Discover Bolshoye Selo

Bolshoye Selo brings together two churches on the Yukhot and a culinary tour at the museum café. The two churches date from different periods and stand on opposite banks of the river. There is also a honey tour that combines the history of Russian honey drinks with a tasting. These themes give the choice of destination a specific cultural and culinary focus.

Two churches on the Yukhot

The Church of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa was built in 1747 on the right bank of the Yukhot and is still in use. The Church of Peter and Paul was built in 1760 and stands above the left bank. The 13-year difference between their construction dates makes the comparison in age tangible, while the references to each bank establish each church’s own connection to the river. Services are held at the Church of Peter and Paul on feast days and Sundays. Check the current arrangements locally if you plan to attend a service.

Honey drinks and culinary history

The museum café offers the interactive culinary tour “…i ja tam byl, mjod pitnyj pil” (…and I was there, drinking mead), which includes a tasting of honey-based drinks. The honey tour explores the history of mead in Russia and the traditions of both everyday and festive meals. The tasting also includes old Slavic honey drinks. The focus is therefore not only on the drinks themselves, but also on their role in dining and festive traditions. If you would like to include the tour in your plans, ask in advance about current availability.

Church architecture and culinary history offer different ways to get to know Bolshoye Selo. When looking for a holiday rental, consider whether these local themes suit your trip or whether you would also like to explore other cultural and nature-related attractions in Yaroslavl Oblast.

More culture in the wider destination of Yaroslavl Oblast

Yaroslavl Oblast has cultural sites with other historical and architectural focuses. In Pereslavl-Zalessky, the Transfiguration Cathedral dates from the 12th century. It is considered the city’s oldest church and the earliest surviving architectural monument of the Vladimir-Suzdal school. In Rybinsk, the museum-reserve is housed in the New Grain Exchange building, designed by Moscow architect A. V. Ivanov and built in 1912 on the high bank of the Volga.

The Uglich Kremlin, in turn, features a surviving architectural ensemble dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries. It includes the Princes’ Chambers, the Church of Tsarevich Dmitry, the former City Duma building with museum exhibitions, and the Transfiguration Cathedral with its bell tower. The latter is Uglich’s principal active church. The ensemble brings together several types of buildings and historical periods in one place, offering a different cultural focus from the two churches in Bolshoye Selo.

Museums in Yaroslavl offer their own distinctive highlights as well. The museum-reserve includes the ensemble of the former Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, founded in the 13th century, as well as architectural monuments and paintings from Yaroslavl’s 17th-century architecture. These include the churches of the Prophet Elijah, John Chrysostom, John the Baptist, St Nicholas Nadein, the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany. The Metropolitan’s Chambers, built in 1682, house a department of Old Russian art, as well as exhibitions and galleries.

Museums, crafts and activities in the region

For a different approach to art and crafts, Yaroslavl has the Emalis Museum of Enamel Art. Visitors can learn about the history of the craft, see works by Russian and European artists, and make their own pendant or picture. Check the current workshop arrangements in advance if you would like to make something yourself.

In Rybinsk, the N. M. Alekseev Museum of the Mologa Region runs guided tours of its galleries and interactive programmes featuring competitions, prizes and refreshments. No schedule is provided for these programmes, so ask the museum for current dates. The Na Rostovskoi Museum Centre in Pereslavl-Zalessky hosts at least 30 exhibitions by contemporary artists each year. The two examples are quite different: one focuses on interactive museum programmes, while the other features changing exhibitions of contemporary art.

Nature and outdoor activities are also part of Yaroslavl Oblast: there is a sailing area on the northeastern shore of Lake Pleshcheyevo. If you are considering water sports, check local operating conditions before your trip. Bolshoye Selo itself offers the churches and honey tour as its distinct attractions; the regional examples broaden the picture of the wider destination without replacing the village’s own features.

Discover more destinations

Veslevo, Yaroslavl, Shopsha, Danilov, Lvy, Glebovskoye, Shiryayka, Gorki Leninskiye

Back to the wider travel guide: Yaroslavl Oblast.