Village Cherdyn

Cherdyn is an ancient town located in the north of Perm Krai, on the right bank of the Kolva River. Cherdyn is the oldest city in the Urals.
The first mention of the town appears in the Vychegda-Vym Chronicle under 1451. But the history of the Cherdyn land is much older. It begins with the first settlers of these areas, the ancestors of the Komi-Permyaks – the Rodanovites – from the 8th-9th centuries. Russian chronicles, and later official documents, refer to the Cherdyn lands as Perm the Great. The borders of its possessions extended from Lake Chusovskoye in the north to the Chusovaya River in the south and from the upper reaches of the Kama River in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east. The area of ​​Perm the Great was 792,000 square miles. From the 15th to the 17th centuries, Cherdyn was the administrative, military, artisan, commercial, and religious center of the Upper Kama region. In 1535, Cherdyn was officially incorporated as a city. In the 16th century, it ranked third in population after Solikamsk and Kungur.
However, after the government decreed that the Babinovskaya Road became the only permitted route to Siberia in the early 17th century, Cherdyn's importance significantly declined.
From 1636, when Cherdyn ceased receiving governors and began to be administratively subordinate to Solikamsk, which had risen above the former capital of Perm the Great, the city began to shrink.
In 1861, the city had approximately 3,000 to 5,000 residents and 602 buildings, including seven Orthodox churches and dozens of shops.
The early 20th century was a time of "invasion" by exiled revolutionaries for the Cherdyn district. During Soviet times, Cherdyn became the center of a large forestry region. All district organizations were concentrated here: the logging company, forestry enterprise, forestry department, fish processing plant, bakery, and creamery.
Cherdyn has remained virtually unchanged over the centuries. Here you can literally feel history and see what old Russian cities looked like.

Attractions
Cherdyn is one of the 116 historical cities of Russia. It is a kind of open-air museum. More than 100 historical and cultural monuments are registered and protected by the state.
Cherdyn still retains the appearance of an old Russian city, with typical manor houses and no high-rise buildings. Uspenskaya and Yurganovskaya Streets form the historic center of Cherdyn, where the city's elite, particularly wealthy members of the merchant class, settled in the distant pre-revolutionary times. The merchants Remyannikov, Sandalov, Suslov, Butakov, Golovin, Zyryanov, and other prominent citizens lived on Uspenskaya Street. Entire estates with merchant mansions, shops, and servants' quarters can be found here.
Cherdyn residents have retained their pre-revolutionary names and have partially restored the original appearance of the center: each architectural monument is marked with a special plaque with information about its cultural heritage status.
Near the Assumption Church, visitors are greeted by an authentic outpost in the old style. The military guardhouse and barrier are painted in black and white stripes. The outpost has been recreated in its original location and appearance; it was here that the trade route to Siberia ran until the end of the 16th century.
Remains of a metallurgical plant were found on Vyatka Hill, as well as a hoard containing objects in the Permian animal style. An art object, "Cherdyn Elk," is installed here. Even more interesting is Trinity Hill, formerly home to the Trinity settlement and a wooden kremlin. This hill is also unique in that it is the only historically significant site in Cherdyn that has not yet been developed. Even today, you can see the remains of an earthen rampart, two towers of the Cherdyn Kremlin—Spasska and Naugolnaya—have been reconstructed, and art installations titled "The Trace of Polyud" and "Into the Depths of Time" have been installed. Trinity Hill is home to the Church of the Prophet Elijah, built in 1917, which was transported from the village of Bigichi. https://vk.com/wall-35984068_5236 In the early 2000s, the church fell into disrepair and collapsed.
To preserve the church, it was decided to transport it to Cherdyn. In 2012, the Church of the Prophet Elijah was restored on Trinity Hill. It blends seamlessly into the urban landscape and becomes part of the Cherdyn church complex.

