Sights of Ryazan

Around Sobornaya Ploschad

900th Anniversary of Ryazan Chapel

  • Sobornaya Ploschad

Located in the memorial park around Sobornaya Ploschad is a small chapel which was built in 1995 to commemorate the 900th anniversary of Ryazan, which is considered to have been founded in 1095. The chapel takes the form of a small tower with a dome on top. At the base there are four arches. Originally it was planned to put a statue of heroes from Ryazan's history in each of the arches, but this never happened. Instead there are plaques inside with inscriptions telling the history… Read more »

Annunciation Church

  • 58 Ulitsa Zatinnaya

The Annunciation Church dates from 1673 and in form is a 'ship-like' church with a five domed structure attached via a closed vestibule to a bell tower. In 1935 the church was first given to the Renovationist Church but was then closed in the same year. There were discussions to demolish the church in 1958 as it was not considered an architectural monument worth saving. In the end only its domes and part of the bell tower were removed. After the fall of the Soviet Union it was… Read more »

Kazansky Convent

  • 56 Ulitsa Furmanova

The Kazansky Convent was first founded in the mid-15th century close to the Ryazan Kremlin, however after the regulated city plan was adopted in the late 18th century the convent was moved to its present location which was once occupied by an estate of a local merchant. Its main cathedral is the large red-brick Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral which was built in 1870 to replace the original cathedral built after the relocation of the convent. In 1919 the convent was closed and firstly… Read more »

Prince Oleg of Ryazan Monument

  • Sobornaya Ploschad

Prince Oleg Ivanovich of Ryazan was the most famous grand prince of Ryazan who was heavily involved in Russian politics in the second half of the 14th century, firstly siding with the Golden Horde against the increasingly powerful Moscow Principality and then making peace with Moscow. This monument to him is by the famous sculptor Zurab Tsereteli and was unveiled in 2007. It depicts Oleg on horseback dressed in armour with a sword in his hand. Read more »

Ryazan Kremlin

  • Ulitsa Naberezhnaya Trubezhnaya
  • http://ryazankreml.ru
  • There is no charge to enter the kremlin's territory
  • All exhibitions work from 10:00 - 18:00 and are closed on Monday plus other specific days.

It is believed that fortifications have existed where the Ryazan Kremlin now stands since the end of the 11th century. After the sack of the original Ryazan during the Mongol-Tatar Invasion the grand princes of Ryazan moved their residence here. In the 13th century an earthen mound was created 290 metres in length and on top of this wooden walls and towers were built. Finally a deep moat was dug around the whole complex and filled with water. Today the walls no longer remain and… Read more »

Sergey Yesenin Monument

  • outside 14 Ulitsa Petrova

Located right outside the Transfiguration of the Saviour Church on the Ravine is an interesting monument to Sergey Yesenin depicting the poet emerging out of the ground. Yesenin was born in 1895 in the nearby village of Konstaninovo and grew up there at his parent's peasant holding. This monument was unveiled in 1975 on the 80th anniversary of the poet's birth. Read more »

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery

  • Ryazan Kremlin
  • http://www.spassmon.ru

Also inside the Ryazan Kremlin is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. It is not exactly clear when the monastery was founded but it is known that is existed at least as far back as the mid-15th century. It is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Saviour ('Spasa Preobrazhenie') after which it is named. It is partially surrounded by walls which date from the mid-18th century. In 1929 the monastery was closed and given over to a hospital, before being transferred to the Ryazan… Read more »

St Elijah the Prophet's Church

  • 3 Sobornaya Ploschad

The first church dedicated to St Elijah the Prophet in the city was located in the kremlin and built out of wood. In 1699 this was replaced by the present day version which was built outside of the kremlin. In the early 19th century the church was enlarged and received its present day appearance, which while coloured yellow is nevertheless rather plain, especially in comparison to its beautiful neighbours. The church was closed in 1929 and only re-consecrated in 2000. Read more »

Transfiguration of the Saviour Church on the Ravine

  • 14 Ulitsa Petrova

One of the most beautiful churches in Ryazan is the Transfiguration of the Saviour Church. In Russian it is additionally known as the Saviour on the Ravine 'Spas na Yaru' as it stands on the edge of the ravine where the River Trubezh flows into the River Oka. It was built in 1695 and its most beautiful features are its peach colouring and its five decorated domes: one central golden dome and four surrounding silver domes. The structure also incorporates a bell tower. The church was… Read more »

Around the City

'Viktor Ivanov and Ryazan Lands' Art Gallery

  • 14 Pervomaisky Prospekt
  • 11:00 - 19:00. Closed on Mondays.

