Russian names of settlements. The most beautiful villages in Russia. The harshest villages

The Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Russia was created several years ago with the aim of developing tourism, preserving national heritage and original architecture in rural areas. Based on the results of several competitions and competitions, the Association was replenished with picturesque villages from different corners countries, and some of them managed to get into the guide to the most beautiful villages. We have highlighted the most striking of them and hasten to tell you about their history, attractions and geographical location.

Vyatskoe

Vyatskoe - old village, located in middle lane Russia, namely in Yaroslavl region on the Ukhtanka River. This place was the first to be included in the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in 2015. The history of the village begins in the distant 16th century: in the early days of its existence, Vyatskoye became famous as the patrimony of the patriarch. Later the village was known as a place of cucumber fishing, large fairs and bazaars. IN this moment the place is more like a vast museum complex, attracting thousands of tourists at any time of the year. Preserved houses and architectural buildings The 18th century, the presence of a dozen museums and the amazingly beautiful nature make Vyatskoye extremely attractive. For the convenience of tourists, there are several hotels, restaurants and even a cinema and concert hall, and thanks to its close location to Yaroslavl, the flow of people wishing to see Vyatskoye does not dry out. A number of festivals and traditional events are held here annually: Harvest Day, Red Hill, Russian Wreath Festival, and the “Province - Soul of Russia” festival. The historical and cultural complex of Vyatsky was recognized as the best in Russia, and the village has more than once become the winner of many national and state awards.

Not every city can boast as many museums as the village of Vyatskoye: at the moment there are ten of them. Some of them attract attention with their extraordinary themes and intriguing names: on the territory of the village there is a museum of angels, a museum of love stories, a museum of Russian entrepreneurship, “Russian Bathhouse in Black” and other fancy museums. In addition to the museum complex, there are several active churches in Vyatskoye. In addition to architectural attractions, the village is famous for several healing drinking sources, and its district is recognized as the most environmentally friendly in the region.

How to get there?

Vyatskoye is located in the Nekrasovsky district of the Yaroslavl region. The distance from Yaroslavl is only 30 kilometers along a straight road. Travel time by car will be 40 minutes. Buses leave from Yaroslavl daily.

Photo source: kulturologia.ru

Desyatnikovo

Following famous place with a developed ethnoculture - the Old Believer village of Desyatnikovo. Thanks to its preserved architecture, way of life and local traditions, the village was included in the UNESCO list. The first mentions of it refer to XVIII century. Desyatnikovo is located in Buryatia, a few kilometers from the regional center - the large village of Tarbagatai. Desyatnikovo joined the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in 2016. The architecture of the village is unique: historically, the Old Believers exiled here several centuries ago gathered in one place the culture of several peoples, which mixed with local traditions. Desyatnikovo differs from other settlements in its unusually bright wooden buildings. Information about the architectural features of the village of Desyatnikovo is available here.

Main attractions

Each house in the village is a local pride and landmark due to its unique painting method both inside and outside, construction method and preserved customs. Another important object cultural heritage in Desyatnikovo - the functioning St. Nicholas Church.

How to get there?

From the capital of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, to Desyatnikovo along the federal highway “Baikal” you will have to cover about 60 kilometers and 11 kilometers from the regional center of Tarbagatai. You can get there from Ulan-Ude by minibus.

Kiltsa

Kiltsa village - beautiful place, known since the 17th century. It is located in the Mezensky district of the Arkhangelsk region at the mouth of the river of the same name. Kilza belongs to the Arctic zone of the country and was officially included in the Association of Beautiful Villages quite recently due to the preserved hundred-year-old wooden buildings, the traditional way of life of the local residents and the presence of fabulous nature around. Any residential building is an indicator of the skill of northern architects.

Main attractions

Kilca is primarily known for its votive crosses, which can be seen at the entrance to the village. It was customary to place votive crosses on any occasion, both happy and sad. The indigenous people have a special attitude towards them - it has long been believed that placing a votive cross is the strongest amulet against misfortune. In addition, Kiltsa became famous for its incomparable architectural style, characteristic of northern rural settlements: every residential building, decorated with patterned platbands and carved balconies, is a work of folk art.

How to get there?

