Tver City
The city of Tver is geographically situated between Russia's two main cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Just over 150 km from Moscow, Tver is only a 2 hour drive from Sherymetyevo Airport (SVO), and about 600 km away from St. Petersburg, which is a 4-6 hour train ride.
Tver spreads over the flat river sides of three rivers - the Volga, T'maka and Tvertsa. The city received its name, from the name of the Tvertsa River.
Tver County population is about 1.6 million people, covers 84,100 square kilometers and is the largest region in Central Russia.
Activities and Entertainment in Tver
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Trekhsvyatskaya Street
One of the main corridors that define the retail shopping district of the city center is the Ulitsa Trekhsvyatskaya pedestrian street. Though difficult to pronounce with a non-native tongue (just say it quickly as Tro-svet-ska-ya and you should get away with it), you will find a wide array of different shops and cafes here. Stretching from the Volga River , through Ploshchad Lenina ( Lenin Square ) at the city's main boulevard Ulitsa Sovetskaya, and ending at the modern Olymp shopping center, Trekhsvyatskaya is normally the chosen route for the window shopper, the people watcher, and anyone who chooses to take a casual stroll through the downtown |
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City Park
Situated on the bank of the Volga between the Tverskoy Bridge and the Stare Most ( Old Bridge ) . Take a stroll along the picturesque pathways along the river's edge or follow the meandering trails through its semi-wooded interior. Although beautiful in the throws of winter's white wonderland, the park really comes alive in the summer months with outdoor cafes sprinkled about, the sounds of music and laughter filling the air, the wafting scents of shashlik (Georgian BBQ), and people from all walks of life enjoying themselves while waiting out the 11 pm sunset. |
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Catherine's Travel Palace (Putevoy Dvorets)
Commissioned by Catherine the Great to be constructed as a place to rest on her journeys between Moscow and St. Petersburg , this 1775 structure is one of the more imposing, and certainly one of the most impressive buildings in the city. Inside you will find 18th century interiors, furniture, and other items complimentary to the tastes of the Tsars. Fronted by a statue of Mikhail Kalinin, for whom Tver's Soviet-era name is derived, the Putevoy Dvorets also houses the city's Art Gallery with a decent collection of Russian and Western European works. Located at Ulitsa Sovetskaya 3 on the edge of City Park , the palace is open from 11am-6pm Wed-Sun, and admission is only around $ 1. |
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Museum of Tver Life
Housed in an 18th century merchant's house opposite the Volga River from the main city center is the Museum of Tver Life . On display are a variety of arts, handcrafts, furniture, and domestic artifacts that have been used in the city and the outlaying lands throughout the centuries. Located just off Ulitsa Gorkogo at Ulitsa Nakhimova 3/21, the museum is open from 11am-5pm Wed-Sun, and admission is only about 50 cent. |
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Philarmonic
Melodies from beautiful classical and chamber players usually fill Tver's Philarmonic, although they do from time to time, endeavor into other musical traditions, including the popular all night jazz festivals held twice each year. Located on Ulitsa Sovetskaya next to the Drama Theater and City Park . |
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Circus
While it could be argued that it is the more “low brow” of Russian cultural activities, the circus nonetheless has a place all its own, deep within most people's hearts. So much so, in fact, that performances take place in a permanent structure devoted for this sole purpose. Traveling circuses, like theater and ballet companies, are always in house staging shows most days of the week, featuring a wide variety of different types of animal, daredevil, and comedy acts. This is obviously a great place to take children, but the magic of the circus has the tendency to effect children of all ages. |
BARS AND CLUBS
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Kultura
The first modern Euro-style club in Tver, Kultura recently reopened after adding a much needed second level dance floor. Tables are arranged on tiers wrapping around the dance space in a semi-circular fashion similar to a Greek amphitheater. Comfortable booth seating makes for a nice place take a break from dancing, sip on a cocktail, and scream short sentences to your neighbor. While we don't recommend that you attempt an engaging conversation here, it is the place to be if you are serious about dancing. Music is mostly Euro/Russian Techno/House (in other words, don't expect many lyrics to sing along to), although there is the obligatory slow dance now and again enabling you to catch your breath. Reservations for a table are highly advised, especially on weekends. Kultura also has one of the best restaurants in the city (see more about this in "Cafes and Restaurants"). Located on Trekhsvyatskaya, one block from Ploshchad Lenina (Lenin square) and the Volga River .
