Zadonsk

Zadonsk is a town situated on the left bank of the Don River in Lipetsk Oblast, approximately 92 kilometers southwest of Lipetsk. It sits at 140 meters above sea level and is built around a large monastery that forms the focal point of the settlement.

The settlement was founded in 1615 near the walls of Zadonsky Monastery, which had been established five years earlier by monks from Moscow's Sretensky Monastery. The monastery formed the basis for the town's growth and religious character from its earliest days.

The Zadonsky Rozhdestvo-Bogoroditsky Monastery serves as the spiritual heart of the town, drawing pilgrims who come to honor Saint Tikhon at his burial site. The monastery's presence shapes daily rhythms here, with religious services and processions forming part of the lived experience for locals and visitors alike.

The town is well connected by transport to Lipetsk and Moscow, making it accessible for visitors. Accommodations are available throughout the year, particularly near the monastery where pilgrims and tourists can stay.

The town's name comes from its location on the far side of the Don River, a designation chosen deliberately by its founders. What visitors might miss is that the original name Teshevka was replaced during the 18th century, marking a shift in how the place was understood locally.