Arzamas, Historic trade center in Nizhegorod Oblast, Russia
Arzamas sits on the high right bank of the Tescha River, roughly four hundred kilometers east of Moscow. The town spreads over several hills and connects older quarters with Soviet housing blocks and newer developments on the outskirts.
In the late 16th century Ivan the Terrible built a fortress here to protect the southeastern borders of his realm. Within a few decades the settlement transformed into a center for trade and crafts.
The settlement grew as a trading post along old routes, where merchants from east and west exchanged their goods. Today the churches and street layout recall that era when grain and leather moved through town.
The train station connects the town to Moscow and other places in the region, with trains running several times a day. Most sights lie in the older town center and can be explored on foot.
Between 1802 and 1862 Alexander Stupin ran an art school here considered the first free drawing school in Russia. Several important painters received their training there and shaped Russian art in the 19th century.
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