From April 26 to 29, the 5th balloon festival called "Spring in Pereslavl" was held in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Three such massive aeronautics festivals are held annually in the city and each time the event gathers hundreds of people. Both local residents and residents of Moscow come to watch the event, who travel a distance of 140 kilometers for this event. This is exactly the distance from Moscow to Pereslavl-Zalessky. This time, more than ten bands took part in the festival. One of the features of the festival is that neither the balloon pilots nor the audience know where the starting point is until the last moment. A lot depends on specific short-term forecasts, wind speed and direction. After the take-off location is determined, teams arrive at the site and hastily begin assembling the aircraft. It should be laid in 30 minutes. At any moment, the wind may change direction or increase, and then the planned flight may not take place. When everything is laid out and ready, the balloonists' teams begin the most difficult procedure – pumping the balloon with hot air. It is important at this moment not only to pump in a sufficient amount of air, but also to make sure that the basket does not fly away ahead of time, without a pilot and passengers. The audience greeted the massive takeoff of these beautiful, multicolored balloons with applause
Taking off into the air, passengers could enjoy bird's-eye views of Pleshcheyevo Lake and one of the oldest Russian cities of Pereslavl-Zalessky, which is one of the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia.
Pereslavl-Zalessky was founded by Yuri Dolgoruky (he is also the founder of Moscow) in 1152. Just five years after the founding of Moscow. The city is famous for its numerous ancient monasteries and churches, some of which were founded in the 12th century.
In addition, the city is located on the shore of Lake Pleshcheyev. Today, this lake is part of the national Nature Park of the same name. It was here, on Lake Pleshcheyevo, in 1688, the future Russian Emperor Peter I decided to master the maritime business and build his first ships. In this case, he was assisted by the Dutch shipwright Carsten Brant, the teacher and mentor of sixteen-year-old Peter.
On May 1, 1692, the 30-gun frigate Mars was launched on Lake Pleshcheyevo and maneuvers took place in cooperation with infantry and artillery. This date is considered the birthday of the Russian Navy.
The shores of Lake Pleshcheyevo. The size of the lake inspired the future Emperor of Russia Peter 1 to create his first boats and ships here. It was here that the Russian Navy was born.
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Nikitsky Monastery. Older than the city itself. The exact date of foundation is unknown, historians believe that the monastery was founded in the early 11th century.
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Goritsky Assumption Monastery. It was founded in the early 14th century.
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Goritsky Assumption Monastery. It was founded in the early 14th century.
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View of St. Nicholas Monastery. It was founded in the 14th century.
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View of the Church of the Forty Martyrs, founded in the 18th century.
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The village of Novoe, the Temple of the Holy Spirit. It was built in 1853.
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One of the classic wooden houses in Pereslavl-Zalessky.
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A man in a Berendei costume. Berendei is a werewolf sorcerer in Slavic pagan mythology. The ancient Slavs believed that the hero was a sorcerer and could, if necessary, take the form of a brown bear.
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A man in a Berendei costume. Berendei is a werewolf sorcerer in Slavic pagan mythology. The ancient Slavs believed that the hero was a sorcerer and could, if necessary, take the form of a brown bear.
Pavel Kuzmichev | Russia Life | Pavel Kuzmichev Collection | Pavel Kuzmichev
One of the most important moments of the aeronautics festival is pumping balloons with hot air.
Pavel Kuzmichev | Russia Life | Pavel Kuzmichev Collection | Pavel Kuzmichev
One of the most important moments of the aeronautics festival is pumping balloons with hot air.
Pavel Kuzmichev | Russia Life | Pavel Kuzmichev Collection | Pavel Kuzmichev
One of the most important moments of the aeronautics festival is pumping balloons with hot air.
Pavel Kuzmichev | Russia Life | Pavel Kuzmichev Collection | Pavel Kuzmichev
It is very important not to miss the moment and hold the basket so that it does not fly away ahead of time.
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The Festival annually gathers hundreds of aeronautics enthusiasts.
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The team from the Kaluga region was the very first to take to the air.
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Together with the pilot, there are tourists in the basket of the balloon.
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Balloon with the logo of the airline "Russia".
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A balloon depicting Viktor Tsoi, one of the main rock performers in Russia in its history.
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The audience is watching the most colorful part of the performance.
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Balloons are gradually moving away from the starting point.
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Entrance to the Pleshcheyevo Lake National Park. Sunset over the lake.
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