Dmitrov Kremlin Museum-Reserve

Dmitrov Kremlin is the main attraction of the city of Dmitrov, which has the fame of one of the oldest and most curious monuments of defense architecture of this historical territory. Founded as a frontier fortress by the Rostov-Suzdal prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1154, the Kremlin for centuries served as a northwestern outpost of the original Rostov-Suzdal land, later – the Pereyaslavl principality and, eventually – the whole of Moscow Rus.

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The ancient Russian town of Dmitrov is located on the bank of the Yakhroma River, 50 kilometers from Moscow. Surrounded by a range of gentle hills, which cut through the clear blue rivers that carry their waters to the northern edges of Russia, it has long been known as one of the most picturesque towns near Moscow. The name of the city was given by Yuri Dolgoruky himself in honor of his tenth son, baptized as Dmitry, and in Russian history entered under the nickname Vsevolod the Big Nest.

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Video: Dmitrov Kremlin

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History of Dmitrovsky Kremlin

‘ A. M. Vasnetsov, reconstruction of the appearance of the Kremlin in the Late Middle Ages “Dmitrov in the XVI century”, 1920.

More than once the wooden Dmitrov Kremlin was burned down during the periods of feuds and invasions of the Mongol-Tatars, as a result of which at the next “resurrection” its design was most likely modified. At the same time from several written sources it is known about seven military episodes that led to the destruction of fortifications.

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In 1181 the Kremlin was burned down by the Kiev prince Svyatoslav, during XII-XIII centuries it was ruined four times by Mongol-Tatar armies led by Batu, Duden, Tokhtamysh and Yedigei.

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In 1373 the fortress was destroyed by the troops of Tver Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich. The last devastation of the Dmitrov Kremlin occurred during the period known as the Time of Troubles: during the Polish-Lithuanian intervention in 1610, the fortress suffered from the army of Sapieha and Lisovsky, and it was decided not to restore it – the city lost its strategic importance.

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Dormition Cathedral

The oldest architectural structure of the city and its architectural dominant, the majestic Assumption Cathedral, was built by the appanage prince of Dmitrov Yuri Ivanovich in about 1507-1511 on his own money savings.

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‘ Monument to Cyril and Methodius in Dmitrov
‘ Gilded five-tiered iconostasis of the late 17th century

The interior of the Assumption Cathedral is decorated with ceramic tile reliefs. One of the main relics of the temple is the iconostasis of the end of the XVII century, decorated with openwork carvings on plant motifs. Some icons, which can be seen here, were made in the XV century. In 1792 the tent bishop’s seat from the Krutitsy bishop’s house was delivered to the temple, which is a fine example of carving and decorative painting of the XVII century. The artistic decoration of the walls of the cathedral dates back to the century before last.

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‘ Assumption Cathedral of the Dmitrov Kremlin
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Architectural ensemble

Apart from the Dormition Cathedral, the surviving and extant buildings of the Dmitrovsky Kremlin are represented by buildings erected in the 19th century.

‘ Dmitrovsky Kremlin
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A walk through the park

On the territory occupied by the Dmitrov Kremlin, back in the XIX century, a miniature park was laid out. Not so long ago, reconstruction work was carried out here, and the landscaped area was basically returned to its original appearance. The asphalt sidewalk and soil layer were removed to the level that corresponded to the primary one, and the original cobblestone sidewalk was restored using the surviving fragments.

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‘ Dmitrovsky Kremlin and surroundings

Excursions

On the territory of the Dmitrov Kremlin there is a museum-reserve with the same name. The buildings of the Public Assemblies and the Treasury house its historical and artistic department, which includes two independent expositions.

The museum’s art collection is one of the most interesting in the Moscow region. The halls present Russian and Western European painting of the XVIII-XIX centuries, church and secular arts and crafts.

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‘ class=”fancybox” >Monument to Cyril and Methodius in Dmitrov

A single admission ticket can be purchased at the museum. The cost of a standard ticket is 170 rubles, a discounted one – 130 rubles. Tickets give the opportunity to make excursions, introducing the history of the Dmitrov region from ancient times to the present day, to examine the art collections, to visit the Assumption Cathedral, Elizabeth Church, House Museum of P. A. Kropotkin, the House of Dmitrov Bishop Seraphim, shot in 1937, and in 1981 canonized by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church as a priest-martyr. In addition, here you can order a sightseeing tour of the city of Dmitrov.

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On the days of church and national holidays, the museum holds in the Dmitrov Kremlin the most interesting large-scale events, among them: “Night at the Museum”, “My Soul Pancake Day”, “Trinity”, “Apple Salvation”. During winter holidays, there are large sledges, ice sledges, sledge-watrushki sledges, sledding from the earthen ramparts. On weekends, concerts are often held on the square in front of the Kremlin, and the neighboring alleys are bustling with mobile markets, where you can buy specialty Dmitrov dairy products, sweets, souvenirs.

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The museum closes early – at 17.00, and ticket offices work until 16.30, so it is better to come here from the very morning.

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How to get here

From Moscow to Dmitrovsky Kremlin can be reached by car, heading north along the ancient Dmitrovsky tract, which today is called Dmitrov highway. Convenient transportation – and the electric train, departing to Dmitrov from Savelovsky station in Moscow. The cost – from 150 rubles (round trip – from 240 rubles).

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In good weather from Dmitrov station to the Kremlin can walk on foot – it will take about a quarter of an hour.

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