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Get into the holiday spirit with a visit to Dobbies Garden Centre Santa’s Grotto this Christmas. It’s a cherished tradition that brings joy to children and families alike. Your adventure begins with a stroll through an enchanting forest, guided by friendly elves. Along the way, little ones will create a special keepsake to take home.

The highlight of the experience is meeting Santa Claus himself, where children can share their excitement and wishes before receiving a carefully selected gift. To capture this magical moment, choose from our special photo options, saving up to 15% when you pre-book.

Please remember to dress warmly as Santa’s grotto may be outside. Book your preferred time and date and make this holiday season truly memorable at Dobbies.

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A visit to Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Garden Centre

Last Updated on October 29, 2023

This year I took Ryan to his second Santa’s Grotto, which was Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Garden Centre. Last year we went to Santa’s Grotto at Smith’s Garden Centre .

Once we arrived it took some time to find where the Grotto was, because the Garden Centre was quite large, and there were many different sections to it.

However, after following some signage, we finally made it to the Grotto, which was located near the restaurant, towards the back of the Garden Centre.

Once we reached the Grotto’s entrance, we waited in line with a few other people, the people behind us happened to be Ryan’s teacher from last year, and her son.

After about a 15 minute wait, Snowflake the Elf came out and read out three children’s names, Ryan’s name was included, and then all children and their parents were asked to come into the Grotto together.

Before we entered Santa’s Grotto, Snowflake told the children that they could only enter if they believed in the magic of Christmas, which I thought was a weird thing to say to 4-6 year olds. They had to cheer if they believed in the magic.

Once finally inside, it was very beautiful. It was filled with Christmas trees, sparkling lights, some plush reindeer, moving squirrels, and a couple of activities for the children to do together.

The first activity was helping Snowflake put some presents back in Santa’s sleigh, which they all did.

Once done they had to follow Snowflake to his best friend, Frosty the Snowman, who had fallen down and the children had to put him back together, and put a scarf on him.

There wasn’t enough room for all three children to do this together, so only two of the children could really do it, which was a shame.

Once Frosty was sorted, we all walked towards Santa, where each child had to take turns to answer some of his questions.

Santa was really good with the children, he asked them questions and waited for their responses.

Ryan was first, and Santa asked him what list Ryan thought he was on. Ryan hesitantly said the good list.

Santa then asked Ryan what was on the top of his Christmas list, Ryan said a laptop, the other mums laughed.

Santa very convincingly told Ryan that the Elf’s weren’t that great with technology, so they would try their best to get it to him, but there was no guarantee.

We then had Ryan’s photo taken, which cost £8 to buy, then we walked out of the Grotto whilst the other children spoke to Santa.

Overall I wasn’t very impressed with the Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Garden Centre.

The main thing I didn’t like was going into the Grotto with other children, because not all children got to do all the activities due to lack of space, and also because they were shy around children they didn’t know.

Also, other mums and children could hear your conversation with Santa, so it wasn’t a very personal experience.

Because of these reasons, as well as the time it took to get there, this isn’t a Santa’s Grotto that we’ll go back to.

Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Garden Centre is located at Aylesbury Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP22 6BD. For more information on Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Garden Centre please visit their website .

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Santa arrives with festive cheer at Dobbies

Dobbies, the uk’s leading garden centre, is kickstarting the holiday season with santa's arrival on thursday 23 november..

