The Okovets Holy Spring lies near the village of Okovtsy, in a sharp bend of the river on the left bank of the Pyroshnya. Selizharovskiy District is also home to churches from various periods and Orthodox monastic sites. The sights therefore range from a spring beside a river to buildings on the Volga and at the confluence of the Volga and Selizharovka.
Okovets Spring: Riverside Setting and Religious Heritage
A church dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior was built and consecrated on the site of a former chapel. Regular services have resumed there. The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Skete of the Nil-Stolobensk Hermitage is located beside the spring. Every year on July 24 according to the new style, a liturgy with the blessing of water takes place at the spring. If this date is important for your travel plans, confirm it in advance using local information.
Churches and Local History in the District
In Selizharovo, the Orthodox Trinity Monastery stands at the confluence of the Volga and Selizharovka. The Resurrection Church was built in 1763 on the low left bank of the Volga, on the site of an older wooden church. Its history therefore connects a specific riverside location with a clearly identified predecessor building.
The stone Church of St. Nicholas stands in Golenkovo-Pogost. The Vetlits-Tolbukhin family built it in 1882 in the Russian-Byzantine style characteristic of the period; it has survived to this day. Compared with the Resurrection Church of 1763, it is the later example, and its stylistic classification offers another architectural point of reference. The local history museum is in the center of Selizharovo, in an old merchant’s house dating from the late 19th century. Thus, descriptions of the area feature both religious buildings and a historic building associated with the merchant class.
More Nature Attractions in Tver Oblast
In the wider destination of Tver Oblast, the Central Forest Nature Reserve offers another nature-focused attraction. The “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” ecological trail passes through a scenic raised bog with extensive open areas completely covered in moss and unusual plants. The reserve’s nature museum presents the protected area’s main ecosystems and interesting species that live there; a separate hall is dedicated to scientific research. The visitor center on the grounds of the central estate also provides information about the organization’s history and structure, a regular exhibition of children’s artwork, and a souvenir shop.
For guided outings, the reserve offers tours along the “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka” ecological trails. An excursion to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog involves using your own vehicle. The hike to the “Barsuchikha” cordon passes through southern taiga forest and a raised bog; it is available as a one-day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest hut. The planning considerations therefore differ: a vehicle is relevant for the bog excursion, while the hike to the cordon involves choosing between a day trip and an overnight stay.
Discover more destinations: Bor Volgo, Larionovo, Bologoye, Penovskiy District, Tver, Staritskiy District, Konakovo District, Spirovskiy District.
Return to the main travel overview: Tver Oblast.
