Nizhny Novgorod - Moscow 4-star cruise by Vodohod

Nizhny Novgorod is one of Russia’s major cities, the dominating feature of the city skyline is the grand Kremlin (1500-1511), with its red-brick towers. After BolsMinin and Pozharskyhevik devastation, the only ancient edifice left within the Kremlin walls is the tent-like Archangel Cathedral (1624-31), first built in stone in the 13th century. The city has a fascinating history that you will learn more about during your tour. The city was founded in the 13th century and became one of the Russian Empire’s most important outposts by the 16th century. The city played a pivotal role in ending the Time of Troubles by forming an army that would expel the Poles from Moscow. Much of the city downtown is built in the Russian Revival and Stalin Empire styles. There are more than six hundred unique historic, architectural, and cultural monuments in the city leading the way for UNESCO to include Nizhny Novgorod in the list of 100 cities of the world which are of great historical and cultural value.

Kazan is the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, and one of Russia´s largest cities. It is a major industrial, commercial and cultural center, and remains the most important center of Tatar culture. Historically Kazan was the capital of the Tatars and was conquered and by force and brought into the Russian Empire in the mid 16th century by Ivan the Terrible. During the siege of Kazan and in the years that followed almost the entire population was massacred. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga 

Cheboksary is the capital of the Chuvash Republic, home to the Finno-Ugric Chuvash people. The city possesses excellent cultural opportunities. There is an Opera-Ballet Theatre, a Philharmonic Orchestra, and numerous other theaters (showing productions in both Russian and Chuvash languages). A very popular gathering place for the locals is the recently completed zaliv (bay), beautifully situated in the middle of the city and adorned with the Monument of Mother. People gather there to stroll, visit cafes, and socialize. Cheboksary also has beautiful boardwalks and beaches along the Volga River.

Gorodets was founded in 1152 by Prince Yury Dolgoruky (who also founded Russia’s capital Moscow) as a large fortress on the Volga River. During the years of its history, the town was completely destroyed twice: in 1239 by the Mongols and in 1408 by the Nogai Horde, but it was revived each time. In the 19th century, Gorodets was a prosperous village famous for its decorative handicrafts, such as wood carving and painting. In 1950s, the dam of Gorky Hydroelectric Station was built a few kilometers upstream from Gorodets. Today besides Hydroelectric Station the town has a shipbuilding industry, and it is also a tourism center with a number of museums, the most famous of which is the Museum of Samovars. 

A small town of Plyos can’t but inspire so beautiful it is. No wonder it inspired the most outstanding landscape painter Isaac Levitan. Dating back to the 15th century every year Plyos hosts hundreds of tourists who come to the town attracted by its charm and tranquility and by a great opportunity to visit Levitan museum where his best paintings are exhibited.

Yaroslavl: Stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important Volga port with a population of 600,000. It was founded in the 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise and is one of the ancient Russian cities making up the Golden Ring. It was destroyed by the Tatars in the 13th and 14th centuries but then restored and rebuilt and by the 17th century it had become Russia's second largest city after Moscow and an important cultural and political center. Today, Yaroslavl retains many noteworthy monuments of its colorful past. Of special interest is the magnificent 13th century Spassky Monastery ensemble, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and remnants of an ancient trading center. The churches of St. Nicholas and Elijah the Prophet have some of the Golden Ring's most impressive frescoes.

Myshkin is a typical old Russian town almost unchanged since the beginning of the 20th century. A brave mouse is a symbol of the town and actually gave the name of this place («myshka» in Russian means «mouse»).

Moscow is Russia's political and financial capital as well as a major world class cultural center. The city includes many must see attractions from the Kremlin and Red Square to the Assumption Cathedral. Moscow is the largest city in Europe. It is unique in that it blends the ancient with the modern. See medieval structures among modern office buildings, walk down crooked old city streets opening up to wide busy boulevards. It is a fantastic city and truly a site that shouldn't be missed.