Article Source: Dobbies Last Updated: 20 November 2023 12:40

Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa arrives with festive cheer at Dobbies Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is kickstarting the holiday season with Santa's Arrival, where Father Christmas himself will make his joyful arrival to help his elves add the finishing touches to the magical grotto. Taking place on Thursday 23 November at 4:30pm across 17 stores, Santa's Arrival will mark the start of Santa’s Grotto season at Dobbies. Kicking off with an announcement over the tannoy, followed by festive music and Santa's iconic "ho ho ho”, families will know it’s time to gather for Santa’s arrival. Santa will walk through the store, greeting children and allowing families to capture photographs to cherish the moment. Santa will then take residency at his bookable Grotto, and his elves will welcome children, leading them through an enchanting forest and enjoy craft activities before meeting Santa. Each child will receive a present to take home for the big day. Families are advised to book a slot at Santa’s Grotto in advance to avoid any disappointment on the night. Dobbies will also be offering the Quiet Grotto experience on 8 December, which includes reduced sound and visual features to provide a relaxed environment for children with additional needs. The whole family can get involved with the festivities at Dobbies and enjoy the Santa Paws experience, which takes place from 2 December to Saturday 23 December. Dog owners can bring their cherished pups to meet Santa and receive a pawsome gift. Sarah Murray, who develops Dobbies’ festive line-up said: "Christmas at Dobbies is all about creating memories, and our family-friendly atmosphere allows everyone to feel the seasonal magic. "Santa’s arrival kick starts our festive line up of events, a joyful beginning to the best time of the year. We’ve got something for everyone at Dobbies this year, whether you’re a family looking to attend one of the events or in need of some fresh decorations to get the home looking festive this Christmas, Dobbies is a fantastic day out." Dobbies' Santa's Grotto experience is priced at £11.99 per child and will run from 23 November to 24 December. The Quiet Grotto, also priced at £11.99 per child, will take place on 8 December. Santa Paws, at £6.99 per dog, will run from 2 to 22 December. Attendees at Santa’s Arrival will receive a voucher for £5 off £25, to be used on the night. For more information about Dobbies’ festive experiences and to make a booking, please visit dobbies.com/events . Image © UNP

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Say Ho Ho Hello to Santa at Dobbies

Dobbies, the uk's leading garden centre, is announcing its highly anticipated santa's grotto and quiet grotto enchanting experience.

Article Source: Dobbies Last Updated: 20 October 2023 12:30

Dobbies is announcing its highly anticipated Santa's Grotto and Quiet Grotto enchanting experience, designed to bring families together to celebrate the magic of Christmas. Whether little ones are meeting Santa and his elves for the first time, or it’s a cherished annual tradition, attendees can enjoy festive fun at Dobbies this Christmas. Children will be welcomed by Santa’s elves who will take them through a Christmas tree forest spotting magical characters along the way, before making a special item to take home. Once they’ve spent time with Santa’s elves, they’ll get the chance to meet Santa Claus himself. Santa will greet children, share some Christmas magic, hear their wishes, and hand them a gift to take home. The Quiet Grotto is also running this year, thoughtfully designed with sound and visual elements to create a relaxed atmosphere for children with additional needs. Quiet Grottos will be available from 2.30pm on Friday 8 December. Families with canine companions are in for a treat as they can bring their four-legged friends to meet Santa. Starting from 2 December, dog owners are invited along to a Santa Paws experience where they’ll receive adorable pet-friendly gifts from Santa. Sarah Murray, who develops Dobbies’ festive line up, knows just how magical Christmas is for all the family. She said: “For every child, meeting Santa is a treasured highlight of the season. At Dobbies we're dedicated to creating a Santa's Grotto experience that resonates with every member of the community. We're thrilled that this year's grotto experiences will continue to spark the enchantment of Christmas for all families who join us.” If families would like to preserve a cherished memory of the day, there’s the chance to add on a professional photograph at the time of booking, or add on the day from £5 for a digital image and £7 for a photo booklet. On Thursday 23 November, 17 stores will be welcoming Santa as he arrives from the North Pole. Santa will walk around the store, say hello to families and take selfies with children as he embarks on his new residency at the grotto. Tickets are priced at £11.99 per child for Santa’s Grotto and Santa’s Quiet Grotto experiences, and Santa Paws is priced at £6.99 per dog. A non-refundable donation for Teenage Cancer Trust is also available at the time of booking. For more information about Dobbies’ Santa’s Grotto experiences and to make a booking, please visit dobbies.com Image credit: Stewart Attwood

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Santa arrives with festive cheer at Dobbies

Dobbies, the uk’s leading garden centre, is kickstarting the holiday season with santa's arrival on thursday 23 november..

