Borovikovo brings archaeological traces from the 12th–13th centuries into focus. A settlement site from this period lies on the southwestern outskirts of the village. Two kurgan burial grounds are also on the outskirts: No. 1 “Pany” on the south-southwestern edge and No. 2 “Krucha” on the southwestern edge. This gives travellers interested in the early history of settlement and burial a clear historical focus.

Archaeological traces in Borovikovo and the surrounding area

The surrounding area includes two more kurgan burial grounds dating from the 12th–13th centuries. “Yakova derevenka” lies west-southwest of Borovikovo, while “Fedulovo” lies south of the village. Their shared dating provides a chronological point of reference; their locations also distinguish them: two sites on the village outskirts and two in the surrounding area. The settlement site and the named burial grounds thus offer different starting points for exploring the history of the area.

Cultural attractions in Kostroma Oblast

Kostroma Oblast also has distinct cultural attractions that offer different ways to explore regional history. At the Susanino Local History Museum, five halls guide visitors through the nature, archaeology, history, culture and everyday life of the Susanino region. The renewed exhibition “Na perekrestke istorii i legendy” preserves Ivan Susanin and Savrasov’s painting “The Rooks Have Arrived” as motifs of importance to the region. Together, the exhibitions offer both a thematic overview and a look at two distinctive regional motifs of remembrance.

In Nerekhta, the Museum of Dreams tells the city’s story through the life stories of people who dared to dream big. Original memorabilia bring these stories to life. A different approach is offered by “Kostromskaya sloboda” in Kostroma, where visitors can see historic wooden houses and churches, as well as ethnographic exhibitions about the lives of peasants in the Kostroma region. Those interested in the connection between buildings and everyday history will find a different focus here than in the thematically arranged halls of the Susanino Local History Museum.

Shchelykovo is the estate of Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky. Guided tours of the park and A. N. Ostrovsky’s house take place at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 15:30. They are available for groups of five or more, or for a fee covering five people. As arrangements may change, check the latest tour times and participation requirements before visiting.

Nature and landscapes in Kostroma Oblast

For a focus on natural history, visit the state nature reserve “Kologrivsky les”. It comprises two areas that preserve different southern taiga landscapes with zonal and provincial physical-geographical features. The “Puteshestvie v zapovedny les” tour includes a visit to the ecological trail of the same name, which passes through a section of old-growth southern taiga forest. Check the tour’s current organizational arrangements before travelling.

The Nature Museum offers a different perspective on nature: its permanent exhibition presents present-day animals, birds, insects and fungi alongside the paleontological past of the Kostroma region. The region’s attractions thus bring different perspectives together: the southern taiga landscape, its natural history and the cultural and everyday history of Kostroma Oblast.

The Susanino Local History Museum also offers walking and bus excursions to places associated with Ivan Susanin, including the Isupovo bog and the villages of Derevenki and Domnino. Find out in advance how the excursions are run. The focus is a useful way to choose between regional themes: Susanino and the museums concentrate on history and culture, Shchelykovo on tours of the park and house, while the ecological trail turns the focus to the taiga landscape.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Nerekhta, Sharya, Kirovo, Khmelevka, Glebovo, Lunëvo, Gustomesovo, Kostroma

For the regional travel overview: Kostroma Oblast.