Staritsa (Starica), Tver region, Russia

Vyshny Volochek

If going from Moscow to St. Petersburg, it is between Torzhok, a well-preserved "historic" town, and Valday, the center of a huge natural reserve. This city of 55 thousand is famous for a system of canals that, by the end of 1700s, formed a waterway connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg.

[A page on travelling from Moscow to St. Petersburg by water will be developed in the foreseeable future]

Perhaps the dirtiest city of those you'll find between Moscow & St. Petersburg. As to highway prostitution between Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, it is second only to Tver.

Worth visiting

The Valenki Factory. The only place worth stopping in the town itself is the Valenki (Felt Boots) Factory. It is a unique, famous, and developing place that is well worth a page of its own. Proceed to the Valenki Factory >>

Antiques near Vyshny Volochek. About 20km from Vyshny Volochek, on the right side of the St. Petersburg to Moscow highway, in the village of Kholokholenka. [DETAILS]

Accommodation

There is a Soviet era hotel on the main road in Volochek, to your left if travelling from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Judging, however, from the number of new restaurants and casinos around, it will not remain cheap for long.

As an alternative, budget and especially authenticity enthusiasts may consider, eg.

Motel Kolomno on the right side of the road if going from Moscow to St. Petersburg, 321th kilometer of the road , 70km from Valday, 20km to Vyshny Volochek. 400 roubles gets you a Spartan room with three beds. 100 roubles to use bath/shower, 150 roubles buys a reasonably vegetarian meal that includes a shot of vodka and a beer. The total bill for a party of three will be $30-50. Tel. 8-08233-7-9172. Functional and friendly, and people there know how to handle a dog-tired traveller. A welcomed exception from even quite expensive places, I was not required to fill out of these check-in forms. Recommended highly.