28.12.2015 at 18:56 · Johnny · 80 590

Top 10. The most beautiful villages in Russia

For a long time, the Russian village was unreasonably forgotten. During this period, many rural settlements were completely abandoned or disappeared from the face of the earth. Since 2014, an association has appeared, the object of which is the most beautiful villages in Russia. Localities that meet certain criteria can participate in the competition. The natural landscape, historical value, appearance and population, which should not exceed 2 thousand people, are considered. There are at least 10 villages in Russia that can compete for the status of the most beautiful and culturally interesting.

10.

One of the most beautiful villages in Russia is located in the Murmansk region. has almost six hundred years of history and is an adornment of the Kola Peninsula. In the center of the settlement is the Assumption Church, which was built at the end of the 17th century without the use of nails. This building is a historical and cultural heritage, which is recognized as a monument of wooden architecture. In addition to the historical value, the village is famous for its tourism activities. Atlantic salmon migrate along the Varzuga River, and you can get permission to catch them and have a good rest in the bosom of nature. The village has long been chosen by the British for tourism.

9.

A settlement in the Kaluga region can rightly be called one of the most beautiful villages in Russia. Once it was a dying place with a small number of inhabitants. Thanks to the architect Vasily Shchetinin, Nikolo-Lenivets village turned into a creative gallery, in which every wall and fence is handmade from natural materials. This idea was picked up by compatriot followers and foreign architects. Currently, the village hosts an annual festival called "Arch-Standing". Picturesque houses harmoniously fit into the original Russian landscape.

8.

The Kamchatka Territory has a harsh climate, but this does not affect the life of a beautiful and happy Russian village. is located in a fertile place where thermal springs are beating from the earth. They are used for heating houses, as well as for healing purposes in a local sanatorium. The village is separated from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by 600 kilometers. The absence of civilization in the usual sense makes it possible for folk art to develop. Songs and dances can be seen and heard on national and rural holidays. The local Rotary Club handles the settlement's pressing issues and has ties to a similar organization in Alaska.

7.

In the Vladimir region, 10 kilometers from the city, there is Bogolyubovo village leading its history from the 12th century. By the number of Christian shrines and their architecture, the settlement can be called one of the most beautiful villages in Russia. The basis for the settlement was laid by the Kiev prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who made this picturesque corner his fiefdom. The remains of the foundation of the ancient castle have been preserved to this day. The Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God is built on a hill and during the flood it is surrounded by water. In this village, a boat is not a luxury, but a means of transportation in the spring.

6.

This pearl of Russian architecture is located in the Tver region and can rightfully be recognized as the most beautiful village in Russia. The atmosphere of this settlement brings people back to the pre-Mongolian period, when the domes of churches sparkled here and there, and the green meadows were virginally fresh. Of particular beauty is the Nativity Church, which was built in the 15th century and is still active. Once the Tver principality claimed primacy in a dispute with Moscow, and then it turned into a periphery of a great state. Its originality is preserved not only in the annals, but also in Gorodnya village.

5.

In the Altai Territory, the settlement was lost, in which the famous writer and actor of our time Vasily Shukshin was born. can be safely called the most beautiful village in Russia, since it is here that you can see real expanses covered with meadow grasses and grain crops. The village is considered to be the birthplace of the Polovtsy, with whom the Russian princes and their squads fought so bravely. The Shukshin Museum is located in Srostki. Literary readings and even a film festival are held in honor of the famous countryman. The Katun River looks very picturesque, and the houses located on its banks are harmonious.

4.

Moscow and the Moscow region are famous for their higher standard of living than the regions more distant from the center. Zhukovka became the most glamorous settlement in the entire country. Its streets have been turned into quarters with fashionable boutiques, and houses abound with expensive and beautiful things. A professional architect Grigoryan worked on the appearance of the village, who created comfortable conditions not only for the local population, but also for fashion brands. Zhukovka has become so popular relatively recently, but why not the most beautiful village in Russia, especially since it is in favor with many wealthy and respected people.

3.

