Pervomayskiy: Memorial and Recreation Areas

• The memorial to those who fell in World War II was erected in September 1956 and was completed in 1957 with the sculptural monument and the eternal flame.
• In 2020, the pond was listed as one of five officially approved bathing areas in Shchyokino District.
• The beach area continued to be developed in 2020 and had long been a place of recreation for residents and visitors.

The ensemble “Two Mournful Warriors” is the centerpiece of the memorial. It also includes an eternal flame, four mass graves, and commemorative plaques. Two plaques bear the names of Pervomayskiy residents who took part in the Great Patriotic War. Here, a sculptural depiction, graves, and personal names come together in one place.

Other plaques give the start and end dates of the war. One of them gives May 9, 1957, as the date the first Eternal Flame in the USSR was lit. The dates associated with the site also tell the story of its creation in two stages: it was erected in September 1956, and the sculptural monument and eternal flame were added in 1957.

Another monument in Pervomayskiy is dedicated to S. A. Dzhobadze. It was unveiled on June 22, 2016. Alongside the memorial’s various elements, this date shows that local monuments commemorate different historical events.

The pond in Pervomayskiy was one of five officially approved bathing areas in Shchyokino District. This designation was reported in 2020; it does not indicate that swimming is currently permitted. So if you are planning to swim, check the current regulations in advance.

The beach area is another local feature with its own timeframe: in 2020, it continued to be developed and had already long been regarded as a place of recreation for residents and visitors to the settlement. The pond’s historical bathing approval and the description of the beach area should therefore not be read as confirmation that swimming is currently available. Both details may still be useful when choosing a travel theme: they point to the longstanding importance of water and recreation in the settlement without making any claims about current conditions.

The wider destination of Tula Oblast offers other cultural topics to explore. In Tula, the exhibition “Skazanie o Mamaevom poboishche” at the “Tulskie drevnosti” Museum explores the Battle of Kulikovo. Its interactive areas connect the topic with hands-on activities: 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,” focuses on handcrafted and everyday objects. It features a pottery workshop, a blacksmith’s workshop, and household items from the 17th to 19th centuries. This places a historical battle-themed exhibition alongside insights into workshops and everyday objects as part of the region’s cultural offerings.

At the Yasnaya Polyana Museum Estate, a guide leads visitors through the central part of the estate. The tour covers Tolstoy’s favorite places for daily walks, the local flora and fauna, and the history of the Tula defensive lines and Tolstoy’s plantings. The tour is listed as running from May to October. These regional topics are independent options within Tula Oblast, not features of Pervomayskiy.

Discover more destinations: Poselok, Uslovaya, Meshcherino, Balevo, Sudakovo, Tula, Yefremov, Novomoskovsk.

When was the memorial erected?

It was erected in September 1956. The sculptural monument and eternal flame were added in 1957.

What do the memorial plaques show?

Two plaques bear the names of Pervomayskiy residents who took part in the Great Patriotic War. Others give the start and end of the war; one plaque gives May 9, 1957, as the date the first Eternal Flame in the USSR was lit.

Is swimming currently permitted in the pond?

The pond’s designation as an approved bathing area was reported in 2020. Check the current approval before planning to swim.

To the main travel overview: Tula Oblast.