About Kostroma, Russia

Kostroma’s associations with great figures in Russian history is second only to Moscow and St. Petersburg. It was founded in 1152 by Yuri Dolgoruky, who also gave Moscow its start. Kostroma experienced its first great period of prosperity as the home of the Godunov family, which arrived in the 14th century and quickly rose to prominence in the region. By the time that Boris Godunov enjoyed his brief and tragic reign as tsar, the city had become the third largest commercial center in Russia, surpassed only by Moscow and Yaroslavl.

After Godunov’s fall and the Time of Troubles, the throne was offered to Michael Romanov, whose family had long been fierce opponents of the Kostroma Godunovs. However, as chance would have it, it was in Kostroma itself that Michael was elected Tsar. The city of his enemy became a sort of adoptive hometown, and the Romanovs continued to provide the city of he fallen Godunov’s with influential patronage. Although Michael began this tradition, it was Catherine the great who eventually had the greatest impact on Kostroma’s appearance. After a disastrous fire in 1773 which destroyed all but a few buildings, Catherine decided to turn the city into a showpiece for her enlightened design principles. She sent in a slew of her best designers from St. Petersburg, and within a few years Kostroma had been transformed. The city center remains as one of the finest examples of late 18th century architectural principles in Russia. Of particular interest are Susanin Square, the Ipatyevsky Monastery, and the outdoor museum, containing a number of fine examples of traditional wood-construction architecture.