“Times and eras” historical reconstruction festival

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Ruslan Sukhushin

The annual “Times and eras” historical reconstruction festival was held for the second time in Moscow’s Kolomenskoye Park.

Ruslan Sukhushin

This year it was devoted to the era of Russian history known as the Time of Troubles (a profound crisis in economic, social and foreign affairs which befell Russia at the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th centuries). It coincided with a dynastic crisis, with boyar factions fighting for power. The main features of these troubles are considered to be a breakdown of authority and foreign intervention.

Ruslan Sukhushin

For the first time the festival included a reconstruction of city streets consisting of “living dioramas”, for example craftsmen’s workplaces.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Visitors of the festival could see authentic technologies and found out about how the craftsmen of those times lived.

Ruslan Sukhushin

The 17th century is a special period in the history of Russia. In these difficult times the Russian people showed their best qualities – endurance, courage, devotion to their homeland and willingness to sacrifice their lives for it.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Thanks to the efforts of the national volunteer militia they succeeded not only in defending the country’s independence but also in bringing to the throne the dynasty that was to rule Russia until the beginning of the 20th century – the Romanovs.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Visitors to the event could examine ancient technologies and participate in master classes.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Ordinary townspeople’s dwellings were built in the style of 17th-century peasants’ log huts.

Ruslan Sukhushin

The display included a wide variety of forces – artillery, cavalry, infantry and musketeers.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Adults and teenagers could visit recreation areas, music master classes and the Artisans’ Quarter, where they could learn a new trade.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Guests of all ages without exception were able to take part in the life of the festival, and completely free of charge.

Ruslan Sukhushin

For the young children there were playgrounds and draft workshops where they could get new skills by themselves or with help of their parents.

Ruslan Sukhushin

This year there was a reconstruction of ordinary townspeople’s dwellings, representing the everyday life of ancient Moscow.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Visitors to the event could watch the dwellings houses from the inside and find out how the 17th-century people lived.

Ruslan Sukhushin

Adults and teenagers could take part in music master classes.

Ruslan Sukhushin

The culmination of the festival was a reconstruction of the Battle of Moscow in 1612, an episode in the Polish-Muscovite War, during which the Polish-Lithuanian army made an unsuccessful attempt to lift the siege of the Kremlin.