Kiltsa is connected by road to the village of Kimzha, also part of the Beautiful Villages Association. This place is quite inaccessible. The nearest highway is 12 kilometers away along the winter road; in summer it is not easy to get there by car. At the moment, the administration is faced with the issue of building a road to develop tourism. The place belongs to a rural settlement, the center of which is the village of Kozmogorskoye. Map and Additional Information O geographical location available at the link.

Photo source: krasaderevni.ru

Kimzha

Another village, Kimzha, is no less famous in the Arkhangelsk region. Just like neighboring Kiltsa, the village is located in the Mezensky district. Kimzha joined the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in 2017 and immediately took an honorable first place in this list. It has been known since the 16th century, and the permanent population of this Arctic village is very small - no more than a hundred people. Every house in the settlement seems to come to life Museum exhibit and a keeper of history, is of great interest to visiting tourists. For those who are interested in folklore and customs of indigenous peoples, Kimzha is a real treasure: the local population strictly observes traditions, celebrates events according to the canons, carols at Christmas and gathers folk choirs for the holidays. But according to one of the folk legends, local settlers have the gift of divination and witchcraft, for this reason residents of neighboring areas still call them blacktropes. Until the middle of the last century, paganism and Old Believers were widespread in Kimzha, which left their mark on the modern way of life. Basic and important activities local population- hunting, fishing, berry gathering.

Main attractions

The visiting card of the village is the museum complex “The Northernmost Mills in the World”. One of these mills is currently operating, the other is the Northern Mills Museum. These two mills were built in late XIX centuries and are monuments of regional significance. Odigitrievskaya Church is the only local landmark of the Mezen type of construction, preserved from the beginning of the 18th century.

How to get there?

From Arkhangelsk to Kimzhi 350 kilometers. At any time of the year you can get there by plane, summer time Ferries ply along the Mezen River. It will be easiest for motorists to drive along scenic road Arkhangelsk-Belogorsky-Pinega-Kimzha. According to the official version, public transport does not operate in this area, but there are private transportations from Arkhangelsk. Detailed information You can find information on how to get to the place on the website of the village of Kimzha.

Photo source: tourinfo.ru

Oshevensky Pogost

Arhangelsk region can be proud of the presence of many ancient settlements with preserved ethnoculture: another village located on the Churiega River in the Kargopol district of the region and accepted into the Association of Beautiful Villages - Oshevensky Pogost. It is no coincidence that the village was included in this list: some architectural structures have been preserved here since the 15th century, and local residents still observe rituals inherent in this place. Tourists come here to see local traditions: watch how ritual cookies are baked, learn how to bake pies, go to a real black bath and try out ancient spinning wheels. Master classes are held especially for visitors, and you can stay in a guest house.

Main attractions

The functioning Holy Dormition Alexander-Oshevensky Monastery, located at the entrance to the village, is a national pride. An attractive building with an octagonal dome, the Church of the Epiphany has existed since the 18th century and is also famous for its painted ceiling. Detailed history villages is available at the link.

How to get there?

The settlement of Oshevensky Pogost is located 45 kilometers from Kargopol. You can get there by road from Kargopol by car.

Photo source: korsar-travel.ru

Kinerma

The Karelian settlement of Kinerma is a real original village, where the rural way of life is still actively supported. The first mention of the village dates back to the 16th century. Kinerma was burned by Swedish troops and restored, destroyed by Polish-Lithuanian troops, but still retained its original appearance to this day. Kinerma was admitted to the Association of Beautiful Villages in 2016, which caused a huge flow of tourists to the village and its surroundings. Most of the surviving residential buildings recognized as architectural monuments. For all interested guests, master classes are held here with demonstrations of folk crafts and the preparation of traditional dishes.

Main attractions

The Chapel of Our Lady of Smolensk with an iconostasis, operating since the 18th century, is the main local attraction. The village has an ethnocultural center in a restored historical barn with traditional hedges, a well and a black sauna. A significant part of the attractions are the oldest residential buildings. You will see detailed information about services and attractions in

There are so many village names that can be found throughout the vastness of Rus' - from the poetic and sublime, like Pospelovo, Voznesensky or Krasavino, to the amusing, ridiculous and even incidental: Durnovo and Khrenovo, Snova Zdorovo and Popki, Bald Balda and Kozyavkino.

However, don't be so quick to laugh. If something in Rus' seems funny to you, it means you simply don’t know something.

