Zubtsovsky District offers different ways to explore the area on a trip, from estate history, regional history and remembrance to nature. In Volosovo, you’ll find the country estate of the Kurakin princely family; Zubtsov combines a local history museum in its historic centre with a recurring folk art festival; and Pogoreloye Gorodishche is home to a memorial complex. There are also the three springs of the Rodniki Kurkovskie natural monument. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: are you most interested in architectural history, museum exhibits, remembrance or nature? The places below each offer their own perspective.
Estate history in Volosovo
The country estate of the Kurakin princely family in Volosovo is an architectural monument dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Construction of the main house began between 1792 and 1798. The estate acquired the second name “Stepanovskoe” after Prince Stepan Kurakin, under whose direction construction of the new estate began. This brings two aspects of the same place into focus: the construction history of the main house and the origin of its second name. For travellers interested in architecture, the estate is notable both as an architectural monument and for its naming history.
Regional history at the local history museum
The Zubtsov Local History Museum is located in Zubtsov’s historic centre, in an architectural monument dating from the 19th century. Its exhibition spans three halls and covers the region’s history from its settlement through to the middle of the 20th century. The museum therefore offers a broad timeframe, while the estate in Volosovo brings a particular architectural and family history to mind. If you’re comparing historic places, this difference in scale is what sets them apart: here, a single country estate is the focus; there, the history of a region over a long period.
Remembrance in Pogoreloye Gorodishche
The memorial complex in Pogoreloye Gorodishche includes a military cemetery containing the remains of 520 Soviet soldiers who fell in the Second World War. A memorial wall commemorates 1,800 local residents who did not return from the Great Patriotic War. The cemetery and the wall serve different purposes: the cemetery is dedicated to the fallen soldiers, and the wall to the local residents. Together, they offer two perspectives on remembrance of the war. A history-focused trip can thus take in both the soldiers and the local population.
Springs and swimming in nature
The Rodniki Kurkovskie state natural monument consists of three springs in ravines and is located near Kurkovo. The pool fed by the springs is used for extreme bathing year-round. Here, the natural features of the springs meet a specific use of their water. Those who would like to focus their stay more on nature than on estate history, the museum or remembrance will find a distinct point of interest here. The three springs, their location in ravines and the spring-fed pool each give this natural setting a concrete point of reference.
An autumn festival in Zubtsov
The intermunicipal folk art festival “Barynya-Kapusta” has been held in Zubtsov every autumn since 2008. It adds a recurring cultural event tied to a particular season to the area’s historic attractions.
Seasons and reasons to visit
Two activities differ clearly in terms of timing: the festival takes place every autumn, while the pool fed by the springs is used for extreme bathing year-round. If you’re planning your trip around the festival, check the dates for that year’s event in advance. This lets you distinguish the seasonal festival from the pool’s year-round use.
Discover more destinations: Shchekoldino, Pogoreloye Gorodishche, Penovsky District, Kalininsky District, Molokovsky District, Rameshkovsky District, Penovsky District, Staritsky District.
For an overview of the wider area: Tver Oblast.