Besides the ancient houses, Cherdyn is also adorned by its ancient churches. The oldest of these is the Church of St. John the Theologian, built between 1704 and 1718 by captured Swedes. The church is currently in use. It contains a unique iconostasis, created by renowned icon painters Dmitry and Grigory Fedorov. It is one of only three such iconostases remaining in all of Russia.
Ancient tombstones representing the family burial site of the Yurganov merchants stand near the church walls. https://monasterium.ru/monastyri/monastery/cherdynskiy-ioanno-bogoslovskiy-muzhskoy-monastyr/
Another beautiful church in Cherdyn is the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, consecrated in 1754. The bell tower of the Resurrection Cathedral serves as the city's main high-rise landmark. It offers excellent panoramic views of the city. The Resurrection Cathedral forms a single ensemble with the adjacent Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior. By decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on September 24, 2021, a women's monastery in honor of the Resurrection of Christ was opened here. https://monasterium.ru/monastyri/monastery/zhenskiy-monastyr-v-chest-voskreseniya-khristova-v-gorode....
Nearby is the Epiphany Church (1751-1761). The church is distinguished by its complex composition and artistic decoration of its façades. Currently, its walls house a bakery. Also surviving to this day are the Assumption Church (now housing the Museum of the History of Faith) and the All Saints Church (1815-1817) in a cemetery on the northern outskirts of the city. Learn more about the city's significant architectural landmarks on audio-guided city tours from IZI Travel: https://www.izi.travel/ru/rossiya/putevoditeli-po-cherdyn
Komsomolsky Square, which borders Uspenskaya Street, the city's central street, is undergoing a transformation in Cherdyn. The project to improve Komsomolsky Square "Mezhdurechye" in Cherdyn won the "Small Towns and Historical Settlements" competition as part of the national project "Housing and Urban Environment." The square features the "Memorial Sign to Patrons" art object and the Chapel of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin. The idea for improving Komsomolsky Square evokes the confluence of the Kama, Vishera, and Kolva rivers. The "river paths" (pedestrian paths in the square) are oriented strictly according to the cardinal directions, according to the relief map, making them a unique urban landmark for exploring the Cherdyn interfluve. The project was developed taking into account the wishes of local residents. Currently, the pedestrian paths in the square have been paved and landscaping completed, and a multifunctional pavilion has been erected. Plans include installing a themed children's playground with a shaded canopy, rest areas, and an observation deck overlooking Polyudov Kamen, one of the Perm Krai's mountain peaks. Additionally, metal structures are being installed to create a pedestrian crossing to Trinity Hill.
The Literary Crossroads in Cherdyn (the intersection of Yurganovskaya and Sobornaya Streets) was created to promote Cherdyn's historical and literary heritage. The Literary Crossroads is an urban and tourist attraction serving two functions: leisure and educational. The park blends seamlessly into the landscape of the old merchant town, thanks to its wrought-iron fence, delicate benches, paved paths, and stylized lampposts bearing informational plaques in the form of an open book, which provide information about writers associated with the Cherdyn region. The park also features memorial signs to S. Volodina, O. Mandelstam, D. Mamin-Sibiryak, and N.P. Beldytsky, as well as the art object "Cherdyn Chronicle."
Jubilee Park is located in the northern part of the city. In 1972, a large memorial to the soldiers who died in the Great Patriotic War was built in the park. The park was reconstructed in 2005. The monument now stands in a spacious area, accessed by a wide, paved road. Artillery cannons are positioned on either side, and a huge statue of a Soviet soldier stands tall in the center. All major events commemorating the Great Patriotic War are held near the memorial. In addition, memorial plaques to fellow countrymen – Heroes of the Soviet Union and Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory, participants in local conflicts – have been installed in the park, as well as monuments to various branches of the military (sailors, border guards, pilots, and airborne troops). Also located here, in the northern part of the city, is a stadium with a ski resort and various sports fields.
Residents and visitors of the city can enjoy the following services:
Cherdyn District Cultural Center https://vk.com/centrcherdyn,
Central Library named after S. Yu. Volodina https://vk.com/club129539210,
Sports House and Ice Rink https://vk.com/cherdynb_sport?from=search,
Tourist Information Center https://vk.com/club227483496

