Penovsky District: Churches, Islands, and the Source of the Volga

• The Church of St. John the Baptist in the Shirkovsky churchyard on the shore of Lake Vselug was built in 1694. The tiered structure is 45 meters high.
• A monastery for men was founded and a church was built on Novosolovetsky Island in Lake Vselug in 1701. The island is a natural monument.
• A one-kilometer ecological trail begins at the source of the Volga.
• The Voroshilovo local history museum offers insights into rural life in Tver Oblast from the late 19th to the early 20th century.

The Church of St. John the Baptist in the Shirkovsky churchyard combines a precise construction date with a distinctive architectural form: it dates from 1694 and is a 45-meter-tall tiered wooden structure. It stands on the shore of Lake Vselug. Its construction date, architecture, and location all provide clear points of reference.

Novosolovetsky Island is also in Lake Vselug. A monastery for men was founded and a church was built there in 1701; the island is also designated a natural monument. The island thus brings together two distinct themes: its status as a natural monument and the site's religious history.

Churches in Vseluki and Vetozhetka provide further historical points of reference. The Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God stands in the village of Vseluki and dates from 1835. The church of the “Zatmeniya Presvyatoy Bogoroditsy,” dating from the early 19th century, stands in the churchyard of Vetozhetka. The different dates make it easier to distinguish the buildings chronologically.

The Voroshilovo local history museum offers insights into rural life in Tver Oblast from the late 19th to the early 20th century. It complements the religious buildings with a glimpse into everyday history. Visitors interested in rural ways of life will find a different perspective on the region’s history here than at the churches and the monastery foundation.

The ecological trail begins at the source of the Volga and is one kilometer long. Along the route, you can see the vegetation and landscape typical of the area. Its focus is on the region’s natural environment; the trail’s length also gives you a concrete point of reference when deciding how to balance the different themes of your trip.

The route connects a named starting point with a clearly defined nature theme. Unlike the historic buildings, the focus here is on vegetation and landscape. This makes it possible to choose between cultural and nature-oriented interests based on specific places, without reducing the sights to a single theme.

In the broader destination of Tver Oblast, the Central Forest Reserve offers guided tours on the ecological trails “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka.” An excursion to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog is also listed; visitors use their own vehicles for this trip. The “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” ecological trail passes through a raised bog with broad, open areas completely covered in moss and unusual plants. These examples differ both in the landscapes described and in the types of activities offered.

For the hike to the “Barsuchikha” cordon in the broader destination of Tver Oblast, both a one-day tour and an option with an overnight stay in a forest cabin are described. Along the way, you can see southern taiga forest and a raised bog. The nature museum at the Central Forest Reserve presents the protected area’s main ecosystems and the species that live there; one room is dedicated to scientific research. The reserve’s central estate also has a visitor center with information about the organization’s history and structure, a regular exhibition of children’s artwork, and a souvenir shop.

The broader destination of Tver Oblast also offers cultural attractions. In the historic center of Torzhok, Verkhnee gorodishche is an archaeological monument of federal significance and a tourist attraction. Novotorzhskiy Borisoglebskiy Monastyr 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 in Novotorzhskiy Kreml.

Discover more destinations: Andreapolsky District, Rzhevskiy rayon, Kuvshinovskiy rayon, Penovskiy rayon, Torzhok, Molokovsky District, Selizharovskiy rayon, and Toropetskiy rayon.

What makes the Church of St. John the Baptist distinctive?

It stands in the Shirkovsky churchyard on the shore of Lake Vselug. The tiered wooden structure was built in 1694 and is 45 meters high.

How long is the educational trail at the source of the Volga?

The ecological trail is one kilometer long. Along the way, you can see the vegetation and landscape typical of the area.

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

In the broader destination of Tver Oblast, the hike can be taken as a one-day tour or with an overnight stay in a forest cabin.

Go to the broader travel overview: Tver Oblast.