Krasny Cholm: Culture and Crafts

The Krasnokholmsky Local History Museum has an extensive ethnographic collection. It reflects the lives and everyday routines of peasants from Krasny Kholm in the 18th–20th centuries. The central trading rows in the town center were built in 1906–1907. At the House of Crafts, visitors can try their hand at wood carving and weaving.

The collection focuses on the lives of peasants and covers a broad historical span. The trading rows, by contrast, have a precise date: they were built in 1906–1907. Krasny Cholm thus brings together two distinct historical perspectives—the everyday life of several centuries and a specifically dated construction project.

This distinction helps put local cultural themes into context: the ethnographic collection explores life and everyday routines, while the trading rows provide a clear architectural reference point. Both themes offer different ways of understanding Krasny Cholm, without requiring a single historical narrative to encompass every aspect.

At the House of Crafts, you can try your hand at wood carving and weaving. This adds a practical activity to exploring the collection and historic buildings. If you’d like to include these hands-on activities in your travel plans, check in advance whether they will be available during your visit. This keeps your plans tied to the specific offerings during your travel period.

In the wider destination of Tver Oblast, guided tours are offered along the “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka” ecological trails in the Central Forest Reserve. The “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” ecological nature trail passes through a scenic raised bog with wide, open expanses completely covered in moss and unusual plants. Visitors use their own vehicle for the excursion to the bog.

Another option in the Central Forest Reserve is a hike to the “Barsuchikha” cordon. 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 options therefore include several formats: guided tours on ecological trails, an excursion by private vehicle, and a hike that can also include an overnight stay.

The wider destination of Tver Oblast also encompasses a variety of cultural and historical themes. Nilova Pustyn is a monastery on Stolobny Island and a center for religious and pilgrimage tourism. The Novotorzhskiy Borisoglebskiy Monastery in Torzhok was founded in 1038 and is one of Russia’s oldest Orthodox monasteries. The Verkhnee gorodishche archaeological site is located in Torzhok’s historic center; it is of federal significance and is a tourist attraction.

The Novotorzhskiy kreml hosts the “Blin s Pripyokom” and “Kuzminki v Torzhke” festivals every year. If you’d like to plan a trip around one of these events, check the dates for your travel period. The monastery, archaeological site, and festivals represent different cultural highlights within Tver Oblast.

Discover more destinations: Yamok, Prosveshcheniye, Pachkovo, Nikola Rozhok, Ostashkov, Bezhetsk, Lechishchevo, Zaltso.

What is the ethnographic collection about?

It reflects the lives and everyday routines of peasants from Krasny Kholm in the 18th–20th centuries.

What can you try at the House of Crafts?

Visitors can try their hand at wood carving and weaving. Check in advance whether the hands-on activities will be available during your visit.

What overnight option is available on the hike to the “Barsuchikha” cordon?

The hike can be taken as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest cabin.

Return to the wider travel overview: Tver Oblast.