Article Source: Dobbies Last Updated: 20 November 2023 12:40

Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa arrives with festive cheer at Dobbies Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is kickstarting the holiday season with Santa's Arrival, where Father Christmas himself will make his joyful arrival to help his elves add the finishing touches to the magical grotto. Taking place on Thursday 23 November at 4:30pm across 17 stores, Santa's Arrival will mark the start of Santa’s Grotto season at Dobbies. Kicking off with an announcement over the tannoy, followed by festive music and Santa's iconic "ho ho ho”, families will know it’s time to gather for Santa’s arrival. Santa will walk through the store, greeting children and allowing families to capture photographs to cherish the moment. Santa will then take residency at his bookable Grotto, and his elves will welcome children, leading them through an enchanting forest and enjoy craft activities before meeting Santa. Each child will receive a present to take home for the big day. Families are advised to book a slot at Santa’s Grotto in advance to avoid any disappointment on the night. Dobbies will also be offering the Quiet Grotto experience on 8 December, which includes reduced sound and visual features to provide a relaxed environment for children with additional needs. The whole family can get involved with the festivities at Dobbies and enjoy the Santa Paws experience, which takes place from 2 December to Saturday 23 December. Dog owners can bring their cherished pups to meet Santa and receive a pawsome gift. Sarah Murray, who develops Dobbies’ festive line-up said: "Christmas at Dobbies is all about creating memories, and our family-friendly atmosphere allows everyone to feel the seasonal magic. "Santa’s arrival kick starts our festive line up of events, a joyful beginning to the best time of the year. We’ve got something for everyone at Dobbies this year, whether you’re a family looking to attend one of the events or in need of some fresh decorations to get the home looking festive this Christmas, Dobbies is a fantastic day out." Dobbies' Santa's Grotto experience is priced at £11.99 per child and will run from 23 November to 24 December. The Quiet Grotto, also priced at £11.99 per child, will take place on 8 December. Santa Paws, at £6.99 per dog, will run from 2 to 22 December. Attendees at Santa’s Arrival will receive a voucher for £5 off £25, to be used on the night. For more information about Dobbies’ festive experiences and to make a booking, please visit dobbies.com/events . Image © UNP

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Santa's grotto.

Dobbies Aberdeen New Park Farm Whitemyres Lang Stracht Aberdeen AB15 6AX

Treat your little ones with a visit to Santa's Grotto and receive a toy from Santa himself. Santa's Grotto is one of our most loved festive experiences at Dobbies. Bring your little ones along to walk through the magical outdoor woodland, spotting the Christmas characters along the way. Then be welcomed by Santa himself, plus receive a special gift. Should you wish, you can also purchase a lasting memory of your visit to Santa’s Grotto with a special photo. There is a reduced price for pre-ordering or you can also buy on the day. Please select your preferred time from those available below. Santa has selected a range of toys, suitable for different ages. You can pre-select an age appropriate gift for your child however the exact toy may vary on the day. To give you peace of mind when booking, we have Book with Confidence. Please note there will be no Winter Wonderland Walkway experience at our Aylesbury store this year. **For Santa's Grotto at Woodcote Green please visit our separate event page**

Treat your little ones with a visit to Santa's Grotto and receive a toy from Santa himself. Santa's Grotto is one of our most loved festive experiences at Dobbies. Bring your little ones along to walk through the magical outdoor woodland, spotting the Christmas characters along the way. Then be welcomed by Santa himself, plus receive a special gift. Should you wish, you can also purchase a lasting memory of your visit to Santa’s Grotto with a special photo. There is a reduced price for pre-ordering or you can also buy on the day. Please select your preferred time from those available below. Santa has selected a range of toys, suitable for different ages. You can pre-select an age appropriate gift for your child however the exact toy may vary on the day. To give you peace of mind when booking, we have Book with Confidence. Please note there will be no Winter Wonderland Walkway experience at our Aylesbury store this year. For Santa's Grotto at Woodcote Green please visit our separate event page

© 2024 Event information from Data Thistle .

The information included in the What's On Data has been supplied to VisitAberdeenshire by Data Thistle and is subject to changes. Readers are advised to check with the venue or event organiser before relying in any way on the details published here. VisitAberdeenshire and Data Thistle are unable to accept responsibility for any loss or liability arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in these listings.

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Santa Visit - Dobbies Garden Centre Stirling

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“Santa Visit” Review of Dobbies Garden Centre Stirling

Took the kids to see Santa here, this will be their 4th meeting this Santa! I can’t see past him! Genuinely one of the best and most authentic Santas I have ever seen. Not only does he look the part but he has so much time for the kids and has such a kind and gentle manner. Very believable and very enjoyable.

• Excellent 63
• Very good 110
• Terrible 101
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40 - 44 of 443 reviews

This review is about the restaurant.We said before we were not going back but we like the actual shop. We ordered 2 croque monsieur,chips,coffee,tea and a cake.The croque monsieur arrived really pale looking and was basically not cooked with soggy bread.Disgusting.I have had croque monsieur many times and it has never looked so unappealing.Took them back and ordered chicken blt baguettes.They arrived and were also not good.Cold chewy bread which should have been heated and there was no bacon worth talking about.The only good thing was the chips.The first plate had hardly any chips but were brought more to make up for the rubbish meal.Coffee got cold waiting on the terrible baguettes. The manager came over and asked what the problem was and gave me £3 back and barely apologised.We will not be back.

