Discover Mari-Turekskiy District

Four church buildings are designated architectural monuments of republican significance. The natural landscape includes the Ireka forest stream, the Kholodny Klyuch protected area and the Sendinskaya larch grove, which is over 100 years old. The W. P. Mossolov Local History Museum in Mari-Turek has more than 4,000 museum items and collections. Traditional festivals include the Udmurt ritual festival “Gyron bydton.”

The small Ireka forest stream is a zoological natural monument of republican significance. It is protected for the grayling, a species that is very rare in the Volga-Vyatka basin. This natural site therefore focuses on a specific animal and its habitat.

The Kholodny Klyuch woodland also has the status of a protected area of republican significance and is a popular recreational spot for local residents. The Sendinskaya larch grove has a different focus: its larches are over 100 years old, and the stand is one of the oldest in the district and one of the few mature larch stands in the Republic of Mari El. The natural attractions thus vary, from protecting a rare fish species to a woodland used for local recreation and a larch stand notable for its age and composition.

Four church buildings in the district are designated architectural monuments of republican significance. They are located in Khlebnikovo, Mariets, Mamsiner and Kosolapovo. For those interested in sacred architecture, their shared monument status can be explored through four different churches and villages.

The W. P. Mossolov Local History Museum in Mari-Turek offers a different perspective. Its collections comprise more than 4,000 museum items. On display are everyday objects, musical instruments and national dress of the Mari, Tatars, Russians and Udmurts. Alongside architecture, the museum focuses on objects from daily life and cultural expressions of several population groups.

Traditional festivals in Mari-Turekskiy District include the Mari festivals “Peledysh payrem” and “Turekpazar,” the Russian festivals “Russkaya berezka” and “Devyataya pyatnitsa,” the Tatar festival “Sabantuy,” and the Udmurt festival “Gyron bydton.”

“Gyron bydton” takes place in a meadow in the village of Bolshoy Karlygan. The program includes a fair, performances by ensembles from Mari El and Tatarstan, games, competitions, and tastings of Udmurt food and drinks. If you want to plan your trip around this festival, check the date and program for the particular edition in advance.

To start planning, you can prioritize topics according to your interests: natural monuments, churches, museum collections or festival programs each offer a different point of interest. If you would like to complement your overview of the district with a page about a specific place, you can also visit Lebedevo.

Discover more destinations: Sernurskiy District, Yoshkar-Ola, Morkinskiy District, Novotoryalskiy District, Volzhsk.

Which four churches are designated architectural monuments?

They are the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Khlebnikovo, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Mariets, the Trinity Church in Mamsiner, and the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kosolapovo.

When does “Gyron bydton” usually take place?

The festival usually takes place during the flowering season, most often in early July. For your specific travel plans, please check the date of the particular edition.

What can you see at the W. P. Mossolov Local History Museum?

On display are everyday objects, musical instruments and national dress of the Mari, Tatars, Russians and Udmurts. The collection comprises more than 4,000 museum items and collections.

For an overview of the wider region, visit: Republic of Mari El.