It is enough to pronounce the name of Mstera for magical images to appear before your eyes: fabulous animals, whimsical towers, skillful artisans. Lacquer miniature has long been a visiting card of the village. But much less is known about the fact that jewelry and special embroidery were also involved here.
The village on the edge of the Vladimir region is located on the banks of the Msterka River, once Mstera, which gave the name to the settlement. The river received a diminutive name from the Msteyans later.
Mstera and Mstera
The long-standing nickname of local residents is carp. They received it once for their unwillingness to buy fish at an exorbitant price. The history of the appearance of the name is described by Alexander Gaun in the poem "The Legend of the Carp". And the village was decorated with a monument to a carp.
The architectural face of the village is the Holy Epiphany Monastery with a massive bell tower and graceful temple heads. The origin of the crafts that glorified the settlement was facilitated by the remoteness from the main roads. So the artisans began to produce painted lacquer boxes, create embroidery, and jewelry.
Mstera is not rich in famous personalities. Basically, these are dynasties of icon painters, restorers. All of their works are in the art museum. In it, master classes for those who wish to paint caskets are held, and the basics of local embroidery are taught.
The main difference between Msterskaya and the equally well-known Palekh miniatures was a bright colored background. By and large, the main plots are similar. Only the early works were executed in the icon-painting manner, while the later ones are characterized by realism.
Architecture and museums
One of the main attractions of Mstera is the Epiphany Church of 1687. The architects built it in the likeness of Moscow churches. Behind the wall is the women's monastery of John the Merciful. Its "highlight" was the unusual shape of the main temple. Its building was acquired after repeated alterations that began in the thirties.
In total, there are about 40 architectural monuments in the village. These are residential buildings made of wood and stone, storage sheds, shops. Many of them have been standing for almost a century and a half. They were erected by different masters. There are ordinary ornamental structures, and fanciful buildings, copies of the capital's buildings, created by famous architects.
The Center for Traditional Mstera Miniatures displays works of authorship dating back to the sixties. The exposition is updated and replenished constantly.
Forest and Gzhel
There is also the Gzhel aesthetic museum. It presents a thousand-piece private collection of works of authorship. The specially built house houses the exhibits of the Forest for the People museum. It contains stuffed animals, a collection of forest pests, a history of forest management, and even a variety of chemicals. An arboretum has been operating not far from the museum for half a century. It is home to 150 tree species.
Not far from the village, on the banks of the Tara River, there is the Holy Kazan Skete. It is worth visiting only because of the Holy Spring. In addition to it, you can admire the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos of Kazan.
Mstera in any season amazes with its discreet amazing beauty and charm. However, the village acquires a special charm during the golden autumn.