There were a great many principles by which villages and villages were named in Russia. For example, the names could be preserved as the names of administrative units.

The centers of the boyars' possessions were called the Great or Great Court, a fortified settlement was called a town, a village with a church and a cemetery was called a graveyard. The village, which began with a single yard, was called Pochinok, and the inhabitants of the village of Slobodki or Sloboda were once exempt from taxes. The settlements Stan, Stanovaya, Stanovishte received their names from the camps that were set up on the roads - princes or their governors stopped there to collect taxes.

Local

The basic principle by which the Russians named their settlements was the name after the place on which the village stood. It could be named after a river or lake, or according to some special sign: Vysoka Gorka, Bolshoy Kamen, Zalesovo, Zaplivino, Bolshoy Lug, Istok.

The village of Pazukha near Veliky Ustyug got its name from the word “bosom”, which meant “backwater, bay”; the village of Porog stood near a stone ridge. The names of the villages Prislon and Prislo come from the noun prislon, which meant “mountainous river bank,” that is, the villages stood on the bank, on a hill.

The name Bear's Vzvoz says not only that bears lived in the forests near the village, but also that it stands on a steep slope - on the "vzvoz"

The village of Babka near Voronezh, according to one version, received its name from the pelicans that lived here, which in Rus' were called bird women, and according to another, near the village there are many women - stone idols.

No one fried anyone in Zharenny Bugr; the word “Fried” came into the name from the Turkic language, in which “jar” meant “steep, steep bank.” And the village of Suchkino received its name from the uprooted arable land, which was previously called sukami.

The village of Istopnaya stood on a river flowing from a swamp, “swamp”; In ancient times, the name of the village of Isada meant a place of landing, loading, and a pier. The name of the village of Ryzhesidenie comes from “seat” - a piece of land that the settler cultivated.

By nickname

Villages in Rus' were called by the name common among the inhabitants, for example, Petrovo, Ivanovo, Yudino - the latter comes from the modified Christian name Judas.

Villages were named after the first name or surname of their founder-first settler, for example, the village of Elakino in the Veliko-Ustyug region received its name from the family nickname of the pioneers Sava and Karp, who were called “Elakinsky” (“Arctic fox books of the Russian North”). The names of the villages Klepik and Klepikovskaya come from the nickname Klepik, Klyapa, which in Rus' was used to call crooked, stooped people.

Kurilovo received its name from the nickname of the founder of the village Kurilo, which meant “drunkard, reveler.” The name of the village of Pestovo goes back to the old Russian nickname Pest, which meant a stupid, stubborn person.” And the villages of Suslovka, Susolovka, Susol were named in honor of Susol, who received his nickname from the verb “susolit”, that is, “drink”, “suck”. Bolshaya Rudnitsa came from the name Ruda, which is no longer used, Kiev - from Kiya, and Makhnovo from the abbreviated name Matvey (N.V. Anisimova “What the names of our places say”).

Zagoskino took its name from the nickname Zagoska - cuckoo, and Ratchino - from the name Ratch, Ratibor, Porkhovka - from the name Porkh, and Shilovo - from the nickname Shil.

By occupation

This is the most understandable principle of the name of the village - blacksmiths lived in Kuznetsovo, cattlemen lived in Velyatino or Velyacheye, leather was tanned in Kozhino, rocker arms were bent in Koromyslovo, and vats for kvass and beer were made in Doshchanovo (doschan - vat), harnesses were made in Khomutovo, Grammateevo was inhabited by literate people, the village of Khrenovo was famous for its fields of horseradish, in which local peasants specialized, and in Dobrye Pchely they were engaged in beekeeping.

By the names of animals and trees

The village could have been named after the animals for which the surrounding thickets were famous. For example, Lisya Gorka, Badgers, Komarovo, Gusevo, Zhuravlikha, Teterki, Kuliki, Vydrino, Shatunovo, Polozovo.

Or by the species of trees and shrubs that grew nearby - Sosnovka, Liptsy, Dubovaya, Dubye, Veresovka, Lozovitsy.

The village of Durnikha in the Moscow region is named after the old name for blueberries - this berry was called foolish, and the locals collected it in the summer in large quantities. The village of Cheremsha was famous for its wild garlic, and in Cheremukhono there were a lot of bird cherry trees. The forests near Myasnoy Bor in the Novgorod region were rich in living creatures and game.

