In Sergiev Posad the combination of Orthodox traditions and Soviet heritage is vividly reflected in the architecture. On this route you'll learn why Sergiev Posad stopped building “Stalinkas” (Stalin-era apartment blocks) and what happened to the churches' heritage under the USSR; you'll see the only place where exorcism rites were officially performed, and much more.
Station Square
🚂 Railway station · 🗿 Monument
Station Square
Points will be available after purchasing the route
Kelarsky and Banny Ponds
🌿 Public garden or park
Point 15
🌿 Public garden or park
Ponds that remember old Sergiev Posad, really old. The builder of the Kelarsky Pond, once the largest, was “banished beyond Mozhaisk” (sent off to the back of beyond). And to use the Banny (Bath) Pond, one had to donate a candle weighing 8 kilograms (18 pounds) every year.
The pond only pretends to be a wonder of nature: in fact it was “fitted out and built” by the cellarer* Andrian Angelov in 1552. The pond began as a utilitarian reservoir. In the 16th century it was meant for fishing and would serve that purpose for a long time to come. The last attempts to farm carp commercially in the Kelarsky Pond ended only in the 1960s.
The Banny Pond is now small, even a bit swampy. But it was once no smaller than the Kelarsky! As late as the 19th century there was a hayfield here. For the right to use it, townspeople were asked to bring a candle of white wax weighing half a pood, or 8 kilograms (18 pounds), to the tomb of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Apparently this was only a nominal requirement.
Point on route “Past Stalinkas and Churches”
Point 15
🌿 Public garden or park
Ponds that remember old Sergiev Posad, really old. The builder of the Kelarsky Pond, once the largest, was “banished beyond Mozhaisk” (sent off to the back of beyond). And to use the Banny (Bath) Pond, one had to donate a candle weighing 8 kilograms (18 pounds) every year.
The pond only pretends to be a wonder of nature: in fact it was “fitted out and built” by the cellarer* Andrian Angelov in 1552. The pond began as a utilitarian reservoir. In the 16th century it was meant for fishing and would serve that purpose for a long time to come. The last attempts to farm carp commercially in the Kelarsky Pond ended only in the 1960s.
The Banny Pond is now small, even a bit swampy. But it was once no smaller than the Kelarsky! As late as the 19th century there was a hayfield here. For the right to use it, townspeople were asked to bring a candle of white wax weighing half a pood, or 8 kilograms (18 pounds), to the tomb of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Apparently this was only a nominal requirement.
15 points
6 km
6 hours
