St. Barbara Church, Plyos

St. Barbara Church is a white stone structure situated on a hillside in Plyos overlooking the Volga River. The building displays traditional Russian Orthodox architectural elements and decorative details characteristic of religious structures in this region.

The church was constructed in 1821 during a period of religious expansion in Russia. Restoration work in the 1980s helped preserve the building's original structural integrity and appearance.

The church gained recognition when painter Isaac Levitan featured it prominently in his 1889 work Evening: Golden Plyos, now housed at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. This connection to Russian art history makes the location meaningful to anyone interested in how artists captured the beauty of provincial life during that era.

The location is accessible via Varvarinskaya Street, which leads uphill to the church. Visitors can easily combine this stop with nearby attractions including the Levitan House Museum and Resurrection Hill.

The church continues to serve as an active religious center while holding the status of a federal cultural heritage site in Russia. This dual function allows the space to maintain both its spiritual purpose and historical significance for the community.

Location: Plyos

Inception: 1821

GPS coordinates: 57.45825,41.52861

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:26