Borovsky District combines monastery history, frescoes, museums and nature. Its attractions are spread across different places: ETNOMIR is located in Petrov, while several museums and the town forest are in Borovsk. The options range from religious architecture and local history to aviation, technology and activities for children.
Monastery history, frescoes and museums in Borovsk
The «Roshcha» ensemble includes the Pafnuty-Borovsky Monastery, dated to 1444, and a fortress from the late 16th century. The exhibition at the «Stolnyy gorod Borovsk» museum also features the monastery: it includes frescoes by Dionisius and white stone blocks from the Pafnuty-Borovsky Monastery. The museum also covers the lives of the boyarina F. P. Morozova and Princess E. P. Urusova. Both suffered for their faith in the second half of the 17th century and were buried in Borovsk.
The murals give Borovsk another historical theme: the city has dozens of frescoes, most of which depict historical subjects. Some are gradually being lost, but frescoes can still be seen. Those interested in the history of technology as well as historical depictions can visit the Borovsk Computer Museum, with an exhibition on computing technology from the beginning to the end of the 20th century. The K. E. Tsiolkovsky Museum Apartment offers insights into his life and work as a founder of theoretical astronautics, as well as his childhood, youth and family.
One distinctive architectural feature is the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God at Vysokoye in Borovsk. The surviving wooden church dates from the 17th century and was built by Russian carpenters from pine logs without a single nail. A holy spring is located beside the church. Visitors can draw water and bathe in the specially built baptismal pool; check practical access locally. The monument to Archpriest Avvakum stands at the heart of a new park in Borovsk.
Hands-on activities and green contrasts
The «Dom samolyota Yak-40» museum focuses on rare civil aviation exhibits. Visitors can climb into the cockpit, sit at the controls, and operate buttons and switches on the control panel. Check the current operating status before your visit. Workshops for children and adults are held every weekend at «Domik Schastya»; check the latest details in advance.
«Domik Schastya» is also an art space in an old two-storey house. It has exhibition halls, the «Magazin suvenirov i vpechatleniy» gift shop and the «Chashechnaya» café. The house also has an observation deck and cascading terraces. Its art, workshops and other spaces appeal to a range of interests.
ETNOMIR is located in Petrov, a cluster dedicated to ethnic, ecological, educational and rural tourism. Its facilities include museums, authentic recreations of ethnographic homesteads from different countries, and entertainment for children. This offers a different kind of destination in the district alongside the museums and urban attractions concentrated in Borovsk.
As a natural contrast to the museums, Borovsk is home to the 300-hectare «Gorodskoy bor v g. Borovske», a coniferous forest that forms part of the historical landscape of the district centre. Spruce trees predominate in the lower section; some are 160 to 180 years old. The frescoes and the forest represent different sides of Borovsk: historical subjects in the urban landscape on the one hand, and an extensive coniferous forest on the other.
Plan your stay around your interests
When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to decide which destinations matter most. If you want to focus on the frescoes, museums and town forest in Borovsk, use them to guide your choice of location; if ETNOMIR is your main destination, include Petrov in your decision. The options differ mainly in theme and location, rather than following a prescribed sightseeing route.
Explore places in the district: Bereg, Korostelevo.
Discover more destinations: Peremyshlskiy District, Zhukovskiy District, Dzerzhinskiy District, Tarusskiy District, Ferzikovsky District, Dzerzhinskiy District.
Go to the overview of the wider region: Kaluga Oblast.
