Oxbow lakes, marshy floodplain forests and forest terraces shape the Davydovskiy Nature Reserve. Museums and a traditional summer festival offer further points of interest for planning a trip to Kameshkovskiy District. Nature and culture each have their own focus, from the landscape along the Klyazma to exhibitions and local customs.
Floodplains, Lakes and Forest Landscapes
The Davydovskiy Nature Reserve encompasses the Klyazma’s left-bank floodplain, the Davydovskaya floodplain and the terraces above them. The Davydovskaya floodplain has numerous oxbow lakes. During the spring floods, they connect with the Klyazma. Lake Svyato lies in the northern part of the reserve; it is the only body of water there of karst origin.
Much of the area consists of predominantly marshy floodplain forests. Alder forests are most common in the lower-lying areas, while oak, lime and elm trees grow mainly on higher ground. Various types of pine forest dominate the terraces above the floodplain. The forest communities therefore differ according to their position in the landscape.
The protected Patachinskaya Roshcha is a mixed forest 110–130 years old. Its trees include birches, aspens, oaks, limes, maples and elms, as well as pines and spruces. The roshcha is also home to rare plants, including white water lily, spring sedge, creeping thyme and broad-leaved bellflower.
Enjoying Nature and Planning Your Visit
The Davydovskaya floodplain is used for recreational fishing, mushroom and berry picking, swimming and picnics; weekend trips are also among the leisure activities described. Follow the reserve’s rules when visiting. Fishing also takes place at the natural monuments “Ozyora Shumarki i Staritsa”. They are also used for recreational and sport hunting of waterfowl, particularly ducks.
For planning purposes, it is important not to confuse former facilities with current offerings: there was once a hunting and fishing base near Lake Voykhra. A tourist facility belonging to the Avtopribor factory used to be located near Lower Lake Vyshikhra. Neither facility is still operating.
Museums in Kameshkovo, Davydovo and Usolye
The Kameshkovo Local History Museum presents five exhibitions: “Osnovaniye goroda” (“The Founding of the City”), “Yego prisutstviye na zemle” (“His Presence on Earth”), “Russkaya izba” (“Russian Peasant House”), “Vladimirskie rozhechniki” (“Vladimir Horn Players”) and “Front. Tyl. Plen” (“Front. Home Front. Captivity”). Their themes range from the city’s founding and local life to everyday life in a Russian home, shepherd’s horns and experiences of war.
The A. P. Borodin Museum in Davydovo is dedicated to the life and work of the Russian composer. Borodin spent three summers in Davydovo with his favourite student, A. P. Dianin, and later bequeathed his archive to him. Arias for the opera “Knyaz Igor” were composed in Davydovo; songs by Davydovo peasants were incorporated into the “Khor poselyan” (“Peasants’ Chorus”) scene. Tours offered there include “A. P. Borodin v s. Davydovo” (“A. P. Borodin in the village of Davydovo”) and “Semya Dianinykh” (“The Dianin Family”). Check the current arrangements for visits before travelling.
The felt-boot museum in Usolye, which opened in 2019, tells the story of traditional Russian felt boots and how they are made. Visits are possible by prior arrangement. Nina Fyodorovna Gerasimova, the museum’s curator and the village elder, leads visitors through the museum. Please arrange your visit in advance.
Village Theatre and Shepherd’s Horn Festival
At the village theatre for drama and comedy in Fomikha, the forest, fields and river become performers and the main stage for the productions. The landscape is thus part of the theatre’s concept. If you are planning a visit, confirm the programme and access arrangements in advance.
Every summer, Mishnevo hosts the traditional Shepherd’s Horn Festival “Khorosho rozhok igraet” (“The Little Horn Plays Well”), where the shepherd’s horn sounds once again. Visitors can take part in workshops on making a “Kukla-zakrutka” (a wrapped-cloth doll) and painting clay toys. The annual festival also includes a large exhibition and fair featuring work by artisans from across Kameshkovskiy District. The Russian folk song ensemble “Baloven” and the dance ensemble “CHAS PIK” are among its regular participants. As individual offerings may vary from one edition to another, check the dates and programme for your chosen year in advance.
Discover more destinations: Suzdalsky District, Vladimir, Sudogodsky District, Kirzhachskiy District, Kolchuginskiy District, Alexandrovsky District, Melenkovskiy District, Alexandrovsky District.
For the overview of the wider region: Vladimir Oblast.
