On a gloomy weekend day, I headed over to the Novodevichy Convent to visit one of the most well-known church-convent in Moscow. Founded in the 16th Century by the tsar it combines religious worship and solitude with fortifications to guard the area against invaders. It is now a UNESCO heritage site for its fine architecture and decorative details. Nearby is a lovely lake, and a bit further the large river. It’s located away from the main tourist areas, which only means that you’ll get to see a bit of the real Moscow. You can combine this visit with a visit to Tolstoy home and museum (photography not allowed, so can’t show you much).
Here’s a bit from my walk around the convent…
and the nearby lake…
Location:
A nice detour half a day trip from central Moscow. I wouldn’t consider this a must, but if you’re into Tolstoy then it’s worth doing the trip to visit both.