Volokolamsk

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thumb|270px|The Volokolamsk Kremlin above the town

Volokolamsk is considered the oldest town in the Moscow Region. First mentions of Volokolamsk date back to 1135 making it 12 years older than Moscow. The town emerged near important portage (volok) from Lama River to Voloshnya River and further to Oka on one of the north-south trade routes. During the 12th-17th centuries, Volokolamsk came under different Russian and Lithunian knyazes, Tatars and Polyaks, and was destroyed several times. With the rise of Moscow after the Mongol invasion, Volokolamsk was absorbed by the Moscow Principality and lost its own significance becoming a small manufacturing town.

It is famous for its several centuries-old landmarks in the center of the town, and a couple of glorious sights in its vicinity.

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Yaropolets, dubbed "Russian Versailles", is a home to estates of two Russian noble families, Goncharovs (who gave birth to Pushkin's wife) and Chernyshovs (who were generals of Russian army in 18th century, and later, dekabrists). Both estates suffered greatly in 1941 under the fascists, but while the Goncharovs' estate was restored and is now a resort house for Moscow Aviation Institute (access to territory is free), the Chernyshovs' estate still mostly remains in state of disrepair, which only deepens impression it gives, because the sight is still great even in spite. Buses 28 and 963 from Volokolamsk to "Yaropolets-1" stop, by car use R108 (north exit from town), then to the left on R107. Teryaevo is a site of a glorious Joseph-Volotsky Orthodox Monastery. Founded in 1479, it has several churches and monastery walls preserved from 16-17th centuries, surviving both church demolitions of the Soviet period and fascist occupation. The site is worth visiting if you have time. From Volokolamsk go by buses 23 or 31; both take almost an hour. By car use R108, then to the right on R107. Rzhev is about 100 km further west by M9; there are two Moscow trains in the evening and one suburb train in the morning in that direction. Mind the poor state of highway in the Tver Oblast.