Mokshansky District: Literature, Fortress History and Sculptures

• The A. G. Malyshkin Literary and Memorial Museum is housed in the family’s memorial home and the adjoining former home of watchmaker Novitsky.
• The Mokshan earth rampart dates from the 17th century and was part of the Penza Defensive Line.
• The «Storozhevaya bashnya» complex was restored in 2023; individual visitors can climb the watchtower on their own during operating hours.
• The sacred source of the Moksha lies 1.6 km southeast of Vyglyadovka. There is an observation pavilion at the source.
• More than 300 works can be seen at «Legenda» Sculpture Park, including pieces made of metal, granite, wood and bronze.

The Literary and Memorial Museum of writer A. G. Malyshkin is housed in the Malyshkin family’s memorial home and the adjoining former home of watchmaker Novitsky. The exhibition hall is located in this second building. With manuscripts, reviews and illustrations, the literary hall presents Malyshkin’s life and work.

The museum bakery also offers a glimpse into everyday life: it displays household items used by both poor and wealthy peasants. Another exhibition in the bakery, «Yarmarka v uyezdnom gorode», references Malyshkin’s first story, «Polevoy prazdnik». Sasha Malyshkin wrote it in 1914 while studying at the University of St. Petersburg.

The bakery also hosts theatrical events, fairs featuring Petrushka puppets, cooking workshops and quest tours exploring Russian everyday culture from the 19th to the early 20th century. If you plan to attend a particular event, check the current schedule and availability in advance.

The Mokshan earth rampart is an archaeological and historical monument dating from the 17th century. It was part of the Penza Defensive Line and also a fragment of Mokshan’s fortress wall. The rampart and the restored «Storozhevaya bashnya» complex therefore represent different aspects of the fortifications of that time.

Restored in 2023, the complex includes an access area with a parking zone, a scale model of a 17th-century watchtower from the Penza Defensive Line, and an observation platform with ramps and steps. Individual visitors can climb the watchtower on their own during the complex’s operating hours. Check the current opening hours before your visit.

The sacred source of the Moksha lies 1.6 km southeast of the village of Vyglyadovka in Mokshansky District, Penza Oblast. There is an observation pavilion at the source where you can rest and look out over it. This makes the site a different thematic focus from the literary exhibitions and historic ramparts.

«Legenda» Sculpture Park is also located in Mokshansky District. Its more than 300 works include pieces made from a variety of materials, including metal, granite, wood and bronze. The park is considered one of the largest sculpture parks in the world and the only one in the Volga region. To understand how the attractions differ, it is useful to contrast the two themes: here, the focus is on artworks and their varied materials; there, on historic fortifications.

Then compare the locations of the hotel options with the places you would like to include in your itinerary. This way, your choice reflects your own interests without letting any one theme define your entire stay.

Discover more destinations: Mokshansky District, Penza, Penzenskiy Rayon and Bessonovsky District.

What can you see at the Malyshkin Museum?

The literary hall presents Malyshkin’s life and work through manuscripts, reviews and illustrations. The bakery also displays household items, and another exhibition relates to his story «Polevoy prazdnik».

What should you know before climbing the watchtower?

Individual visitors can climb the watchtower on their own during the complex’s operating hours. Check the current opening hours before your visit.

Where is the source of the Moksha?

The sacred source lies 1.6 km southeast of the village of Vyglyadovka in Mokshansky District, Penza Oblast. There is a pavilion at the source where you can rest and look out over it.

For the broader travel overview: Penza Oblast.