When planning a stay in Sela, it helps to distinguish the scope of the information. The road connection concerns the Gladyshevo settlement area; the nature and cultural destinations belong to the broader travel destination of Tver Oblast.
Road connections in the Gladyshevo settlement area
The regional road Krasny Kholm–Sonkovo connects the Gladyshevo settlement area with the district centre of Sonkovo. The regional roads Krasny Kholm–Sonkovo and Sonkovo–Bezhetsk–Tver also connect the settlement area with the administrative centre of the oblast. The distance is 160 km.
Nature and trails in Tver Oblast
Guided tours are offered at the Central Forest Nature Reserve on the ecological trails “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka”. These two named trails provide a specific point of reference for visitors who would like to explore the reserve on a guided walk. Another landscape highlight is the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog: the “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” educational nature trail passes through a scenic raised bog with wide, open areas completely covered in moss and unusual plants.
Visitors use their own vehicle for the excursion to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog. Another way to experience the landscape is to hike to the “Barsuchikha” ranger station. The hike can be done as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest hut. Along the way, you will see southern taiga forest and a raised bog. This route therefore differs in how it can be planned: it can be limited to one day or combined with an overnight stay in a hut. If you would like to stay overnight, check the forest hut’s availability in advance.
The reserve’s visitor centre is located on the grounds of its central estate. It provides information about the organisation’s history and structure, hosts a regular exhibition of children’s work, and has a souvenir shop. The reserve’s natural history museum showcases the protected area’s main ecosystems and interesting species that live there; one room is dedicated to scientific research. The two facilities have different focuses: the visitor centre is about the reserve as an organisation, while the museum focuses on its ecosystems, species and research.
Culture and history in Tver Oblast
In Torzhok, the Verkhnee gorodishche archaeological site is located in the historic centre. It is a monument of federal significance as well as a tourist attraction. Also in Torzhok is the Novotorzhskiy Borisoglebskiy monastyr. Founded in 1038, the monastery is one of Russia’s oldest Orthodox monasteries. These two places offer different historical points of interest: archaeological heritage in the city centre and a long monastic history.
The Novotorzhskiy kreml hosts the annual “Blin s Pripyokom” and “Kuzminki v Torzhke” festivals. If you want to plan your trip around one of these festivals, check the specific event dates before making your plans. This makes it possible to shape a visit around a festival, rather than a trip focused mainly on historic sites.
Another religious destination in Tver Oblast is Nilova Pustyn Monastery on Stolobny Island. It is considered a centre for religious tourism and pilgrimages. The region’s cultural offerings therefore range from archaeological sites and historic monasteries to annual festivals.
For an overview of the wider destination: Sonkovskiy rayon.
