The construction history of the Gerchiki estate began between 1769 and 1774. I. W. Leslie had the first buildings constructed at that time, including a wooden Holy Trinity Church and other estate buildings.
Construction History and Owners of the Estate
M. A. Korbutowski had a two-storey stone house with a mezzanine built on the estate in the Classicist style. A stone Holy Trinity Church replaced the earlier wooden church. A mezzanine is an intermediate or partial storey; the description thus specifies both the storeys of the house and its architectural style. Together with the change from a wooden to a stone church, this provides several specific clues for distinguishing the estate’s construction history.
The succession of owners can also be traced chronologically: in the 1790s, the estate passed as a dowry to Praskovya Ivanovna, I. W. Leslie’s daughter, and her husband, M. A. Korbutowski. In 1854, it became the property of members of the Polyansky noble family. These milestones add the development of ownership over several decades to the construction history.
The Holy Trinity Church belongs to the Smolensk Deanery of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Smolensk Eparchy, and the Smolensk Metropolia. This places the church within its ecclesiastical context as well as its construction history.
Culture and Nature in Smolensk Oblast
At the level of the wider destination of Smolensk Oblast, Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park offers its own natural and cultural context. It was established on 15 April 1992 in the territories of Demidovsky and Dukhovshchinsky districts. Its purposes include protecting unique natural complexes as well as recreation, education, science, and culture.
The “K istokam” eco-trail is a circular route that starts in the village of Stary Dvor. A track for mobile apps such as Geotreker or MAPS.ME helps visitors follow it independently. Two viewpoints were established at Lakes Svyatets and Sapsho in 2023–2024. One viewpoint on the high southern shore of Lake Sapsho offers a view of the lake and several islands.
Those interested in different nature experiences can also find two differently designed trails in Smolensk Oblast. The “Poozerye bez baryerov” eco-trail, created in 2017, is intended for people with health limitations and starts near the Eco-Centre “Baklanovo” building. The barefoot trail in Boroviki comprises 14 sections, each six metres long, with different natural surfaces to walk on barefoot. At the end, you can wash your feet and, if you wish, stroll through the “Aptekarsky sad.”
Another cultural highlight of Smolensk Oblast is the Gnyozdovo archaeological complex. About 2,500 burial mounds and a settlement remain there today. The complex is considered the largest of its kind in Russia and Europe from the period when the Old Russian state was taking shape. As an archaeological monument of state—that is, federal—importance, it is protected by the state.
A guided tour of the “Stargrad” ethnographic village introduces visitors to the way of life of the ancient Slavs. The items on display include everyday objects, weapons, and clothing. Visits are possible only as part of a guided group. The extended tour programme includes several hands-on activities: the “Babiy kut” workshop focuses on traditional women’s crafts, and participants can make souvenirs themselves. At “Polevaya kuznya,” they can mint coins and make chain mail. The “Srednevekovy tir” area offers archery and slingshot shooting, as well as axe and sulitsa throwing.
The extended group programme also includes lunch prepared according to old recipes, with historic dishes from maritime and field cuisine, cooked in cauldrons over an open fire. The workshops require advance arrangements; confirm whether lunch is available when booking the tour.
Discover more destinations: Sliznevo, Desnogorsk, Sheverdino, Rudnya, Przhevalskoye, Baskakovo, Sloboda, Demidov.
Return to the wider travel guide: Smolensk Oblast.
