Ermolino brings together local textile history, church architecture and military remembrance as distinct historical themes. Specific points of interest include the village of Ermakovo, from which Ermolino developed, the Church of St. Nicholas in Rusinovo and memorial sites for soldiers of the 33rd Army.
Embroidery and Textile History
Intricate embroidery was also practised in the village of Ermakovo, from which Ermolino later developed. Patterns considered elements of Kaluga embroidery can be found on the walls of some Soviet-era apartment blocks; this embroidery is also known as “Tarusa embroidery.” These connections belong to different historical contexts: the craft is associated with the predecessor settlement, while the patterns are associated with individual apartment blocks from the Soviet era.
Weaving is also part of the historical craft tradition. Since the mid-19th century, it was a hereditary craft among the residents of Ermolino. The Krestyanka textile factory was founded in Ermolino in 1880 by Fyodor Isaev. The craft and the factory’s founding thus stand side by side as distinct aspects of the town’s history.
Museum and Churches
The local history museum in Ermolino was founded in 1967 at the initiative of local historians, factory workers and teachers. The participation of these groups connects local research with working and teaching professions.
The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Rusinovo is considered an example of mature Neoclassicism from the early 19th century. The stone building was erected in the 1830s on the site of an older wooden church. The stylistic designation and building history complement one another: they identify the architectural classification and the transition from the older wooden structure to the stone building.
The Church of St. Nicholas is located at 83 Rusinovo Street. Another church, dedicated to the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God, is located at 1 May Street, 1. The names and addresses distinguish the two churches. For architecture enthusiasts, the Church of St. Nicholas offers the more specific point of reference: its style, period of construction, materials and predecessor building are all identified. The second church can be located by its dedication and address. If you would like to visit the museum or a church, check current visiting arrangements in advance.
Remembrance and Kaluga Oblast
Five mass graves and obelisks stand within the territory of the Ermolino urban municipality in memory of soldiers of the 33rd Army under General M. G. Efremov who fell in combat in the Ermolino area. These memorial sites are connected to the army and the fighting in the Ermolino area, adding a distinct military dimension of remembrance to the town’s textile and church history.
In the wider travel destination of Kaluga Oblast, Nikola-Lenivets Art Park features landscape installations and land art by Russian and foreign artists; many are considered influential in contemporary art. At the Usadba Zolotarevykh Museum Complex in Kaluga, colourful dioramas and bio-groups present the region’s plant and animal life through the changing seasons. The history section comprises eleven rooms on the second floor. These regional examples broaden the perspective beyond Ermolino’s local history.
Discover more destinations: Kremyonki, Kozelsk, Polotnyany Zavod, Lapshinka, Nedelnoye, Mikhalchukovo, Lyudinovo, Balabanovo.
For the wider travel overview: Kaluga Oblast.
