In Yartsevsky District, memorial history and nature meet near Klimovo. In Yakovlevo, the memorial complex was opened on 25 September 1982 in memory of those who fell in the Great Patriotic War. Yartsevo and Klimovo add further historical connections; the park near Klimovo provides a botanical focus.
Memorial sites and history
The Historical and Local History Museum of Yartsevsky District in Yartsevo has an exhibition hall and two permanent exhibitions. They cover the history of the Great Patriotic War and local history. Together with the memorial complex in Yakovlevo, they form a local focal point for remembrance of the war. An obelisk commemorates Soviet Army soldiers who died in 1941 defending the city along the Vop River line. Check current opening hours before visiting the museum.
In Klimovo, the landscape is linked to a biographical story: A. N. Engelhardt, a Russian populist writer, was born at the Engelhardt estate. He spent his childhood there and was later buried there as well. Those interested in the history of people and places will find a different perspective here than at the war memorial sites.
Natural monument near Klimovo
Near the village of Klimovo is a ten-hectare park, established in 1981 and designated a botanical natural monument of regional significance. Its size, botanical protection status and connection to the village give this natural attraction a distinct character. The park near Klimovo represents botanical nature, while the Engelhardt estate in Klimovo offers a biographical perspective.
More places to explore in Smolensk Oblast
In the wider destination of Smolensk Oblast, the Gnezdovo archaeological complex offers another cultural and historical perspective. Today, about 2,500 burial mounds and a settlement remain there. The complex is considered the largest complex of archaeological monuments in Russia and Europe dating from the emergence of the Old Russian state. As an archaeological monument of state and federal significance, it is under state protection.
Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park is also located in Smolensk Oblast. It was established on 15 April 1992 in the Demidovsky and Dukhovshchinsky districts to protect unique natural complexes for recreational, educational, scientific and cultural purposes. The “K istokam” ecological trail is a circular route that begins in the village of Stary Dvor. A track for mobile apps such as Geotreker or MAPS.ME helps visitors follow the route independently. Two viewing platforms were installed at Lakes Svyatets and Sapsho in 2023–2024.
Another nature experience in Smolensk Oblast is the barefoot trail in Boroviki. It consists of 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 Aptekarskiy Sad. Smolensk Oblast therefore offers both a circular route with viewing platforms and a short nature trail divided into sections with different ground surfaces.
Discover more destinations: Kardymovsky District, Sychyovsky District, Sychevsky District, Dukhovshchinsky District, Yelninsky District, Smolensk, Kholm-Zhirkovsky District, Smolensky District.
View the wider travel overview: Smolensk Oblast.
