Kirzhach is a city (since 1778) in the Vladimir region of Russia, the administrative center of the Kirzhach district. It is located 125 km west of Vladimir and 90 km from Moscow on the Kirzhach River (left tributary of the Klyazma). It has a railway station on the line Alexandrov - Orekhovo-Zuyevo, part of the Big Railway Ring around Moscow. Population - 27,157 people. (2017).
Temple architecture
1 Annunciation Monastery, Gagarin St., 27.
Active convent. Founded in the XIV Sergius of Radonezh.
2
Annunciation Cathedral.
3 Savior Church (Church of the
All-Merciful Savior).
4 A temple in honor and glory of All
Saints.
5 Church of St. Nicholas on Selivanova mountain, st.
Quay, 13.
6 Church of St. Nicholas in Zabolot'e, Sosnovaya
Street. The church was built in 1846.
Civil architecture
Monuments
Lenin monument.
Things to do
Kirzhachsky
District Museum of History and Art, st. Gagarin, 52. ☎ +7 (49237)
2-3658. daily from 9.00 to 18.00, on Saturday from 10.00 to 16.00.
1 Stryker Interactive Shooting Gallery (Stryker Shooting Gallery),
ul. Nekrasovskaya, 17. ☎ +7 (919) 029-2000. 12.00-18.00 5rub / shot;
10rub / minute of a laser session. The shooting gallery is open
every day except Monday.
2 Airsoft club “Igra, quarter 44 (turn
in the direction of the village Efanovo). ☎ +7 (919) 029-2000.
10.00-20.00. 990 rubles / person. Airsoft ground with an area of
3.8 hectares. Organization of airsoft games (from 6 people) and
paintball (from 10 people).
Climate
City's climate is moderately continental: a warm
summer, a cold winter with a moderate spring and fall. Average
temperature in January is −10.6 °C (12.9 °F) and +18.2 °C (64.8 °F)
in July. Mean annual precipitation is 584 millimeters (23.0 in). It
averages 151 days per year with temperatures above 0 °C (32 °F). A
snow cover is present for four to five months; snow starts to fall
usually at the end of November or in the beginning of December. Snow
melts on sun covered places in the middle of April and in forests at
the end of April.
By plane
Despite the presence of the
airfield, there are no regular flights.
By train
From
Moscow by train with transfers via Aleksandrov or Orekhovo-Zuyevo
By car
From Moscow along the Schelkovskoye Highway through
Chkalovsky, Chernogolovka, along the Gorky Highway through Pokrov
By bus
From the bus station go buses Moscow-Kirzhach,
Moscow-Kolchugino (transit) or by shuttle
Transport
From
the bus station of Kirzhach there is a bus service to the villages
of the district and the city of Alexandrov.
The name of Kirzhach received from the river Kirzhach. It is included in the so-called series - a bush of identical place names, which also include the Kirzhelka River, as well as a small brook of Kirzhen 'in the Gaginsky district of the Nizhny Novgorod region. All of them correlate with Moksha or Erzya word with the meaning “left”, having the form of Kerji, Kerch or Kersh in different dialects. Kirzhach was founded on the left bank of the river of the same name, which is the left tributary of the Klyazma. Previously, the river was navigable for fairly large merchant boats (karbas), but then it became shallower, it changed the banks and was no longer used as a waterway.
Founding and Early History (14th–18th Centuries)
Kirzhach, a town
in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, is situated on the banks of the Kirzhach
River, a left tributary of the Klyazma River, approximately 90 km east
of Moscow and 125 km west of Vladimir. The name "Kirzhach" derives from
the river, with the root "kirzh" stemming from Mordvin (Finno-Ugric)
languages, meaning "left," reflecting the settlement's position on the
river's left bank. The area's early inhabitants included Finno-Ugric
tribes in the first centuries CE, but the town's documented history
begins in the 14th century.
The first written mention of a settlement
on the Kirzhach River appears in a spiritual charter (will) of Moscow
Prince Ivan I Kalita, dated around 1328 or 1332, referring to a small
village or sloboda (a tax-exempt settlement). However, Kirzhach's true
founding and growth are closely tied to the establishment of the
Annunciation Monastery (Blagoveshchensky Monastery) in 1358 by Saint
Sergius of Radonezh, one of Russia's most revered Orthodox saints, who
is also famous for founding the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in Sergiev
Posad (about 48 km west). Sergius resided in the area from 1354 to 1358,
initially creating a skete (a small monastic community), and the
monastery flourished from the 15th to 18th centuries as a dependency of
the Trinity Lavra. The settlement grew around this religious center,
benefiting from its location on the Stromynka road, an important trade
route connecting Moscow to Yuryev-Polsky, Suzdal, and Vladimir.
During this period, local economy revolved around agriculture, forestry,
silk-weaving, and carpentry. Villages like Kirzhach and Selivanova Gora
(on the right bank) specialized in these crafts, with carpenters known
as "arguny" from nearby Argunovo producing intricate "Argunovo decor"
for huts and iconostases, which gained recognition in Moscow. Notable
figures from this era include Saint Roman Kirzhachsky, a disciple of
Sergius, whose relics were returned to the monastery in 1997.