Visited the restaurant for the 1st time on Wednesday and certainly wouldn't recommend. The staff were using dirty tongs for cakes with cross contamination also watched staff use the same milk jug for heating milk up which wasn't even washes between use followed by a very dirty cloth which was black. Service was appalling after waiting in a queue for over 20mins to be served to then sit in a restaurant that needed a very good clean. Staff not using any cleaning liquid but only a dry cloth to wipe down tables. I have had a very sick child after visiting this restaurant and never will I go back.

No gluten free options to eat. Nothing other than chips. Absolutely ridiculous not to have any choice to eat. Very disappointed.

Stopped here on our trip around Scotland. What a surprise - nice restaurant in a garden center. The food was excellent, place was clean and the staff friendly and helpful. Would definitely stop in again.

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Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Milngavie

Bring your little ones along to dobbies milngavie for an exciting festive experience at their annual santa's grotto.

About Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Milngavie

Embrace the festive season with a must-have visit to our Santa’s grotto this Christmas. This experience includes meeting with Santa and, of course, a special gift for your little ones! This remains our most popular experiences at Dobbies, offering a magical journey for children and families complete with interactive elements and a meeting with Santa himself! Take in the atmosphere as you walk through our enchanting forest. An elf will guide you to find our Little Seedlings characters along the way before arriving in our wildlife forest clearing where the little ones will make a special item to take home. Your experience will then continue with a chance to meet Santa Claus - children are encouraged to share their excitement, wishes and stories before receiving their gift, To capture the memory of your little ones meeting Santa you can choose to pre-book one of our special photo options and save on average 15% compared to on-the-day prices.

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A trip to Moscow

I'm going to organize a trip this summer. I want to plan everything. I’ll fly from London to Moscow, and I also want to visit St. Petersburg. Could you, please, advise me what places I should visit? I’ll stay in Moscow for about 10 days before going to St. Petersburg. Thank you!

Not a country I’d be spending my money in at the moment.

Ditto. Ditto!

I don't really see the point of shunning a country because you don't agree with its leader and/or its government. Would you go to Italy? China? Tourist dollars are more likely to get into the hands of the people rather than any corrupt bureaucracy and meeting friendly tourists might just change the locals opinions of foreigners and even give them some information they don't get from local news media.

Hopefully , I won't be starting a war here , but I must say I agree with Chani's comments . Having taken three year visas in 2015 , we have been to Moscow and St; Petersburg ( once to Moscow , and twice to St Petersburg ) . The History , Art , Music ( I am a classically trained musician ) and Culture , fascinate us . Much to experience there and advance preparation is essential , To get a good grounding for your visit , read this lavish and detailed book by Suzanne Massie , it's one of the best ways to immerse yourself in what you will experience - https://www.amazon.com/Land-Firebird-Beauty-Old-Russia/dp/096441841X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521652009&sr=8-1&keywords=land+of+the+firebird+massie&dpID=51CPK13XKGL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

And while leaders of such countries can point to foreign visitor numbers as a sign of support ? I also believe that personal safety for certain travellers, especially obvious minorities, cannot be guaranteed, as fervent nationalism increases, and tolerance levels evaporate. Just as I may decide against a purchase at the supermarket because of a company’s behaviour, ethics will always be a consideration.

Well, I'd argue supermarket ethics does not readily translate to travel ethics - the latter is far more complex. Personally, I see the whole "vote with my hard-earned travel dollar" approach as overly simplistic, but if it's your position - I totally respect it.

What I don't understand is members volunteering ethical guidance in response to what seems an innocuous request for travel-related information.

Note a discussion on ethics hosted a year ago by the Webmaster of this very forum.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/travel-ethics-612334a0-0ca1-4128-b088-c13d1d8a91c3

I appreciate Rick Steves' point of view in his "Travel As A Political Act". That said, Putin's Russia is not a place I would support. But, to each his or her own....

