Vitoslavlitsy

It is well worth making the short journey out of town to visit this excellent open air museum of old Slavic wooden architecture. Usually only about half of the 20 or so buildings are open at any one time which is more than enough to get an idea of what life in an ancient Russian village was like. There are various centuries old wooden churches which were moved from villages in the region and rebuilt on site, old izbas (log cabins), farmhouses and even an old Russian banya (bath house). The museum workers (mostly older men and women) lovingly tend to their allotted houses dressed in traditional clothing which really adds to the atmosphere of the place. Down by the lake there is a small café and exhibition halls showing more artefacts from traditional country life. Local holidays such as City Day and Maslenitsa (shrove Tuesday) are often celebrated here. To get there take bus number 7. It takes about 20 minutes.