Ganina Yama Monastery
Ganina Yama Monastery
4.5
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Full view
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
3 within 3 miles
Attractions
37 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
790 reviews
Excellent
578
Very good
128
Average
61
Poor
11
Terrible
12
Bofferding
16 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
If you have an interest in history and in particular the end of the 300 year Romanov dynasty then this will certainly be of interest.
Ganina Yama is the site where the Tsar Nicholas II, his wife and 5 children's bodies were brought to be burned, buried, basically hidden from sympathisers. It is about 30km to the north of Ekaterinburg.
It is all relatively new. When the Communist regime finished in 1992 there was nothing here. Now the Orthodox Church has built a monastery and enshrined it as a respectful, beautiful place in memory of the Tsar and his family.
Tips - you can get a tour from Ekaterinburg that will cost about 600 roubles (not extortionate) BUT you can catch the Metro to машиностроителей station (it is the 3rd to last heading north on the green line) for the cost of 43 Roubles each (about 50p). If you turn left out of the Metro you will see a bus station (where buses turn round so it is not that small but it is very basic). The buses run about every 2 hours (there is one at about 11:23). You need bus number 223 and it costs 82 Roubles (approximately £1). There is a timetable posted on the window of the small enquiry office at the bus station or you could Google it for different times. Roughly an interesting hour later you will arrive at Ganina Yama, entrance to the monastery is free. My partner and I spent 2 hours there as it is not a huge place. We caught the return bus at 14:48, check the timetable as you alight the bus!
Overall this is a beautiful and serene location that has a mark in history. I recommend seeing it as follow up to Church of the Spilt Blood (the church that has been built on the site of Ipatiev House where the Bolsheviks actually murdered Tsar Nicholas II and his family). Enjoy!
Ganina Yama is the site where the Tsar Nicholas II, his wife and 5 children's bodies were brought to be burned, buried, basically hidden from sympathisers. It is about 30km to the north of Ekaterinburg.
It is all relatively new. When the Communist regime finished in 1992 there was nothing here. Now the Orthodox Church has built a monastery and enshrined it as a respectful, beautiful place in memory of the Tsar and his family.
Tips - you can get a tour from Ekaterinburg that will cost about 600 roubles (not extortionate) BUT you can catch the Metro to машиностроителей station (it is the 3rd to last heading north on the green line) for the cost of 43 Roubles each (about 50p). If you turn left out of the Metro you will see a bus station (where buses turn round so it is not that small but it is very basic). The buses run about every 2 hours (there is one at about 11:23). You need bus number 223 and it costs 82 Roubles (approximately £1). There is a timetable posted on the window of the small enquiry office at the bus station or you could Google it for different times. Roughly an interesting hour later you will arrive at Ganina Yama, entrance to the monastery is free. My partner and I spent 2 hours there as it is not a huge place. We caught the return bus at 14:48, check the timetable as you alight the bus!
Overall this is a beautiful and serene location that has a mark in history. I recommend seeing it as follow up to Church of the Spilt Blood (the church that has been built on the site of Ipatiev House where the Bolsheviks actually murdered Tsar Nicholas II and his family). Enjoy!
Written May 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
olegl28
139 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
This is very significant monastery in Russian history. This k I land accept remains last Russian King, his wife and children. It is very important place for Russian people.
Written December 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheFlyingLundi
Helsinki, Finland124 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
It was not too complicated to get there. We took a local train from Yekaterinburg to Shuvakish. We afterwards walked for 45 minutes in the forest next to the road, to get to the monastery. Since the weather was nice it was nice and good to get away from the exhaust fumes. The place itself is very beautiful and a beautiful tribute to the murdered family. Just outside the monastery there is a small shop to get snacks and drinks. We waited for the bus, which should pass there 6 times in the day and had nice locals that explained us the way back. Of course it would have been possible to take the train back but we would have had to wait 2 hours. I think it's just one of these places you have to visit when you around the region. Unfortunately, no explanation in English.
Written June 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy1953
Washington DC, DC28 contributions
Sep 2014 • Solo
I wish I'd seen this site 10 or 15 years ago, before the addition of gift shops, restaurant, hotel, churches, statues, etc. It was hard to visualize the tragedy with the mine shaft, now covered with grass, in the midst of what seemed a profit-making venture.
Written November 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel
Cairo, Egypt50 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
The place where after they were murdered, the last czar & his family were dumped here and where their bones would be found later. There is a monument on top if this spot.