From a practical point of view, travel between the two countries can be difficult. I understand the Russians who traveled in the US this past winter had to go to the US Embassy in the country of Georgia to get visas because the Russians expelled American embassy personnel. If you do travel to Russia, you may be on your own. See the American travel advisory: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/russia-travel-advisory.html

Travel Advisory January 10, 2018 Russia – Level 3: Reconsider travel Reconsider travel to Russia due to terrorism and harassment. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory U.S. citizens are often victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion by law-enforcement and other officials. U.S. consular assistance to detained individuals is often unreasonably delayed by Russian officials. Russia also enforces special restrictions on dual U.S.-Russian nationals. Due to the Russian government-imposed reduction on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia, the U.S. government has reduced ability to provide services to U.S. citizens.

We have traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg over the past few years. As in the US, most of the people we encountered helpful and not particularly political. In Moscow, we stayed at The Garden Ring Hotel which was a close walk to the metro. The hotel was very comfortable and quiet for being in the city. We loved the art museums and the Georgian restaurants. In St. Petersburg, we stayed at both The 3Mosta hotel near the Hermitage and the Art Hotel Demetra.. In St. Petersburg, we especially liked the Hermitage and Russian museum. Learning the Cyrillic alphabet and having a good map is a must.

As I think the point about ethical considerations has been made, please keep future replies more specific to the question at hand. Thanks.

Either read a good travel book or book a guide who can personally take you to the best places that interest you and tell about the sights you're seeing. We used Dan Petrov on 2 different trips to Moscow and found him to be wonderfully friendly and witty not to mention super knowledgeable.

Latest advice, Australian Governmemt, 1 April 2018. “Due to heightened political tensions, you should be aware of the possibility of anti-Western sentiment or harassment. While the Australian Government is not aware of any increased difficulties for Australians travelling in Russia at this time, you should follow the security and political situation closely and keep up to date with this travel advice. Remain vigilant, avoid any protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publicly on political developments.”

We very much enjoyed our group trip to Moscow and St Petersburg last year. excellent guides and accommodations. While Steven who has replied here has excellent advice, ( and we took advantage of it), we felt an organized tour really facilitated our enjoyment of the country. You may want to consider a combination of an organized tour and than adding independent days . Some of the Australians on the tour had arrived a couple of days earlier than the tour stated and then some stayed later. If we were to go again (which I would), that"s how I would do it. And I must say , it was enlightening to have conversations with the Russian tour guides and the non Americans about the current world situation. Not that we went into any great depth, but I think we all went away with a little more understanding. Top places: allow lots of time in St Petersburg at the Hermitage- take a separate day for the Impressionist building. In Moscow, the Russian Art Museum was amazing.

Solid advice from Australian government quoted above, especially the keeping up to date part.

I checked the current version (Sep 18) of that advisory - and it hasn't been updated much. In fact, some sections don't seem to have changed since 2005 - their recommendations for importing/exporting currency and financial instruments, for example, are at least five years behind.

I do like reading governmental travel advisories for entertainment purposes - for instance, up until very recently the US one sternly advised potential travelers that Moscow was largely a cash-based economy (couldn't be further from the truth) and warned about intrinsic dangers of gypsy cabs (which had all but disappeared by 2015).

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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St. Nicholas Churches in Moscow

Photo gallery.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Zvonary. 16th century.

The stone construction goes back to 1657, the current structure was built in 1762 – 81 by Count I. I. Vorontsov. Now its main altar is dedicated to the Annunciation. The church was closed by the communists no later than 1933, and reconsecrated in 1996. It is has been the podvorye of Pukhtitsa Convent (Estonia) since 1994.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kleniki. 1657.

The current stone structure was built in 1657, and rebuilt several times. The bell tower was added in 1749. The church was closed in 1932, and its bell tower and top part were destroyed. It was reopened in 1990 and restored. The church was famous from 1893-23 for its head priest—Archpriest Alexei Mechev and later his son, Archpriest Sergei Mechev. Both are now canonized saints of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The St. Nicholas United Faith Old Believer Monastery. 1873 – 1878.

General view of the monastery from the northeastern side. To the left is the Dormition Church, at right is the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross. In the center is the bell tower.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Izmailovo. 2000.

This wooden church is located on the territory of the cultural park called, “The Kremlin in Ismailovo”, created in the style of northern Russian wooden architecture. The church is a podvorye of the St. Daniel Monastery.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Pokrovsky. 1765 – 1766.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at the Rogozhsky cemetery. 1776.

Old Believer (with priests) church.

Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at the Transfiguration cemetery. 1805.

