Chukhloma: City Park, Lake and Local History Museum

• Chukhloma lies on the eastern shore of Lake Chukhloma; the lake is on the list of specially protected areas.
• Chukhloma City Park is located on the site of the old fortress.
• The “Istoriya rodnogo kraya” walking trail is four kilometres long and designated for spring, summer and autumn.
• The local history museum opened in 1919 as a museum of local lore; its building was erected for the Klimov merchants in 1914.

The lake is an important landmark in the city’s landscape: Chukhloma lies on its eastern shore. The lake’s protected-area status is also part of its character. The city park offers a different perspective on local history, as it occupies the site of Chukhloma’s old fortress. The landscape and history are therefore two distinct themes that can shape how you explore the area.

If you are mainly interested in the waterside surroundings, Lake Chukhloma is a natural starting point for exploring the landscape. If you are interested in cultural history, the park on the former fortress site offers a separate point of interest. These features make Chukhloma a destination for both nature and culture enthusiasts, without merging them into a single sightseeing spot.

The “Istoriya rodnogo kraya” walking trail runs through Chukhloma and passes, among other places, through the city park, along Lake Chukhloma and by the local history museum. Several of the area’s best-known features come together along the route: the park on the old fortress site, the lakeshore and the museum collection. At four kilometres, the trail has a clearly stated length that you can take into account when planning your visit.

The walking trail is designated for spring, summer and autumn. If you want to plan your trip around this route, these are the three seasons specified. The trail is one way to bring the area’s different features together; visitors with a stronger interest in a particular subject can focus on the park, lake or museum.

The local history museum opened in 1919 as a museum of local lore. It is housed in a commercial building erected for the Klimov merchants in 1914. The two dates describe different parts of its history: the institution’s opening and the construction year of the building that houses it.

The museum includes a natural history section and an exhibition marking the 200th birthday of the poet and playwright P. A. Katenin. Natural history and literary history are thus presented side by side. If you are particularly interested in local history during your trip, this museum adds insights into nature and culture to the historical context of the city park.

At the “Poy, Chukhlomskiy ozyornyy kray!” festival, creative groups compete against one another. This is a distinct cultural highlight alongside local attractions around the lake, park and museum. If you would like to include the festival in your stay, check the latest event dates before travelling.

In Kostroma Oblast, the “Kologrivskiy les” nature reserve offers a different landscape to explore. The “Puteshestviye v zapovednyy les” tour includes a visit to the ecological trail of the same name, which passes through a section of old southern taiga forest. The reserve consists of two separate areas that preserve different southern taiga landscapes with zonal and provincial physical-geographical features.

A cultural landmark in Kostroma Oblast is the Shchelykovo estate, associated with the Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky. Tours of the park and the house of A. N. Ostrovsky are offered at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 15:30. They are available for groups of five or more, or for a fee covering five people. As the schedule may change, check the latest times and conditions before making plans.

Susanino also offers more for culture enthusiasts: the five halls of the local history museum feature exhibitions on the nature, archaeology, history, culture and everyday life of the Susanino region. The renewed exhibition “Na perekrestke istorii i legendy” preserves Ivan Susanin and Savrasov’s painting “The Rooks Have Arrived” as important regional themes. The local history museum also offers walking and bus excursions to places associated with Ivan Susanin, including the Isupovo Marsh and the villages of Derevenki and Domnino.

Discover more destinations: Bolshaya Chezhma, Lipki, Sharya, Bui, Lunëvo, Glebovo, Sukhonogovo, Vysokovskoye.

Where is Chukhloma on Lake Chukhloma?

Chukhloma lies on the eastern shore of Lake Chukhloma. The lake is on the list of specially protected areas.

How long is the “Istoriya rodnogo kraya” walking trail?

The trail is four kilometres long, runs through Chukhloma and passes, among other places, through the city park, along the lake and by the local history museum.

Which seasons is the walking trail designated for?

The walking trail is designated for spring, summer and autumn.

What topics does the local history museum cover?

The museum has a natural history section and an exhibition marking the 200th birthday of the poet and playwright P. A. Katenin.

Return to the regional travel overview: Kostroma Oblast.