Kimry Art Nouveau

27 points3 km4 hours

Today we'll stroll through the historic center of what was one of the largest villages in the Russian Empire. Before the revolution, Kimry was home to peasant shoemakers who supplied leather goods and footwear to practically the whole country. Every peasant or merchant felt duty-bound to build a bright, handsome house to stand out from the neighbors. That's why Kimry has kept a unique set of peasant-built architecture, which we'll explore from every angle on today's walk.

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

📜 Learn the city's history
🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras
🔍🖼️ Spot interesting details

Route points (27)

Gostiny Dvor (Merchant Arcade) in Kimry

Point on route “Kimry Art Nouveau”

Point 6

Gostiny Dvor (Merchant Arcade)

🏟️ Architectural landmark • 📜 Historic site

Historical Background

The Gostiny Dvor was built in 1914. It was designed by an unknown architect who was probably inspired by the Upper Trading Rows (GUM) on Red Square in Moscow. The building was never finished: another wing with a glass roof was planned on the south side, which would have turned the whole building into a shopping arcade. During World War I the third floor served as a hospital. After the revolution the Gostiny Dvor became the House of Soviets, housing government offices. In the early 1990s work began to convert it into a Palace of Pioneers, but the upheavals in the country put an end to the plan.