• Distance from Moscow: 72km north-east;
• Meaning of transport: bus, local train;
• Tour duration: 4-9 hours.
• Can be combined with PERESLAVL-ZALESSKY tour.
• Rate: $25 per hour (depends on duration).

THE GOLDEN RING OF RUSSIA,
Moscow - Sergiev-Posad - Moscow,
1 day

The villages and small towns near Moscow are very picturesque and attractive for the tourists who want to feel the real life of Russian people, to plunge into russian traditional culture. One of such treasures is the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra which is situated in a small ancient russian town Sergiev Posad, around one hour and a half by a local train from Moscow.
The Troitse-Sergieva Lavra is a monastery complex which was founded by a russian saint Sergius of Radonezh in 1345. At first he was alone with his brother on a deserted hill, but then the people who had heard about the saint eremit joined him. The monastery grew more and more popular. In 1380, on the eve of the battle against the tatars, the Moscow grand prince Dimitry Donskoy was blessed by Sergius of Radonezh and won the battle. Since that time the monastery was protected by Moscow grand princes and tsars who gave much money for building beautiful churches and cathedrals. The first church that was built here was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and it was wooden. After the tatar invasions the churches were built of stone. Now the monastery contains more than 30 churches and towers which attract tourists and orthodox piligrims from all over the world. The springs of the monastery are considered to be holy and curative.

You can also visit this beautiful place! The train to Sergiev Posad leaves every 40 minutes, the most convinient time to leave would be aruond 10.40 in the morning. At around 12.20 you will already be in this small but very picturesque town - Sergiev Posad!
The Troitse-Sergieva Lavra is not very far from the train station, its domes can be seen from far away. You will be surprised to see how large and impressive the monastery is: it's protected with thick walls and towers. Right in the center of the monastery you'll see a real treasure of the russian orthodox architecture and the main cathedral of the Lavra - Assumption Cathedral (it was built on the sample of the cathedral in Kremlin which has the same name). Four blue domes and one golden "onion" in the middle, snow-white brick, amazing frescos, which occupy more than 500 square meters, and a five-storied iconostasis which contains 76 icons of XVI-XVII senturies can impress anyone!

The first wooden church of the monastery was dedicated to the Holy Spirit, but later it was replaced by a stone cathedral. Now you can see this simple but beautiful church with a high tower which is crowned with a blue dome. The Holy Spirit church was used as a patrol tower during the siege of the monastery by polish troops in 1608-1610.
Not less interesting may be the Holy Trinity Cathedral which contains a very rare and remarkable icon of the Holy Trinity that was painted by the most well-known and the most skillful russian icon-painter of the 16th century Andrey Roublyiov. Just nearby is situated the most impressive cathedral of the whole complex - the Refectory of St. Sergius. Red brick, carvings, bright paints of the facade, stunning paintings of the interior and the golden iconostasis can leave no-one indifferent. As a contrast to this grand cathderal - a small church in honor of the icon of the Vergin, a tiny round chapel made of white and blue brick, styled as a classicisme building of the 18th century.
But the most impressive building of the complex is the bell-tower of the 18th century, one of the highest bell-towers in Russia. The height of the tower is 88 meters, the biggest bell weighs 65 tonns. Before the revolution there were 42 bells on the tower, now only 23 are left. If you're lucky - you'll hear the magic music of these remarkable bells, tone and the nature of the sound are considered unsurpassed.
A special mention deserve the Palace of the Patriarch where he stays during his visite to the Lavra, and the Theological Academy that is also located here. You'll be able to see the life of usual monks and priests, and also of the novices who study here.
We have mentioned the smallest part of all that is worth seeing in the Lavra. The sightseeing takes around 2-2,5 hours, then it is possible to make a short walk through the center of the town Sergiev Posad, to see beautiful ponds, a magnificent park and the museum of toys right opposite the Lavra. At around 15.30 you'll return to the railway station and take the train back to Moscow, where you'll be arund 17.30-18.00. After the trip to this small town and the monastery the memories of your travel to Russia will always be pleasant and exciting!