Kokovkino: Ivan Shishkin and Lake Sterzh

The painter Ivan Shishkin lived in the village of Kokovkino on the shore of Lake Sterzh. The lake near the village is a place for recreation and fishing. Two published routes mention Kokovkino: one passes through the village, while a water route starts here.

The painter Ivan Shishkin lived in the village of Kokovkino on the shore of Lake Sterzh in the 1890s. For travelers interested in Russian painting, this provides a specific biographical connection to the place: Kokovkino is part of Shishkin’s life story, without requiring knowledge of other locations associated with his work.

Lake Sterzh is near Kokovkino and is a place for recreation and fishing. A description of the area characterizes access as difficult because there are no roads and the area has numerous streams and ravines. It describes the upper part of the lake, in the areas of Kokovkino and Vorovskoye on the left bank, and Alexeyevskoye and Ivanovskoye on the right bank, as more accessible. This distinction is useful for planning: the description of access to the lake in general does not apply equally to the specified upper areas. Check conditions before making a specific visit.

The lake’s transport history also needs context: a 60-kilometer passenger line once ran on Lake Sterzh between Peno, Zhirkov Pogost, and Kokovkino. This connection is historical; it does not describe a current passenger service.

The “K istoku Volgi – velikoy reke Rossii” route passes through Kokovkino. The “Bolshaya Seligerskaya krugosvetka” water route runs from Kokovkino to p/o Koroviy. Before traveling, confirm the current operating arrangements for this route with the relevant authority. This keeps the route description separate from the question of whether and how the route is currently offered.

Beyond Kokovkino, Tver Oblast offers other distinct nature-related attractions. The Central Forest Nature Reserve offers guided tours on the “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka” ecological trails. A hike to the “Barsuchiha” cordon can be planned as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest hut; along the way, you will see southern taiga forest and a raised bog. Visitors use their own vehicle for an excursion to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog.

Those interested in culture will also find their own points of interest in Tver Oblast. Verkhnee gorodishche, an archaeological monument of federal significance and a tourist attraction, is located in the historic center of Torzhok. The Novotorzhskiy Borisoglebskiy Monastery in Torzhok was founded in 1038 and is one of Russia’s oldest Orthodox monasteries. The “Blin s Pripyokom” and “Kuzminki v Torzhke” festivals are held annually at the Novotorzhskiy kremlin. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these festivals, check the current event dates.

Discover more destinations: Zaplavye, Ostashkov, Bezhetsk, Zabolot'ye, Andreykovo, Lechishchevo, Emmauss and Petrikovo.

When did Ivan Shishkin live in Kokovkino?

The painter lived in the village of Kokovkino on the shore of Lake Sterzh in the 1890s.

What should you know about access to Lake Sterzh?

Access in general is described as difficult because there are no roads and the area has numerous streams and ravines; some upper areas are considered more accessible.

Which water route starts in Kokovkino?

The “Bolshaya Seligerskaya krugosvetka” water route runs from Kokovkino to p/o Koroviy. Confirm the current operating arrangements with the relevant authority before traveling.

Go to the broader travel overview: Tver Oblast.