Mordves is best explored through the subject of railway construction; the town is also home to a mass grave. The exhibition about railway builders spans the period from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. Other descriptions from 2017 mention equipment on the station forecourt and a recreated living area in a railway carriage. Taken together, these features give the town a clear historical focus, although they do not all cover the same period.

Railway construction and remembrance in Mordves

A description published in 2017 says that the exhibition at the historical and cultural center in Mordves is devoted to railway builders from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. A report from 2017 announced the center's opening at Mordves station to mark the 180th anniversary of Russian railways.

In 2017, equipment used in railway construction was described on the forecourt of Mordves station. Another display described in 2017 is a recreated living area in a railway carriage, depicting the home of Soviet railway workers in the mid-20th century. In terms of the periods covered, the exhibition spans a longer stretch of time, while the living area illustrates a specific domestic setting. The equipment on the forecourt adds a perspective on the use of machinery in railway construction.

The town is also home to a mass grave. If you would like to include the railway displays or the mass grave in your visit, check access in advance.

Other cultural topics in Tula Oblast

In Tula Oblast, the exhibition “Skazanie o Mamaevom poboishche” at the “Tulskie drevnosti” museum explores the Battle of Kulikovo. In interactive areas, visitors can weave a piece of chain mail, try on armor, and learn how to read chronicle miniatures. The focus differs from that of Mordves: there, the subject is railway builders and railway construction; here, it is the battle and its portrayal.

Another exhibition at the same museum, “Sekrety tulskikh masterov,” features a pottery workshop, a blacksmith's workshop, and household items from the 17th to the 19th century. This shifts the focus from railway construction and the history of battles to crafts and everyday objects from earlier centuries. The previously mentioned “Tulskie drevnosti” museum should not be confused with the museum and monument to the heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo, which are located in the village of Monastyrshchino in Kimovsk District, Tula Oblast.

Another way to explore Tula Oblast is a guided walk through the Yasnaya Polyana Museum-Reserve. The tour takes visitors through the central part of the estate and is offered from May to October. It covers Tolstoy's favorite places for daily walks, the local flora and fauna, and the history of the Tula Zaseki and Tolstoy's plantings. Unlike the exhibitions, the focus here is a guided route through an estate; the seasonal schedule is especially important for planning.

Architectural history offers another perspective: at the Polenovo estate, the artist Vasily Polenov designed all the buildings himself. The cultural heritage of Tula Oblast also includes Leo Tolstoy's personal library, which was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. These examples complement Mordves's railway themes with architectural history and international recognition of literary heritage.

Discover more destinations: Bogoroditsk, Shchyokino, Samarovo, Skuratovskiy, Petelino, Uzlovaya, Sudakovo, Meshcherino

For the regional travel overview: Tula Oblast.