Aleksandrovsk in the Middle Urals: River and Local History

• Location: on the western slope of the Middle Urals, on the Lytva River.
• River basin: The Lytva belongs to the Kama River basin.
• History: Babinov Trakt, dating from 1595–1597, passes through Aleksandrovsk.
• Architecture: The Transfiguration Church and its enclosure were built from 1812 to 1828 and are considered the town’s most significant architectural monument.

Babinov Trakt is named after its route pioneer, Artemy Vavilov. The years 1595 to 1597 mark its history; its route passes through Aleksandrovsk. The trakt continued from Solikamsk to Verkhoturye. This means the town can be understood not only through its location on the river, but also through a historic route that extends beyond Aleksandrovsk.

Here, the name, dates and route go together: Artemy Vavilov is associated with the naming, the years 1595–1597 mark the trakt, and Aleksandrovsk lies along its route. This gives the town’s history a concrete connection to the named cities of Solikamsk and Verkhoturye.

Aleksandrovsk lies on the western slope of the Middle Urals, on the Lytva River. The Lytva belongs to the Kama River basin. Its location can therefore be viewed on two levels: directly on the river and within the broader context of the Kama basin. Both the Ural slope and the river landscape are important reference points for the character of the town.

The Transfiguration Church and its enclosure are considered Aleksandrovsk’s most significant architectural monument. The two-storey stone building is 11 metres high. Construction began in 1811; the church and enclosure were built from 1812 to 1828.

The design is by Andrey Vyatkin. He was a student of an architect and a former serf of the Vsevolozhsky family. Vsevolod Andreyevich Vsevolozhsky financed the construction from his own funds. The height, number of storeys and material give a concrete impression of the building; the names and dates add details about its construction history.

The wider Perm Region also offers its own nature and culture experiences. In the Basegi Nature Reserve, there is the excursion route “To the Summit of Northern Baseg” as well as the route “To Southern Baseg.” The route to the northern summit is 11 kilometres long; it takes 5 to 8 hours, including a guided tour and time to rest. The excursion season runs from June to October. Check dates and arrangements with the nature reserve before planning your visit.

The route to the summit of Northern Baseg starts at the checkpoint near the Schastlivy ranger station. On foot, it runs for 3,700 metres through taiga forest, or the mountain forest zone, and for about 300 metres across mountain meadows. The visitor centre at the Basegi Nature Reserve also has a small museum exhibition on the flora and fauna of Perm Region. Environmental education discussions, lectures, quizzes and games featuring films and multimedia presentations are held there regularly.

For a cultural comparison within the region, there is Khokhlovka: it is the Urals’ first open-air architectural and ethnographic museum of wooden architecture. While the Transfiguration Church in Aleksandrovsk is a stone building from the early 19th century, Khokhlovka is dedicated to wooden architecture. This highlights two distinct architectural themes in the region.

Discover more destinations: Klyuchi, Lysva, Chusovoy, Yaiva, Brekhovo, Pechmen', Chernushka.

Where is Aleksandrovsk?

Aleksandrovsk lies on the western slope of the Middle Urals, on the Lytva River. The river belongs to the Kama River basin.

When was the Transfiguration Church built?

Construction began in 1811. The Transfiguration Church and its enclosure were built from 1812 to 1828.

How long does the excursion to Northern Baseg take?

The route is 11 kilometres long. It takes 5 to 8 hours, including a guided tour and time to rest; the excursion season runs from June to October.

For the wider travel overview: Perm Region.