Kostromskoy District: Volga, Lakes and Nekrasovo

• In the southwest, the Volga runs for 48 kilometers within the district as part of the Gorky Reservoir.
• The Kostroma section of the Gorky Reservoir is colloquially known as “Kostromskoye more” (“Kostroma Sea”).
• The Kostroma and its tributaries, the Mesa and Andoba, flow south from the forested north.
• Nekrasovo is home to a brick chapel covered in lime plaster, dating from the late 17th century.

The 48 kilometers refer to the stretch of the Volga within Kostromskoy District. Here it flows as part of the Gorky Reservoir. The Kostroma section is colloquially known as “Kostromskoye more” (“Kostroma Sea”); the name refers to this part of the reservoir.

The rivers Kostroma, Mesa and Andoba also give the region a clear north–south orientation: they are among the district’s larger rivers and flow south from its forested north as left-bank tributaries of the Volga. The Kostroma and its tributaries are surrounded by numerous extensive swamps and lakes. The major waterways and wetlands are thus interconnected features of the landscape.

The chapel in Nekrasovo is built of brick and covered with lime plaster. It was constructed from the 1680s through the early 1690s. As a striking example of religious architecture, it reflects the characteristics of the local school of architecture in the late 17th century.

This building offers a way to explore both a particular historical period of construction and a regional architectural tradition. Visitors interested in cultural history will find a different subject here from the district’s rivers and lakes.

The Kologrivsky Forest State Nature Reserve is located in the wider travel destination of Kostroma Oblast. It comprises two separate areas that preserve different landscapes of the southern taiga, with characteristic zonal and provincial physical-geographical features. The “Journey into the Protected Forest” tour includes a visit to the eponymous ecological trail, which passes through a section of old-growth southern taiga forest. Check the tour arrangements before your trip.

A cultural counterpoint is Shchelykovo in Kostroma Oblast, home to the country estate of Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky. Guided tours of the park and A. N. Ostrovsky’s house take place at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 15:30. They are available to groups of five or more, or for a fee covering five people. Since arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the times and conditions in advance.

The Susanino Local History Museum adds the nature, archaeology, history, culture and everyday life of the Susanino region to these themes. Its five halls present exhibits on these subjects in sequence. The renewed exhibition “At the Crossroads of History and Legend” preserves Ivan Susanin and Savrasov’s painting “The Rooks Have Arrived” as important regional motifs. The museum also offers walking and bus excursions to places associated with Ivan Susanin, including the Isupovo Swamp and the villages of Derevenki and Domnino. It is worth checking in advance for specific excursion dates.

Discover more destinations: Kostromskoy District, Volgorechensk, Mytishchi District, Sharya District, Makaryevsky District, Nerekhta District.

How long is the Volga section in Kostromskoy District?

In the district’s southwest, the Volga runs for 48 kilometers within the area as part of the Gorky Reservoir.

What does “Kostroma Sea” mean?

“Kostromskoye more” (“Kostroma Sea”) is the colloquial name for the Kostroma section of the Gorky Reservoir.

When was the chapel in Nekrasovo built?

The brick chapel covered in lime plaster was built from the 1680s through the early 1690s and reflects the local school of architecture of the late 17th century.

Go to the wider travel overview: Kostroma Oblast.