Locality Big Kunaley is located in Buryatia on the banks of the Kunaleyka river. The village appeared at the beginning of the 18th century and since then it continues to exist and live its own life. Its population is just over a thousand people. Surprising in the Big Kunaley are the houses, which are all, as if by choice, painted red with blue windows and green fences. The appearance of the settlement resembles a cheerful children's fairy tale. Bolshoi Kunaley can claim the title of the most beautiful and unusual village in Russia. And local residents are happy to support the unusual image of their native village.

2.

There are a lot of bright and original settlements in Buryatia and Desyatnikovo village belongs to this category. All houses look very exotic because they are painted in bright colors. The surrounding nature is also inimitable: endless expanses, green hills and high blue sky are perfectly combined with the work of human hands. In the category of the most beautiful villages in Russia, the village of Desyatnikovo can take its rightful place. Residents preserve not only the appearance of their picturesque place, but folk traditions and crafts.

1.

In 2019 Vyatskoye village was officially recognized as the most beautiful village in Russia. The locality managed to pass the competition according to all criteria and win this worthy title. Vyatskoye is located in the Nekrasovsky district of the Yaroslavl region. On its territory you can see 10 museums of various kinds and architectural historical monuments. Local residents constantly take part in various competitions and become their winners. Vyatskoye is not only a historical and cultural complex, but also a developing tourist destination in the region.

What in Russia, with all the desire, it is impossible to complain about - the lack of beautiful settlements. In this regard, the space is limitless: here are historical monuments, and wonderful landscapes, and the utmost naturalness, and even modern architectural finds. Let's talk about ten most picturesque villages in Russia(we give in a conditional order, since we would not like to distribute them in places, making up the top 10).

Vyatskoe

It is unlikely that this village, invariably included in all lists and ratings, needs to be introduced; suffice it to point out the fact that there are ten museums in the settlement, a colossal number of pre-revolutionary buildings. Nature is also conducive to relaxation and study: Vyatka is “framed” by rivers and valleys on all sides. This is an ideal option for those travelers who do not like to give up comfort: there are three hotels, a restaurant, and a cinema.

Kinerma

Getting here is not easy: the village is located in Karelia. Structure - seventeen structures, ten of which are architectural monuments. In the center you can see the cemetery of Catherine's times; there is also a restored chapel. There is a smoke sauna, a well, a barn; not without a small and already quite modern hotel.

space lake

The wonderful location near the lake, which is distinguished by its peculiar shape (similar to a river one), determines the popularity of the settlement. Hayfields, ancient huts, courtyards and, of course, the bewitching tented Assumption Church (built in 1720) - that's what will appear before the eyes of those who have arrived in the village.

Staraya Ladoga

Speaking about the oldest villages in Russia, it is impossible to omit the old Ladoga - a settlement whose history began more than a thousand years ago. Although not many people live here today, once the path “from the Varangians to the Greeks” began in this place (it was one of the largest settlements in Ancient Russia).

Yasnaya Polyana

A trip to Yasnaya Polyana is recommended not only for those who are not indifferent to the classics of critical realism and connoisseurs of Leo Tolstoy's novels, but also for everyone who appreciates the combination of natural naturalness and architectural elegance. Being discreet, the village strikes the imagination precisely with its conciseness. Among the attractions: the writer's house, the remains of the greenhouse, the Middle Pond, the park.

Nikolo-Lenivets

Initially, the settlement did not stand out in any way: it seemed that Nikolo-Lenivets was another of the villages of Russia gradually falling into disrepair. However, thanks to the efforts of Vasily Shchetinin, a well-known enthusiastic architect, who appeared here, it turned into a real creative gallery of folk art. The most amazing thing is that absolutely everything here is made by hand.

Tarbagatai

There are many wonderful villages in Buryatia (among the famous ones: Desyatnikovo, Bolshoi Kunaley, Atsagat); the most famous of them is Varbagatai, which is located fifty-two kilometers from Ulan-Ude. Founded in the 18th century, the settlement at one time served as a home for the Old Believers; Until now, here you can see the buildings erected by them, which are distinguished by their colorful coloring, wonderful fences and unusual shutters.

