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 artificial island in the Uglich Reservoir. Approach by boat or view it from shore. A July 2026 guide conflicts with an August guide and January municipal reporting about whether visitors may climb inside. Confirm landing and tower entry directly before setting out; boat access does not guarantee an interior visit.
- Admission
- An August 2026 local guide lists RUB 500 per person for the motorboat crossing and RUB 250 for second-tier access, separately; the operator sets prices and they may change. A July 2026 guide reports a different boat fare and says the interior is closed. Confirm both access and price locally. Viewing the tower from the Kalyazin embankment is free.
- Time needed
- A local guide checked in August 2026 estimates about one hour for the stop including the water crossing; a separate 2026 tour listing estimates 30–40 minutes for the boat outing itself. These are estimates, and waiting or boarding can add time.
- Best season
- No official best season is published. A tour operator lists June–September departures as the main navigation season, but 2026 excursion listings also advertise some October–December trips. These are operator schedules, not guaranteed local boat service; confirm the date directly.
- Opening hours
- No official daily visitor hours were found. A 2026 cruise itinerary advertises a Kalyazin boat outing in October, and excursion listings show later-season dates, but departures depend on the operator, navigation and weather. Confirm current boat/landing availability and tower access before travel.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-15
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-17
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