The Ryazan Region

    The Ryazan region is a part of the Central European territory of Russia, which borders with the Moscow, Tula, Vladimir, Tambov and Lipetsk regions. The area of the region is 39600 sq. km. The administrative center, the city of Ryazan is situated 200 km southeast from Moscow. The main waterway is the Oka river which divides the territory into two parts: the coniferous forest in the North, and the forest – steppe, including broad – leaved forests in the South.   
                                        The climate of the region is moderately continental.

History and Culture

    You can hardly imagine the history of Russia, it’s military glory and rich culture, it’s arts and traditions without Ryazan.
    Ryazan is one of the most ancient Russian cities with centuries-old history that began far back in the IX-X century A.D.  Ryazan princedom’s first capital, the Old Ryazan city, was 65 km downstream the Oka river from today's Ryazan. Being the southeast border of the Russian lands, it was the first city lying on the way of devastating attacks of nomadic tribes. That’s why  people made up a bitter saying: ‘Every  year Ryazan suffers from the host, every decade – from the invasion’.
    In 1237 the prince army, the young and the old rose up to fight against the hordes of Baty Khan, who besieged the city for 7 days. Only after the last citizen had been killed, the Old Ryazan city was occupied and totally burnt down.
     The Old Ryazan city never returned to life ever after. In the XIV century the capital power passed to Pereyaslavl Ryazanski. Pereyaslavl  was founded in 1095, earlier than Moscow, and represented  a fortress on a hill, washed by  the rivers  Trubezh and Lybed. The city held out against its enemies over and over again. A soldier with a sword on the city’s Coat of Arms became the symbol of the region.
    Joining the united Russian state, the Ryazan princedom became its southeast advanced post. Only in the XVII century when the Russian border was extended further to the East, Pereyaslavl  Ryazanski lost its military significance.
    During the XVIII century the city changed the status several times. In 1719 it became the center of the province. In 1778 by the decree of empress Ekaterina II Pereyaslavl Ryazanski  was named Ryazan in honour of the Ryazan princedom’s first capital.

Famous people

    There are many reasons why people of Russia may be proud of Ryazan region. Ryazan inhabitants with their feats of arms, scientific discoveries and creative inspiration added many glorious pages to the country’s history, science and culture.
    For many people Ryazan region is associated with the great Russian poet Sergey Esenin who was born here, brothers Pirogov, outstanding, world- famous singers.
    Ryazan is the native land of Ivan Pavlov, the first Russian Nobel prize winner and a world-known physiologist, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a founder of cosmonautics, who theoretically calculated the mechanism of flights into space,  Vladimir Utkin, a general designer of missile and military-space technical equipment, who created a space shield for our country.
    Ryazan region is proud of its famous son, General M.D. Skobelev, the liberator of Bulgaria from the Turkish yoke. 
    The list of these glorious names can be continued and continued, and now Ryazan people do their best to make the homeland more glorious, prosperous and attractive.

Folk crafts

    Ryazan is famous for its craftsmen. Folk handicrafts and art are closely connected with local culture and history. The crafts of the Ryazan region are well-known not only in Russia but in the world also: the unique Kadom needle embroider “Veniz” with fascinating filigree patterns; Mikhailov three-color lace – inimitable in its beauty, Skopin ceramics – one of the color potter’s crafts in Russia.

Events

    Ryazan region provides excellent opportunities for tourism, rest and recreation.
    Guests of Ryazan region may visit different museums, art galleries, theatres and become participants of various festivals, holidays, popular cultural performances.
     The most interesting are the following:
     The International Puppet Theatre Festival “Ryazanskie Smotriny” acquired acknowledgement and popularity in creative circles of many foreign countries.
     The International Scopin’s Festival of Potters, where potters from different countries demonstrate their art and organize master-classes for all visitors.
     Ryazan Tourist Festival “Oreshek” includes sport competitions, concerts and mini-festival of air balloons.
     Every year thousands of admirers of Esenin’ poetry come to his birthplace  to take part in the all-Russia holiday devoted to the celebration of the poet’s  birthday.
    The international scientific conference “Pavlov Scientific Readings” is very popular with scientists from all over the world who present their investigations in the sphere of physiology in the House Museum of academician Pavlov.

 Sights

Monasteries

    Since ancient times wonderworking icons, hallows of sacred people, saved sources, monasteries, churches have attracted orthodox pilgrims. The main functioning monasteries are Sviato-Ioano-Bogoslovskiy, Solotchinskiy Roshdestva Bogoroditsy and Vyshinsky ones.

Museums

     In Ryazan region there are more than 50 state and municipal museums.
     The Pearl of Ryazan is the Ryazan Kremlin, the most ancient historical kernel of the city. During its long life the Kremlin was reconstructed several times. It now presents the whole complex of remarkable monuments of the old Russian style and the architecture of classicism of XV-XIX centuries. In 1968 the ensemble of architectural monuments of the Ryazan Kremlin arranged historical collections and archeological relics of the Old Ryazan City. It turned into a historical-architectural museum which since 1995 has been included in the State Corpus of the most valuable objects of the cultural heritage of Russian Federation. 
    All necessary information about the Ryazan Kremlin can be found on the site of the museum: www.ryazankreml.ru

    The uniqueness of the Ryazan area is in its rich military-historical past and in the modern military present. There are four military institutes in Ryazan among which the Institute of Airborne Forces the only institution in the world. The traditions of valour are stored in museums of military history:

        Airborne forces museum
        Ryazan, + 7 (4912) 44-94-78

       Museum of history of the long distance bomber air force 
        Ryazan, +7 (4912) 24-82-43

