Ferzikovsky District: Country Estates, Parks and History

• Bogimovo was the Pronchishchev family’s ancestral estate. Vasily Pronchishchev was born there in 1702 and spent his childhood there; A. P. Chekhov stayed there in the summer of 1891.
• The Gorodnya estate includes a formal linden park and an overgrown landscape park with two ponds dating from the late 18th century.
• The surviving buildings and park at Avchurino are listed as cultural heritage of federal significance; the park is also a natural monument of regional significance.
• Grabtsevo is home to the 18th-century estate of the noble Yeropkin family. Its church complex is recognized as cultural heritage of federal significance.
• The Koltsovo Caves are remnants of 19th-century limestone quarrying. The explored section closer to Koltsovo has passage systems with a combined length of more than 800 metres.

Gorodnya offers a particularly varied park landscape. Alongside the formal linden park is an overgrown landscape park with two ponds, laid out on terraces on the slope descending towards the Gorodenka River. One pond is right by the house, the other by the river. The layout of the water features and the different styles of park give the estate a clear landscape structure.

Grabtsevo and Bogimovo also have formal parks, but with different avenues. Grabtsevo’s well-preserved park has a particularly wide avenue leading down towards the Gorodenka. Bogimovo has a formal park dating from the 1830s, with linden and pine avenues. Avchurino, by contrast, has an overgrown landscape park with mostly linden trees and a pond. Those interested in historic garden design can find both orderly avenues and parks with a different character here.

At Bogimovo, connections span the history of the Pronchishchev family, literature and polar exploration. Vasily Vasilyevich Pronchishchev, who later became known as a navigator and Arctic explorer, was born at the estate in 1702 and spent his childhood there. Chekhov stayed there in the summer of 1891. The estate also includes the Empire-style Church of the Dormition, built in 1830; its bell tower is no longer standing. The park, with its linden and pine avenues, dates from the 1830s.

Avchurino brings together buildings from different periods. At the beginning of the 18th century, a two-kilometre oak avenue was laid out there under Yaguzhinsky, and it has survived relatively well. At the time, this road was associated with the expectation that Emperor Peter I would arrive; this was a historical expectation, not a claim that he actually arrived. The estate also includes a “Gothic” house with a tower dating from the 1840s, which once served as a library. The heritage and natural monument listings apply to the surviving buildings and the park.

The estate at Grabtsevo adds the church complex of the noble Yeropkin family to these historic sites. Together, they offer a chance to explore different aspects of the district: noble estate history, religious architecture, parkland and personal connections to navigation, Arctic exploration and literature.

At the Volnoye Equestrian and Tourism Club in Bebelevo, visitors can learn to ride and go horseback riding through the fields. The club also offers photo sessions and opportunities to interact with the horses and other animals on the ranch. Check the current arrangements directly with the club before travelling.

The “Istoriya v Bogimovo” project combines features of dairy farming at an organic dairy farm with stories about polar explorers and Chekhov’s work. Its aims include promoting organic agriculture and developing agritourism in the areas of food, education and cultural history. If you are planning a visit or tour, check availability in advance.

The Gorodnya estate is part of the “Starinnye dvoryanskie gnezda” tourist route, which includes Grabtsevo, Gorodnya and Avchurino. Before planning, check whether the route is running on your travel dates. Visitors can walk around the grounds at Gorodnya; access to the surviving house is restricted because a school is housed there. Check the current access conditions before your visit.

When choosing a hotel, it helps to decide on your priorities first: historic country estates and parks, connections to literature and navigation, or a planned experience in Bebelevo or Bogimovo. If you have a particular visitor experience in mind, check its availability and then compare accommodation locations with the places that matter to you.

Discover more destinations: Medynskiy rayon, Tarusskiy rayon, Maloyaroslavetskiy rayon, Mosalskiy rayon, Peremyshlsky District, Yukhnovsky District, Peremyshlskiy rayon, Dzerzhinskiy rayon.

Which historical figures are associated with Bogimovo?

Bogimovo was the Pronchishchev family’s ancestral estate. Vasily Vasilyevich Pronchishchev was born there in 1702 and spent his childhood there; A. P. Chekhov stayed at the estate in the summer of 1891.

Can visitors access the surviving house at Gorodnya?

Access to the house is restricted because a school is housed there. Visitors can walk around the grounds. Check the current conditions before your visit.

What are the Koltsovo Caves?

They are remnants of 19th-century limestone quarrying. The explored section closer to Koltsovo is reported to have passage systems with a combined length of more than 800 metres; this measurement refers to that section.

Go to the wider travel overview: Kaluga Oblast.