Go to Gzhel for Some Interesting Sightseeing
If you are in the Moscow area, visiting beautiful Russian women perhaps, there is a village and area to the southeast of the city named Gzhel that could make for a good day trip for some sightseeing.
Usually the word “Gzhel” brings to mind the blue and white painted pottery which is a popular Russian souvenir. “Gzhel” is associated with pottery dating back to the 14th century. The more common blue and white style only came about in the 1950s due to economic reasons.
There are many lines of “Gzhel” style pottery being produced near the village of Novokharitonovo which is a short day trip from Moscow. Not only can you buy some of the pottery there, but you can also learn more about the history and development of the trade.
The workshop has a salon which sells tiny saucers and large wall clocks. You can also browse the catalogs for fireplace tiles and Chekhov collectibles. You can pick up items cheaper than in Moscow and with less risk of buying counterfeits.
You can take Museum and production tours, which are offered daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The cost is 500 rubles per person for foreigners and 200 rubles for Russians. There is also a five-hour package including a tour, master class and lunch. The cost for that is 700 rubles for Russians and 2,000 rubles for foreigners. You can go to the Gzhel web site for more information.