       Museum of military cars
        Ryazan, +7 (4912) 24-82-43

    Expositions of other museums are of great interest to tourists:

    The state museum – reserve of Sergey Esenin
     Rybnovskiy area, +7(49137) 3-32-57

    The House Museum of academician Pavlov
     Ryazan,  +7 (4912) 25-40-72
     Fax (4912) 28- 97-64
     muzey@pavlov.ryazan.ru
     http://pavlov.amr-museum.ru

    The Museum of  K. Tsiolkovsky
    Spassk area, + 7 (49135) 7-12-93

    The Ryazan region museum of arts named after I. P. Pozhalostin
    Ryazan,  + 7 (4912) 44-18-13

    The Museum of horse – breeding  Institute 
    Rybnovskiy area, + 7 (49137) 3-22-16

    The Museum of  beekeeping research institute
    Rybnovskiy area, + 7 (49137) 5-15-47

Parks and zones of rest

    Tourists and guests to our region have an excellent opportunity to visit the ecologically clean forests district of Meshchera, situated rather far from the large industrial centers. These places are popular with hunters, fishers, holiday-makers, who are fond of spending time in the open. Participation in “Royal Hunt” with greyhounds gives you an opportunity to learn about the history of Russian hunting.
    The gates to Meshchera are National Park “Meshersky” and Oksky Preserve. 
    National Park was created to preserve natural and historical complexes of Meshchera. Natives and guests of the Park may have a good time on the banks of the Pra river, pick berries and mushrooms, make bicycle and kayak trips. Konstantin Paoustovskiy said: “ I doubt whether I will ever see a river more mysterious and virgin than the river Pra.” 
    Oksky Preserve presents the nature of south-east Meshera; it is situated in 300 kilometers from Moscow and 120 kilometers from Ryazan. There are nurseries of bisons and rare cranes on the territory of the preserve. It is the only place in Russia where you can see all kinds of Russian cranes. The scientists of the preserve were the first in the world who created the technology of saving white cranes, they teach them to move, to fly, to live. About 10000 tourists visit the Preserve every year. Small rivers, forests, reserves and the lakes of Meshera are unique for the organization of nature tourism.
   On the territory of our region there are mineral water springs and deposits of medical dirt surpassing medicinal qualities of both Russian and foreign analogues. They are used in all sanatoria, rest homes and health camps, situated in the picturesque places of Ryazan region.

                                 
Programmes

“The legend of the Ryazan land”

 -The dramatized action “ Fight on the Vozha”, recreating the events of the 13th century (fight between Ryazan armed force and the army of Mongols) 
 - Excursion to the Ryazan Kremlin (one of the oldest Russian museums)
 - Trip to the place of the ancient capital of the Ryazan princedom (the ancient settlement “Old Ryazan”) – places of archeological excavations;
 - Acquaintance with folk art ( bylines about bogatyr Ilya Muromets, hero Evpatiy Kolovrat, brave Russian woman Avdotya Ryazanochka
 - Walk on foot along the picturesque bank of the Oka river  

"The soul of Russia"
-Acquaintance with the history and customs of inhabitantsof the Ryazan territory
-Excursion to the house – museum of the first Russian  Nobel prize winner academician I. Pavlov, participation in the Russian national game “ Gorodki”
-Travelling on the Oka river by steam – ship
- Dinner in a rural izba with participation of a folklore group ( menu: soup of sterlet, pancakes with caviar, vodka)

“ Folk crafts”
 - Welcome ceremony
 -Acquaintance with traditions and history of the Ryazan land ( Art museum , where all handicrafts are widely presented
 -Trip to Skopin, acquaintance with the technology of producing ceramic goods, excursion to the factory and museum of ceramics- Skopin potter’s craft ( since 1640)
 -Trip to Mikhailov, acquaintance with the history and peculiarities of producing lace, excursion to the factory and museum of Mikhailov lace(since 1870)
 - Trip to Shilovo, acquaintance with the distinguishing features of producing rod goods, excursion to the factory of rod weaving  
 -Acquaintance with peculiarities of the way of Russian people’s life ( center  of folk art “ Zaryana”), participation in the bright performance, illustrating age-old Russian holidays            

“ Orthodox Ryazan”
- Acquaintance with the history of orthodox churches of Ryazan, excursion to the Ryazan Kremlin
(a unique ensemble of architectural monuments of  the XV – XIX century)
- Trip to Solotcha, excursion to Solotchinskiy Rozhdestva Bogoroditsy Convent, acquaintance with the history and life of the Convent
-Trip to the village of  Poshupovo, acquaintance with the life Sviato – Ioanno- Bogoslovskiy Monastery, bathing in the holy spring on the territory of monastery

“ Hunting and fishing”
- Hunt for birds, hares and foxes, participation in “Royal hunt” with greyhounds
- Fishing on the Oka river 

  “ Wonderful animals”
-Acquaintance with the world of animals of the middle zone of Russia ( the Ryazan Kremlin, Ryazan )
-Trip to Rybnovskiy area, excursion to the horse- breeding and beekeeping research institutes
-Acquaintance with the technology of getting honey
-Acquaintance with the history of horse – breeding, different races of horses, horse rides

“ Rafting on the Pra river”
- Active rest and sport
- Acquaintance with the flora and fauna of  National Park “Meshersky” and the inhabitants of Oksky Preserve.

If you are interested in the glitter and power of Russia, visit Moscow or St. Petersburg, but if you are interested in its soul, visit Ryazan. All guests are greeted here with the special Ryazan hospitality.