Chamerevo

The village boasts a rich history: the family of the writer Griboedov (and Alexander Sergeevich himself in childhood) once lived here, and Ivan the Terrible came here. Also in the village is the holy spring of Alexander Nevsky. Panoramic landscapes around and the well-groomed village itself make this place one of the most interesting for Russian travelers.

Vorzogory

The village is located right on the shores of the White Sea and dates back to the 16th century. It was already known then: wooden ships were built here for the monks of the Solovetsky Monastery. In the village itself, you can see the wooden temple of Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky (erected in the middle of the 19th century) and the “wooden tee”, consisting of the St. Nicholas Church (17th century), the Vvedenskaya Church (end of the 18th century) and the bell tower (18th century) .

Oshevensky Pogost

You should not be afraid of the name: the village of Pogost, which is also called Oshevensky Pogost, has been a wonderful place and one of the most beautiful villages in Russia for several centuries. Here is the monastery of St. Alexander Oshevensky, the Church of the Epiphany (18th century), the bell tower, Popov's house-yard.

The Russian village... For some it is a relic of the agrarian past, for others it is the keeper of the Russian soul. One way or another, on average, urbanization “eats up” three villages in the country every year. What are the reasons for the extinction and degradation of the Russian village? How many villages are there in Russia today? And which of them are the most beautiful? You will find answers to all these questions in our article.

Unemployment, hopelessness, despondency...

It is with such unpleasant words that the modern Russian village is most often described. Broken asphalt, fragmentarily left over from prosperous Soviet times, abandoned farms, destroyed houses of culture, dirt, lack of lighting and central sewerage - this is typical for most of the villages and villages of today's Russia. Of course, there are pleasant exceptions. But they are catastrophically few.

Many villages in Russia, in view of the vast area of ​​the latter, are literally cut off from any benefits of civilization. They can be located several hundred kilometers from the nearest city or regional center. In such villages, people, like a hundred or two hundred years ago, live by subsistence farming: they sow fields, raise livestock, fish, hunt and drink strong tea from real samovars.

A classic example of the "Russian hinterland" is the so-called Krasny Bereg. This is an area consisting of three villages, lost in the middle of the coniferous forests of the Vologda region. Their total population is 10 people. In fact, there are no roads to these settlements. In winter, it can only be overcome by snowmobile, and in summer (after heavy rain) - only by tractor. Water - from springs, light - from kerosene lamps, a generator - one for three villages.

And how many similar villages are scattered across the expanses of vast Russia - it's hard to say.

Russian village: in facts and figures

• As of the beginning of 2018, 19.1% of the total population of the Russian Federation lives in rural areas.
• Between 2002 and 2010 (between the last two censuses) the number of depopulated villages in Russia increased by 6,000.
• Today there are about 150 thousand rural settlements in the country.
• About half of them have no more than 100 people.
• 17 thousand Russian villages do not have a permanent population.
• The average density in the Russian Federation is 2 persons/sq. km.
• The maximum percentage of the rural population is observed in the Krasnodar Territory - almost 45%.
• The largest villages are located in the North Caucasus.
• The largest village in Russia in terms of population is Novaya Usman. 27.5 thousand people live here.

Reasons for the extinction of the Russian village

The degradation of the countryside is one of the most acute socio-economic problems of modern Russia. In the last twenty years, the country's rural population has been steadily declining. And not only due to natural decline (high mortality against the background of low birth rates), but also due to the colossal migration outflow.

Young people categorically do not want to live in the village, trying by any available means to escape to the capital or the nearest large city. As a result, in many Russian villages only old people and openly asocial elements remain. The share of depopulated villages in some subjects of the Russian Federation has already reached 20%.

Why is the Russian village dying out? There are several reasons:

• High unemployment.
• Degradation of social infrastructure (lack of schools, kindergartens, clinics, etc.).
• Lower standard of living compared to urban environment.
• Frequent lack of housing and communal benefits (sewerage, gasification, lighting, Internet, etc.).

To revive the Russian village and return young people to it, a comprehensive state program is required to save it and further develop it. Of course, this requires huge amounts of money.