On church holidays

Villages and villages with such names were spread throughout Russia and Siberia: Arkhangelskoye, Uspenka, Postnoye, Vosrkesenka, Nikolskoye, Bogorodskoye, Troitskoye. Sometimes there are also pagan names, for example, Staroperunovo and Novoperunovo.

Adapted titles

In some places, the Turkic names of villages were changed into Russian, and now one can only guess what this name meant before. For example, the name of the Transbaikal village of Khokhotuy may have previously sounded in Buryat as Khogotuy or Khogotoy, which meant birch forest, or Khokhutuy, that is, tract, road.

IN Volgograd region there is the village of Tsatsa, the name of which most likely goes back to the Kolmyk name of a Buddhist chapel. And the village of Baldeika in Udmurtia is named after the Tatar word “buldy”, which means “successful completion of a task”

In honor of the events

Some villages are named after some event, often anecdotal. For example, Pancake Heaps in Smolensk region got their name from the pancakes with which the village residents greeted Empress Catherine II. And Again Zdorovo got its name from two landowners who always said hello in one place. The village of Trakhoneevo was named after the Byzantine family of Trakhaneots, whose representatives were present at the wedding of Sophia Paleolog and Ivan III. And the Posolkoye village in Buryatia is named after the ambassadors who were killed by nomads in this place.

What are the reasons for the extinction and degradation of the Russian village? How many villages are there in Russia today? And which of them are the most beautiful? You will find answers to all these questions in our article.

Unemployment, hopelessness, despondency...

These are the unpleasant words that most often describe modern Russian village. Broken asphalt, fragments left over from prosperous Soviet times, abandoned farms, destroyed cultural centers, dirt, lack of lighting and central sewerage - this is typical for most of the villages and hamlets of today's Russia. Of course, there are pleasant exceptions. But there are catastrophically few of them.

Many villages in Russia, due to the vast area of the latter, are literally cut off from any benefits of civilization. They can be located several hundred kilometers from the nearest city or regional center. In such villages, people, just like a hundred or two hundred years ago, live by subsistence farming: they sow fields, raise livestock, fish, hunt and drink strong tea from real samovars.

A classic example of the “Russian hinterland” is the so-called Krasny Bereg. This is an area consisting of three villages, lost among the coniferous forests of the Vologda region. Their total population is 10 people. In fact, there are no roads to these populated areas. In winter, it can be overcome only on a snowmobile, and in summer (after heavy rain) - exclusively on a tractor. Water comes from springs, light comes from kerosene lamps, and there is one generator for three villages.

And it’s hard to say how many similar villages are scattered across the vast expanses of Russia.

Russian villages are dying out

According to Rosstat, in the first nine months of this year, the population of Russia decreased by 173 thousand people. Villages in the north-west and center of Russia are dying out faster than others. And in the Tver region the pace is higher than the Russian average.

“The most alarming situation in terms of mortality today is observed in the Ivanovo, Tula, Novgorod, Tver and Pskov regions,” Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova named the five regions suffering from a demographic disaster.

Rural areas are especially affected. The government financially encourages the birth of a second and subsequent children, and the same measures are provided at the regional level. But bad roads and lack of work convince more than maternal capital.

“Only relocation from the village to the city gave 20-30% of the salary. It was enough to move to the city. And if you increase the level of qualifications, the difference will be even higher,” says demographer, research fellow at the Higher School of Economics, Salavat Abylkalikov.

In the summer of 2018, experts counted 2,234 empty villages in the Tver region. This is more than in any other region of Russia. The statistics will be updated, because there are many villages in which 1-2 people live.

Every fourth village in the Tver region is abandoned. Dilapidated houses stand far from the main roads. The further you are from the Rossiya highway, the more often this picture occurs.

“The houses are empty. This one is empty, this one is empty, this one is empty. This one is empty, this one is empty and this one is empty. Three houses on the street are residential. That is, a dying village. Well, let’s move on,” says Sergei Krivchenkov, a resident of the Tver region.

Not only businesses and hospitals are closing, but also schools. Due to optimization, schoolchildren have to be transported to large villages and small towns. Villagers call life in the village difficult.

“There were 800-900 people here. I graduated from school in 1972. There were 200 of us - students in this school. But everyone died before my eyes.”

