Kolykhmanovo: Hill of Glory and Regional Memorial Sites

• The Hill of Glory is beside the bridge over the Ugra in the village of Kolykhmanovo.
• The memorial is part of a regional World War II route and commemorates the crew of an ER-2 long-range bomber who did not return from a mission.
• Nearby, in the Belyaevskoye forestry district of Ugra National Park, a memorial marker stands at the site of the sanitary burials of a military hospital.
• A described kayaking tour covers 50 kilometers over three days along a section of the Ugra in Ugra National Park.

The Hill of Glory connects a specific place in Kolykhmanovo with the story of a World War II crew. The memorial commemorates the crew of an ER-2 long-range bomber who did not return from a mission. It is also part of a regional World War II route. Its location beside the bridge over the Ugra makes the hill easy to pinpoint in the village.

The hill was a stop on an excursion in 2025. If you plan to visit independently, check current access in advance. Another memorial marker is located near Kolykhmanovo, in the Belyaevskoye forestry district of Ugra National Park. It stands at the site of the sanitary burials of a military hospital. The national park reported maintenance of the marker in June 2025; here, too, it is advisable to check access before visiting.

Further stops are in Yukhnovsky District and around Kozlovka. In Yukhnov, an excursion in June 2025 visited a monument and a mass grave. If you would like to find out more about the town as a separate destination, see the Yukhnov travel entry. Near the village of Kozlovka are a military memorial trail and the West Front Command Post museum exhibition. An excursion visited these two destinations in June 2025; before visiting independently, check current access and opening arrangements.

A section of the Great Kaluga Tourist Trail is also part of the wider regional area: it runs through Yukhnovsky District from Belyaevo to Papaevo. These places and routes offer different historical points of interest, and their locations should be considered separately.

A described kayaking tour runs for three days and covers 50 kilometers along a section of the Ugra in Ugra National Park. The starting point is not far from the village of Kolykhmanovo. Near the starting point, the Warsaw Highway crosses the Ugra; the described tour ends near the Nikola-Lenivets art park. Before planning, check whether it is currently being offered.

Nikola-Lenivets art park is a separate destination in Kaluga Oblast. It features landscape installations and land art by Russian and international artists, many of which are considered influential in contemporary art. The annual Archstoyanie festival is usually held in late July. Its program includes new art installations, performances, concerts, lectures, and workshops; details may vary from year to year. When planning a tour, you can therefore distinguish between Kolykhmanovo’s memorial history and the art-related attractions in other parts of the region.

Kaluga Oblast offers other cultural attractions in their own distinct locations. In Kaluga, the K. E. Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics presents the history of Russian space exploration, from the first artificial Earth satellite to modern long-duration orbital stations. At the Usadba Zolotaryev museum complex, colorful dioramas and biological groups depict the region’s plant and animal life through the changing seasons; the history department has eleven rooms on the second floor.

Another focus is the museum and exhibition center in Medyn District, which has two gallery spaces and hosts master classes, concerts, and other cultural events. Specific event dates are not provided, so you should check the program separately for your trip. These attractions complement Kolykhmanovo’s local memorial connection with museum and art experiences elsewhere in Kaluga Oblast, without presenting them as features of the village itself.

What does the Hill of Glory commemorate?

The Hill of Glory in Kolykhmanovo commemorates the crew of an ER-2 long-range bomber who did not return from a mission. It is beside the bridge over the Ugra and is part of a regional World War II route.

What is known about the described kayaking tour?

A three-day tour covering 50 kilometers along a section of the Ugra in Ugra National Park is described. Its starting point is not far from Kolykhmanovo, and it ends near Nikola-Lenivets art park. Before planning, check whether the tour is currently being offered.

What ways of getting around does the Great Kaluga Trail mention?

You can travel along the Great Kaluga Trail on foot, by kayak, or by bicycle. Information boards and signposts help you determine your location and the distance to the nearest settlement. Current national park admission requirements may apply.

When is the Archstoyanie festival usually held?

The annual festival in Nikola-Lenivets is usually held in late July. Its program includes art installations, performances, concerts, lectures, and workshops; specific events may change.

For the broader travel overview: Yukhnovsky District.