DAY #1
Duration: 6 ½ hours (Approx.)
We will meet you at the Train Station if you come from Moscow by “Lastochka” high speed train or pick you up from your hotel and head to the historical heart of Tula – the Kremlin.
The Kremlin was finished in 1520 and became the most southern citadel on the border of the Russian State. It was the time of constant wars and the solid masonry fortress was created to meet the challenge. The Kremlin of Tula held out against attacks numerous times and was never taken by storm. Now, the Kremlin is a large museum complex which includes not only walls and towers but also 2 cathedrals, a historical shopping arcade and the buildings of the first power station of Tula that now house 3 museums. You will explore the fortress from the inner courtyard, learn about its architectural peculiarities, find an Italian trace in its construction and get to know what happened when Tula found itself to no longer be a border town.
Then you will participate in Tula Pryanik Making Activity. The pryanik is the Russian number one treat which was eaten both by the rich and the poor. There are a lot of variations of it all over Russia. But why is the pryanik from Tula believed to be the tastiest one? Originally made with rye flour, juices of berries and honey it contains a secret ingredient that makes it so special. The secret will be revealed at Tula Pryanik Making Class. Be immersed into the world of delicious taste and smell! As a souvenir you will get a self-made treat and the clues to its taste.
Then you will have lunch at a restaurant of Russian cuisine.
After lunch Tula State Samovar Museum Tour awaits you. The samovar was called the general of the table. It's a large jug-like vessel with a funnel in the middle filled with red hot coal, which ensures an unending supply of boiling water for tea. All great Russian authors from Pushkin to Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy and Gorky wrote about the warm intimacy created by a samovar. At the beginning of the 20th century there were 14 factories and workshops which provided the whole Russian Empire with their production. The Tula State Samovar Museum has the largest collection of tea-urns of different sizes and shapes. You will learn about the most popular kitchen utensil of the past, explore the world of samovars and understand why Tula is called the samovar capital of Russia.
You will finish this amazing tour with Tula Teatime Traditions Activity. Although tea was originally brought from China, drinking it is typically Russian. It is an extremely significant part of the culture. Tea warms you up, wakes you up, and is nice after a big meal. When you go visiting people it's assumed that you'll have tea. It’s not just a beverage – it’s a social activity with a long-reaching tradition behind it. Russian tea is served from a samovar and goes with sweet treats and marvelous stories. As Tula is the epicenter of pryanik and samovar making it’s the right place to dive into the world of Russian hospitality. You will discover tips how to drink tea like a Russian, learn unseen rules of Russian behavior, take a taste test of good old-Russian sweets that originate from Tula.
At the end, we will drop you off at the hotel.
Departure Time: 11:00 AM
Tour Details:
● Meeting at Moscovsky Train Station/ Hotel pickup
● Tula Kremlin Tour (1 hour)
● Tula Pryanik Making Activity (1 ½ hours)
● Lunch at a restaurant of Russian cuisine at 2:30 PM (1 hour)
● Tula State Samovar Museum Tour (1 hour)
● Tula Teatime Traditions Activity (1 ½ hours)
● Hotel drop-off
DAY #2
Duration: 6 ½ hours (Approx.)
We will pick you up from your hotel at 11:00 AM and go on Tula Bus Tour.
You will enjoy the city highlights from a comfortable taxi or minibus. A professional driver will bring you to points of interest while a live guide will be providing the commentary on the way. You will visit the oldest district of the city, learn about historical premises of arms manufacturing and understand why Tula got the title of the capital of weapons. We will make several stops at the most remarkable sights including churches and monuments and finish the narration about arms in the Tula State Museum of Weapons.
The history of the museum dates back to 1724 when Peter the Great ordered not to recast old canons and guns but keep them in a special Chamber for curious things. Now the collection consists of about 14 thousands of weapons which showcase the evolution of arms from the 14th century to the modern time. If you spend a minute gazing at each item you will need nearly 10 days to make it through. The museum is impressively laid out, a lot of multi-media are used in its exposition, approximately half a million tourists from all over the world visit it every year and you will also see its treasures.
Then you will have lunch at a restaurant of Russian cuisine.
After lunch you will take part in Philemonovo Toy Making Activity.
Philimonovo toys are whistles moulded from a special clay which can be found only in one village in Tula Region. The clay is bluish-grey but after kilning it turns into a pure white ceramic. It takes time. So, you will make a figure of a lady, a horseman, a bear or a rooster and paint a kilned one with aniline dyes with patterns of bright stripes and spots that have their symbolic meaning. You will experience the world of hidden concepts concealed behind Russian folk crafts.
Let’s finish this day with Grandpa Philemon’s Accordion Museum Tour. It's a highly interactive museum that houses a large collection from tiny squeezeboxes to huge accordions. Learn about the history of these musical instruments, discover Russian traditions connected with them and enjoy a show performed specially for you.
Departure Time: 11:00 AM
Tour Details:
● Hotel pickup
● Tula Bus Tour (1 ½ hours)
● Tula State Museum of Weapons Tour (1 ½ hours)
● Lunch at a restaurant of Russian cuisine (1 hour)
● Philemonovo Toy Making Activity (1 hour)
● Grandpa Philemon’s Accordion Museum (1 hours)
● Departure to Moscow
For Groups up to 10 people
