Semenov

It’s situated on the river Sanochta, 69km away from N.Novgorod in the north-east on the railway and motorway from N. Novgorod to Kirov.

It’s the centre of Semenovsky region. Population is 26.600. It was founded in the 17th century and was named after its first settler. It was first mentioned in 1644. Since 1779 Semenov had become a town of the uezd of the N. Novgorod region ruled by governor- general. Craftsmen from the neighboring villages brought wooden

Spoons, trays, cups and baskets to Semenov and when painted they were sent to Nizhegorodskaya Fair. These handicrafts were the basis of the town industry; new factories “Khchlomskaya Rospis” (Painting) and “Semenovskaya Rospis”, and timber industry factory were opened. In the 19th - at the beginning of the 20th  century. Semenov is the centre of Old Believers and is the only place in Russia where leather beads for old believers were made. Semenov is one of the historical places in Russia. Its lay-out is unusual for a provincial town. Its author was thefamous Russian architect Y.Ananiyin. He used architectural principles of French town planning when all the streets meet in one square. Modern architects keep the town-planning worked out in the 18th century.