In Maksatikhinskiy District, you’ll encounter monastery history, village churches and regional everyday culture. The churches are located in several settlements and bear different dates; the local history museum complements this perspective with objects and photographs. When choosing a destination or holiday rental, you can therefore start by asking whether sacred architectural history, museum collections, a documented festival or nature topics are of particular interest to you.
Monastery and Churches in Several Villages
The Nikolo-Terebenskaya Pustyn, a women’s monastery dating from the 18th to 19th centuries, is located in the village of Truzhenik. The Great Bezhetsk Cross Procession also begins at the Nikolo-Terebensky Monastery and heads towards the Mologa River. The monastery and route thus offer two distinct ways to explore religious history: one is a named women’s monastery, while the other is a route with a specified starting direction.
Several churches in the district are designated architectural monuments. The Church of All the Afflicted in Seltsy dates from 1828, the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Kostretsy from 1876, and the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Klyuchevoye from 1905. In Maksatikha stands the Church of All Saints, which dates from 1827 and is also called the Church of the Nativity of Christ. The dates thus range from 1827 and 1828 to the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Anyone interested in architectural history can use this chronology as a guide when choosing which of the listed places to visit.
Collections and a Festival from 2022
The Maksatikhinskiy Local History Museum, named after Anton Efimovich Smusenok, presents exhibitions on the present and past of the Maksatikha region. Its exhibits include old objects, photographs, manuscripts, books and letters. A recreated interior of an old peasant house displays kitchen utensils and dishes; a folk art corner features embroidered towels, shirts, tablecloths and headdresses. Historical documents and everyday objects are thus presented alongside textiles and examples of folk art—different ways of exploring regional history within one museum.
A specific glimpse of local customs is offered by the 18 June 2022 edition of the open-air festival “Troitskiy Khorovod.” It was held for the sixth time in the Lesiny district of the village of Truzhenik; the programme included folk customs and performances by soloists and cultural groups. Participants from the Raikovo Cultural Centre presented Karelian cuisine and baked pancakes on a log. The festival description thus combines performances with a vivid example of the cuisine on display.
Nature and the Wider Regional Context
The sacred spring of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa is also among the attractions of Maksatikhinskiy District. Along with the monastery, churches and museum, it adds a named natural and cultural site to the range of topics.
The wider destination of Tver Oblast offers distinct landscape and cultural topics. In the Central Forest Nature Reserve, the “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” ecological trail passes through a raised bog with broad, open areas completely covered in moss, as well as unusual plants. Guided tours are also available on the “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka” ecological trails. Visitors use their own vehicle for an excursion to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog.
The hike to the “Barsuchikha” cordon is another example from Tver Oblast: it can be taken as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest hut. Along the hike, you can see southern taiga forest and a raised bog. The main difference between the options is the time involved—a day trip or an overnight stay—and the landscape along the route.
In Torzhok, Verkhneye gorodishche is located in the historic centre. It is an archaeological monument of federal significance and a tourist attraction. Novotorzhskiy Borisoglebskiy Monastyr was founded in 1038 and is one of Russia’s oldest Orthodox monasteries. The “Blin s Pripyokom” and “Kuzminki v Torzhke” festivals are held annually in Novotorzhskiy Kremlin. These places and events belong to the wider context of Tver Oblast and should be distinguished from the attractions of Maksatikhinskiy District mentioned earlier.
This can help you decide whether your trip should focus on the monastery and churches, the museum collection or nature topics.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Podsosenye, Spirovskiy District, Rameshkovskiy District, Sandovsky District, Torzhokskiy District, Kalininskiy District, Sonkovskiy District, Ostashkovskiy District.
Back to the main travel overview: Tver Oblast.
