Volosovsky District offers memorial sites, historic estates and a protected landscape for a range of travel interests. When choosing where to stay, it is worth deciding what to focus on: the memorial in Bolshoye Zarechye, the museums and estate in Izvara, and the landscape near Dontso each offer a distinct blend of culture and nature.
History and Cultural Heritage
A memorial complex is located in the village of Bolshoye Zarechye. In 1943, because of its connection with the partisans, the village was completely burned down by the Nazis; 63 residents lost their lives. The memory of the village’s fate gives this place a solemn historical significance.
The Yakov Bruce estate, built in 1820, is located in Pyataya Gora. Bruce was an associate of Peter the Great. Gubanitsy is home to the Lutheran Church of St John the Baptist. The memorial site, the history of the estate and the church building each offer a different perspective; visitors choosing cultural destinations can consider these as distinct themes.
Roerich Museum-Estate in Izvara
The natural monument “Muzey-usadba N.K.Rerikha” is located in the village of Izvara in Volosovsky District. The exhibition at the N. K. Roerich Museum-Estate comprises eight halls. It covers Roerich’s life and work, his scientific, educational and peace-building activities, as well as his efforts to preserve the world’s cultural heritage. The subjects range from his biography to his work in support of cultural heritage.
The grounds also extend the experience beyond the exhibition: they include an old park with exotic trees, spring-fed lakes and the source of the Izvarka River. An ecological trail at the museum-estate offers information about historic buildings and the plants and animals found there. Along the route, visitors can also see Lakes Glukhoye and Izvarskoye, as well as springs. The exhibition and trail bring cultural and landscape themes together at the same estate in Izvara.
Local History in Yastrebino
The Boris Vilde House Museum in Yastrebino looks beyond Boris Vilde himself. The exhibition also covers the international anti-fascist movement and the history of Yastrebino and its surrounding area. It thus connects the individual with a broader historical theme and local history. Visitors weighing up different cultural and historical interests will find a different perspective here than in the Roerich exhibition or at the memorial complex in Bolshoye Zarechye.
Springs, Lake and Vegetation near Dontso
The natural monument “Istoki reki Oredezh v urochishche Dontso” is located in Volosovsky District. Springs feed the former Kyurlevsky quarry, which now forms Lake Dontso; the Oredezh flows out of the lake. This sequence of spring water, lake and river offers a way to explore the landscape. The main vegetation types include spruce forests and steppe-like meadows on limestone. Tall, tree-like junipers grow in some places. This combination of water, limestone and varied vegetation shapes the area’s natural character. Brown trout also spawn in the upper reaches of the Oredezh.
For trip planning, it helps to distinguish between the main themes: Izvara combines exhibitions and landscape at the museum-estate, Dontso is known for its water and vegetation, while Bolshoye Zarechye offers a memorial site. Choose according to the themes that matter to you during your stay, and check the latest visiting arrangements for your chosen destinations before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Vsevolozhsky District, Lomonosovsky District, Boksitogorsky District, Tikhvinsky District, Vyborgsky District, Kingiseppsky District, Kirovsky District, Lomonosovsky District.
For the regional travel overview: Leningrad Oblast.
