Chertovitsy: Ski Slopes, Hiking Trail and Farm&Village

• All the slopes at Chertovitsy Ski Club are illuminated; there is also a separate practice slope.
• A lift ride takes 2.5 to 3.5 minutes, depending on the slope.
• The Chertovitskaya hiking trail is 10.3 km long, passes through Nagornaya Oak Forest and has challenging terrain. Allow five to six hours for the hike.
• Farm&Village offers a farm visit with goats, horses, ponies, donkeys and ostriches, as well as a museum of Russian everyday life.

The illumination of all the slopes makes it possible to ski after dark. The separate practice slope is another specific feature of the offer. Lift rides take between 2.5 and 3.5 minutes, depending on the slope. This refers to the ascent, not the length of an entire visit. As this is information provided by the operator, check the latest lift information in advance.

The trail passes through Nagornaya Oak Forest. It starts at the beach on the Voronezh River in the area of the village of Chertovitsy and ends at a junction with an unpaved road near the village of Aydarovo. The 10.3-kilometre route has challenging terrain; the stated walking time is five to six hours. This is a hike lasting several hours and should not be confused with the short duration of a single lift ride. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

At Farm&Village, visitors can visit the farm and see goats, horses, ponies, donkeys and ostriches. The museum of Russian everyday life complements the animals with a cultural focus. Animal feed and a guided tour of the horse stable are also available. The squirrel house has animals that visitors can interact with. If you are especially interested in animals, farming or everyday culture, you can explore different themes in one place. Check the current visitor arrangements in advance.

Beyond Chertovitsy, Voronezh Oblast offers other natural and cultural attractions. The territory of the Khopyor Nature Reserve extends across the Novokhopyorsky, Povorinsky and Gribanovsky administrative districts. There, the five-kilometre “Legends of the Khopyor” walking excursion takes three hours and is closed during the spring floods. The 26-kilometre “Tour de Khopyor” cycling route takes four hours. The two activities therefore differ in their mode of travel, distance and time required.

The Natural History Museum at the Khopyor Reserve displays the reserve’s wildlife and habitats in two halls. Exhibits cover, among other things, beavers, Russian desmans, waterbirds and birds of prey, wild boar, elk, fallow deer and red deer; there is also a large relief map of the reserve.

Another natural and cultural heritage site in Voronezh Oblast is the “Divnogorye” Museum-Reserve, known for its chalk landscapes, unusual chalk cliffs on steep slopes and ridge-like chalk ravines. Divnogorskiy Canyon is about one kilometre long and up to 200 metres wide. The reserve’s heritage also includes Stone Age settlements and the ruins of the medieval Mayatskaya Fortress. Six religious caves and cave complexes are carved into the chalk massif on the right bank of the Tikhaya Sosna and Don rivers, extending for about 8.5 kilometres.

Discover more destinations: Polyana, Podpolnoye, Voronezh, Khitrovka, Divnogorye, Petropavlovka, Aydarovo and Novoaleksandrovka.

How long does a lift ride take in Chertovitsy?

A lift ride at the ski club takes 2.5 to 3.5 minutes, depending on the slope. All the slopes are illuminated, and there is also a separate practice slope.

How challenging is the Chertovitskaya hiking trail?

The 10.3-kilometre route has challenging terrain. Allow five to six hours; the trail runs from the beach on the Voronezh River in the area of the village of Chertovitsy to a junction with an unpaved road near the village of Aydarovo. Check local trail conditions in advance.

What does Farm&Village offer?

The offer includes a farm visit with goats, horses, ponies, donkeys and ostriches, a museum of Russian everyday life, animal feed, a guided tour of the horse stable and a squirrel house where visitors can interact with animals. Check the current visitor arrangements in advance.

For the overarching travel guide: Voronezh Oblast.