One of the most common associations harassing foreigners and associated with Russia is a frosty winter. Residents of a warmer climate begin to cringe just at the thought of real Russian cold, and how to cope with them, they can’t even imagine. Fortunately, our ancestors found an excellent solution in the fight against frost. This, of course, boots. Traditional Russian shoes made of natural wool will perfectly warm your feet at extremely low temperatures. Unfortunately, not all contemporaries know about this wonderful invention of the ancient Slavs, and if they are familiar with this shoe, it is only indirectly. But we all know that it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times. That is why we advise you to go to the museum of felt boots, where you can not only look at a variety of models, but also get acquainted with the history of the product and the process of making such shoes.
Whose idea?
The Valenok Museum was opened in 2001 on the private initiative of the entrepreneur Viktor Mikhailovich Timoshchenko. He was not just interested in the subject of felted shoes. He himself worked at a felt factory in Kazan, so the process of making felt boots is familiar to him from the inside. To show it to others, Victor Mikhailovich designed a museum exposition dedicated to warm woolen boots. The opening of the museum turned into a real celebration: visitors, together with participants in the folklore ensemble, performed round dances, sang ditties, and a bear dancing with boots in its paws became a real highlight of the program.
Since then, the museum has remained popular not only among Muscovites, but also among city guests. Statistics maintained by museum workers show that 10 to 30 people visit the museum daily.
Visiting Rules
The museum of boots in Moscow is quite small, so it works on a preliminary call. Phone number can be clarified on the official website of the museum. An entrance ticket for adult visitors costs a hundred rubles, for pensioners and children it will be half as much. If you are planning a massive visit to the museum of felt boots with a group of 10 to 30 people with an excursion, you will have to pay extra for the ticket. In this case, a standard ticket will cost about 300 rubles, the preferential price will be slightly lower. At the same time, there is a special discount for an adult accompanying a child - you will have to pay 500 rubles for two for admission.
Group visit
As part of the excursion service, guests will be told how a person used sheep’s wool throughout history, will be shown how to make felt boots by hand, demonstrating the process of making shoes on staged samples. Also, visitors will see a unique documentary filmed at the very first factory for the production of boots.
The main exposition of the Russian Boots Museum is represented by very different, sometimes even amazing, specimens: there are painted white felt boots for little fashionistas, there are models with heels, there is a massive version where you can walk only through forest snowdrifts.
You will see in the museum not only boots, but also a collection of their summer brothers - bast shoes. There is also a corner recreating the atmosphere of the Slavic hut.
Briefly about the main thing
As the workers of the valenok museum say, the main thing for them is to create a cozy atmosphere, as warm as the valenoks themselves, exhibited here. Therefore, the main law of the cultural center is the maximum involvement of visitors in the excursion program. In addition, unlike ordinary museums, where all the exhibits are hidden under glass, everything can be touched in this place. After all, it is so interesting to feel the warmth of wonderful shoes or hold an ancient grip, try to get a pot out of the stove with it, and, in general, completely plunge into the themes presented.
Creative workshop
In order to realize the above tasks, in the museum of felt boots they carry out creative work with children, organize workshops on felting toys, and organize various competitions. Thus, workers attract children to popular culture, develop their imagination, and instill in the younger generation a love of tradition.
Of your choice
The Valenok Museum on Paveletskaya, located at the address: Moscow, 2nd Kozhevnichesky Lane, 12, p. 10, is not one of a kind.
An extensive collection of traditional Russian winter shoes is presented in similar museums in the cities of Kineshma, Ivanovo Region and Myshkin, Yaroslavl Region.
Here you will also find a fascinating and interesting excursion.