The most beautiful villages in Russia: list

Let's try to end our article on a positive note. Not all villages in Russia look dull and hopeless. Some of them are able to surprise with their color, authentic spirit and original architecture. Listed below are five ancient Russian villages that are definitely worth visiting at least once in your life:

1. Varzuga, Murmansk region. The village arose in the middle of the 15th century. Fishing center for Atlantic salmon.
2. Big Kunaley, Buryatia. Quite a large village, reminiscent of its appearance an illustration to a collection of children's fairy tales. The design of all the local houses is exactly the same: brown walls, blue windows, green fences.
3. Vershinino, Arkhangelsk region. Traditional village of the Russian North. It is famous for its unique and perfectly preserved architecture of the 17th-18th centuries.
4. Okunevo, Omsk region. A colorful, amazing and mystical village, in which adherents of five different religions found refuge at once. The village is a place of attraction for all lovers of esotericism and meditation.
5. Elovo, Perm region. Ecologically clean village located on the banks of the Kama. It impresses all guests not only with magnificent natural landscapes, but also with its landscaping. There is asphalt, walking paths, flower beds and playgrounds.

Finally…

The process of rural extinction is not a unique Russian phenomenon. In general, it is similar to similar processes in other countries and regions of the planet. But, in spite of everything, the Russian village is still alive, with all its advantages and disadvantages. And, hopefully, in the near future it will begin to revive. After all, as they say in one old Russian proverb: "The city is the kingdom, and the village is paradise."

cultural guides

Five most attractive villages in Russia

The Russian cultural heritage portal Kultura.RF and the Perspektiva Foundation have developed a rural tourism guide as part of the All-Russian campaign of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation #have a restinRussia. The tourist guide, designed to increase the popularity of rural tourism, includes enticing and unexpected routes.

1. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE. Vyatskoye (Yaroslavl region)

This Russian hinterland was in caring and loving hands. The village has not only its own website (you won’t surprise anyone with this), but also a map of attractions, the possibility of online booking of huts, and even its own press center.

The ancient merchant village of Vyatskoye is located in the Nekrasovsky district - one of the most environmentally friendly and historically significant areas of the Yaroslavl region. It can be easily reached by car from Yaroslavl, the journey will take less than an hour. What is the peculiarity of Vyatka and why was it recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in the country?

The village of Vyatskoye is a unique town-planning complex of the 18th-19th centuries with more than 50 registered architectural monuments, former merchant and peasant houses, tea and tavern establishments, almshouses. There are 10 museums on its territory.

In Vyatka, the festival "Province - the soul of Russia" is held. During the festival, young musicians, artists, sculptors come here.

In 2015, at the Intermuseum festival, the museum community recognized the Vyatskoye historical and cultural complex as the best museum of the year in Russia, awarding the Grand Prix of the international festival.

View of the village from the bell tower of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. Photo: krasaderevni.ru/villages/vyatskoe

Baths in black on the bank of Ukhtomka. Photo: krasaderevni.ru/villages/vyatskoe

Church of the Resurrection of Christ in autumn. Photo: krasaderevni.ru/villages/vyatskoe

2. THE MOST HISTORICAL DISTRICT. Uvek (Saratov region)

Few people know that in the Saratov region you can find objects of all historical eras: from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. These unique monuments make the region one of the richest in cultural and historical terms throughout the Eurasian space. One of the main attractions of the region is now the outskirts of Saratov, in which, since the 8th century AD, the largest urban center of the Golden Horde - Ukek.

Today, the festival of historical reconstruction "One day in the life of a medieval city" is held here. In 2016, the event will take place from 2 to 4 September. Guests will see the work of medieval artisans, take part in master classes in birch bark weaving, try their hand at archery and belt wrestling.

Several main locations will be presented on the historical site: the Emir's Headquarters, the Russian Quarter, the European Embassy, ​​and the Bazaar. Each of them will recreate the past of the times of the Golden Horde.

The village of Uvek (Saratov region). A day in the life of a medieval city. Photo: ukekfest.ru/gallery

The village of Uvek (Saratov region). A day in the life of a medieval city. Photo: ukekfest.ru/gallery

3. THE MOST HAPPY VILLAGE. Esso (Kamchatka Territory)

Getting here is not easy. The village of Esso is located 600 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the very border of the tundra.

