Golosov Ravine

Golosov Ravine used to separate Kolomenskoe and Dyakovo villages, now it divides the museum-reserve into two halves. In the course of history, the ravine changed names several times and was known as the Treasury, Palace and Tsar’s Ravine. The origin of its present name is obscure.

One of the versions relates it to the name of the Slavic pagan deity Veles (Volos). An alternative interpretation is that in old times, voices (‘golosa’) of travelers run down by robbers could be heard from the ravine.

A long time ago, the locals used to believe that the ravine had developed on the very site where St. George the Victorious fought the Dragon.

Since then the ravine banks have been richly covered with grass, shrubbery and trees so that according to geologists a more exact term for it now should be a clough. At the ravine bottom there flows a Kolomensky Creek that grows affluent in spring or after rain and nourishes the rare plant species one still can come across on the ravine slopes: woodland geranium (geranium sylvaticum), dianthus Fischeri, gagea and corydalis.

WE ADVISE YOU TO…

• get down Golosov Ravine by the long staircase;
• listen to the voices of Nature (or if you are lucky enough, those of legendary missing travelers!);
• look for and take a photo of rare plants;
• stroke the Goose and Maiden Stones