Yaroslavl is an old Russian town with a thousand-year history. One of the main tourist centers of this country, it is an integral part of the famous Golden Ring of Russia. The town annually attracts dozens of thousands of tourists. It has a well-developed network of museums, including public and private, complex and personal, main and branch museums. All tourists can discover the fascinating cultural realm of Yaroslavl.
Yaroslavl State Historical Architecture and Art Museum-Reserve
This museum is considered to be one of the largest cultural institutions of the town. It is located in the heart of Yaroslavl, on the territory of the abolished Savior-Transfiguration Monastery. The monastery was founded in 1865 and abolished after the October Revolution. The museum-reserve was opened on the territory of the monastery in 1924. Today it includes a rich collection of icons, church plate, rare books, etc. The museum complex includes six churches, each of them recognized architectural monuments of the 18th century.


Yaroslavl Art Museum
The main art museum of Yaroslavl, it occupies the building of the former Governor’s House and several other mansions. The Governor's House (the main building of the museum) was built back in the 1820s. It contains collections of old Russian painting, the iconography of the Yaroslavl school (including the oldest icon - Savior, the Almighty – created in the 13th century), and paintings by Russian artists of the 18th and 20th centuries. Visitors will also see graphic art and sculptures, as well as Russian arts and crafts. To top it all, the museum presents samples of European and Oriental art: paintings, sculpture, and furniture of the 16th - 20th centuries.


Modern Art Museum
The interactive venue of modern art is located in the Mansion of Bibikov, a famous Yaroslavl surgeon. The building was constructed in the romantic style, famous for its arches and gothic vaults, in the early 20th century. It boasts the status of a cultural and historical monument. The museum focuses on contemporary art exhibits, as well as creative interactions with the visitors. Quests, children's art parties, and workshops in sculpting, scrapbooking, and so on are regularly conducted here.


Valentina Tereshkova Planetarium
The planetarium is the major part of the Valentina Tereshkova Center. It was opened in 2011, with the presence of Valentina Tereshkova herself. The planetarium is located under a dome with more than seven thousand stars projected on it. Digital and optical-mechanical projection systems are combined in Yaroslavl Planetarium, which thereby creates the illusion of immersion in space. More than 10 educational programs are held in the Star Hall.


Governor's Garden
The majestic park was laid in 1821-1825. In 1989, it was transferred to the museum preserve. The historical appearance of the Governor’s Garden was restored. Today the park has become an open-air museum. It houses the exhibition "Sculpture in Plain Air”.  In the summertime, you can see 30 sculptures here: Don Quixote, Mother and Child, and others. They are made of bronze, granite, marble and other materials. The park has plenty of flower beds and benches, a fountain and John the Baptist Church.