Volga and wetlands

In the southwest of Kostromskoy District, the Volga flows for 48 kilometres within the district as part of the Gorky Reservoir. The Kostroma section of the reservoir is colloquially known as «Kostromskoye more» («Kostroma Sea»). The name refers to this section of the Gorky Reservoir.

The area around the Kostroma and its tributaries, the Meza and Andoba, contains numerous extensive wetlands and lakes. The district’s natural landscape therefore includes not only rivers but also wetlands and lakes. You can consider this waterscape as a focus for your trip planning; the chapel of Nekrasovo offers a cultural contrast.

The chapel in Nekrasovo

The brick chapel in Nekrasovo, coated with lime plaster, was built from the 1680s to the early 1690s. It is an expressive example of religious architecture and reflects the distinctive features of the local building school of the late 17th century. The chapel is therefore notable both for its specific construction period and materials and for its place in a local architectural tradition.

“Religious architecture” refers to the art of designing and constructing religious buildings; the local building school points to the distinctive features of construction in this area. Those interested in historic architecture can consider the chapel as a topic in its own right alongside the district’s rivers, wetlands and lakes.

More places to explore in Kostroma Oblast

The wider destination of Kostroma Oblast offers further distinct natural and cultural themes. The Kologrivsky Forest State Nature Reserve comprises two separate areas that preserve different landscapes of the southern taiga, with zonal and provincial physical-geographical characteristics. The “Journey to the Protected Forest” tour includes a visit to the “Journey to the Protected Forest” ecological trail. The trail passes through an area of ancient southern taiga forest. Check the tour’s arrangements before your trip.

Shchelykovo is also in Kostroma Oblast: the estate is associated with the Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky. Tours of the park and house are scheduled for 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 15:30. They are intended for groups of five or more, or available upon payment for five people. Check the conditions applicable to your group and the current tour times in advance.

The Susanino Local History Museum tells the story of the Susanino region in five halls, covering nature, archaeology, history, culture and everyday life in turn. The renewed exhibition “At the Crossroads of History and Legends” preserves Ivan Susanin and Savrasov’s painting “The Rooks Have Arrived” as motifs of importance to 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. Susanino thus combines exhibition themes with excursions, while the tour through the five halls provides a structured overview of the region.

In Kostroma, the Natural History Museum’s permanent exhibition presents present-day animals, birds, insects and fungi alongside the paleontological past of the Kostroma region. The Kostromskaya Sloboda open-air museum in Kostroma features historic wooden houses and churches, as well as ethnographic exhibitions about the lives of peasants in the Kostroma region. Check the latest visitor information before visiting a museum.

The Museum of Dreams in Nerekhta tells the city’s history through the life stories of people who dared to dream big; original memorabilia bring their stories to life. These different museum approaches offer distinct perspectives: Susanino organizes nature, history and everyday life by theme, while the Museum of Dreams tells the city’s history through individual life stories.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Mytishchi District, Makaryevsky District, the town of Volgorechensk, Nerekhta District, Kostromskoy District, Sharya District.

Back to the main travel overview: Kostroma Oblast.