Kunyinsky District: Lakes, Landscapes and Mussorgsky

• Lake Zhizhitskoye is a spawning ground for numerous fish species and covers 51.3 square kilometers.
• The Vsteselelovo landscape covers 20 square kilometers; the Zhizhitsa landscape covers 20,000 hectares.
• The memorial museum ensemble dedicated to Modest Mussorgsky has four named components, including the Naumovo and Karevo estates.

Two specific facts come together at Lake Zhizhitskoye: it covers 51.3 square kilometers and serves as a spawning ground for numerous fish species. This gives a sense both of the lake’s scale and its ecological importance.

The water chestnut, also known as chilim, grows in Lake Dvin-Velinskoye. The plant is listed in the Red Book of Russia. Together with the spawning ground at Lake Zhizhitskoye, it presents a picture of nature that encompasses both bodies of water and a plant species with a special designation.

The landscapes also differ in scale. The 20-square-kilometer Vsteselelovo landscape lies around Lake Vsteselelovo and forms a corner massif within the Velikiye Luki marginal moraine ridges. The scenic Zhizhitsa landscape covers 20,000 hectares, or 200 square kilometers. This means its stated area is ten times that of the Vsteselelovo landscape. It includes the villages of Anashkino, Vypolzovo, Zhizhitsa, Zaluche, Spichino, Zaborje, Kretivlya, Kurovo, Potashovo, Karevo, Mezhuevo and Mikhailovskoye.

The memorial museum ensemble dedicated to Modest Mussorgsky comprises the Naumovo estate with its park, the Karevo estate, the Poschiwkino churchyard and a monument to the composer. Karevo is considered Mussorgsky’s birthplace. The Naumovo estate belonged to the Chirikovs, the noble parents of Mussorgsky’s mother.

The park at Naumovo features a formal layout and old trees native to the local flora. These include an English oak that is more than 300 years old. Alongside its role in the ensemble, these features give the park a specific connection to the landscape and its plant life.

During a performance at the M. P. Mussorgsky museum estate, visitors take on the roles of fairy-tale characters and join a round dance and New Year’s activities. The event is seasonal. If you would like to include it in your travel plans, check in advance whether a performance is scheduled during your trip.

As a further, explicitly broader cultural connection, Pskov Oblast is home to ten religious architectural monuments of the Pskov School of Architecture. They are located in the historic city of Pskov and on the banks of the Velikaya River. Their architectural styles and decorative elements span from the 12th century to the beginning of the 17th century. This regional connection complements the Mussorgsky themes but should be distinguished from the local ensemble in Kunyinsky District.

Discover more destinations: Dedovichsky District, Berdyuzhskiy rayon, Bezhanitsky District, Gdovskiy rayon, Sebezhsky District, Velikoluksky Rajon, Pskovskiy rayon, Pechorskiy rayon.

What is special about Lake Zhizhitskoye?

It is a spawning ground for numerous fish species and covers an area of 51.3 square kilometers.

What is part of the memorial museum ensemble dedicated to Mussorgsky?

It comprises the Naumovo estate with its park, the Karevo estate, the Poschiwkino churchyard and a monument to Modest Mussorgsky.

Is the performance at the museum estate available year-round?

The performance is seasonal. Before your trip, check whether it is offered on your planned dates.

Go to the regional travel overview: Pskov Oblast.