In Kostromskoy District, forests and water provide two clear guideposts for planning your trip: forests cover 47 percent and water 11 percent of the district. Geographically, it belongs to the taiga forest zone. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can first decide whether to focus on landscapes or bodies of water; the cultural sites offer another way to explore the district.
Rivers, Reservoir and Taiga Forest
Within the district, the Volga runs for 48 kilometres along a riverbed section of the Gorky Reservoir. The district lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kostroma rivers. Smaller rivers include the Kuban, Shacha, Sushchyovka and Sendega. The Volga, with its 48-kilometre stretch, is a point of reference for finding your way around the district’s waterways; the smaller rivers complete the picture.
The Kostroma floodplain area of the Gorky Reservoir is colloquially known as “Kostromskoye more”. This name adds a regional touch to the straightforward geographical description. Together with the taiga forest zone, it provides a good starting point for understanding the district’s landscape: forests, river courses and the reservoir area offer different focuses for planning your trip.
Culture in Kostromskoy District
At the Karavaevo History Museum, Elena Mikhailovna Tsypylova can show visitors the exhibition and tell them about the history of the settlement and the breeding farm. Check the current arrangements before your visit. The Shakhovskikh estate in Vasilyovo also connects the area with a cultural theme: a series of annual Pushkin festivals began in its park in 1999.
More destinations in Kostroma Oblast
Beyond the district, Kostroma Oblast offers other nature and culture experiences. In the “Kologrivskiy les” nature reserve, the “Puteshestviye v zapovednyy les” tour includes a visit to the ecological trail of the same name. The trail passes through an area of old-growth southern taiga forest. Check the current visiting arrangements before your trip.
The Susanino Local History Museum explores the Susanino region across five successive thematic halls: nature, archaeology, history, culture and everyday life. Its renewed exhibition, “Na perekryostke istorii i legendy”, preserves Ivan Susanin and Savrasov’s painting “The Rooks Have Arrived” as important motifs of the region. The museum also offers walking and bus excursions to places associated with Ivan Susanin, including the Isupovo Marsh and the villages of Derevenki and Domnino. Check current dates and availability in advance.
Another cultural destination in Kostroma Oblast is Shchelykovo, the country estate of Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky. Tours of the park and house take place at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 15:30. They are available to groups of five or more, or for a fee covering five people. As the schedule may change, check the times before making plans.
Choose a holiday rental to suit your travel interests
A clear order of priorities can help you find a holiday rental: first decide whether forests and waterways in Kostromskoy District or cultural destinations in Kostroma Oblast will shape your stay. Then choose specific places to visit and select your accommodation location to suit your itinerary. This way, your search is guided by the places you actually want to visit.
Discover more destinations: Kostromskoy District, Nerekhtskiy District, Mytishchinsky District, Volgorechensk, Sharyinsky District, Makaryevskiy District.
Go to the overview of the wider region: Kostroma Oblast.