Numerous thermal springs have turned a simple village into a geothermal resort. They also feed the pool open all year round on the main square. Locals say that Esso can claim the title of "Happiest Village".

After all, there are no such coniferous forests as in Esso anywhere else in Kamchatka, and the Ichinsky volcano (3621 m) is the second largest (after Klyuchevskaya Sopka) of the active volcanoes of Eurasia. Hot springs heat houses and greenhouses that grow cucumbers, tomatoes and even grapes! The climate in Esso is sharply continental, so in summer Esso is the warmest place in Kamchatka, and in winter the thermometer here can drop to -47 ° C!

Esso has festivals every year. The main event is held on the last Sunday of February: Beringia, an extreme dog sled race, starts on this day.

Esso village (Kamchatka Territory). Photo: kamchatkatravel.net/special/esso-selo.html

Esso village (Kamchatka Territory). Photo: strana.ru/places/37245

4. THE OLDEST VILLAGE. Varzuga (Murmansk region)

Varzuga is located just 20 kilometers from the White Sea and is considered one of the oldest villages on the Kola Peninsula. She is almost 600 years old. In addition to age, its main attraction is the wooden tented Assumption Church. The temple was erected in 1674 without a single nail.

And here, every spring, Atlantic salmon rises along the river - earlier it was the main fishery of the villagers. Today, the movement of fish attracts more and more tourists. Someone goes to see a unique natural phenomenon, and someone goes fishing - camps for fishing tourists stretch for hundreds of kilometers along the Varzuga River of the same name.

The village of Varzuga (Murmansk region). Photo: v-varzugu.ru

The Russian village... For some it is a relic of the agrarian past, for others it is the keeper of the Russian soul. One way or another, on average, urbanization “eats up” three villages in the country every year.

What are the reasons for the extinction and degradation of the Russian village? How many villages are there in Russia today? And which of them are the most beautiful? You will find answers to all these questions in our article.

Unemployment, hopelessness, despondency...

It is with such unpleasant words that the modern Russian village is most often described. Broken asphalt, fragmentarily left over from prosperous Soviet times, abandoned farms, destroyed houses of culture, dirt, lack of lighting and central sewerage - this is typical for most of the villages and villages of today's Russia. Of course, there are pleasant exceptions. But they are catastrophically few.

Many villages in Russia, in view of the vast area of ​​the latter, are literally cut off from any benefits of civilization. They can be located several hundred kilometers from the nearest city or regional center. In such villages, people, like a hundred or two hundred years ago, live by subsistence farming: they sow fields, raise livestock, fish, hunt and drink strong tea from real samovars.

A classic example of the "Russian hinterland" is the so-called Krasny Bereg. This is an area consisting of three villages, lost in the middle of the coniferous forests of the Vologda region. Their total population is 10 people. In fact, there are no roads to these settlements. In winter it can only be overcome by snowmobile, and in summer (after heavy rain) only by tractor. Water - from springs, light - from kerosene lamps, generator - one for three villages.

And how many similar villages are scattered across the expanses of vast Russia is hard to say.

Russian villages are dying out

According to Rosstat, in the first nine months of this year, the population of Russia decreased by 173,000 people. The villages of the northwest and the center of Russia are dying out faster than others. And in the Tver region, the pace is higher than the national average.

“The most alarming situation in terms of mortality today is observed in the Ivanovo, Tula, Novgorod, Tver and Pskov regions,” Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova named the five regions suffering from a demographic disaster.

The countryside is particularly affected. The government financially encourages the birth of a second and subsequent children, the same measures are provided for at the regional level. But bad roads and lack of work convince more than maternity capital.

“Only resettlement from the village to the city gave 20-30% of the salary. It was enough to move to the city. And if you raise the level of qualifications, then the difference will be even higher,” says Salavat Abylkalikov, a demographer and researcher at the Higher School of Economics.

In the summer of 2018, experts counted 2,234 empty villages in the Tver region. This is more than in any other region of Russia. Statistics will be replenished, because there are many villages in which 1-2 people live.