Old Believer chapel.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at the “house of free apartments” founded by the Bakhrushin brothers. 1900 – 1903.

View from the southern side of the bell tower of the Church of the Resurrection in Kadyshy. To the left are the churches of the Kremlin.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Golutvin. 1686 – 1692.

Formerly the monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God. Since 1625, it has been a parish church. Closed by the communists in around 1933, the domes were removed and the bell tower destroyed. Restoration began in 1980 and services held since 1992. The bell tower has been restored. In 2012, the church has been the “Chinese podvorye”, where Moscow’s Chinese community goes for catechism, services, and fellowship.

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Zayatsk. 1749 – 1759.

The stone church was built on the site of the old wooden church in 1652. The next church was begun in 1741, and rebuilt in 1749 – 59. It was closed in 1932, and slated for demolition in 1939, but only the domes and upper tiers of the bell tower were removed. Services began again in 1992 in the neighboring parish house, and now the church is completely restored.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kuznetsy. 1805.

Formerly made of wood, the stone church was built in 1681-3 and rebuilt in the form we see today in 1805 and 1847. The main altar is dedicated to the translation of the relics of St. Nicholas to Bari. The church was never closed during the soviet period.

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Pyzhy. 1672.

The former wooden church is known from the late 16th c. The current main church was built in 1672. Closed in the 1930s, it was returned to the Church in 1990. Now the main altar is dedicated to the Annunciation, and the St. Nicholas church is a side altar. In 1993 a side altar was added dedicated to St. Vladimir of Kiev and all the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Tolmachy. 1697.

This St. Nicholas Church was known from 1625, and by 1697 a stone church was built with an altar dedicated to St. Nicholas. Closed in 1929, the cupolas and top tiers of the bell tower were removed. Services were renewed in 1993, and the church was completely restored. It is now the church located at the Tretyakov Museum. Since 1999, this church has housed one of Russia’s most treasured miracle-working icons—the Vladimir icon of the Mother of God.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Bersenevka. 1656.

In ancient times the church was part of the St. Nicholas on Bolota (the Swamp) Monastery. Now is it a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity with a side-altar to St. Nicholas, built in the place of the original wooden church in 1656 under the patronage of the senate clerk, A. Kirillov. Closed in 1930, the bell tower was soon demolished. The church was restored in 1970, and services began there again in 1992.

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kotelniki. 1822 – 1824.

Mention of the church dates from 1635. It was closed no earlier than 1929. Services were renewed in 1992. In the 1990s, the church was made a podvorye of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Bolvanovka, at the Tagansky gates.

Mention of the church goes back to 1632, and the current stone structure was built in 1697 – 1712. It was closed no earlier than 1929. In the 1930s the dome and upper tier of the bell tower were demolished, but they were both restored in the 1950s. Returned to the church in 1992, restoration work is still under way.

Church of St. Nicholas “Podkopai” (“Dig Under”)

First mentioned in the late 15th century, the name of this church has gone down in history as the Church of St. Nicholas “Dig Under”. It is not certain how it got this name, but a legend exists of a merchant who had a strong veneration for St. Nicholas but then lost all his wealth. After the merchant prayed fervently, the saint appeared to him in a dream and told him to dig under the church wall, take the covering inlaid with precious stones from his revered icon, sell it, and use the money to start trading again. When his wealth returned, he was to have a covering made like the old one for the icon. The merchant did as he was told, and replaced the covering to the amazement of the parishioners, who passed down the story. In the 1930s the church was closed and turned into a plastic factory. It was returned to the Church in 1991, and recently added to the list of national monuments for preservation. Restoration work, as you can see by the photograph, has not yet been completed.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of the Old Believer community on Tverskaya Street. 1914 – 16.

Old Believer (Belokrinitskaya communion).

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at the Solomennaya guardhouse. 1996 – 7.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Rzhavki. 1800 – 28.

A two-storied single-domed brick church in the pseudo-gothic style, with an unattached bell tower. The church was closed in 1939, and the building was given to a soviet agriculture office and pioneer camp. Services were renewed in 1988. The Church was restored from 1988 – 97.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the St. Nicholas Perervinsky Monastery. 1696 – 7.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Saburovo. 1595.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Studentsa. Between 1672 and 1702.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Troekurovo. 1699 – 1706.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Khamovniki. 1679 – 82.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Shchepy. 1686.

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Novospassky Monastery (New Monastery of the Savior). 1652.

