On the St. Petersburg road

1 day.

TORZHOK - SELIGER - NILOVA DESTYN

07:15 - 07:30. Group gathering in Moscow: metro station "VDNH"

Departure to Ostashkov (~ 370 km). Travel information.

Transit sightseeing tour of Torzhka.

Torzhok is the oldest city with more than a thousand years of history. The first mention of Torzhka dates back to 1015, and already at that time it was a fortress of Veliky Novgorod on one of the important trade routes. Despite the fact that the city was repeatedly captured, Torzhka has many ancient architectural monuments, and it will find something to surprise you. In the city is one of the oldest in Russia, now operating Boris-Gleb monastery. Torzhok was famous for its fairs, merchants, leathers, gold sewing. Through the transit city passed and stopped here V. A. Zhukovsky, A. S. Pushkin, P. A. Vyazemsky, S. A. Sobolevsky, V. G. Belinsky, M. Bakunin, I. S. Turgenev.

During the tour, you will learn how the Trade became New, and then Torzhkom, how to properly prepare fire patties and how they are related to A.S. Pushkin.

Lunch at the café.

Ostashkov is the only city on the banks of Seliger. It has preserved its own recognizable architectural style - an abundance of mezzanines on buildings, corner houses facing both streets with facades, and "exemplary" houses with rounded corners. But, of course, the main attraction of Ostashkov is the lake. Seliger fascinates and admires its greatness and power at any time of the year.

Departure by bus to the island "Stolbny", where there is a Russian shrine - the monastery of Nilova Pustin with the miraculous relics of St. Nile Stolobensky.

Reverend Neil became famous for healing, saving people from the storms on Seliger, as well as an incredible spiritual feat - for 27 years of his hermitage, he never lay down, but slept on two wooden hooks. According to his will, a majestic monastery was built on the island - "the golden-headed city on the island." Here rise magnificent temples and monastic buildings, and surrounds the monastery granite embankment! The Epiphany Cathedral of the Nile Desert was built according to the project that participated in the competition of projects for the construction of St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg. On the bell tower of the Epiphany Cathedral there is one of the best observation platforms of Seliger (climbing to the observation deck at will), with which you can admire unforgettable views of the monastic harmas, endless distances of the Seliger region.

The temple is surrounded on all sides by residential buildings, of which the Brotherly Corps stands out, outwardly most similar to any St. Petersburg palace. In other parts of the monastery there are outbuildings (there is even its own water tower), on the shore there is a park, and on the very tip of the cape there is a snow-white baroque Church of the Cross.

Moving to Valdai (~200 km).

Accommodation in the hotel "Valdai Dawns", Valdai - 1 night. Free time.

2 days.

Valdai, the Great New Town

Breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Room release.

Valdai is an ancient and beautiful city with a 500-year history. The city is known for its Orthodox shrines and natural sites, such as the National Park and the purest Valdai Lake, stretching for 40 kilometers.

The main symbol of the Valdai region is the Valdai Iversky Bogoroditsky Svyatoozersky Monastery, founded in 1653 on the picturesque island of Selvitsky Valdai Lake. The Iberian Monastery was founded by Metropolitan Nikon of Novgorod, who wished to build a monastery in the image and likeness of the Iverian Monastery on Athos. The main shrine of the monastery is the miraculous icon of the Iberian Mother of God, which, according to legend, was written by the Evangelist Luke in the days of the earthly life of the Virgin. A genuine work of art is a unique salary of the icon, created in the city of Chrysostom by the Lokhtachev masters and decorated with pearls, topazes, amethysts and citrines.

During a walk around the monastery we will admire its beautiful architectural ensemble and picturesque landscapes.

Departure to Veliky Novgorod (~ 150 km).