Yaroslavl



Yaroslavl

Name: Maxim Grigoryev

Age: 28

Profession: Photojournalist

City: Yaroslavl and Tutaev

How long have you been doing photography?  I don't remember how long. Perhaps since my parents bought me a cheap film camera in elementary school. Very soon they regretted this,  because I often asked for money for film and printing.

What style or genre most interests you? My noname camera had a multi-exposure mode. Since then I've fallen in love with abstract photography.​

Can you give us a short description of your city? Where is it located? What is it famous for? 

Yaroslavl is a more than thousand-year-old city situated 250 kilometers from Moscow and sitting on both banks of the Volga River. It was named for Prince Yaroslav the Wise. Legend has it that he was the city's founder. Also, Yaroslavl is the capital of the "Golden Ring" - the most beautiful and histor-laden cities in Russia. Many of them are in Yaroslavl region.

What are some things that only locals would know about the city? 

  • The first professional dramatic theatre in Russia was founded in Yaroslavl in 1750 by a merchant's son, Fyodor Volkov. It was a few years after he became an actor. 
  • The first university in Northeast Russia was founded in Yaroslavl, in the beginning of a thirteenth century. It is called Grigoryevsky Zatvor. 
  • On the main square of Yaroslavl - Bogoyavlenskaya - you can see a monument to Yaroslav the Wise. Locals call it "Man with a Cake" because he is holding a small tower in his hand that looks like a cake.
  • Yaroslavl is one of two cities in Russia whose historic centre is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The second is St. Petersburg.
  • Yaroslavl's kremlin actually is not a kremlin. It's a monastery, which was a small part of the old city. Now only two sections of the not-a-kremlin walls remain.
  • Yaroslavl was a capital of Russia. But only for a few years, during the Times of Troubles. The first Romanov tsar, Michael, signed the documents on accepting the Russian throne in Yaroslavl.

Which places or sites are a must for someone to see if they visit your city?

If you like real Russian history, you must just take a walk in the historic centre. Many old churches, monasteries and architectural treasures from different centuries are located there. You must also visit Volkov's Theatre, the State Art Museum, Governor's garden, the Volga embankment and Spassky monastery. And don't forget to visit the nearby towns of Rostov Veliky, Uglich, Pereslavl Zalesky and Tutaev. It is best to travel to Yaroslavl region in summer or early autumn.

Anything else? Yaroslavl people are very freedom-loving. History shows that they were the first to fight against injustice. But at the same time they are very peaceful and hospitable.

Instagram: gideonmaximus

 



Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 
Fish: A History of One Migration

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955