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Top 10: Tsar-Visit’s excursions

  As you know, Tsar Visit is a travel agency that sells guided-visits and tours in Moscow and St-Petersburg. We are working in 6 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Russian. And thanks to Yulia, we are able to work with professional and accredited guides in those languages. But as Irina is doing her job far to well, you can be lost in our different offers. So here is a list of my favorites!    

Bolshoi’s backstages (Moscow)

My favourite is definitely the Bolshoi’s backstages. First because it’s a privilege of accessing it, and I like being the special and privileged person. Second, because it’s beautiful and for once you have time to admire the splendorous painting and goldish chandeliers. Third, because you can enter the Bolshoi for a much lesser price than the one of a ballet ticket in the historic stage! This is a must do!

The Hermitage (St-Petersburg)

Because, I mean… THE Hermitage! Who never dreamt of visiting this marvelous imperial palace and dive into both History and fine art at the same time? Who never dreamt of being an heir of the Romanov finding its way through the palace? The Hermitage is a real historical pearl waiting for you on the Neva’s docks (tips: always look through the windows while visiting the museum, it worths it). But the Hermitage is also and above all the most important museum in the world. In other words, thanks to your guide, you’ll have detailed informations on both world-known masterpieces and the imperial Russia’s history.

The Kremlin (Moscow)

As for the Hermitage, the Kremlin is a must-do when visiting or living in Russia. As the political center of the country, but also as a historical keystone, the Kremlin worths the visit ! Nevertheless, the Kremlin is big, highly secured and offers to the public many historical and religious artefacts and buildings. That’s it must be visited… but never forget, with a professional and accredited guide!

The Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow)

The Tretyakov Gallery is one of the most famous museum of Russia… and not for no reason. The Tretyakov Gallery is huge and exhibits masterpieces from Russian and European schools of arts. All of this is stunning and the Tretyakov is a must-do, especially for arts fan. So if you really want to know more about Russia and its artists, you should definitely book a guided-tour!

Peterhof Palace (St-Petersburg)

Another feel-like-a-Royal-for-a-day visit that will bring you back in Peter the Great’s splendorous time. Peterhof is the Russian Versailles and this says all. The palace is absolutely stunning on the inside as on the outside. Special notice for the gardens and the fountains that are the icing on the cake. Thanks to a professional guide, you’ll bypass all the tourists, learn more about the imperial history and the Russian culture in a shining historic environment. Definitely one of my favorite!

Christ the Savior on the Spilled Blood (St-Petersburg)

Seeing Christ the Savior on the Spilled Blood in this list, you’re probably thinking that I’m giving all Moscow’s and Petersburg’s classics. Wrong! The world-known cathedral has its path in this list because the inside is absolutely stunning (or am I only attracted by gold? Who knows…). But more than being beautiful and famous, Christ the Savior on the Spilled Blood is also full of hidden treasures, secrets and remains crucial in the Russian and Soviet history. That’s why you definitely need a guided visit!

Yusupov Palace (St-Petersburg)

Did you know that the Yusupov where the richest family in the late imperial Russia, and the most powerful after the Romanov? No ? Then here is why you need to visit there palace on the Moika with a guide! The Yusupov palace hides all the secrets of this significant family. But the palace is also, and above all, crucial in the Russian history, having been Rasputin’s murder place!

Peter and Paul fortress (St-Petersburg)

As the other places in this list (I admit I have a taste for the Imperial Russia), the Peter and Paul fortress is absolutely crucial in the Russian history. However, if you’re visiting it by yourself, you’ll find nothing else than big walls, a cathedral, graves and a garden. That’s why I advise you to do a guided-tour of it. Your guide will explain you the history of the fortress, showing you artefacts from the past, and give you details on the buried Romanov. Moreover, if (as me) you have a taste for royal families from the past and the present, the Peter and Paul fortress will serve you some delights!

Moscow city tour (Moscow)

Moscow is a big city. And sometimes the best to do in order to discover a big city is to sit and enjoy a guided-tour. With Tsar Visit’s guided tour of Moscow you’ll discover, in a very comfy way, the Russian capital city and all its wonders. A must-do if you don’t have much time in Moscow!

St-Petersburg city tour (St-Petersburg)

Basically the same as for Moscow. This tour is the best. Go for it!

Want to book a guided-tour? Check out Tsar Visit !

+7 916 200 71 16

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