The church, Campanile-style water tower and city park give Kireyevsk three very different features: religious architecture, a technical structure with an unusual shape, and a place for walks and time by the water. This makes it possible to explore the destination based on specific interests. At the church, the dome construction takes centre stage; on Lenina Street, the old water tower’s Campanile form; and in the city park, you can choose between shady avenues and the beach. Other cultural attractions are part of the wider destination of Tula Oblast and should be distinguished from local offerings.

Architecture in Kireyevsk

The Church in Honour of the Icon of the Mother of God “Nechayannaya Radost” is a massive, low, square building with a dome on an octagonal light drum. The transition from the square building to the octagonal structure above offers a simple starting point for comparing the forms. Construction of the brick building began in 2006; the exterior work is complete.

A different form can be seen in the old water tower on Lenina Street, which resembles a Venetian Campanile. The comparison moves from the low, massive form of the church to a water tower with the shape of a Campanile. This puts two different architectural features of the town in the spotlight: a domed church and a water tower with a distinctive shape.

Walking paths and water in the city park

Shady avenues in Kireyevsk’s city park invite visitors to go for a walk. Visitors can sunbathe on the beach and swim in the Olen River. There are different options to choose from: a walk along the avenues or time at the beach and in the river. If you plan to swim, check the local conditions.

Culture and history in Tula Oblast

The wider destination of Tula Oblast offers museums and guided cultural activities as separate attractions. They differ from the architectural landmarks and leisure activities in Kireyevsk. At the Tulskie Drevnosti Museum in Tula, the exhibition “Skazanie o Mamayevom poboishche” covers the Battle of Kulikovo. In interactive areas, visitors can weave a piece of chain mail, try on armour and learn how to read chronicle miniatures. The exhibition thus combines practical activities with the study of chronicle illustrations.

A second exhibition at the same museum, “Sekrety tulskikh masterov,” features a pottery workshop, a blacksmith’s workshop and household objects from the 17th to 19th centuries. Unlike the exhibition focused on the Battle of Kulikovo, this one is about crafts and everyday objects. The two exhibitions therefore have different historical focuses.

At the Yasnaya Polyana Museum Estate, visitors can take a guided tour of the central part of the estate from May to October. They learn about Tolstoy’s favourite places for his daily walks, the local flora and fauna, and the history of the Tula defensive lines and Tolstoy’s plantings. The tour combines nature topics with cultural history, distinguishing it from the exhibitions in Tula.

In Tula Oblast, the Polenovo estate offers another perspective on architecture: the artist Vasily Polenov designed all the buildings himself.

Discover more destinations: Lukino, Donskoy, Petrovskiy, Danilovskoye, Novomoskovsk, Balevo, Goryachkino, Tury

For the wider travel overview: Tula Oblast.