Kalachinskiy District can be explored through two distinct themes: the island in Lake Kalach and a one-day cultural programme featuring crafts, music and historical role-play. The Kalach na Omi Nature Park focuses on the landscape, while the Odin den v Shirvanskom polku route brings together a range of hands-on activities. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether you are more interested in natural surroundings or a curated cultural programme.
Natural surroundings at Lake Kalach
The Kalach na Omi Nature Park covers 30 hectares of island land in the middle of Lake Kalach, the largest floodplain lake in the district. On the island, the arboretum includes a birch grove and two viewing platforms. The 30 hectares refer to the island area within the nature park; the birch grove and platforms are features of the arboretum. This brings together the lake, the island and a specifically described stand of trees. Unlike the activities on the cultural route, the focus here is on the district’s landscape.
Church and cultural route
The Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin stands in the village of Voskresenka. Built in 1867, it is one of the oldest churches in Omsk Oblast. A sightseeing tour passes by the church. The historic church building and the staged cultural programme offer distinct ways to explore the district.
The one-day Odin den v Shirvanskom polku route is designed as an educational and entertaining programme and is coordinated with suburban train timetables. The programme includes a workshop on painting a wooden spoon, as well as spoon-playing and drumming exercises. An exhibition on saddlery displays harnesses, saddles and horse collars; visitors also have the opportunity to harness a horse and ride it. During a visit to a merchant’s house dating from the early 20th century, the group is welcomed by people playing the roles of a merchant and his wife, and is served tea and kalachi. The route was created as part of a project to develop tourism in Kalachinskiy District and as part of the interregional Siberian Trakt project. Check the programme dates and availability, as well as the train timetable, before your trip.
More cultural themes in Omsk Oblast
In the wider destination of Omsk Oblast, the Starina Sibirskaja Museum Reserve in Bolsherечye adds a larger historical and museum complex to the options. It brings together a historical and architectural complex, a local history museum, an art gallery, and the Batakovo National Archaeological and Nature Park. As an open-air museum, Starina Sibirskaja includes 15 historical and architectural monuments and special sites. The visitor experience described includes guided tours, games and entertainment programmes, and opportunities to take part in reconstructed traditional customs and folkloric and ethnographic festivals connected with the folk calendar. Check in advance for specific dates for these activities.
Tyukalinsk also offers a distinct historical perspective within Omsk Oblast. The town was founded in 1759 as a postal station on the Siberian Trakt. It has 37 historical monuments, 29 of which are regional cultural heritage sites; Tyukalinsk is regarded as an open-air museum town. The one-day weekend route Ujesdny gorod am Sibirischen Trakt combines a town tour and interactive insights into the occupations of residents in the 19th and early 20th centuries with the merchant tea event Tschajepitie po-kupecheski. Alongside the route in Kalachinskiy District, this offers another, distinct way to experience the region’s culture.
Discover more destinations: Kalachinsk, Omsk, Omskiy District, Isilkulsky District, Tarsky District, Omsky District, Krutinsky District, Tyukalinsky District.
For the overview of the wider destination: Omsk Oblast.
