Vologda

Vologda

       Vologda region lies in the North-West of  Russia. It occupies the territory of 145,000 square kilometers, which is equal to the territories of  Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland taken together. The climate of the region is temperate-continental - cold snowy winter and short warm summer.

     Cherepovets is the first city in the region by its population and industrial value. It is one of the largest centers of steel and chemical production in the country.

     The center of the region is Vologda. It is situated on the river Vologda. Vologda is a town of wonderful beauty with a number of sights.

     Vologda is an old town. It was founded in 1147. Vologda developed rapidly due to its favourable position. The town was one of the main routes to the North. Through Vologda furs, salt, grain, fish, wax were delivered to the North West and East. Through Vologda trade relations with England were established (during the reign of Ivan the Terrible).

     In the 18th century Peter the Great visited Vologda. It was during that period that many stone buildings were erected.

     Vologda is rich in churches built in different periods. And even now in spite of great modern buildings Vologda is still an old city where its inhabitants take a great concern for numerous monuments of the past, try to preserve them.

          The Vologda region part in the total industrial production of Russia makes 1.5%.  Iron and steel, chemical industry, wood logging and processing, food industry are developed in the region. Agriculture of the region is oriented first of all on milk and meat cattle breeding. This branch gives 70% of  all agricultural products. There are substantial fields of winter rye, barley, oats and spring wheat.

     Vologda consists of a number of districts: each district has a lot of streets with many blocks of dwelling houses. The architecture of the new buildings combines beauty with comfort.

     Thousands of tourists visit Vologda every year. They admire the Kremlin, St Sophia Cathedral, the Prilutsk-Savior Monastery, the bell-tower (it is 73 meters high), the House of  Peter the Great. You can see the Obelisk of Vologda’s 800th anniversary set up on a high bank of the river. Two more museums can be mentioned – the Picture Gallery opened in 1952 and the Regional Museum of Local Lore located in the Kremlin in the former Archbishop’s Palace.

     The Vologda land gave birth to many remarkable people. Among them are: the poet K. Batyushkov, the battlepainter Vereshchagin, the aircraft designer S. Ilyushin, the cosmonaut P. Belyaev,  poets and writers:  I.Severianin, V. Belov, A.Yashin, N. Rubtsov, V.Shalamov, etc.

     Vologda is a cultural centre. There are several theatres, a philharmonic society. Vologda is famous for its folk crafts – lace making, niello (so-called northern niello from Veliki Ustyug) and birch-bark carving.