Basargino: Church, Icons and Mountain Scenery

• The St. Nicholas Church was built in 2012 and consecrated on December 14, 2013.
• The church houses locally venerated icons dating from the second half of the 19th century.
• The Basargino educational and health center is set in a landscape surrounded by mountains. Lake Aya is about 40 km away.
• A short climb up Mount Ipatievskaya is recommended; there is a cross on the mountain.

The church was built in 2012 with the blessing of Bishop Maxim (Dmitriev), Bishop of Barnaul and Altai, and consecrated on December 14, 2013. It houses locally venerated icons dating from the second half of the 19th century. Their subjects include “The Crucifixion with the Bystanders,” “The Resurrection of Christ” and “Ruler of All,” as well as icons of St. Nicholas and the martyrs Kirik and Julitta. Another image depicts the four feasts of the Nativity of Christ, the Transfiguration, the Ascension and the Exaltation of the Cross. Thus, the history of the church and an older religious art tradition meet at this site.

The Basargino educational and health center is set in a landscape surrounded by mountains. A 2018 travel account recommends a short climb up Mount Ipatievskaya, where there is a cross. Check access and trail conditions before setting out. The Basargino maral farm offers the opportunity to observe marals. If you plan this activity, check in advance whether visits are currently possible.

Lake Aya is about 40 km from the Basargino educational and health center. This approximate distance is a useful point to factor into your plans if you are considering destinations beyond Basargino as well as local attractions. Church art, a possible climb and maral watching offer different ways to spend your stay; when planning, check current visitor access and trail conditions separately.

Belokurikha and other places in the Altai region offer distinct nature and culture experiences. In Belokurikha, forest health trails invite you to go for a walk; more challenging routes lead to Lonely Pine, Four Brothers Rock and Shishi Creek. A chairlift takes visitors to the summit of Mount Tserkovka. Check whether it is operating before your trip. The walking paths and more challenging routes cater to different hiking preferences, without implying anything about current trail conditions.

Altai Foothills Nature Park also adds to the selection: established educational trails lead to rock formations, a former tungsten mine, abandoned mines and factory villages. For those interested in culture, Srostki offers a different focus. The Vasily Shukshin Museum opened there in 1978 and is housed in the former wooden school building that Shukshin attended and where he briefly taught. The museum houses thousands of exhibits. These destinations broaden the view of the Altai region to include hiking trails, mining history and literary history.

If you are looking for a hotel in Basargino, first decide whether local history and nature or additional destinations in the Altai region will shape your plans. Then check each accommodation’s location in relation to the places you want to visit.

Discover more destinations: Askat, Altayskoye, Katunskoye, Souzga, Katun', Aktach, Petropavlovskoye and Biysk.

Which icons are housed in the St. Nicholas Church?

The locally venerated icons date from the second half of the 19th century. The subjects mentioned include the Crucifixion, the Resurrection of Christ, the “Ruler of All,” saints, and an image of the four feasts of the Nativity of Christ, the Transfiguration, the Ascension and the Exaltation of the Cross.

What does a visit to the Basargino maral farm include?

It includes the opportunity to observe marals. Check in advance whether visits are currently possible.

How far is Lake Aya from the educational and health center?

Lake Aya is about 40 km from the Basargino educational and health center.

For the main travel overview: Altai region.