Food and Specialties
Cherdyn has its own local culinary specialty: ushkas (dumplings).
Remember Bishop Jonah's lunch at Prince Mikhail's house in the film "The Heart of Parma"? During Lent, he was offered quail instead of bread and water because there was no flour. But if there had been flour in Cherdyn, the bishop would certainly have been treated to the famous ushkas (dumplings). Incidentally, they are still served here today. They are the main local specialty. Pelmeni (dumplings) with meat or cabbage are called pelmeni. Vareniki (dumplings) with potatoes, cottage cheese, or jam are called vareniki. With mushrooms and the obligatory stress on the second syllable – "ushki" (ears). At the "Na Semi Kholmakh" Visitor Center restaurant https://vk.com/nasemiholmah and the Cherdyn cafe "Charodeyka" https://vk.com/public204316424, you'll be treated to filling and incredibly delicious dried mushroom ears.
Cherdyn also offers wonderful marshmallows, made using a special technique and loved by all tourists; "Cherdynsky Gingerbread" with jam filling; and Cherdyn bread. All of this can be purchased at the "Khlebushko" store of Cherdyn-Khleb LLC https://cherdyn-hleb.ru/
Metelitsa Café: Cherdyn lunches based on traditional specialties—dishes using local delicacies (fish, mushrooms, berries, farm produce, herbs).
The restaurant at the Visitor Center "On Seven Hills" serves signature dishes from the local cuisine, which is the focus of the restaurant. For example, the menu includes katanka (millet porridge) with mushroom broth, cream, and aspen mushrooms, alabushki with trout, pike cutlet, selyanka with sauerkraut, veal cheeks, kulebyaka, and more. When selecting food suppliers for the restaurant, priority is given to local farmers who produce meat, dairy products, and vegetables. Trout is supplied from the Ryabininsky fish farm.
Elena Matveeva's peasant farm (Seregovo village). In-house production of organic dairy products, cheeses, and ice cream.
Pal'ok "Pchelich" Family Apiary. The apiary's products include not only live honey, but also honey with wild berries; dessert honey; chocolate honey paste; honey chocolate; candies with honey and berry filling; fresh berries; jams and preserves; herbal teas and infusions; Premium berry pastila with honey https://vk.com/paseka_paljok?w=club82755789
CHERDYNSKY GINGERBREAD https://vk.com/cherdinskii_pryanik?ysclid=m791h9eg12893360035 . Handmade souvenir gingerbread and honey cookies made to order in Cherdyn
BERRY PARMA https://vk.com/parmayagoda?ysclid=m791l63db8173604962 . Organic products made from natural plant materials (wild plants).

Accommodation
Cherdyn and the surrounding area offer a variety of accommodations: hotels, inns, apartments, guest houses, glamping sites, and recreation centers https://vk.com/topic-227483496_52963986
Visit Center Hotel "On Seven Hills" https://vk.com/nasemiholmah. In addition to the hotel, the visitor center also includes a restaurant, conference room, and souvenir shop. The hotel offers 19 rooms of various categories, with a total of 44 beds. The rooms are decorated in soothing tones with local touches. For example, the decorative pillows are adorned with images of Permian animals. Similar designs are also featured on the textiles used for tableware in the restaurant.
Glamping "Ryabininsky Pond" offers a comfortable experience of nature. The cabins are located on the grounds of a trout farm in the village of Ryabinino.
The "Novy Krymkor" glamping site is a "tourist village" near the deserted village of Krymkor, allowing guests visiting the Cherdyn District to connect with nature and experience a sense of oneness with it. Four year-round modular cabins with four rooms and 16 beds are available. Landscaped grounds include a sandy beach and a boat dock.
Country (Kamgort village) and family (Vilgort village) cabins at the "Cherdyn Land" recreation center. These ancient village houses combine rustic life with the comfort of a comfortable home, perfect for those seeking to escape the bustle of the big city and find a warm, quiet, and cozy haven where even the air feels special. https://cherdynland.ru/hosting

How to get there
Cherdyn is less than 300 kilometers from the regional center. It can be reached by car. By bus:
You can get to Cherdyn by direct bus from Solikamsk and Perm (Perm-Nyrob route).
By train:
The closest train stations to Cherdyn are Solikamsk Railway Station, Berezniki Railway Station, and Perm Railway Station. From there, you can take a bus or taxi.