Order a taxi through Gett or Maxim and its about a 500 ruble roundtrip adventure. The monestary is very clean & up to date. They have a little cafeteria with simple food if you are hungry but no decent toilets - so go before you come here. Its about 30 min each way outside of the city.
Ladies: as usual in a Russian religious are you need to have your knees covered & a scarf - otherwise you'll have to borrow what they have. Eh.
Order a taxi through Gett or Maxim and its about a 500 ruble roundtrip adventure. The monestary is very clean & up to date. They have a little cafeteria with simple food if you are hungry but no decent toilets - so go before you come here. Its about 30 min each way outside of the city.
Ladies: as usual in a Russian religious are you need to have your knees covered & a scarf - otherwise you'll have to borrow what they have. Eh.
Written April 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reeomeo
Brisbane, Australia50 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
A beautiful place recreated from the style of yesterday. I find it strange that the family are now all saints, seems an anathema. However that does not detract from the beauty of the place.
Written October 4, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anton_Spitsyn
Moscow, Russia23 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
After Nicholas II (the last Russian Emperor) and his family were shot by Bolsheviks in Ipatiev's house (At this place now the Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land is standing), their bodies were brought to "Ganina Yama" gold mine and buried in it.
When the Soviet Union was gone, their bodies were re-buried in Peter and Paul fortress, in Saint Petersburg (former capital of Russia).
And at the place of this Gold Mine now the Monastery is functioning. There are seven churches (upon the 7 members of Nicholas II family), and the photos of the Emperor's family are exhibited.
Most of the buildings are made of wood, but after a few fires took place, the new churches there are built of stone.
The overall impression of the wooden monastery in the pine forest is absolutely great, and especially great - in winter, when everything is covered with snow. So don't miss it.
A tip: In Russian orthodox curches the women must wear a shawl (a kerchief), or a hat in winter, for their head was covered, and a long skirt (a bit lower the knees).
When the Soviet Union was gone, their bodies were re-buried in Peter and Paul fortress, in Saint Petersburg (former capital of Russia).
And at the place of this Gold Mine now the Monastery is functioning. There are seven churches (upon the 7 members of Nicholas II family), and the photos of the Emperor's family are exhibited.
Most of the buildings are made of wood, but after a few fires took place, the new churches there are built of stone.
The overall impression of the wooden monastery in the pine forest is absolutely great, and especially great - in winter, when everything is covered with snow. So don't miss it.
A tip: In Russian orthodox curches the women must wear a shawl (a kerchief), or a hat in winter, for their head was covered, and a long skirt (a bit lower the knees).
Written July 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland28,818 contributions
Aug 2019
The 'official' site to which the bodies of the imperial famly had been brought to, after their murder in the night of July 16th, 1918, is Ganina Yama (Ganya's pit) at the then already abandoned iron mine of the Four Brothers. For this reason the Russian Orthodox Church gave the orders in the year 2000 for the construction of a monastery dedicated to the Holy Imperial Martyrs (Passion Bearers).
Quite a bit of controversy though surrounds the final remains of Czar Nicholas II and his family. One week after the execution of the last Romanovs the White Army had retaken Yekaterinburg (and kept it for 1 year) and order was given to investigate the killing of the last czar. It was then that Ganina Yama was declared as the place, where the bodies had been deposed, either thrown into the pit or destroyed.
Clandestine excavations in 1979, thus still in Soviet times, at a place called Porosyonkov Ravine, a few kilometers away from here, brought to light remains that by DNA analysis were said to be from the imperial family. This was though not accepted by the Russian Church.
To get to Ganina Yama it is best to take a taxi. I had it combined with the Europe-Asia border marker, a 20min drive from here. The holy site is located in the northwest of Yekaterinburg near the village of Koptyaki by lake Iset.
There are seven wooden churches here, one for each member of the family. Under the main church, dedicated to Czar Nicholas II, is a museum, just as at the Church on Blood, the site of the murder, in Yekaterinburg. Around the Ganina Yama pit is a covered walkway with enlraged photos of the members of the imperial family.
Women have to wear skirts and scarves, but these are - in purple color - available at the entrance gate. By the parking is a small café in a tent and an information board, also in English, with a depiction of the place, showing all the about 20 different buildings here. All the other information boards further inside though are only in Russian. At the site are also an icon shop and public toilets. Since Ganina Yama is in the middle of a forest, there can be quite a few mosquitoes in summer.
