Kimrsky District: Nature and Tupolev Memorial Sites

• The Kimrsky Wildlife Refuge was established on July 21, 1975, and is an active state nature reserve of regional significance.
• A monument and a memorial complex in Pustomazovo commemorate A. N. Tupolev.
• Gadov Museum offers excursions and entertainment programs; arrange your visit with the museum.

The Kimrsky Wildlife Refuge was established on July 21, 1975, and is an active state nature reserve of regional significance in Kimrsky District. Its founding date and current status connect its historical context with a present-day nature conservation focus. If you include the reserve in your travel plans, check the current rules for protected areas before planning a specific visit.

When choosing accommodation, it may help to first decide how much nature and cultural visits will shape your stay. The reserve is a regional point of reference for travelers who want to make nature one of the focuses of their trip.

The former village of Pustomazovo is associated with aircraft designer A. N. Tupolev: he was born there in 1888 and spent his childhood there. A monument commemorates him. There is also a memorial complex at the site of the former village, representing a fragment of the Tupolev family estate.

The monument and memorial complex emphasize different aspects: one commemorates Tupolev as a person, while the other represents part of the family estate. This makes it possible to consider the area’s cultural and historical focus separately from its nature focus, without conflating the two.

Gadov Museum offers excursions and entertainment programs. If you are planning a visit, contact the museum directly to arrange it.

Beyond Kimrsky District, the wider destination of Tver Oblast offers other distinct nature and cultural attractions. At the Central Forest Reserve, guided tours are offered along the ecological trails “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka.” The “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” educational trail passes through a raised bog with wide, open expanses entirely covered in moss and unusual plants. Visitors use their own vehicles for an excursion to this raised bog.

Another nature option is a hike to Kordon “Barsuchikha”: it can be taken as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest cabin. Along the way, visitors see southern taiga forest and a raised bog. The formats are clearly distinct: guided trails, an excursion in your own vehicle, or a hike with either a day-trip or overnight option.

The Central Forest Reserve also includes a nature museum and a visitor center on the grounds of the central estate. The museum showcases the reserve’s main ecosystems and interesting species that live there; one room is dedicated to scientific research. At the visitor center, you can find information about the organization’s history and structure, a regularly displayed exhibition of children’s artwork, and a souvenir shop.

For culture enthusiasts, Torzhok is another regional focus in Tver Oblast. “Verkhnee gorodishche” is an archaeological monument of federal significance and a tourist attraction in the historic center. The “Novotorzhskiy kreml” hosts the “Blin s Pripyokom” and “Kuzminki v Torzhke” festivals each year; check the dates of each festival before making specific plans. The “Novotorzhskiy Borisoglebskiy monastyr” was founded in 1038 and is one of Russia’s oldest Orthodox monasteries. Another distinct destination is Nilova Pustyn: the monastery is located on Stolobny Island and is a center for religious and pilgrimage tourism.

Discover more destinations: Novoye Akatovo, Yuminskoye, Morshchikhino, Kreva, Zapadnodvinskiy District, Torzhok, Staritskiy District and Konakovskiy District.

When was the Kimrsky Wildlife Refuge established?

It was established on July 21, 1975, and is an active state nature reserve of regional significance.

What commemorates A. N. Tupolev in Pustomazovo?

A monument commemorates Tupolev, who was born there in 1888 and spent his childhood there. There is also a memorial complex at the site of the former village, representing a fragment of the family estate.

How do you arrange a visit to Gadov Museum?

The museum offers excursions and entertainment programs. Contact the museum directly to arrange a visit.

For the wider travel overview: Tver Oblast.