History
Kirzhach is known since 14th century. Several documents by the Moscow prince Ivan Kalita mention a village on the Kirzhach river and date the town back to around 1330. Yet a more definite identification refers to the foundation date of the Kirzhach monastery later, a convent. The monastery was established by the spiritual leader Sergius of Radonezh at 1354–1358. Initally, the monastery was a skete an isolated side settlement of the Trinity lavra of St. Sergius in Sergiev Posad, while the settlement was considered as a village-at-the-monastery not a town. The advantageous location on the Stromyn way СÑÑомÑнÑкий ÑÑакÑ, the road between Moscow and the towns around Vladimir Suzdal, Yuryev-Polsky, led to the rapid growth of the settlement. Since 1781, Kirzhach was considered a town. The old Stromyn road gradually diminished, but the new connection, the circular railway line around Moscow, appeared as early as 1900. The presence of the railroad caused the development of industry in Kirzhach. Originally, textile production prevalied, but in 20th century other industry appeared production of engineering tools, car lights, etc. Still, most of the factories are located in the suburbs, and Kirzhach does not look like a heavy industrialized town.
Geography
The town is located on the banks of the river Kirzhach, the left tributary of the Klyazma. Kirzhach is mainly surrounded by forests with few fields and hills. The town stands on the circular railway line that runs around Moscow Big ring of Moscow railway. The respective circular road A108 is found 10 km to the west, while the radial road from Moscow passes through the town and heads east towards Kol'chugino and Yuryev-Polsky. The population of Kirzhach is 32 thousand 2006.