Plyos, Historical town in Ivanovo Oblast, Russia
Plyos sits on the high eastern bank of the Volga River, spreading across gentle hills lined with wooden houses, stone bell towers, and narrow lanes that slope toward the water. The small town keeps its old layout, with several Orthodox churches and low-rise buildings scattered across the green landscape that rolls down to the river's edge.
Prince Vasily the First founded the settlement in 1410 as a fortified outpost to guard Moscow against possible attacks along the Volga River. Over the centuries, it lost its military purpose and evolved into a quiet river port for merchant steamers.
The Isaac Levitan Museum displays paintings and artifacts that showcase the connection between Russian landscape artists and the natural settings of the Volga region.
Regular bus services run twice daily from Moscow's Shelkovskoe station, with journey times around six hours to reach the town. Most points of interest lie within walking distance along the main street or on nearby hillsides, making the center easy to explore on foot.
Archaeological digs near the riverbanks uncovered Early Triassic temnospondyl fossils, including specimens of Wetlugasaurus angustifrons and Angusaurus weidenbaumi. These finds date back roughly 250 million years and show the diversity of prehistoric life forms that once inhabited the ancient river valley.
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