“We’re used to it, but life is, of course, hard. Because they pay little attention to us. The roads are bad. The light turns off. They pay little attention to us.”

The Tver region is in third place both in terms of mortality and population decline. The neighbors in all these ratings are the same old-developed “root” regions of Russia near Moscow and St. Petersburg.

“Therefore, the leaders’ priority is millionaire cities. That’s why all millionaire cities want... or rather, all cities want to get the status of a millionaire or 500,000 population. If this status has been acquired, this means a different level of attention, a different level of funding,” says demographer and research fellow at the Higher School of Economics Salavat Abylkalikov.

Is it necessary and possible to stop this process?

Alexander Merzlov: In our opinion, this certainly needs to be done. But, unfortunately, modern agricultural policy does not contribute to this. Since the rate of depopulation continues to be very high, let's say there is a program for sustainable rural development. But it mainly affects those rural settlements that are located next to large agricultural facilities. Most rural areas are not covered by this program, and the rate of disappearance of villages and their depopulation continues to be very high.

So, in essence, this is an inevitable process?

Alexander Merzlov: No, it depends on the type of agricultural policy. If agricultural policy is focused on large agricultural holdings, if the center of its interests is not the interests of the rural community, but the interests of large agricultural businesses, of course, this is in fact the American model, everything will remain as it is. Our agriculture is developing, milk yield is growing, and productivity is also growing, but at the same time the state of the social sphere continues to deteriorate. It can be said that business continues to concentrate in rural areas.

There are countries with more socially oriented models, for example, France, where greater emphasis is placed on supporting small forms of business. And this leads to a greater variety of agricultural products, and to better care of rural landscapes, and has a very large indirect effect in the form of attractive jobs in a variety of areas. Our country is large enough, and in order to engage in the agro-industrial complex, thank God, we have vast expanses where I don’t want to do it, I mean large-scale farming.

But, in our opinion, in residential areas where people live, in areas with increased recreational and cultural potential, it is necessary to develop small-scale farming that will be focused on high-quality food, a varied diet, on the development of recreational, tourism potentials. And in this way we will be able to implement these models.

List of abandoned villages in Russia

Bezenchuksky
Zolotovsky
Grigorievka
Shirokopole
Victory

Bolshechernigovsky
Khasyanovo

Borsky
14th km
Bazhenovka

Elkhovsky
Voskresenovka
Petropavlovka
Zabotskoe
Sosnovka
Berezovka

Isaklinsky
New Bogolyubovka

Kinelsky
platform 1150 km
platform 1157th km

Klyavlinsky
Barkovo crossing
Chistakovka junction
Dolgorukovo
Klyuchevka
Red Elkha
Upper Key

Koshkinsky
Bogodukhovka
Verkhnyaya Ivanovka
New Zubovka
Grannovka

Krasnoarmeisky
Nesterovka

Pokhvistnevsky
Podbelshchina
Sadovaya

Sergievsky
Elkhovka
Bolshaya Lozovka
Queen
Mamykovo
Round Bush
Deep
Slingshot

Syzransky
Petrovka
junction 912 km
junction 950 km
Rizaday crossing
Pechersky Bereg
Priusinsk
Hemp
Yasnaya Polyana

Chelno-Vershinsky
Krivozerikha
Pokrovka
Shihan
Viburnum Bush
Verkhnyaya Kondurcha

Shentali district

Surusha
Balandaevo
Cheremshanka
Svetlaya Polyana
Light Key
Verkhnyaya Khmelevka
Motherland
Wolf

12/28/2015 at 6:56 pm · Johnny · 80 590

Top 10. The most beautiful villages in Russia

For a long time, the Russian village was unreasonably forgotten. During this period, many rural settlements were completely abandoned or disappeared from the face of the earth. Since 2014, an association has appeared, the object of which is the most beautiful villages in Russia. Settlements that meet certain criteria can participate in the competition. The natural landscape, historical value, appearance and population, which should not exceed 2 thousand people, are considered. There are at least 10 villages in Russia that can compete for the status of the most beautiful and culturally interesting.

10.

One of the most beautiful villages in Russia is located in the Murmansk region. has a history of almost six hundred years and is a decoration Kola Peninsula . In the center of the village is the Assumption Church, which was built at the end of the 17th century without the use of nails. This building is historical and cultural heritage

9.

