How to reach Murom from Moscow region or abroad
Murom may seem distant, yet reaching it is straightforward from both the Moscow region and major US/Canada travel hubs. The simplest route for drivers is to take the M-12 toll highway. The roughly 330-kilometer drive typically takes around three and a half hours if there are no significant stops. Those traveling without a car can board trains departing from Kazansky station, though the journey is longer, often three hours and forty-five minutes or more.
Where to stay
Murom offers comfortable four-star options close to the main sights. The Murom Hotel blends mid-century charm with modern convenience, placing guests within easy reach of local attractions. Its on-site cafe, UtroVecher, features a menu that includes bruschetta, pasta, and a curated wine selection, while the nearby amenities provide a relaxed atmosphere after a day of exploration. A nearby park with spruce trees and light seating offers a refreshing break amid the city pace.
Murom also provides a ready-made city experience, including a guided tour with transfers, excursions, hands-on workshops, and a robust gastronomy program. The purpose of this package is to make a weekend visit vibrant, educational, and delicious without the need for extra planning.
What to see
Murom stands among Russia’s oldest cities, with its first historical mention appearing in the ancient chronicle known as the Tale of Bygone Years, dated to 862. The 13th century brought hardship when Batu Khan’s forces burned the city, but Murom rose again time and again as a military outpost, a spiritual center, and a hub of merchant activity. Those layers of history are still visible today.
A pleasant stroll along Moskovskaya Street reveals well-preserved 19th-century architectural ensembles. The nearby Museum of History and Art, also known as Murom Hermitage, houses rich cultural treasures from that era, including works by the celebrated painter Ivan Kulikov. At the street’s end, a water tower designed by engineer Yegor Erzhemsky marks Murom’s early modernization and its water supply from the late 19th century.
Vladimir Zvorykin, a pioneering figure in television and a descendant of a notable merchant family, is among Murom’s notable sons. His memoirs reflect Murom’s progressive spirit. The Zvorykin House, a historic manor by the Oka River, has undergone recent restoration to preserve the legacy of the Russian inventor.
Nearby, the Trinity Monastery houses relics of Saints Peter and Fevronia and a 300-year-old wooden church relocated from a nearby village. Visitors are invited to rub the rabbit statue near Peter and Fevronia for luck in love and family harmony.
The Annunciation Monastery, founded under Ivan the Terrible, sits on the site of an earlier wooden church tied to Prince Yaroslav Svyatoslavich, an early figure in Murom’s Christian history. The first Murom Christians were baptized along the Oka River about a century after Orthodox faith was officially adopted in 988.
With the Oka embankment temporarily closed for renovations, the view from above remains striking. A monument to Ilya Muromets stands as a city symbol, and the site once hosted a wooden Kremlin on the riverbank. The Temple of Cosmas and Damian is Murom’s oldest surviving structure, reportedly designed by Barma and Postnik of St. Basil’s Cathedral fame.
Within a short walk is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, considered among Russia’s oldest by chronicles. Relics associated with Elijah of Muromets are kept here, including a distinctive hand bone in a chapel-bone cemetery. The monastery bell tower features a unique set of metal plates used as bells. Local tradition notes that ringing them can be uplifting and fortifying.
What to try
Kalach is more than a snack in Murom; it is a symbol that appears on the city’s coat of arms. The classic kalach resembles a compact loaf with a rounded belly and a narrow handle. The dough is shaped, lightly scored, and baked until the outer shell achieves a glossy finish. Some versions are filled with honey or butter, and the name in everyday speech often evokes the idea of taking more than one bite.
A related saying, subtle in its humor, comes from the old practice of sharing kalachi with passersby, sometimes keeping the end for oneself if clean hands are available. The rolls stay fresh for hours, making it a reliable snack on a day of wandering.
Kalach can be purchased at monasteries or local bakeries, or learned in a Murom Hotel master class, where visitors can also sample Murom cherries. The cherries are sometimes prepared as a cocktail: gin infused with fruit and mixed with red vermouth to resemble a Negroni-inspired drink.
Other local favorites include Murom pickled cucumbers and a mushroom dish served as caviar atop traditional Russian pancakes in the UtroVecher cafe. A hearty bowl of borscht, rich with meat and vegetables, provides a fitting warm-up after a long day of sightseeing.
Where to go next
Around Murom lie numerous intriguing places such as Borisogleb village, Vyksa, and Muromtsevo, home to a late 19th-century German-style castle. Visitors can continue exploring Russia’s cultural landscape by visiting Vladimir or Nizhny Novgorod. In short, Murom serves as an excellent starting point for broader exploration, with plenty of day-trip options and regional highlights to discover.