Two themes stand out when planning a stay in Dzerzhinskiy District: land art at Nikola-Lenivets and the history of the Goncharov Estate in Polotnyany Zavod. If you are looking for holiday apartments in Dzerzhinskiy District, you can plan your trip around your interests: art and landscape on the one hand, and a manor house, park, and exhibitions on the other. Access requirements vary, so check them before each visit.
Land Art, National Park, and Trails at Nikola-Lenivets
Some artworks in Nikola-Lenivets Art Park, including “Mayak,” “Bobur,” “Ugruan,” “Dom nad lesom,” and “Vselenskiy razum,” are located in Ugra National Park, a federally designated protected area. Visiting these artworks requires a separate permit from the national park administration. The permit is not included in the park ticket and must be obtained separately. Check the current rules before your visit.
Guided walks are offered in the Art Park, covering the history and mythology of the site, the park’s development, and its artworks. Seasonal routes may vary. These walks place the art in a broader context: alongside the works themselves, the park’s development and the stories of the place are also among the topics covered.
An excursion trail described in 2018 leads to the Nikola-Lenivets hillfort sanctuary. Its listed features include viewpoints, scenic clearings, and rest areas. If you plan to take this trail, check before setting out that the route description is still accurate. The bends of the Sukhodrev River offer another natural highlight: marsh marigolds often bloom along its swampy banks.
The Goncharov Estate: Park, Manor House, and Exhibitions
The Goncharov family estate complex in Polotnyany Zavod includes the Transfiguration Church, an English landscape park, and the entrance tower of the horse yard. The former landscape park features a large meadow, tall pines, oaks, and lindens, as well as low-lying areas by the river. The ground there remains damp even on the hottest days. The park description therefore encompasses open spaces, tall trees, and damp riverside areas.
A monument to A. S. Pushkin stands in a picturesque clearing in the park. The Shchepochkin House adds another architectural feature: the manor house dates from the first half of the 18th century and is designed in the Russian Classicist style. Its date and style offer two distinct clues for understanding the building.
The south wing of the horse yard serves as an exhibition center. It hosts the exhibition “My Fiery Horse, My Faithful Horse …”; exhibitions may change. The horse yard is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Check the hours and current exhibitions before your visit.
Check Access Requirements Before Your Trip
On July 8, 2026, restricted access due to maintenance work in the second ceremonial hall was reported at the “House of the Goncharovs” Museum and Exhibition Center. Check before visiting whether this restriction is still in effect. Along with the separate permit required for artworks in the national park, this is an important point to consider when planning: confirm the access requirements for the activities you select before setting your visit dates.
You can coordinate your search for a holiday apartment with your choice of activities without assuming any particular accommodation or amenities. First decide whether you would rather focus on land art and natural surroundings or on the park, architecture, and exhibitions. Then plan around the respective opening hours, permits, and any possible changes to exhibitions or route descriptions.
Discover more destinations: Maloyaroslavetskiy Rayon, Yukhnovsky District, Kozelskiy rayon, Borovskiy rayon, Mosalskiy rayon, Kaluga, Maloyaroslavetskiy rayon, Zhizdrinskiy rayon.
For the overview of the wider region: Kaluga Oblast.