, which is recognized as a monument of wooden architecture. In addition to its historical value, the village is famous for its tourism activities. Atlantic salmon migrates along the Varzuga River, you can get a permit to catch it and have a good rest in the lap of nature. The village has long been chosen by the British for tourism. Locality in Kaluga region can rightfully be called one of the most beautiful villages in Russia. It was once a dying place with few inhabitants. Thanks to the architect Vasily Shchetinin, Nikolo-Lenivets village

8.

has turned into a creative gallery in which every wall and fence is handmade from natural materials. This idea was picked up by fellow compatriots and foreign architects. Currently, the village annually hosts a festival called “Arch-Standing”. Picturesque houses fit harmoniously into the original Russian landscape.

7.

The Kamchatka region has a harsh climate, but this does not affect the life of a beautiful and happy Russian village. is located in a fertile place where thermal springs come out of the ground. They are used for heating houses, as well as for health purposes in the local sanatorium. The village is separated from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by 600 kilometers. The absence of civilization in the usual sense makes it possible for folk art to develop. Songs and dances can be seen and heard on national and rural holidays. The local Rotary Club solves pressing issues of the settlement and has connections with the same organization in Alaska. located 10 kilometers from the city Bogolyubovo village, dating back to the 12th century. Judging by the number of Christian shrines and their architecture, the settlement can be called one of the most beautiful villages in Russia. The foundation for the settlement was laid by the Kiev prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who made this picturesque corner his patrimony. Remnants of the foundation have survived to this day. ancient castle. Church of the Intercession Holy Mother of God It is built on a hill and during the flood period it is surrounded by water. In this village, a boat is not a luxury, but a means of transportation in the spring.

6.

This pearl of Russian architecture is located in the Tver region and can rightfully be recognized as the most beautiful village in Russia. The atmosphere of this settlement takes people back to the pre-Mongol period, when the tops of churches sparkled here and there, and the green meadows were pristinely fresh. The Nativity Church, which was built in the 15th century and is still in operation, is especially beautiful. The Tver principality once claimed primacy in the dispute with the Moscow principality, and then it turned into the periphery of the great state. Its originality is preserved not only in chronicles, but also in Gorodnya village.

5.

Lost in the Altai Territory is the settlement in which the famous writer and actor of our time Vasily Shukshin was born.

4.

can confidently be called the most beautiful village in Russia, since it is here that you can see real open spaces covered with meadow grasses and grain crops. The village is considered to be the homeland of the Polovtsy, with whom the Russian princes and their squads fought so bravely. The Shukshin Museum is located in Srostki. Literary readings and even a film festival are held in honor of the famous countryman. The Katun River looks very picturesque, and the houses located on its bank look harmonious. Moscow and the Moscow region are famous for their higher standard of living than regions more distant from the center. Zhukovka has become the most glamorous town in the entire country. Its streets have been turned into neighborhoods with fashionable boutiques, and its houses are replete with expensive and beautiful things. Above appearance

3.

The village was worked by a professional architect Grigoryan, who created comfortable conditions not only for the local population, but also for fashion brands. Zhukovka became so popular relatively recently, but it is not the most beautiful village in Russia, especially since it is in favor with many wealthy and respected people. Locality is located in Buryatia on the banks of the Kunaleyka River. The village appeared at the beginning of the 18th century and since then it has continued to exist and live its own life. Its population is just over a thousand people. The amazing houses in Bolshoi Kunaley are all of them, as if by choice, painted red with blue windows and green fences. The appearance of the settlement resembles a cheerful children's fairy tale. Bolshoy Kunaley can lay claim to the title of the most beautiful and unusual village Russia. And local residents are happy to support the unusual image of their native village.

2.

Buryatia has a lot of bright and original settlements And village Desyatnikovo belongs to this category. All the houses look very exotic because they are painted in bright colors. Surrounding nature is also inimitable: endless expanses, green hills and high blue skies are perfectly combined with the work of human hands. In the category of the most beautiful villages in Russia, the village of Desyatnikovo can take its rightful place. Residents preserve not only the appearance of their picturesque town, but also folk traditions and crafts.

1.

In 2019 village of Vyatskoye was officially recognized as the most beautiful village in Russia. The locality managed to pass the competition according to all criteria and win it worthy title. Vyatskoye is located in the Nekrasovsky district of the Yaroslavl region. On its territory you can see 10 museums of various types and architectural historical monuments. Locals constantly take part in various competitions and become their winners. Vyatskoye is not only a historical and cultural complex, but also a developing tourist destination region.