This art gallery is a department of the Ivan Pozhalostin Museum of Art, solely dedicated to the work of local artist Viktor Ivanov. Viktor Ivanov has been awarded the title of a people's artist of Russia and his work often features scenes of the Ryazan Region. In addition to this permanent exposition the art gallery also holds various temporary exhibitions. Read more »

Ivan Pavlov Monument

  • in front of 26 Ulitsa Lenina

This monument to Ivan Pavlov, one of Ryazan's most famous sons, was unveiled in 1949 and depicts the great academic late in his life smartly dressed and holding a walking stick. Its creator, the famous sculptor Matvey Manizer, was awarded the Stalin Prize for this work. The statue stands in a small square in front of the Ryazan Regional Philharmonic. Read more »

Ivan Pavlov's Memorial Estate-Museum

  • 23-25 Ulitsa Pavlova
  • http://pavlov.amr-museum.ru/engl/e_nav.htm
  • 10:00 - 17:00. Closed on Mondays and the last Friday of the month.

The great physiologist Ivan Pavlov was born in 1849 in Ryazan and the beloved estate where he lived until 1870 has been preserved as an estate-museum dedicated to him and his work. The estate-museum comprises two wings. The first is the actual house where Ivan Pavlov was born and grew up. It is an excellent example of an in his famous experiments on conditioning and reflexes. There is also information on the places connected with Pavlov and the awards he won. The beautiful… Read more »

Ivan Pozhalostin Museum of Art

  • 57 Ulitsa Svobody
  • 1:00 - 19:00. Closed on Mondays and the last Friday of each month.

The Ivan Pozhalostin Ryazan State Regional Museum of Art, to give it its full title, was established in 1913 and is located in a late 18th-century classical style building. Ivan Pozhalostin, after whom the museum is named, was a famous 19th-century engraver who was born in the Ryazan Governorate and his work is included in the museum's exhibits, among many other Russian and Western artists. Also on display are many items of folk art and some ancient icons. Read more »

Site of Max Factor's First Shop

  • 48A Ulitsa Sobornaya

Upon completing his military service in the Russian empire, Maksymilian Faktorowicz, a Polish and Jewish cosmetician and wigmaker opened up a shop in Ryazan selling rouges, creams, fragrances and wigs, which soon earned him a reputation as an expert in this sphere and even led to him working for the imperial family. However in 1904 Maksymilian and his family left Russia due to the rising anti-Semitism in the country. Upon his arrival in New York, he was given the name Max Factor… Read more »

St Nicholas Yamsky’s Church

  • 8 Ulitsa Tsiolkovskogo

St Nicholas Yamsky’s Church was built in 1788. In form it is a ‘ship-like’ church and with a main structure topped with five domes and an attached bell tower. Although it is very pretty, incorporating pink, green white and silver tones, its main feature is its scale, being much bigger than standard churches of this type. After the Revolution it was closed down and its treasures were looted. It was eventually used as a brewery until it was returned to the Orthodox Church in 1992,… Read more »

Svyato-Troitsky Monastery

  • 23 Ulitsa Ogorodnaya (off Moskovskoe Shosse)
  • http://www.trinityrzn.narod.ru

It is not known for certain when the Svyato-Troitsky Monastery was established and two theories exist in this regard. The first is that it was founded in 1208 during the reign of Roman Glebovich in Ryazan, the second is that it was founded in 1386 when St Sergius of Radonezh visited Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky to make peace between Dmitri Donskoy and Oleg of Ryazan. In any case its main cathedral – Trinity Cathedral - dates from 1695 and is the oldest building in the monastery. There are… Read more »

Victory Monument

  • Ploschad Pobedy

The intersection of Skolny Pereulok and Pervomaisky Prospekt forms Ploschad Pobedy (Victory Square) and as is to be expected there is a Victory Monument here dedicated to the Soviet Victory in the Second World War. The monument comprises a star-shaped eternal flame surrounded by a wreath in front of a statue of victorious troops holding a banner in the air. Next to this is a tall pillar bearing the Order of the Patriotic War. Behind the whole complex is a curved wall with… Read more »

Vladimir Lenin Monument

  • Ploschad Lenina

The area where Pervomaisky Prospekt forks into Ulitsa Sobornaya and Ulitsa Gorkogo is known as Ploschad Lenina (Lenin Square) and no surprises for guessing there is a monument of Vladimir Lenin here. This statue was unveiled in 1937 and depicts Lenin in a standard pose with arm outstretched and wearing a long coat. Ulitsa Pochtovaya immediately behind Lenin is a pleasant pedestrian street. Read more »

Yevpati Kolovrat Monument

  • intersection of Ulitsa Pochtovaya and Ulitsa Lenina

Yevpati Kolovrat was a 13th century boyar and knight who became famous for his heroism during the Mongol-Tatar Invasion of Rus. In fact he is celebrated to such an extent that he now features in Russian folk tales. According to legend Kolovrat answered Ryazan's appeals for assistance and hurried from Chernigov to help defend the city from the Mongols. Kolovrat was too late and so instead gathered the survivors and pursued the Mongols and eventually even defeated the Mongol rear… Read more »