Kostroma, Historic city at Volga and Kostroma rivers confluence, Russia.
Kostroma sits at the confluence of the Volga and Kostroma rivers, spreading along both banks with wide streets that radiate in a pattern toward the waterfront. The city shows whitewashed churches with golden and green domes, low timber houses with carved window frames, and multistory stone buildings that shape the center.
A prince founded the settlement in the 12th century as a river outpost that quickly grew into a trade route hub. Centuries later, the Romanov dynasty chose the town as a refuge before ascending to the Russian throne, giving it a special standing in national memory.
The city preserves Orthodox traditions visible in monastery visits and religious processions attended by locals and pilgrims alike. Many residents blend everyday life with the old buildings, opening craft workshops, small shops, and cafés that offer insight into Russian domestic life.
Most sights sit within the compact historic center, easily explored on foot. Public buses and trolleybuses link residential districts with the train station and the riverfront, so longer distances can be covered without a personal vehicle.
A moose farm outside the city keeps semi-tame moose and collects their milk, used in folk medicine. Visitors can observe the animals in enclosures and learn about the rare practice of moose husbandry, found in only a handful of places worldwide.
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