Moscow Environs Places

Sergiev-Posad (Zagorsk)

Sergiev-Posad is a comfortable and popular day trip from Moscow. The town's chief attraction is the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, which for 500 years has been the most important center of pilgrimage in Russia and remains one of the most beautiful of all monasteries—the fairy-tale gold and azure onion domes of its Cathedral of the Assumption are among the most photographed in the country. Until 1930 the town was known as Sergiev, after the monastery's founder, and in 1991 it was officially renamed Sergiev-Posad. But the Soviet name of Zagorsk—in honor of a Bolshevik who was assassinated in 1919—has stuck, and you're as likely to hear the town and the monastery itself called one as the other.

The ride to Sergiev-Posad takes you through a lovely stretch of Russian countryside, dotted with colorful wooden cottages. As you approach the town, you see the sad and monolithic apartment buildings of the modern era. Then, peeking out above the hills, the monastery's golden cupolas and soft-blue bell tower come into view.

The best way to visit the town is to join an organized tour, because it's a full-day affair out of Moscow. The cost usually includes lunch in addition to a guided tour and transportation. You can also visit on your own by taking the commuter train from Moscow's Yaroslavsky station. The ride takes about two hours. This is much less expensive than an organized tour, but far from hassle-free. If you choose this alternative, be sure to pack your own lunch, because Sergiev-Posad's few restaurants fill up fast with prebooked tourist groups, especially in summer. Be sure to dress appropriately for your visit to the functioning monastery: men are expected to remove their hats, and women are required to wear below-knee-length skirts or slacks (never shorts) and bring something to cover their heads.