The Volga River

About the Volga
Volga River Ports
See famous Russian Ballet on your Volga River Cruise from Moscow to St Petersburg

UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the Volga River

Along the Volga River and nearby you can find these amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visits to some may be included in your river cruise itinerary, but some may require some creative travel planning by your River Cruise Artist in order to visit.  Learn more below about these UNESCO Sites and the history you can experience when you visit them. Let River Cruise Your Way take you away to the history around the Volga River.

Historic Center of the City of Yaroslavl

Situated at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl Rivers the historic city of Yaroslavl developed into a major commercial center in the 11th century. It is renowned for its numerous 17th century churches and is an outstanding example of the urban planning reform Empress Catherine the Great ordered for the whole of Russia in 1763. There are elements from the 16th century in the Spassky Monastery, one of the oldest in the Upper Volga region, built on the site of a pagan temple in the late 12th century but reconstructed over time. Yaroslavl is an exciting port as you sail the mighty Volga River.

Architectural Ensemble of The Trinity Sergius Lavra In Sergiev Posad

The Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad is a working Orthodox monastery, with military features and fortifications that were typical of the 15th to the 18th century. The main church of the Lavra, the Cathedral of the Assumption, contains the tomb of Boris Godunov – ruler of the Tsardom of Russia as de facto Regent during the 16th century. Among the treasures of the Lavra is the famous icon, The Trinity, by Andrei Rublev, as well as countless other treasures you can see on a visit to this historical site.

Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow

Obviously linked to all the important historical and political events in Russia since the 13th century, the Kremlin was built between the 14th and 17th centuries by outstanding Russian and foreign architects. The Kremlin was the residence of the Great Prince and also a religious center. At the foot of its ramparts, on Red Square, St Basil’s Basilica is one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox monuments and the most picturesque postcard image of Moscow. The Kremlin also houses the Armory where one can find vast treasures of the history of Russia.

Church of The Ascension, Kolomenskoye

The Church of the Ascension was built in 1532 on the imperial estate and gardens of Kolomenskoye, near Moscow, to celebrate the birth of the prince who was to become Tsar Ivan IV – or as we know him Ivan the Terrible. The Church of the Ascension is one of the earliest examples of a traditional wooden church on a stone and brick substructure, and it had great influence over the later development of Russian ecclesiastical architecture. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Kolomenskoye on your Moscow excursion before or after your river cruise on the Volga.

Ensemble of The Novodevichy Convent

The Novodevichy Convent, located in southwestern Moscow, was built in the 16th century, in the so-called Moscow Baroque style. The Convent was part of a chain of monastic structures that were integrated into the defense fortifications of the city. The convent was directly associated with the political, cultural and religious history of Russia, and closely linked to the Moscow Kremlin. It was used by women of the Tsar’s family and the aristocracy. Members of the Tsar’s family and entourage were also buried in its cemetery which is available for visits as well. The convent provides an example of the highest accomplishments of Russian architecture with rich interiors and an important collection of paintings and artifacts.

White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal

These two artistic towns located east of Moscow in central Russia hold an important place in the country’s architectural history. There are a number of magnificent 12th and 13th century public and religious buildings, above all the masterpieces of the Collegiate Church of St Demetrios and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin. You can visit Vladimir and Suzdal on a pre- or post-extension with some of the river cruise operators that cruise the mighty Volga River.

Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of The Town-Island of Sviyazhsk

The Assumption Cathedral is located in the town of Sviyazhsk, which occupies its own island on the Volga River. The cathedral is part of the monastery of the same name, and is situated at the confluence of the Volga, the Sviyaga and the Shchuka rivers, at the crossroads of the Silk and Volga routes, Sviyazhsk was founded by Ivan the Terrible in 1551. It was from this location that he initiated the conquest of the Kazan Khanate. The Assumption Monastery illustrates in its location and architectural composition the political and missionary program developed by Tsar Ivan IV to extend the Moscow state. The cathedral’s frescoes are among the best examples of rare Eastern Orthodox mural paintings.

Historic and Architectural Complex of The Kazan Kremlin

Built on an ancient site along the Volga River, the Kazan Kremlin dates from the Muslim period of the Golden Horde and the Kazan Khanate. It was conquered by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 and became the Christian See of the Volga Land. The only surviving Tatar fortress in Russia and an important place of pilgrimage, the Kazan Kremlin consists of an outstanding group of historic buildings dating from the 16th to 19th centuries, with remains of earlier structures of the 10th to 16th centuries. You can visit Kazan on a Volga River cruise that sails south out of the Moscow region, not the typical northerly route to St. Petersburg. These sailings are fewer and less popular, but not any less fascinating.

Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex

This site lies on the shores of the Volga River, south of its confluence with the River Kama, and south of the capital of Tatarstan, Kazan. The site has evidence of the medieval city of Bolgar, an early settlement of the civilization of Volga-Bolgars, which existed from the 7th to the 15th centuries, and was the first capital of the Golden Horde in the 13th century. Bolgar represents the historical cultural exchanges and transformations of Eurasia over several centuries that played a pivotal role in the formation of civilizations, customs and cultural traditions. The Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex also lies on the portion of the Volga River south of Moscow and is reachable by only certain river cruise itineraries.

Your Volga River Cruise Awaits!

Are you ready to start planning your Volga River Cruise Vacation Your Way? A River Cruise Artist at River Cruise Your Way is ready to be your vacation concierge. Contact us today at 1-800-259-7612 or use the form below and let us know when it is most convenient to call you, we will confirm via e-mail, and then reach out at the agreed upon time and date.