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Zebra Club
The "crown jewel" of Tver's downtown club scene, Zebra brings them in and turns them out on a nightly basis. Though one of the smaller clubs in terms of overall size, its energetic dance floor surrounded by spacious, comfortable booths is regularly packed with happy and high spirited dancers by 11:30 pm each night (almost like clockwork). Sit back with a cocktail and some sushi (see more on Zebra in "Cafes and Restaurants"), dance until your legs give out, or chill on one of the handful of soft couches in the back room and puff on flavorful herbs in a hookah pipe. Small tiki-esque tables also available near the main bar, slightly sheltered from the dancing action. While it can be difficult to find a place to hold any form of worthwhile conversation after the DJ starts throwing down beats at 11 pm (again, like clockwork), Zebra is an excellent place to party. Unless you arrive early to mark yourself a spot (around 10 pm ), reserving a table is highly recommended, and on weekends, it's practically mandatory. Located on Sovetskaya, one block from Ploshchad Lenina ( Lenin Square ).
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City Club
The "elder statesman" of the downtown clubs, City occupies part of a baroque structure located across from the Drama Theater and City Park . Although its general decor may lack the "modern-ness" of Kultura and Mirror, its brilliance comes from its diversity of atmospheres in the many nooks and crannies of this relatively spacious club. You may choose to park yourself at one of the wooden tables on the perimeter of the small, yet lively dance floor, or perhaps a comfortable couch in their central bar lounge where good conversations and laughter are always in abundance. Maybe a table in the jazz lounge would better suit your mood, where you can witness a native Russian attempt to sing Sinatra standards with his jazz quintet (he's actually quite good). If you feel inspired (or appropriately inebriated), you can take yourself and your lot upstairs for a good, cathartic karaoke session. Want to shoot some stick? There is a billiard table in the bar lounge, and two upstairs (one of them Russian style). In the warm months of summer, the outdoor garden is also open complete with a full bar and occasional live music. All in all, it's hard to go wrong at City, especially with their excellent food served throughout the club. (see more about City in "Cafes and Restaurants"). As there are a large number of seats, reserving a table is not compulsory, but it is advised on weekends (especially if you plan to arrive after 10:30 ). Located on Sovetskaya, near the Drama Theater. |
Tver History
Tver is over 800 years old, though it is not known exactly when it was first established. As is the case with the majority of ancient Russian cities, Tver does not have a precise founding date. Its rich history dates back to Prince Vsevolod of the Big Nest, the prince of Vladimir-Suzdal, who built a fortress, the Tver Kremlin, at the mouth of the T'maka River in 1182 in order to protect the area. The Kremlin did not survive to the present day, but archaeological excavations on the site have yielded an abundance of information about life in ancient Rus. References to Tver in ancient chronicles date back as far as 1208.
As Tver was quickly developing, it was often attacked by Tatar-Mongols. The famous Tver Prince Mikhail Tverskoy (1271-1317), played a significant role in the unification of Rus against the Mongol-Tatar tribes. According to the legend, Prince Mikhail rallied the Tver warriors to fight against the tartar yoke, but was ultimately captured, tormented, and died in the captivity. He was later canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church and a monument was erected on the right hand side of the Volga river in the City Park in his honor.
Tver was at one time the capital of an unruly mini-state that was Moscow 's chief rival in the 14th and 15th centuries. The princes of Moscow fought unsuccessfully for many years to gain power over Tver, but at the end of the 15th century, the Tver principality joined the centralized Muscovite state. In the middle ages, Tver was renowned for its handcrafts and developed trade networks. The early architectural monuments of Tver were almost all destroyed during the years of feudal wars. Only one building remains from this period: the White Trinity Church . An historical monument built in 1563-64 by architect Tushinsky under the reign of Ivan the Terrible, it remains in operation to this day.
Tver experienced a renaissance during the reforms of Peter the Great. Peter himself repeatedly stopped in Tver on his way to his new northern capital of St. Petersburg . The construction of St. Petersburg made Tver a key city between the two capitals, thus promoting its early economic development into the industrial age. Goods were sent abroad through Tver, and some of the first manufacturing industries in Russia were established here.
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