A major
turning point came in 1764 under Catherine II's secularization reforms,
which dissolved the monastery, converting its temples into parish
churches and ending its monastic function. This shift marked the end of
Kirzhach's purely monastic era. In 1778, during the administrative
reforms creating the Vladimir Governorate (later Province in 1796), the
villages of Kirzhach and Selivanova Gora were unified and granted town
status due to their economic ties, making Kirzhach a district center. In
1781, the town received its coat of arms, featuring an owl on a stump
symbolizing the local forests' abundant owls and the residents' calm
demeanor; a modern version was approved in 2009.
19th Century:
Decline, War, and Industrial Boom
Kirzhach served as a county seat
for only 18 years before the district center shifted to Pokrov around
1796, following the construction of a new major road that bypassed the
Stromynka route. This led to economic stagnation, with many residents
migrating to Moscow or nearby towns like Fryanovo and Shchyolkovo for
work in silk factories.
The Patriotic War of 1812 disrupted this
period of relative quiet. Kirzhach contributed to the Vladimir militia
by forming horse patrols along the Stromynka road and recruiting
riflemen. Local units helped combat fires, typhus, and cholera in Moscow
after Napoleon's retreat. A poignant legend recounts militia survivors,
afflicted with typhus, halting in a pine forest near Kirzhach in winter
1813 to avoid infecting the town; the site, known as "Nitty Hill,"
remains a historical monument.
The early 19th century saw a
resurgence through industrialization. Returning workers from Moscow
factories boosted silk and velvet production. The Solovyov
family—merchants and entrepreneurs—played a pivotal role, building
advanced silk-weaving, dyeing, and cotton-printing facilities.
Conditions were harsh, with 12-hour workdays and child labor common. By
the mid-19th century, philanthropist A.A. Solovyov funded social
infrastructure, including a mutual insurance society, a women's school,
a teacher's seminary, a hospital, and an almshouse. Other families like
the Arsentyev and Derevenshchikov brothers expanded silk-weaving and
urban improvements. In the mid-1860s, the Shaposhnikov copper-brass
plant was established on the riverbank (now in Krasny Oktyabr),
employing up to 400 workers. By 1913, Kirzhach and its environs produced
nearly 20% of Russia's silk fabrics, establishing it as a major textile
hub.
The late 19th century also saw educational and cultural growth.
The teacher's seminary produced notable alumni, including linguist V.I.
Chernyshev (1866–1949), oil geologist I.M. Gubkin (1871–1939), and
writer A.M. Lazarev-Gruzinsky (1861–1927), a friend of Anton Chekhov.
Photographer S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky (1863–1944), pioneer of color
photography and creator of the "Collection of Sights of the Russian
Empire," was born nearby in Funikova Gora.
20th Century: Soviet
Era, Wars, and Space Connections
The arrival of the circular railway
around Moscow in 1900 further spurred development, shifting focus from
textiles to diverse industries like engineering tools and car lights. In
1929, Kirzhach became a district center in the Alexandrov Okrug of the
Ivanovo Industrial Region. The Shaposhnikov plant was renamed "Krasny
Oktyabr" in 1931, producing automotive lighting (later "Avtosvet" in
1992). In 1932, the Solovyov factories merged into the Silk Combine, one
of the USSR's largest.
During the Great Patriotic War (WWII,
1941–1945), Kirzhach served as a key stronghold in Moscow's defense,
hosting glider, paratrooper, and pilot training. From 1942–1943, the
famous all-female combat air regiment under Marina Raskova (first female
Hero of the Soviet Union in 1938) was based there; a street bears her
name. In 1944, it became the district center in Vladimir Oblast
(abolished 1963, restored 1965).
Post-war, Kirzhach gained fame in
Soviet space history. From 1960, the local aerodrome trained the first
cosmonaut detachment under Nikolai Kamanin (Hero of the Soviet Union),
including Yuri Gagarin, German Titov, Vladimir Komarov, Andriyan
Nikolaev, Valery Bykovsky, and Pavel Popovich. The Research Institute of
Parachute Construction developed Gagarin's system. Gagarin visited on
March 29, 1963, performing at the cultural center (marked by a plaque).
Tragically, on March 27, 1968, Gagarin and instructor Vladimir Seryogin
died in a plane crash near Novoselovo, 18 km from Kirzhach; a memorial,
museum, and site were established in 1975. Streets honor these
cosmonauts.
The monastery, demolished in parts during Soviet times,
was rebuilt in the 1990s and reopened as a convent in 1995. Population
grew from 4,799 in 1897 to 29,965 in 2010, then declined to 27,318 by
2021.
