Zheleznodorozhny: Museums, memorial sites and seasonal experiences

• The local history museum displays exhibits on the region’s history and nature, its customs, notable people and events.
• The “Kartinka” Museum of Children’s Book Illustration opened in March 2017 and is the only museum of its kind in Moscow Oblast.
• The Victory Stele commemorates residents who lost their lives in the war; 125 soldiers are commemorated by name on it.
• In the wooded part of Pestovsky Park, you can ski in winter and roller-skate in summer.

The local history museum combines regional history with natural history. Its exhibits include archaeological finds from excavations on the shore of Lake Biserovo, minerals and rare insects. It also features taxidermy specimens of birds and animals listed in the Red Data Book of Moscow Oblast. The collection thus brings together traces of human history and the region’s natural environment.

The “Kartinka” Museum has a different focus: it is dedicated to children’s book illustration. Its collection includes more than 90 works by illustrator Viktor Duvidov. The museum’s programme includes exhibitions, workshops, themed tours, quests and interactive programmes for children; it also collaborates with artists. These formats show how the museum explores illustration beyond its collection.

The Victory Stele in Zheleznodorozhny commemorates residents of the town who lost their lives in the Great Patriotic War. The names of 125 soldiers are inscribed on the stele. The memorial thus connects local history with the individual names of the fallen.

A workers’ barracks in the settlement of the Savvinskaya Manufactory is also part of the history of the Zheleznodorozhny microdistrict in Balashikha. It is designated as a cultural heritage site. This designation identifies its heritage status; it does not imply that visitors can go inside.

In the wooded part of Pestovsky Park, you can ski in winter and roller-skate in summer. The season therefore makes a concrete difference to the activity described.

In the wider destination of Balashikhinskiy Rayon, Pehorka Park has an area for quiet relaxation, a sandy beach, a boat station and a large sandbox. There are also volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, relaxation pavilions and sun loungers by the river. Quiet spots and sports facilities sit side by side in the park.

The wider destination of Balashikhinskiy Rayon also includes the Pehra-Yakovlevskoye Estate. Dating from 1770–1785, it comprises a palace, east and west wings, two colonnaded galleries, a theatre building, an orangery dating from 1810, a church dating from 1770–1785 and a park. The estate grounds are open for walks; as conditions may change, check them before your visit.

What does the local history museum display?

It displays exhibits on the region’s history and nature, customs, notable people and events. The natural history collection includes minerals, rare insects and taxidermy specimens, among other things.

What is special about the “Kartinka” Museum?

It is dedicated to children’s book illustration and is the only museum of its kind in Moscow Oblast. The collection includes more than 90 works by Viktor Duvidov.

What seasonal activities are available in Pestovsky Park?

In the wooded part of the park, you can ski in winter and roller-skate in summer.

For the wider travel overview: Zheleznodorozhny.