In Gorodetsky District, history and craftsmanship come together in many different ways. On the eastern section of the Gorodetsky Wall, visitors can climb onto the rampart and walk along a path between 200-year-old pine trees. The section is about one and a half kilometres long and forms part of a significant, well-preserved example of Russian military engineering from the 12th to 13th century. In Gorodets, museums and hands-on activities offer further ways to explore the past.

Crafts and History in Gorodets

In the wider destination of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Gorodets is considered the oldest city; it is 69 years older than Nizhny Novgorod. Gorodets has been known for baking printed gingerbread since the late 18th century; the city has also been known as a centre of wooden shipbuilding since that time.

Built in 2009, the Gorod masterov museum and tourism complex presents the history of different eras, including that of Russian princes, the merchant class, crafts and shipbuilding. Visitors can also take part in making traditional handicrafts. Activities include Gorodets painting, Old Russian painting, pottery, zhbannikovskie whistles, wood carving, gold embroidery and textile crafts. Here, then, craftsmanship is both the subject of the exhibition and a hands-on experience.

Other museums offer their own distinctive focus. At Dom grafini Paninoy, visitors can see a library of handwritten and early printed books and borrow Russian costumes for photos. Terem russkogo samovara displays a samovar collection considered one of the largest in the world. At the Gorodets na Volge museum, visitors can try the work of a burlak: they put on a hauling harness and sing the song “Dubinushka”. If you plan to borrow a costume or take part in this activity, check availability in advance.

Natural Sites and Regional Discoveries

A body of water formed in a worked-out peat extraction site near Smolki. It covers 17 hectares, with a protected zone of 25 hectares. The body of water provides a breeding area for rare bird species in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and a colony breeding site for about 1,500 pairs of gulls.

Another place with a long history is the Istochnik Nikola-klyuch protected area. It was established at district level in 2009. The spring lies on the southeastern edge of Beloglazovo, has been known since the 17th century and is first mentioned in 1623. In this region, natural features and historical accounts sit side by side, without telling the same story.

Local produce offers another way to explore the area: the Kurtsevo cheese dairy in the village of the same name makes more than 20 kinds of cheese, which can be sampled at a tasting. Before your trip, check whether tastings are currently available.

A tourist route in the Gorky Reservoir area leads to springs via Gorodets, Fedurino and Sobolikha. If you plan to follow this route, check the current signposting and conditions in advance. The combination of the historic rampart, craft activities, museums and regional natural sites gives you different ways to tailor your discoveries in Gorodetsky District to your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Borskiy Rayon, Pilninskiy rayon, Balakhninsky District, Knyagininskiy rayon, Volodarskiy rayon, Vyksunsky Rajon, Urenskiy rayon, Lukoyanovskiy rayon.

For the overview of the wider destination: Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.