Every fourth village in the Tver region is abandoned. Away from the main roads are crumbling houses. The farther from the highway "Russia", the more often such a picture occurs.

“The houses are empty. This one is empty, this one is empty, this one is empty. That one is empty, that one is empty, and that one is empty. Three houses on the street are residential. That is, a dying village. Well, let's move on,” says Sergey Krivchenkov, a resident of the Tver region.

Not only businesses and hospitals are closing, but also schools. Due to optimization, schoolchildren have to be transported to large villages and small towns. The villagers call life in the village difficult.

“There were 800-900 people here. I graduated from high school in 1972. There were 200 of us - students in this school. But before my eyes, they all died.”

“We are used to it, but life, of course, is hard. Because little attention is paid to us. The roads are bad. The light turns off. Little attention is paid to us.”

The Tver region is in third place both in terms of mortality and population decline. Neighbors in all these ratings are the same old-developed "root" regions of Russia near Moscow and St. Petersburg.

“Therefore, the leaders are the millionaire cities. That's why all cities with millionaires want... or rather, all cities want to get the status of a millionaire or 500,000. If you have acquired this status, this is a different level of attention, a different level of funding,” says Salavat Abylkalikov, a demographer and researcher at the Higher School of Economics.

Whether it is necessary and whether it is possible to stop this process?

Alexander Merzlov: In our opinion, of course, this must be done. But, unfortunately, modern agrarian policy is not conducive to this. Since the rate of depopulation continues to be very high, let's say there is a program for the sustainable development of rural areas. But it mainly affects those rural settlements that are located next to large objects of the agro-industrial complex. The majority of rural areas are not covered by this program, and the rate of disappearance of villages and their depopulation continues to be very high.

That is, in fact, this is an inevitable process?

Alexander Merzlov A: No, it depends on the type of agricultural policy. If agrarian policy is oriented towards large agricultural holdings, if its interests are not the interests of the rural community, but the interests of large agricultural business, then, of course, this is actually the American model, everything will remain as it is. Our agriculture is developing, milk yields are growing, productivity is also growing, but at the same time, the state of the social sphere continues to deteriorate. It can be said that business continues to be concentrated in rural areas.

There are countries with more socially oriented models, for example, France, where more emphasis is placed on supporting small forms of management. And this leads to a greater variety of agricultural products, and to a better care of rural landscapes, and has a very large indirect effect in the form of attractive jobs in various fields. Our country is large enough, and in order to be engaged in the agro-industrial complex, thank God, we have vast expanses where you can do it - I don’t want to, I mean large-scale farming.

But, in our opinion, in residential areas where people live, in areas with increased recreational and cultural potentials, it is necessary to develop small-scale farms that will be focused on quality food, varied food, and the development of recreational and tourist potentials. And so we can implement these models.

List of abandoned villages in Russia

Bezenchuksky
Zolotovsky
Grigorievka
Shirokopolie
Victory

Bolshechernihiv
Khasyanovo

Borsky
14th km
Bazhenovka

Elkhovsky
Resurrection
Petropavlovka
Zabotskoye
Sosnovka
Berezovka

Isaklinsky
New Bogolyubovka

Kinelsky
platform 1150th km
platform 1157th km

Klyavlinsky
Barkovo junction
junction Chistakovka
Dolgorukovo
Klyuchevka
Red Elkha
Upper Key

Koshkinsky
Bogodukhovka
Upper Ivanovka
New Zubovka
Grannovka

Krasnoarmeisky
Nesterovka

Pokhvistnevsky
Podbelshchyna
Sadovaya

Sergievsky
Elkhovka
Velyka Lozovka
queen
Mamykovo
round bush
Deep
Slingshot

Syzransky
Petrovka
junction 912 km
junction 950th km
Rizaday junction
Caves Coast
Priusinsk
hemp
Yasnaya Polyana

Chelno-Vershinskiy
Krivozerikha
Pokrovka
Sheehan
viburnum bush
Upper Kondurcha

Shentalinsky district

Surusha
Balandaevo
Cheremshanka
Svetlaya Polyana
Light Key
Upper Khmelyovka
Motherland
Wolf