Cities on the Volga - the heart of Russia

In many countries there are rivers that have become not just transport routes or sources of water, but rather original spiritual aortas that feed folk art and national culture. Rhine, Mississippi, Danube, Amazon, Nile, Ganges, Yangtze - the same characters of fairy tales and legends, as well as their other heroes. About these rivers put songs, and those who were lucky enough to be born and grow on their shores, return, even for a short while, wherever their destiny has brought. This is the main river of our country - the Volga.

The Great River crosses our country, carrying huge masses of water from north to south, absorbing numerous tributaries. Perhaps we still have to assess the impact of such energy on a person, but the fact remains that cities on the Volga have become the birthplace of many outstanding people.

Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod, Syzran, Samara - these names sound like a song for lovers of Russian history, some of these places are included in the Golden Ring of Russia.

The cities on the Volga River are very beautiful and surrounded by beautiful nature. The islands on the left bank are so numerous that some of them are sometimes not visited by people for decades, nature remains pristine.

If you cruise on the boat, which stops only in major river ports, you can miss a lot. The special charm of small county centers in this case becomes inaccessible. Small cities on the Volga, such as Syzran, Kamyshin, Volsk, are very beautiful, rich in architectural and cultural monuments, they usually have excellent theaters and art galleries, rich in historical artifacts, local history and archeological museums.

In recent years, a new type of cruise has become widespread - sailing along the Volga on yachts. Travelers stop on the islands, break camp, fish, visit the nearest city and go further along the river. Such a holiday is affordable for people who are not poor, but among them there are many who want to enjoy the nature and culture of their native country, and, apparently, they like it no less than a trip to the notorious Canary Islands.

The cities on the Volga have often become a film set for famous filmmakers, it is enough to recall the "Cruel Romance" by Eldar Ryazanov, who was filmed in Kostroma. In the city of Gorokhovets in the Vladimir region, Nikita Mikhalkov shot most of his new film "The Sunny Impact." The main thing that attracts creative people in these places is the preserved situation of old Russia, its unique atmosphere.

Probably, every Russian should visit at least once in his life the hero-city on the Volga - Volgograd, the place of the Battle of Stalingrad. The memorial on the Mamayev Hill, dedicated to the defenders of this stronghold, leaves no one indifferent. It was created by the sculptor EV Vuchetich and engineer NV Nikitin in 1967.

The city was virtually destroyed during the fighting. In memory of those dramatic and heroic events, one of the houses was left in the form in which it was after the battle. Getting to this city on the Volga River is best along the river, passing through the locks of the Volga-Don canal.