Zubtsovskiy District: Manor, Museum and Springs

• The “Stepanovskoe-Volosovo” estate in Volosovo is an architectural monument dating from the 18th and 19th centuries; construction of the main house began between 1792 and 1798.
• The Zubtsov Local History Museum is housed in a 19th-century architectural monument and presents the region’s history up to the mid-20th century in three halls.
• The memorial complex in Pogoreloye Gorodishche includes a military cemetery and a memorial wall.
• The “Rodniki Kurkovskie” natural monument consists of three springs in ravines; the pool they feed is used for extreme bathing year-round.
• The folk art festival “Barynya-Kapusta” has been held every autumn in Zubtsov since 2008.

The Kurakin princely family’s estate in Volosovo is called “Stepanovskoe-Volosovo” and is classified as an architectural monument dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Construction of the main house began between 1792 and 1798. The name “Stepanovskoe” comes from Prince Stepan Kurakin; construction of the new estate began under his direction. This allows the building history and the history of the name to be considered together in one place.

In Zubtsov, the Local History Museum is located in the historic center, in a 19th-century architectural monument. Its exhibits are arranged across three halls and trace the region’s history from its settlement to the mid-20th century. Zubtsov itself lies at the confluence of the Volga and Vazuzа rivers. The river confluence gives a visit to the museum an urban and geographic context, while the exhibits provide a broader historical perspective on the region.

Another focus is remembrance in Pogoreloye Gorodishche. The memorial complex there includes a military cemetery containing the remains of 520 Soviet soldiers who fell in the Second World War. A memorial wall also commemorates 1,800 local residents who did not return from the Great Patriotic War. The site therefore represents a specific form of remembrance, while the estate and museum present architectural and regional history.

The “Rodniki Kurkovskie” state natural monument is located near Kurkovo. Three springs emerge in ravines; the pool they feed is used for extreme bathing year-round.

For choosing when to travel, it is useful to compare cultural and nature experiences: the “Barynya-Kapusta” festival takes place in autumn, while the springs’ pool is used year-round. If you want to travel for the festival, check the dates for your travel year in advance. This distinguishes autumn as the festival’s recurring season from the specific event dates.

Other nature experiences can be found in the wider destination of Tver Oblast. In the Central Forest Nature Reserve, the hike to the “Barsuchikha” cordon passes through southern taiga forest and a raised bog. It can be taken as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest cabin. This is a different kind of nature experience from the springs near Kurkovo: here, the focus is on a longer hike and the landscape along the route.

Also in Tver Oblast, the “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” ecological trail leads through a raised bog. The described landscape is characterized by wide-open areas completely covered in moss and unusual plants. When comparing nature destinations in Tver Oblast, consider the contrast between the taiga forest and raised bog on the hike to the “Barsuchikha” cordon and the open, fully moss-covered areas and unusual plants along the ecological trail.

This gives you a way to choose your focus: in Volosovo, the history of the manor house takes center stage; the museum in Zubtsov spans a broad regional history, while the memorial complex offers its own focus on remembrance. The springs combine a natural monument with bathing; in the wider destination, there are also hikes through forest and bog. Another place to discover in the district is Shchekoldino.

Discover more destinations: Selizharovskiy District, Sonkovskiy District, Torzhok, Ostashkovskiy District, Oleninsky District and Kalyazinskiy District.

What does the Zubtsov Local History Museum exhibit?

The exhibition spans three halls and covers the region’s history from its settlement to the mid-20th century.

When is the “Barynya-Kapusta” festival held?

The intermunicipal folk art festival has been held every autumn in Zubtsov since 2008. Check the specific dates for your travel year in advance.

When did construction of the main house in Volosovo begin?

Construction of the main house at the “Stepanovskoe-Volosovo” estate began between 1792 and 1798.

For the wider travel overview: Tver Oblast.