Tarusa: Museums, Literature and Routes

• The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul was consecrated on March 22, 1790, in honor of the holy apostles Peter and Paul.
• At the K. G. Paustovsky Memorial House Museum, guided tours are held every hour from Wednesday to Sunday between 11:00 and 18:00; the last one starts at 17:00.
• A combined bus-and-walking route to Paustovsky-related sites in Tarusa is 12 kilometers long.

The main exhibition at the Tarusa Art Gallery features Russian artworks by artists from the 18th to the 20th centuries whose lives and work were closely connected with Tarusa. Here, art and local history come together in the selection of artists. The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul also offers a tangible historical connection: it was consecrated to the apostles Peter and Paul on March 22, 1790.

The cenotaph of Marina Tsvetaeva stands on the high bank of the Oka. The inscription on the stone reads, “Here Marina Tsvetaeva wished to lie.” Another place associated with the poet is the Tarusa Tsvetaev Family Museum. It is housed in the restored building known as “House Tyó.” Marina and Anastasia Tsvetaeva stayed there during their winter visits to Tarusa from 1907 to 1910. The exhibition also includes materials about Marina Tsvetaeva and her family.

The 12-kilometer combined bus-and-walking route “Po tarusskim mestam K. G. Paustovskogo” passes the local history museum, K. G. Paustovsky’s house and grave, the valleys of the Tarusa and Oka rivers, the grave of V. E. Borisov-Musatov, the memorial stone to M. I. Tsvetaeva, and the N. P. Rakitsky Arboretum. The 9.6-kilometer “Ilyinskiy omut” route connects the local history museum and K. G. Paustovsky’s house with the Tarusa River and Ilyinskiy omut. The routes therefore differ both in length and in their listed stops—and, for the longer route, in the mix of transport. The route descriptions date from 2025; before planning, ask the museum about current trail conditions and check current transport arrangements for the bus-and-walking route.

The audio play “Pamyat lyubvi” offers a different kind of experience. It accompanies listeners on a route from Eduard Steinberg’s studio to the Oka embankment, bringing figures from the past to life in the cityscape. Before planning, check the museum’s latest visitor information about this project.

At the Eduard Steinberg Studio Museum, visitors can see his workspace, preserved as it was, and documentary materials. Sergei Zharov’s private museum displays imaginative works he created from scrap metal. Its collection also includes more than 100 antique irons—a different focus from the sculptures. Before visiting, check the private institution’s current visiting arrangements.

The “Cherdak” Museum was established in Tarusa in December 2018. Its exhibition includes objects from the 19th to the 21st centuries that illustrate the Soviet and pre-Soviet eras. It also features a 1977 record player made by Moscow’s “Agregat” Experimental Plant, which visitors can use to listen to old records. As visitor arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the museum’s latest information before visiting.

The Tarusa Tourist Information Center offers a city tour and an excursion to Tarusa’s estates. Its offerings also include a walk and a treasure hunt following in Paustovsky’s footsteps, as well as workshops in pottery, painting and mosaic art. Check dates and availability with the center directly in advance.

Discover more destinations: Kondrovo, Vorotynsk, Sukreml', Karaskovo, Vashutino, Mokroye, Razdol and Balabanovo.

When are tours held at the Paustovsky Memorial House Museum?

Tours are held every hour from Wednesday to Sunday between 11:00 and 18:00. The last one starts at 17:00. Check the museum’s latest visitor information before your trip.

How do the two routes to Paustovsky-related sites differ?

The 12-kilometer route combines bus and walking and passes several museums, graves, a memorial stone and the arboretum. The 9.6-kilometer “Ilyinskiy omut” route connects the local history museum and Paustovsky’s house with the Tarusa River and Ilyinskiy omut. Ask the museum about current trail conditions.

What can visitors experience at the “Cherdak” Museum?

The exhibition includes objects from the 19th to the 21st centuries that illustrate the Soviet and pre-Soviet eras. Visitors can listen to old records on a 1977 record player. Check the latest visitor information before your visit.

For the broader travel overview: Kaluga Oblast.