Discover Malovishersky District: History and Winter Sports

• At the beginning of the 20th century, the estate in the village of Lzi belonged to the engineer P. A. Boreyshe.
• The church in Lzi is dedicated to Saint Catherine the Great Martyr and served as the family burial place of the estate owner, his wife, and his daughter.
• The “Mstinskiye gorki” base in Gorodishchi offers alpine skiing and snowboarding.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the estate in the village of Lzi belonged to the engineer P. A. Boreyshe. The history of the village also includes the Church of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr. It was used as the family burial place of the estate owner, his wife, and his daughter. The estate and the church thus offer two different perspectives on Lzi: the ownership history of an estate and the historical role of a church building for one family.

The church is well preserved; remains of frescoes can be found inside. Its dedication, its documented use as a burial place, and the fresco remains offer specific points of reference if you are interested in local history. These details concern the historic site in Lzi and complement one another without telling the same story: the burial function points to the family’s history, while the dedication and frescoes draw attention to the church interior.

In Gorodishchi, the “Mstinskiye gorki” base offers alpine skiing and snowboarding. This brings a winter-sports theme alongside Lzi’s historical focus. Before your trip, check whether the facilities are operating during your travel dates.

In the wider region, kayaking is offered on the Msta; the “Mstinskiye gorki” base also offers equipment rental and instructors. These details provide an additional perspective on activities in the area, but should not be confused with the local information about Lzi and Gorodishchi. Check whether kayaking and the listed services are operating and available before your trip.

In the broader destination of Novgorod Oblast, Valdai National Park covers 159,100 hectares and extends across the Valdaysky, Demyansky, and Okulovsky districts. Mount Ryzhokha is the park’s highest point. A 25-meter observation tower stands there, with views of the taiga, Lake Vel'yo, and other bodies of water.

Another natural landmark in Novgorod Oblast is the circular trail in the Bor area. It passes through typical taiga forests over hilly terrain and through diverse wetlands in the hollows between the hills. The tower and the trail offer different perspectives: the tower looks out over the landscape and bodies of water, while the trail leads through forest, hills, and wetlands. The landscape features described can help you decide which focus interests you more.

The cultural examples are also part of the broader destination of Novgorod Oblast. At the Bell Museum in Valday, staff demonstrate bell-ringing techniques and let visitors try them out for themselves. The Bell Museum Center in Valday displays bells from around the world and their forms, from the 3rd century BC and the Middle Ages to modern souvenir bells. The two descriptions highlight different aspects of bells: demonstrations and hands-on experience on the one hand, and the variety of origins and forms on the other.

Opened in 1998, the exhibition at the Museum of the County Town covers the everyday lives of city residents, the development of local trades, and the lives of individual Valday families and prominent summer visitors. A monument, “Kuznetsam i kolokol'nym masteram Valdaya,” was also erected in Valday in 2017. Together, these examples showcase different cultural themes: everyday history and trades, individual families and summer visitors, and the commemoration of blacksmiths and bell makers. They complement Lzi’s local history with regional cultural themes from Novgorod Oblast.

Discover more destinations: Okulovsky District, Borovichsky District, Lyubytinsky District, Marevsky District, Starorussky District, Soletsky District, Staraya Russa, Valdaysky District.

What can you learn about local history in Lzi?

At the beginning of the 20th century, the estate there belonged to the engineer P. A. Boreyshe. The Church of St. Catherine served as the family burial place of the estate owner, his wife, and his daughter; it is well preserved and contains remains of frescoes.

What activities are mentioned in Malovishersky District?

The “Mstinskiye gorki” base in Gorodishchi offers alpine skiing and snowboarding. Kayaking is offered on the Msta in the wider region. Check operating status and availability before your trip.

What nature and cultural themes are part of Novgorod Oblast?

The regional overview includes Valdai National Park, Mount Ryzhokha, the trail in the Bor area, and cultural attractions in Valday, including bell museums, an exhibition on the town’s history, and the monument to blacksmiths and bell makers erected in 2017.

For the broader travel overview: Novgorod Oblast.