Novomoskovsk

• The city’s history is traced back to the start of construction, in 1930, of what was then the USSR’s largest chemical plant.
• The Novomoskovsk Historical and Art Museum comprises the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the History of the Village of Spasskoye.
• The architectural and natural complex in the city center covers 27.4 hectares, including 18 hectares of green space.
• The Don flows from south to north along the park’s longitudinal axis, visually dividing the grounds into two parts.

The starting point to which Novomoskovsk’s history is traced is the beginning of construction of the chemical plant in 1930. Its designation as the largest chemical plant in the USSR at the time gives this historical connection its scale. The Historical and Art Museum adds other, distinct themes: a memorial room for the Soviet poet Yaroslav Vasilyevich Smelyakov, and departments devoted to archaeology and the history of the village of Spasskoye. Smelyakov’s life was connected with Stalinogorsk (Novomoskovsk).

A historical exhibit outside the museum building also recalls a specific event: a BM-13 «Katyusha» multiple rocket launcher stands on a plinth. It took part in the city’s liberation in December 1941. This makes it possible to distinguish several themes: the start of construction of the chemical plant as a reference point in the city’s history, the poet’s biography, and the city’s military history.

The area figures refer to the entire architectural and natural complex: 27.4 hectares in total, including 18 hectares of green space. The figures therefore indicate both the size of the complex and the share designated as green space. This distinction is useful if you want to understand the park not simply as a green space, but as an integrated architectural and natural complex.

The Don runs through the park from south to north along its longitudinal axis. It forms a cascade of water bodies and visually divides the grounds into two parts. The area and the river’s course describe different aspects: the hectare figures show the extent, while the cascade and visible division into two parts describe the landscape’s structure. Alongside the city’s history, this clearly defined landscape is a central theme in Novomoskovsk.

Beyond Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast offers other distinct cultural and landscape themes. In Tula, the exhibition «Skazanie o Mamaevom poboishche» at the «Tulskiye drevnosti» museum explores the Battle of Kulikovo Field. In its interactive areas, visitors can weave a piece of chain mail, try on armor, and learn to read chronicle miniatures. Another exhibition at the same museum, «Sekrety tulskikh masterov», features a pottery workshop, a blacksmith’s workshop, and household items from the 17th to the 19th centuries. The themes are clearly distinct: one focuses on the history of a battle and interactive activities, the other on crafts and everyday objects.

At the Yasnaya Polyana Museum-Estate, visitors can take a guided walk through the central part of the estate from May to October. The walk covers Tolstoy’s favorite spots for daily walks, the local flora and fauna, and the history of the Tula defensive lines and Tolstoy’s plantings. His personal library is another connection to Tolstoy; it has been included in UNESCO’s «Memory of the World» Register. At the Polenovo estate, by contrast, the focus is on architecture: Vasily Polenov designed all the buildings himself.

The landscape of Tula Oblast has also been shaped by different uses. The Romantsevskiye Mountains, also known as Konduki, are a former open-pit coal mine. Other named places in the region include the village of Monastyrshchino in Kimovsk District, home to a museum and a monument to the heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo Field. These regional examples broaden the view beyond Novomoskovsk without equating the places or their themes with the city.

Discover more destinations: Velegozh, Zaokskiy, Skuratovskiy, Pervomayskiy, Samarovo, Goryachkino, Petrovskiy, Tury.

Which departments are part of the Historical and Art Museum?

The Novomoskovsk Historical and Art Museum comprises the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the History of the Village of Spasskoye.

How does the Don flow through the park?

The Don flows from south to north along the park’s longitudinal axis, forms a cascade of water bodies, and visually divides the grounds into two parts.

What do the exhibitions at the «Tulskiye drevnosti» museum show?

«Skazanie o Mamaevom poboishche» explores the Battle of Kulikovo Field and offers interactive activities such as weaving chain mail and trying on armor. «Sekrety tulskikh masterov» features workshops and household items from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

When does the guided walk at Yasnaya Polyana take place?

Visitors can take a guided walk through the central part of the estate from May to October. Topics include Tolstoy’s favorite walking spots, the local flora and fauna, the Tula defensive lines, and Tolstoy’s plantings.

For the broader travel overview: Tula Oblast.