Those considering a stay in Tosno will find a range of cultural and historical points of interest: a museum exhibition about Maria Smolina, the history of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, and several monuments commemorating different people and events. Each offers a distinct perspective: the museum focuses on an individual’s biography and the history of wet nursing; the church’s chronicle traces changes over several decades; and the monuments commemorate people and events. Depending on your interests, you can explore Tosno with a focus on museum history, the history of church architecture, or commemorative culture.
Museum History and Maria Smolina
The Tosnenskiy istoriko-krayevedcheskiy muzey (Tosno Museum of History and Local Lore) received official status in 1991. The first exhibits had already begun to be collected in 1984 under the auspices of the Tosno City Komsomol Committee. The dates mark two different milestones: the start of collecting and the museum’s subsequent official status.
On May 17, 2018, the permanent exhibition “House of the Tsar’s Wet Nurse” opened there. It is on the first floor and is divided into three thematic sections. One of them covers the history of wet nursing in the Saint Petersburg Governorate and Maria Smolina. In this section, a 19th-century living space has been recreated using authentic objects from that period.
Maria Andreyevna Smolina, the young mistress of the house, was summoned to the imperial chambers as the wet nurse of the young Tsarevich, who later became Emperor Nicholas II. The exhibition thus brings together an individual biography and the history of wet nursing. The recreated living space complements these themes with a depiction of 19th-century domestic life.
The Church of the Kazan Icon Through the Years
The Church of the Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan can be viewed through a sequence of historical dates. It was closed in 1937, operated from 1941 to 1944, and reopened in 1947. From 1951 to 1952, it was expanded according to plans by architect V. P. Zasorin. On December 4, 1952, Roman, Archbishop of Riga and Latvia, reconsecrated the church. These details mark several distinct phases: closure, temporary use, reopening, structural expansion, and reconsecration. The chronology therefore tells the story of a church building with a changeable history, rather than one of continuous operation.
Monuments and Different Commemorations
On April 21, 2001, a monument was unveiled in Tosno to all city residents who were victims of radiation accidents and disasters. Another monument was unveiled on May 8, 2003, to participants in combat operations in Afghanistan, Chechnya, and other armed conflicts. The dedications turn the spotlight on different groups: in one case, affected residents of Tosno; in the other, participants in armed conflicts.
A monument to Musa Jalil (Musa Mustafovich Zalilov) was unveiled on November 9, 2012, by the House of Children’s and Youth Art. Jalil was a Tatar poet and war correspondent, fought in the Tosno area in 1942, and was posthumously named a Hero of the Soviet Union. Unlike the two monuments mentioned above, this one is dedicated to a named individual. His biography connects literary work with fighting in the Tosno area.
Riding Lessons and a Pony Farm
As a different kind of activity, the Tosno equestrian club «Status» offers riding lessons and visits to a pony farm. This is a separate focus alongside the museum, church, and monuments: here, the emphasis is on an active pursuit, while the other topics explore history and commemoration. Check the latest public booking and operating conditions before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Shapki, Berezhki, Chernavino, Lebedevka, Pulkovo, Rozhdestveno, Motornoye, Staraya Sloboda.
For the main travel overview: Leningrad Oblast.