Quite a bit of controversy though surrounds the final remains of Czar Nicholas II and his family. One week after the execution of the last Romanovs the White Army had retaken Yekaterinburg (and kept it for 1 year) and order was given to investigate the killing of the last czar. It was then that Ganina Yama was declared as the place, where the bodies had been deposed, either thrown into the pit or destroyed.
Clandestine excavations in 1979, thus still in Soviet times, at a place called Porosyonkov Ravine, a few kilometers away from here, brought to light remains that by DNA analysis were said to be from the imperial family. This was though not accepted by the Russian Church.
To get to Ganina Yama it is best to take a taxi. I had it combined with the Europe-Asia border marker, a 20min drive from here. The holy site is located in the northwest of Yekaterinburg near the village of Koptyaki by lake Iset.
There are seven wooden churches here, one for each member of the family. Under the main church, dedicated to Czar Nicholas II, is a museum, just as at the Church on Blood, the site of the murder, in Yekaterinburg. Around the Ganina Yama pit is a covered walkway with enlraged photos of the members of the imperial family.
Women have to wear skirts and scarves, but these are - in purple color - available at the entrance gate. By the parking is a small café in a tent and an information board, also in English, with a depiction of the place, showing all the about 20 different buildings here. All the other information boards further inside though are only in Russian. At the site are also an icon shop and public toilets. Since Ganina Yama is in the middle of a forest, there can be quite a few mosquitoes in summer.
Written May 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StevoPurcell
Brisbane, Australia28 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
A must see for history buffs and for those who want to respect the memory of the Romanovs. This place is a little tricky to get to independently (I got an Uber/Yandex there and hitch-hiked back) but is well worth the effort. There is a canteen there that sells delicious food too.
Some people complain this place is tacky or some sort of spiritual theme-park. I certainly did not get this impression.
Some people complain this place is tacky or some sort of spiritual theme-park. I certainly did not get this impression.
Written June 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SunshineB
London, UK345 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
I Think Tsar Nicholas II and his family would have approved this very calm but beautiful memorial to remember their terrible murders and their bodies first being thrown down a mine shaft here, in haste. Since then the 7 churches for each family member have been built in the woods and a monastery established. Each church us a little different and the bronze busts of the family are exquisite, especially the one of Tsarina Alexandra, Queen Victoria's granddaughter.
Long skirts and head scarves are provided for female visitors, photography permitted outside but not in any building.
Quaint cafe serving coffee, tea and local delicacies.
Recommend.
Long skirts and head scarves are provided for female visitors, photography permitted outside but not in any building.
Quaint cafe serving coffee, tea and local delicacies.
Recommend.
Written July 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour,
Comment aller à Ganina Yama par les transports en communs depuis Ekaterinbourg?
Combien cela coûte aller -retour en Uber?
Merci beaucoup
Written August 11, 2019
Hi! Unfortunately, by public transport to this attraction can not be reached. The easiest and most affordable way: it's uber or Yandex taxi. You can call through the mobile application. A trip from the center of Yekaterinburg will cost 400-500 rubles ($6 - $8)
Written August 27, 2019
denleskov77
Pervouralsk, Russia
Здравствуйте! Хочу Пожить у вас пару недель паломником. И потрудится Бога ради. Скажите возможно ли это?
Written August 13, 2018
denleskov77
Pervouralsk, Russia
Здравствуйте! Хочу Пожить у вас пару недель паломником. И потрудится Бога ради. Скажите возможно ли это?
Written August 13, 2018
Здравствуйте. С этим вопросом обратитесь к служителям храма. Я только турист.
Written March 6, 2019
Hi there! I am very interested in going to many Romanov places in Russia. Is it easy to travel through Russia? Were you with any type of tour group? Any information you could provide would be great. Thank you!
Written June 1, 2018
Hi! Trip in Russia is not difficalt. There is many kinds of transport, hotels and helpful English speak peopls.In many places in Russia there are objects associated with the Romanov dynasty. However, to begin acquaintance, I would recommend the starting from Yekaterinburg and Ganina Yama and from there to move to St. Petersburg, and for completeness of sensations it is better by train (the journey takes two nights and one day). Already from St. Petersburg, which is better to stay at least a week, if you have the time, you can easily get to Moscow for a few days by train or plane.I do not know if such a tour is ready. I prefer to plan my visits myself. But in every major Russian city it's easy to find offers of popular local excursions, and in Moscow and St. Petersburg it's generally a big separate business with a lot of options for any wallet.
Written August 18, 2018
How can I go here from the town center? Thank you.
Written December 29, 2016
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