7 MUST-SEE places in Ryazan and beyond (PHOTOS)

1. Ryazan Kremlin

Around 20 old ‘kremlin’ fortresses have been preserved in Russia. And the Ryazan Kremlin is one of them. It’s naturally in the oldest part of the city, which witnessed many attacks by the Tatar-Mongols and other invaders. However, today you won't see any fortress walls, as they were demolished back in the 18th century, when the city lost its defensive significance. But, the high kremlin rampart remains there, which transitions into the embankment of the Trubezh River. 

The main landmark of the kremlin is the unusual Dormition Cathedral, built in the late 17th century in the Baroque style and adorned with white stone carvings.

2. Lybedsky Boulevard

This pedestrian boulevard once followed the bed of the Lybed River and is now a large green zone and a favorite walking spot for locals. In winter, a large New Year's tree is erected there, a skating rink and street food venues are open, as well. 

On the boulevard, you can see several sculptural compositions and a large equestrian monument to Yevpaty Kolovrat, a folklore hero and defender of Ryazan. From the boulevard, you can also reach many attractions in the historical center. 

3. Pochtovaya Street

You can continue your stroll along this narrow street with historic 18th-century buildings. It also has many restaurants serving traditional Russian cuisine. Additionally, this year, the city will host the New Year's festival ‘Cuisine of the Ryazan Region’ and many restaurants on Pochtovaya Street will include historic dishes with a new twist in their menus: homemade pies, Ryazan glazed curd cheese, buckwheat with mushrooms, stewed cabbage and other delicious dishes à la Russe!

You can check out a list of festival restaurants and dishes here (link in Russian).

4. City Garden

This is another large pedestrian area right in the city center, featuring garden sculptures (including a local celebrity, the genre composition ‘In Ryazan, Mushrooms Have Eyes’ – ‘В Рязани грибы с глазами’) and several of the city's most beautiful buildings. One of them is the Ryazan Philharmonic, built in 1939 in the Stalinist Empire style.

Another nearby is the ‘Summer Club’ of the Noble Assembly. This intricately carved wooden building is stunningly beautiful.

5. I. P. Pavlov Museum-Estate

Academician and Nobel laureate Ivan Pavlov, famous for his research on physiology and reflexes, was born in Ryazan. The house where he spent his youth retains the atmosphere of 19th-century noble life and, now, houses an exhibition dedicated to his scientific research and his experimental subjects, the famous Pavlov's dogs. The main house of the estate is also one of the oldest preserved wooden buildings in the city.

6. Ryazan VDNKh

One of the new or rather renewed attractions in the city. In 1955, Ryazan built a mini-version of Moscow's ‘VDNKh’ (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy), which is the ‘Ryazan Regional Agricultural, Industrial and Construction Exhibition’ with 22 pavilions in the Stalinist architectural style. 

In the 1990s, it fell into decline and a spontaneous market was set up on its territory. But, in the 2020s, restoration of the pavilions and territory began (now it is almost fully complete). Now, Ryazan ‘VDNKh’ is a fashionable cluster with art spaces, coffee shops and stores with authentic local brands.

7. Konstantinovo, the Birthplace of Sergei Yesenin

The most famous local native is, probably, poet Sergei Yesenin. He was born and raised in a small village house in the village of Konstantinovo, 40 km from Ryazan. And we highly recommend visiting this amazing place. From the window of the house, there is an incredible view of the church and the steep bank of the Oka River, so it seems simply impossible not to become a poet after being exposed to such landscapes. You can also visit the estate house of landowner Lydia Kashina. She was the poet's youthful love and became the prototype for the heroine in his poem ‘Anna Snegina’.