Tula

At a distance of 2 hours 25 minutes away from Moscow by train, Tula is a picturesque town which is bounded to the north by the Upa River. It is basically an old town whose earliest reference is of the year 1146. Of course the city has a fascinating industrial history, and the many museums are reflection of the same. Here in Tula, literature aficionados are in for a treat, as in the south of the city is Yasnaya Polyana, which is Russian author Leo Tolstoy’s country estate. It was here at this estate where Tolstoy wrote War and Peace, and Anna Karenina. Tula is also widely known for its Russian gingerbread cookies, made with honey and spices. Tula is definitely the right place for a quiet weekend getaway.