Museums
The Cherdyn Museum of Local History named after A.S. Pushkin, one of the oldest museums in the Kama region and the Urals, was founded in 1899 in honor of the national celebration of the 100th anniversary of the great Russian poet's birth. That same year, the scientific Society of Lovers of History, Archaeology, and Ethnography of the Cherdyn Region, with its Museum of Antiquities, was also founded. The Society and Museum of Antiquities owe their origins to the chairman of the district zemstvo council, Dmitry Aristarkhovich Udintsev—a man devoted to the interests of archaeology and who, despite his short stay in Cherdyn, managed to put the idea of ​​a museum on a practical footing. The Society was subsequently liquidated, and its rich museum collections were transferred to a general education museum. In 1922, the museum was awarded the title of "Cherdyn Local History Museum named after A.S. Pushkin," a title it proudly bears to this day.
For over a hundred years, the Cherdyn Local History Museum has remained true to its primary mission—the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of its native region. The museum's greatest asset is its collection, which comprises 147,026 items. The museum's collections can be viewed in the State Catalogue of the Russian Federation.
The museum boasts a wealth of interesting exhibits. Museum visitors can explore archaeological and ethnographic collections, Permian wooden sculpture, icon painting, early printed books from the 16th to 18th centuries, and more. Of particular interest are the items of the mysterious Permian animal style, the oriental silver found here, and the coin hoards. A unique exhibit is the shackles of the boyar M.N. Romanov (the uncle of the founder of the Romanov dynasty), who died in captivity in Nyrob, north of Cherdyn. In the past, these shackles were revered as sacred, and many pilgrims came to touch them.
The museum complex includes five buildings, all of which are architectural monuments of regional significance—cultural heritage sites of the Russian Federation.
The Cherdyn Museum of Local History is housed within the walls of the former district zemstvo council (Zemstvo) dating back to the mid-19th century, while the exhibition hall is housed in the former 19th-century girls' gymnasium. The new museum space is housed in the former building of the boys' parish school, built in 1888 according to the designs of architect P.P. Rudavsky, and the Museum of the History of Faith is housed in the former Assumption Church (built in 1785). The building of the M.N. The Romanov Almshouse in Nyrob is a former almshouse built between 1913 and 1915 by the Perm Provincial Zemstvo as part of a memorial complex commemorating the 300th anniversary of the reign of the Romanov dynasty.

Calendar of Events
In the summer, near Cherdyn, in the village of Seregovo, a fascinating ethnographic festival, "Call of Parma," takes place. Once you've attended this annual festival, you'll never forget it. It's a festival of ethno-folk musicians. It also features theatrical performances, a jousting arena, master classes, bonfires, fire shows, folk games, and heroic combat. A variety of ethnic figurines and handicrafts are sold. There are tastings of printed gingerbread, honey, and various natural products. This event usually lasts two to three days in the summer and is truly worth a visit. In July, Cherdyn hosts the Prokopyevsk Fair. The fair's historical roots can be traced back to the 16th century, when a patron saint, Saint Procopius of Ustyug, was "assigned" to Cherdyn-Perm the Great. Since then, every year on July 8 (July 21 according to the New Style), Cherdyn has become the center of the Prokopyevsk Fair for a week. Noble merchants, artisans, and craftsmen from Solikamsk, Usolye, Nizhny Novgorod, Veliky Ustyug, and Perm the Great flocked to the Fair. They brought pottery, fabrics, embroideries, wickerwork, and much more. A variety of street entertainments also added to the festive atmosphere of the Prokopyevsk Fair: swings, organ grinder performances, scenes from folk plays featuring Petrushka, and whistle playing. With the advent of the Revolution, traditional Russian fairs with their indispensable folk merriment seemed to have sunk into oblivion. The Prokopyevsk Fair was revived in 2016. It is now an annual interactive event featuring traditional Russian amusements, the participation of Northern Kama Krai folk craftsmen and contemporary handicrafts, charity sales, master classes, street theater performances, and an open-air concert venue for creative groups from the region and guests.
In December, another fair is held – the Nikolskaya Fair. The tradition of holding the Nikolskaya Fair in the northern Kama Krai dates back to 1881. Before the Revolution, the festive festivities lasted 20 days, beginning on New Year's Eve, a time of joyful anticipation and miracles. In Cherdyn, where the tradition of craft stalls and folk festivals is maintained, the Nikolskaya Fair brings together artisans from all over the region, selling their wares and holding master classes for everyone. Fairgoers are offered a series of tours of the trading center of Cherdyn, featuring stories of ancient mansions and the brisk trade conducted by enterprising merchants. In the shopping arcades, guests are treated to smoky tea from a samovar and royal fish soup. There are also interactive areas such as "Hunting," "Fisherman," "Miracles in a Sieve," and "Bear." The festival fully honors the traditions of the 19th century and promotes Russian folk culture among the younger generation.