In Teykovsky District, traces of prehistoric settlements meet the architectural history of the Zolotnikovskaya Hermitage. Also nearby are Lake Koptevskoe and archaeological finds near Koptevo. The region’s history ranges from inhabited lake shores to a historic monastic complex and a lake with a precisely stated area and depth.
Archaeological traces at Sakhtysh and Koptevo
The Sakhtysh settlement sites are considered a reference example of the Neolithic period. Numerous settlements of hunters and fishers once stood on the shore of Lake Sakhtysh, formerly known as Kleshchino. Archaeologists have discovered and investigated 14 of them to date. Sakhtysh thus connects a chronological classification with specific lakeside settlements.
Koptevo is another archaeological landmark: in 1974, four kurgan burial mounds were discovered near the village. They are counted among the archaeological monuments of Ivanovo Oblast. The two references are easy to distinguish: Sakhtysh represents Neolithic lakeside settlements, while Koptevo is known for the kurgan burial mounds discovered in 1974.
The history of the Zolotnikovskaya Hermitage
The hermitage’s founding dates back to 1624. At that time, about two dozen monks gathered and built a wooden Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in the forest. Jonah became abbot of the “New Hermitage in Berezovsky Bor, dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God.” The date and approximate number of monks provide specific milestones in the monastery’s early history.
The hermitage’s temple complex is a monument of federal and regional significance. The surviving complex includes the partially destroyed Dormition Cathedral, of which only the main structure remains, as well as the ruins of the Kazan Church and the abbot’s house. The village of Zolotnikovskaya Pustyn is near the federal Ivanovo–Moscow highway, known as “Volga-7.”
Lake Koptevskoe
Lake Koptevskoe is in Teykovsky District, within the territory of Morozovskoye Rural Settlement. It covers 0.51 km² and is two to three metres deep. Area and depth describe different measurements of the same lake: the extent of its water surface and its depth.
Arts and crafts in Ivanovo Oblast
Ivanovo Oblast also offers distinctive cultural attractions. In Plyos, the “Arts and Crafts of the Ivanovo Region” exhibition showcases weaving and embroidery, lacquer miniatures from the Palekh and Kholuy centres, and a jewellery collection. The exhibition brings together several different areas of craftsmanship.
An icon collection in Palekh features works from different parts of the country: their regions of origin stretch from Novgorod to the Urals and from the Volga region to the Russian North. The icons date from the 14th to the 19th centuries. A different experience is offered by the “BAKANOVA 46” gallery in Palekh, where visitors can try making their own object in the authentic Palekh style. The historical collection and the hands-on artistic activity thus offer different cultural experiences.
The Ivanovo Calico Museum in Ivanovo displays rare calico fabrics from different periods, from old textiles to propaganda textiles from the first half of the 20th century. Workshops on printing patterns on fabric are also offered there. If you would like to attend one, confirm availability in advance. The collection and the hands-on activity offer two different ways to explore textiles: viewing historical fabrics or printing patterns on fabric yourself.
Discover more destinations: Ivanovo, Gavrilovo-Posadskiy District, Vichugskiy District, Zavolzhsky District, Privolzhsky District, Lezhnevskiy District, Ivanovskiy District, Gavrilovo-Posadsky District.
See the regional travel guide: Ivanovo Oblast.