Russian village... For some it is a relic of the agrarian past, for others it is the keeper of the Russian soul. One way or another, on average, urbanization “eats” three villages in the country every year. What are the reasons for the extinction and degradation of the Russian village? How many villages are there in Russia today? And which of them are the most beautiful? You will find answers to all these questions in our article.

Unemployment, hopelessness, despondency...

These are the unpleasant words that most often describe the modern Russian village. Broken asphalt, fragments left over from prosperous Soviet times, abandoned farms, destroyed cultural centers, dirt, lack of lighting and central sewerage - this is typical for most of the villages and hamlets of today's Russia. Of course, there are pleasant exceptions. But there are catastrophically few of them.

A classic example of the “Russian hinterland” is the so-called Red Beach. This is an area consisting of three villages, lost among the coniferous forests of the Vologda region. Their total population is 10 people. In fact, there are no roads to these populated areas. In winter, it can be overcome only on a snowmobile, and in summer (after heavy rain) - exclusively on a tractor. Water comes from springs, light comes from kerosene lamps, and there is one generator for three villages.

And it’s hard to say how many similar villages are scattered across the vast expanses of Russia.

Russian village: in facts and figures

As of the beginning of 2018, 19.1% of the total population of the Russian Federation lives in rural settlements.
Between 2002 and 2010. (between the last two censuses) the number of depopulated villages in Russia increased by 6 thousand.
Today there are about 150 thousand rural settlements in the country.
About half of them have a population of no more than 100 people.
17 thousand Russian villages do not have a permanent population.
The average density in the Russian Federation is 2 people/sq. km.
The maximum percentage of the rural population is observed in Krasnodar region- almost 45%.
The largest villages in size are located in the North Caucasus.
The largest village in Russia by population is Novaya Usman. 27.5 thousand people live here.

Reasons for the extinction of the Russian village

Village degradation is one of the most pressing socio-economic problems modern Russia. Over the past twenty years, the country's rural population has been constantly declining. And not only due to natural decline (high mortality against the background of low birth rates), but also due to the colossal migration outflow.

Young people categorically do not want to live in the village, trying in any way accessible ways escape to the capital or the nearest Big City. As a result, in many Russian villages only old people and openly antisocial elements remain. The share of depopulated villages in some regions of the Russian Federation has already reached 20%.

Why is the Russian village dying out? There are several reasons:

High unemployment rate.
Degradation of social infrastructure (lack of schools, kindergartens, clinics, etc.).
Lower standard of living compared to urban environments.
Frequent lack of housing and communal services (sewage, gasification, lighting, Internet, etc.).

To revive Russian village and return young people to it, a comprehensive state program is required to save it and further development. Of course, this also requires colossal cash.

The most beautiful villages in Russia: list

Let's try to end our article on a positive note. Not all villages in Russia look sad and hopeless. Some of them can surprise you with their color, authentic spirit and original architecture. Below are five ancient Russian villages that are definitely worth visiting at least once in your life:

Varzuga, Murmansk region. The village arose in the middle of the 15th century. Atlantic salmon fishing center.
Bolshoi Kunaley, Buryatia. Quite a large village, its appearance reminiscent of an illustration to a collection of children's fairy tales. The decor of all the houses here is absolutely the same: brown walls, blue windows, green fences.
Vershinino, Arkhangelsk region. Traditional village of the Russian North. It is famous for its unique and perfectly preserved architecture of the 17th-18th centuries.
Okunevo, Omsk region. A colorful, amazing and mystical village in which adherents of five different religions found refuge. The village is a place of attraction for all lovers of esotericism and meditation.
Yelovo, Perm region. An ecologically clean village located on the banks of the Kama. It amazes all guests not only with its magnificent natural landscapes, but also with its amenities. There is asphalt, pedestrian paths, flower beds and playgrounds.

Finally…

The process of rural extinction is not a unique Russian phenomenon. In general, it is similar to similar processes in other countries and regions of the planet. But, despite everything, the Russian village still lives, with all its advantages and disadvantages. And, let's hope, in the near future it will begin to revive. After all, as one old Russian proverb says: “The city is a kingdom, and the village is paradise.”