Kardymovskiy District: Culture and History

• The Old Smolensk Road crosses Kardymovskiy District.
• The Dnieper crossing at Solovyevo was the site of battles between Russian and Napoleonic armies, as well as heavy fighting during the Great Patriotic War.
• The holy spring dedicated to Saint George the Victorious is located at the Solovyova crossing in the village of Solovyevo.
• The Kardymovskiy Museum foyer houses the «Kukolnyy mir» exhibition by V.I. Yakovleva.

The crossing at Solovyevo is associated with two different periods of war: battles between Russian and Napoleonic armies, and heavy fighting during the Great Patriotic War. A guided tour announced for 2026, «Solovyeva pereprava», combines the Kardymovskiy Museum’s military history exhibition on the Great Patriotic War of 1941 to 1945 with memorial sites in the village.

The sites listed include the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God «Vzyskanie pogibshikh», the Pole Pamyati, the bratskoye zakhoroneniye, the «Katyusha» rocket launcher, and the «Voinam Dona» and «Plot» monuments. The program also includes the bank of the Dnieper at the crossing used by Soviet soldiers and civilians. Solovyevo thus focuses both on the military history of the crossing and on commemorating wartime events.

The «Kukolnyy mir» exhibition is located in the foyer of the Kardymovskiy Museum and is dedicated to V.I. Yakovleva. It features various types of puppets: play, hand and rod puppets, oversized puppets, and souvenir puppets. The range therefore extends from different types of figures to souvenir puppets. As a museum theme, the exhibition offers a distinct cultural focus alongside the military history associated with Solovyevo.

The Gnyozdovo archaeological complex is another topic to explore on a broader cultural trip through Smolensk Oblast. About 2,500 burial mounds and a settlement remain there today. Gnyozdovo is the largest complex of archaeological monuments in Russia and Europe dating from the period when the Old Russian state was taking shape. The complex is protected by the state as an archaeological monument of national—i.e., federal—significance.

Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park is also located in the wider Smolensk Oblast. It was established on April 15, 1992, in the Demidovskiy and Dukhovshchinskiy districts to protect unique natural complexes for recreation, education, science, and culture. The «K istokam» circular route starts in the village of Staryy Dvor. Two viewpoints at Lakes Svyatets and Sapsho were established in 2023–2024; a track for mobile apps such as Geotreker or MAPS.ME helps visitors follow the nature trail independently.

These destinations cater to different interests: Solovyevo is about the Dnieper and military history, Gnyozdovo about archaeology, and the national park about nature. When comparing places to stay, it is best to focus your search on the destinations that are central to your trip.

Discover more destinations: Shumyachskiy District, Dukhovshchinsky District, Kholm-Zhirkovskiy District, Sychevskiy District, Yartsevskiy District, Sychyovsky District, Smolenskiy District, Roslavlsky District.

What wartime events are associated with Solovyevo?

The Dnieper crossing at Solovyevo was the site of battles between Russian and Napoleonic armies, as well as heavy fighting during the Great Patriotic War.

What types of puppets are included in «Kukolnyy mir»?

The exhibition in the Kardymovskiy Museum foyer features play, hand and rod puppets, oversized puppets, and souvenir puppets.

When was the «Solovyeva pereprava» tour announced?

It was announced for 2026, from March 6 to December 30. Confirm availability before your trip.

View the broader travel guide: Smolensk Oblast.