A printing press that produced Old Believer literature gives Filatovo a distinct cultural and historical focus. It was discovered and closed there at the end of the 19th century. The story of the place thus leads to a chapter in book history closely connected with the Old Believers and their literature.
The printing press was located a few versts from Tarakanovka, on the farm of local peasant Panteley Stepanov. In his yard, beneath an insulated shed where beehives were kept over winter, he set up an “underground room.” He may have printed some books there. This combination of literary history and an unusual farm space makes the story vivid, without turning the historical account into a present-day sightseeing opportunity.
If you want to get to know Filatovo through its history, the printing press is a distinctive thematic starting point: it connects a precisely identified place with the question of how Old Believer literature was produced. The information about Stepanov’s farm adds a specific historical context to this perspective. The possibility that books were printed in the room remains just that—a possibility, not a certainty.
Cultural and Landscape Themes in Medynskiy rayon
Medynskiy rayon offers other, independent themes as well. The Museum and Exhibition Centre of Medynsky District opened in a new building in Medyn in September 2012 and has six exhibition halls. Its displays include the «Zal Boyevoy i Trudovoy Slavy» hall on the Great Patriotic War, as well as themes covering the history and nature of Medynsky District and the War of 1812. The centre also holds workshops intended to foster visitors’ creative potential.
The «Voenfilm» cinema complex in Medyn offers a different focus: its outdoor set includes large-scale sets of a village from the time of the Great Patriotic War, as well as an excavated river filled with water. The guided tour of the «EkoNiva» dairy in Ulanovo takes a different approach again. It covers the dairy’s history, the production of milk and fermented milk products, and quality control. Guests watch the products being packaged and take part in a workshop and a tasting. If you would like to include this tour in your travel plans, check the current dates in advance.
Natural Monument, Estate, and Historic Architecture
In Peredel, the «Park Peredelskiy» nature park was designated a natural monument on April 26, 1990; it covers 3.6 hectares. The park features lime and spruce avenues laid out in both landscape and formal styles. The grounds were once part of an estate. A distinctive landscape feature is the formal lime park of the Peredel estate, which dates from the third quarter of the 18th century.
The estate’s history also extends into industry. The industrialists Batashevy founded it and initially established linen production there, later switching to match manufacturing. The estate includes a two-storey main house in the Classical style, dating from the third quarter of the 19th century. In Peredel, therefore, park design, architecture, and a history of changing production come together—different points of interest for anyone interested in historic landscapes and economic history.
In the neighbouring settlement of Ilyinka, which has almost merged with Peredel, stands the ruined Ilyinskaya tserkov. It dates from 1765 and was remodelled in the mid-19th century. Many old, toppled gravestones stand by the church, including those of A. I. Batashev and I. A. Lashchagin, owners of the Peredel estate. The church’s architectural history and the names of the estate owners thus form part of a broader historical context in Medynskiy rayon.
For choosing a theme, the distinction is clear: Filatovo is associated with the history of the Old Believer printing press; regional themes in Medynskiy rayon range from museum exhibitions and film sets to parks, architecture, and production history. This overview can help you tailor your trip to the topics that interest you most.
For the broader travel overview: Medynskiy rayon.
