Chekalin is about four kilometres from Samarovo. Visitors can explore the site of the ancient town there. Two quest formats offer different experiences: the costumed quest “Through the streets of the old city” follows a route that participants determine themselves by solving tasks. “Code of History” combines riddles, puzzles, historical facts and a secret code. In the first quest, the tasks help determine the route; the second focuses on puzzles and historical content. The Likhvinskiy Pit is also a notable feature in Chekalin.

Chekalin: ancient town and puzzles

The site of the ancient town is a specific place to visit for anyone interested in the history of the area. The two quest formats complement this focus in different ways: the costumed quest links tasks to a route that participants determine themselves, while “Code of History” uses riddles, puzzles, historical facts and a secret code. If you want to plan a quest for a specific date, check in advance whether it will be available then. Another place visitors can see in Chekalin is the Likhvinskiy Pit.

More places to explore in Tula Oblast

The wider destination of Tula Oblast offers other cultural attractions with distinct themes. In Tula, the exhibition “Skazanie o Mamaevom poboishche” at the “Tulskie drevnosti” Museum explores the Battle of Kulikovo. In the interactive areas, visitors can weave a piece of chain mail, try on armour and learn to read chronicle miniatures. The exhibition thus connects the subject of the battle with hands-on activities and the interpretation of historical depictions.

Another exhibition at the same museum, “Sekrety tulskikh masterov”, features a pottery workshop, a blacksmith’s workshop and household objects from the 17th to the 19th century. It focuses on craft workshops and objects from everyday life. Together, the two exhibitions offer different ways to explore history: one covers the Battle of Kulikovo and its depiction in chronicles, while the other presents workshops and household life across several centuries.

At the Yasnaya Polyana Museum Estate, a guided walk takes visitors through the central part of the estate. From May to October, participants learn about Tolstoy’s favourite places for daily walks, the local flora and fauna, the history of the Tula defensive lines and Tolstoy’s plantings. This tour is available from May to October; check the specific dates before your visit. Leo Tolstoy’s personal library is another cultural connection to Tula Oblast: it has been included in UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” Register.

Other places in Tula Oblast add to these themes. The village of Monastyrshchino in Kimovsk District is home to a museum and monument to the heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo. The Kulikovo Field Horse Yard is also located there. On the Polenovo estate, the artist Vasily Polenov designed all the buildings himself. The Romantsevskiye Mountains, also known as Konduki, are a former open-cast coal mine in Tula Oblast.

If you are considering a holiday apartment in Samarovo, compare its exact location with the places you actually plan to visit.

Discover more destinations: Balevo, Maslovo, Tula, Poselok, Alexin, Skuratovskiy, Borodinskiy, Petrovskiy

For the wider travel overview: Tula Oblast.