rose again. For centuries, Kolomna reliably protected Moscow from attacks by enemy troops approaching from the southeast, and when this necessity ceased, it prospered thanks to its favourable location and the business acumen of local merchants.

The old districts of Kolomna still preserve a vibrant pre-revolutionary atmosphere. In the area of the Kolomna Kremlin and the posads, city residents still live in wooden houses with carved windows, in small mansions with mezzanines and apple orchards. Residential buildings casually alternate with outstanding monuments of Russian architecture, which distinguishes Kolomna from many old Russian cities whose historical centres have been transformed into uninhabited open-air museums of architecture.

It is known that the city of Kolomna already existed in the 12th century. The founding date is dated to 1177, when it was first mentioned in the annals: in the Laurentian Chronicle, the name of the city was mentioned in connection with the disputes between the Vladimir and Ryazan princes.

As the historian Karamsin rightly noted, Kolomna is most often mentioned in medieval annals in two cases – either it was devastated by Tatars or the Russian army gathered before the walls of the city Kremlin to confront the enemies. Throughout the 13th to 16th centuries, Kolomna was attacked by the hordes of Batu, Djuden, Toktamish, as well as the troops of the Kazan and Crimean Khans. At the same time, each of the princes ruling in these areas wanted to take control of the city. In 1300, the Moscow prince Daniil Alexandrovich invaded the Ryazan possessions and conquered Kolomna, incorporating the city and its densely populated surroundings into his lands. Since then, the history of Kolomna has been inseparably linked with Moscow. The new rulers had the Kolomna fortress redesigned. Its fortifications were strengthened, and a palace – the prince's palace – was built, where the princely governors lived.

Kolomna gradually gained a reputation as the largest trading city. Bread, fish, honey, and salt were brought here from the Ryazan regions and the Volga-Kama Bulgaria, while goods from European states – fabrics, wines, metalware – came to Kolomna via Great Novgorod. In the city, they were unloaded and sent to other regions via water and sled routes. Stone buildings were erected in Kolomna, and watch monasteries were established.

By the early 15th century, Kolomna had the reputation of being the wealthiest city after Moscow in the principality and was simultaneously a reliable defender of the southern borders of the capital. After the formation of the centralised Russian state, the city became part of its common external defence, a link in the southeastern defensive lines.

The old city with its magnificent historical monuments is off the Golden Ring of Russia. In the 1960s, when the history of this tourist route began, Kolomna was already a closed place – it housed a secret design bureau engaged in the development of equipment for rocket technology. Until 1994, it remained closed to foreign guests. Today, Kolomna is part of a new tourism project called the "Ring of Provinces of the Moscow Region."

📍 Coordinates of the place (map point) available here

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— Did you know that you can stand on both banks of the Volga at the same time? This is only possible at the source of the river!

The source of the Volga is located in the nature reserve of the same name in the Valdai Highlands. One of the largest rivers in the world and the largest in Europe begins at an altitude of 228 meters above sea level. The source is protected by the state.

The place where the largest Russian river originates is very popular with tourists. The area around the source is equipped with a chapel, bridges, and a viewpoint. Some call the source one of Russia's "power spots," where it is customary to make a wish.

According to various versions, one must circle the well in the chapel three times or jump over the stream. In any case, you can take a unique photo while standing with your feet on different banks of the Volga.

The source of the Volga is a small stream. At its beginning, there is a spring, above which a baptismal font with a metal railing is set up. The baptismal font is located in the chapel, which is accessed by a wooden bridge. The chapel over the source has existed since the 19th century and has been rebuilt several times.

At the beginning of the bridge stands an arch and a stone with information about the source. Nearby are the first bridge over the Volga and the stone "For the living and future children."

300 meters away are the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra and the St. Olga Monastery, a monument to St. Nicholas of Myra, and a bit further – the Chapel of the Cross. The Church of St. Nicholas of Myra was consecrated in the summer of 2022 after complete restoration at the site of the temple built in 1908.

The St. Olga Monastery was established on the site of the male Transfiguration Monastery, which was founded in 1649 by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. After a major fire, the temple was restored in 1912 and became a female monastery. After being closed during the Soviet era, the monastery resumed its work in 1999 in honor of Grand Duchess Olga.

The length of the largest and most water-rich river in Europe is 3530 km, the greatest depth is 41.5 m, and the width is up to 40 km. The name comes from the Old Slavic word "Vlagа" ("moisture"). The main tributaries of the Volga are Oka, Sura, Kama, and Wetluga.

The Volga flows from north to south through 15 subjects of the Russian Federation. The river begins in the Valdai Highlands and flows into the Caspian Sea. Its mouth is 28 meters below sea level.

On the banks of the Volga are Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd, Yaroslavl, Uglich, Astrakhan, and dozens of other cities and small settlements. There is even a city at the bottom of the Volga! In the 1940s, the city of Mologa disappeared from the map of Russia after being flooded.

The navigable river and the surrounding nature are known for their beauty. Amazingly, you can observe the blooming of the pink lotus flower in the Volga Delta. Flamingos, white herons, and pelicans also live here.

📍 Coordinates of the location (map point) available here

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