Modern History (21st Century)
In 2004–2005, Kirzhach
expanded by merging with Krasny Oktyabr as a microdistrict. The economy
diversified into machinery, electrical equipment, furniture, plywood,
and printing. Key enterprises include the Kirzhach Instrument Plant
(metal tools), a furniture factory, EkoFanera plywood, and the Kirzhach
Printing House (diplomas). Foreign investments arrived: BEKO (Turkish)
for appliances in 2006, Wienerberger Kirpich for bricks in 2006–2008,
and Duke Home Systems for shingles in 2014. The Avtosvet plant was
redeveloped into an industrial park in 2013. Aerospace persists via SPA
"Nauka" in Pershino for life support systems.
Tourism and recreation
grew, with the aeronautical base "Kirzhach" restored in 2013 as Russia's
only dirigibledrome. In 2016, the 555-meter Typographic Bridge—Russia's
longest wooden pedestrian bridge—was built, linking Alexander Garden to
the center for the printing house's 85th anniversary. The town preserves
its heritage through sites like the Annunciation Convent, St. Nicholas
Churches (1764 and 1846), and museums on textiles, crafts, and
cosmonautics.
Kirzhach is a town located in the western part of Vladimir Oblast,
Russia, serving as the administrative center of Kirzhachsky District. It
lies on the Kirzhach River, approximately 125 kilometers west of the
regional capital, Vladimir, and 90 kilometers east of Moscow. The town's
geographical coordinates are 56°09′N 38°52′E, with an average elevation
of about 135 meters (443 feet) above sea level. The surrounding
Kirzhachsky District covers an area of 1,135 square kilometers (438
square miles) and is positioned in the central region of the East
European Plain, a vast lowland that dominates much of European Russia.
Vladimir Oblast as a whole is situated in the Volga River basin,
bordered by several other oblasts including Moscow to the west. This
placement puts Kirzhach in a transitional zone between the more
urbanized Moscow region and the rural, forested interiors of central
Russia.
The terrain around Kirzhach is characteristic of the East European
Plain, featuring gently rolling hills, broad valleys, and a mix of
lowland plains. The landscape is shaped by sedimentary rocks such as
sandstone, shale, and limestone, along with igneous formations like
granite and diabase, which contribute to the area's subtle undulations
and soil composition. Dense mixed forests dominate the region,
interspersed with meadows and wetlands, creating a picturesque setting
ideal for outdoor activities like hiking and fishing.
The soil in the
area often contains iron, which gives the Kirzhach River a distinctive
reddish hue. This iron-rich composition influences local ecosystems and
water quality. The broader Vladimir Oblast includes varied topographical
elements, such as the Meshchera Lowlands to the south, known for their
peat bogs and undrained depressions, though Kirzhach itself is more
elevated and forested compared to these southern wetlands.
Kirzhach is prominently defined by the Kirzhach River, which flows
through the town and serves as a left tributary of the larger Klyazma
River. The Kirzhach River originates in the nearby hills and meanders
through broad valleys, contributing to the region's flat currents and
occasional spring flooding. Within Vladimir Oblast, the Klyazma and Oka
Rivers form the primary hydrological network, with the Kirzhach being
one of several tributaries (others include the Sherna, Peksha, and
Nerl). Rivers in the area typically have low summer water levels but
experience high tides in spring due to snowmelt.
The oblast boasts
around 560 rivers and streams totaling over 8,600 kilometers in length,
along with about 300 small lakes covering 5,000 hectares. Many lakes are
of glacial, karst, or oxbow origin, such as Lake Kshchara, the largest
karst lake in the region. Wetlands span 37,400 hectares, primarily in
lowlands, supporting diverse aquatic life including fish species like
pike, perch, bream, and sturgeon. The total surface water area in the
oblast is approximately 32.9 hectares, with the Oka River being
navigable for 157 kilometers.
Kirzhach experiences a humid continental climate, marked by cold
winters, warm summers, and significant seasonal temperature variations.
The climate is influenced by the region's position on the East European
Plain, far from major oceans, resulting in greater extremes and less
moderation from maritime air masses. Annual precipitation averages
584–700 millimeters, with most falling in summer as rain or
thunderstorms. Snowfall accumulates to about 50–60 centimeters per year,
with snow cover lasting 4–5 months, typically from late November to
mid-April.
Temperatures range from an average of -10.6°C (12.9°F) in
January to +18.2°C (64.8°F) in July, with the growing season
(above-freezing temperatures) spanning about 4.8 months from May to
September. Winters are long, freezing, and overcast, while summers are
comfortable and partly cloudy. Wind speeds peak in winter at around 11.5
mph, often from the south or west.
The area around Kirzhach is part of the mixed forest zone, featuring coniferous trees like pine and spruce alongside deciduous species such as birch, oak, and aspen. These dense forests cover much of the district, providing habitat for wildlife and contributing to the region's biodiversity. Natural reserves in Vladimir Oblast, such as Meshchyora National Park, protect these ecosystems, which include peat bogs and wetlands. Mineral resources like iron ore are present, influencing local geology and even the river's coloration.