Nepriye offers a combination of excursions on Lake Seliger and a religious site in its centre: the spring of Saint Nil Stolobensky. The Kopanka Canal is also nearby. This brings together three distinct interests: activities on the water, a stop at the spring and a look at the lakeshore landscape. For your trip planning, it is worth considering these separately: the lake activities are offered by Nepriye Country Club; the spring and canal are separate reasons to visit.

Excursions on Lake Seliger

Nepriye Country Club offers excursions on Lake Seliger in a weatherproof boat. It also offers year-round fishing on the lake in a forest setting and provides the necessary equipment. Quad bike excursions are also part of the club’s offerings; availability may change. If you are planning one of these activities, check with the club in advance to confirm current availability and whether you can take part.

The Spring and Kopanka Canal

The spring of Saint Nil Stolobensky is on the shore of Lake Seliger in the central part of Nepriye. A chapel dedicated to the saint stands over the well and was consecrated by priests from Nilova Pustyn. Before visiting, check the current condition of the spring and its structures on site.

The entrance to the Kopanka Canal is about 700 metres northeast of Nepriye. Travellers emerge from the canal on an alternative route. A 1987 guidebook gives the canal’s length as 240 metres and its width as 4 to 8 metres; it also describes old pine forest along the banks. These measurements are a historical reference point. When water levels are high, the canal can be navigated with an outboard motor. Check current water and passage conditions before setting out.

The canal’s history is also associated with a legend: it attributes the canal to monks from Nilova Pustyn and tells how the monk Nektary spent his life digging it. At the same time, the account questions whether this attribution is literal. The historical Abbot Nektary Telyashin led Nilova Pustyn for 50 years; for this reason, the story doubts that he personally took up a shovel.

Nature and Culture in Tver Oblast

In Tver Oblast, the Central Forest Nature Reserve offers guided excursions along the ecological trails “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka.” The “Boloto Staroselsky Mokh” educational trail passes through a raised bog with wide-open areas entirely covered in moss and unusual plants. Visitors use their own vehicle for an excursion to the “Staroselsky Mokh” raised bog. The hike to the “Barsuchikha” cordon can be done as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest cabin. Along the way, you can see southern taiga forest and a raised bog.

The reserve’s Nature Museum showcases the protected area’s main ecosystems and the species that live there; a separate hall is devoted to scientific research. The central estate also has a visitor centre with information about the organisation’s history and structure, a regular exhibition of children’s artwork and a souvenir shop. Nilova Pustyn, on Stolobny Island, is another distinct cultural destination in Tver Oblast. The monastery is a centre for religious and pilgrimage tourism.

Discover more destinations: Glubochitsa, Novye Eltsy, Konets, Tverdyakino

Return to the main travel overview: Ostashkovskiy District.