In Sonkovsky District, cultural history and railway connections can be considered as two distinct focuses when planning a trip. Churches and estate history are spread across several named places; Sonkovo is the main point of reference for rail routes and a permanently displayed monument.
Churches and Estate History
The churches differ in their construction dates, locations and histories. In Koy stands the two-storey brick Church of the Holy Trinity. Invited craftsmen from Moscow built it over a period of ten years; it was consecrated in 1731. In the village of Gorka stands the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan, built in 1980. The Church of the Ascension of the Lord is in Zadorie, one kilometre from the church in Gorka.
The 19th-century Shchegolyov merchant’s house is one of the district’s sights. The historic Zaimishche estate in Pishchalkino belonged to the Shubinsky family for several centuries; remains of the manor park have been preserved.
Another landscape attraction is Urchishche-Zaimishche Park in Pishchalkino, laid out in the French style in the early 19th century. A larch avenue with a hundred Siberian trees runs along the southern edge of the park.
Sonkovo: Rail Connections and Remembrance
The district’s history extends beyond churches and estates. The Battle of the Sit took place near Bozhonka on 4 March 1238. The forces of Yuri Vsevolodovich, Grand Prince of Vladimir, clashed with a detachment led by Burundai, one of Batu Khan’s commanders.
Sonkovo is an important railway junction, with rail routes from there to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Rybinsk and Uglich. Check connections before travelling. Railway history is also present here: in 1995, a steam locomotive was permanently installed as a monument in Sonkovo. It commemorates the significant contribution railway workers made to transport during the war.
Then match the specific location of a holiday apartment to the destinations you plan to visit.
A Broader Perspective: Tver Oblast
Those who broaden their trip planning to include the wider destination of Tver Oblast will find distinctive nature-related attractions there. The Central Forest Nature Reserve offers guided tours along the “Tainy Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka” ecological trails. The “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” educational trail runs through a raised bog with broad, open areas completely covered in moss and unusual plants. Visitors use their own vehicle for the excursion to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog. Another option is a hike to the “Barsuchikha” cordon, which can be taken as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest cabin. Along the way, visitors see southern taiga and a raised bog.
Tver Oblast’s cultural heritage also offers distinctive examples. “Verkhnee gorodishche” is an archaeological monument of federal significance, located in the historic centre of Torzhok. The “Novotorzhskiy Borisoglebskiy monastyr” monastery in Torzhok was founded in 1038 and is among Russia’s oldest Orthodox monasteries.
Discover more destinations: Sela, Selizharovsky District, Rameshkovsky District, Oleninsky District, Sonkovsky District, Zapadnodvinsky District, Rzhevsky District, Andreapolsky District.
For the broader travel overview: Tver Oblast.
