Remnants of an ancient monastery, Kalyazin Bell Tower
The unique structure of the flooded bell tower serves, as a marker for ships and sailors travelling near the small town of Kalyazin. Sometimes, the tower also becomes a venue, for certain Orthodox Christian rituals.
The bell tower was part of a much larger structure of the St. Nicholas Cathedral. It was flooded and submerged under water, after the construction of a dam: a part of Josef Stalin’s pursuit of modernisation of the USSR.
Nevertheless, the iconic bell tower can still be seen risen from the water. The inside of the tower was completely empty, as any relics or furniture were removed quickly before the water levels rose. Now, the structure has been filled and strengthened and many tourists still come to visit the iconic tower, to look inside and marvel at the ancient structure. It also attracts swimmers and has a small boat dock on the outside.
If you’re somewhere near Kalyazin, don’t forget to have a look at the bell tower and capture a piece of pre-Stalin history of the USSR.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Flooded Bell Tower of St Nicholas Cathedral, Uglich Reservoir, Kalyazin, Tver Oblast, Russia
- Coordinates
- 57.24388, 37.85685
- Access
- The bell tower stands on an island in the Uglich Reservoir. A Kalyazin visitor guide updated August 2026 reports summer boat crossings from the embankment and says visitors may walk around the island and climb inside. Boat and climb availability depend on local operators and conditions; arrange locally and do not assume access is open at all times. Regional 2026 reporting also described the tower as open to visitors.
- Admission
- An August 2026 visitor guide lists a motorboat crossing at RUB 500 per person and tower access/climb at RUB 250 per person, charged separately. These prices are set by local operators and can change by season; confirm before boarding.
- Best season
- June–September for scheduled boat excursions; a Moscow operator’s 2026 excursion calendar lists trips in this period. Local services and water conditions may vary.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-27
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-27
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