Zonalny District: Nature, Archaeology and Culture

Zonalny District brings together themes of nature and history: the district is home to the Sokolovskiy Nature Reserve, while archaeological sites are concentrated mainly in the west. Sokolovo adds to the area’s historical profile with an Epiphany Church and museum exhibits. Another highlight is the open-air festival “Pesni itkulskogo leta” near Pleshkovo. These different attractions offer a range of options for planning your trip.

Landscape and the Sokolovskiy Nature Reserve

The Sokolovskiy Nature Reserve, a protected area of regional significance, is located in Zonalny District and also extends into other districts. Its landscape is shaped by ancient river terraces with grass-and-herb meadow steppes and meadows, as well as pine forests and scrubby birch-pine-grass forests. Open meadows and wooded areas are therefore both characteristic of the reserve.

The reserve was established to protect the Priobsky pine forest and the beaver, as well as the black stork and the white-tailed eagle. The black stork and white-tailed eagle are listed in the Red Book of Russia. Nature enthusiasts will find a clearly defined focus for their trip here: the landscape of a protected area of regional significance and the species it aims to protect.

Archaeological sites in the west of the district

The archaeological sites of Zonalny District are concentrated in the west, around Lakes Bolshoy Itkul and Maly Itkul, and along the Itkul River, which flows out of Maly Itkul. The sites also span a variety of periods: the Bolshoy Mys burial ground is attributed to the Eneolithic Bolshemyskaya culture. The Korchazhka 5 settlement belongs to the Late Bronze Age Korchazhkinskaya culture. The Soshnikovo fortification is assigned to the early medieval Soshnikovskiy stage of the Odintsovskaya culture.

The burial ground, settlement and fortification represent different archaeological themes and periods. Those interested in the region’s history can explore the district not only through its landscape, but also through the different cultures to which these sites are attributed. The names of the bodies of water also provide a specific point of reference for the concentration of archaeological sites in the west.

Church and museums in Sokolovo

The Epiphany Church in Sokolovo was consecrated on December 1, 2007. It was built on the site of the destroyed Epiphany Church and is an exact replica of it. Its connection with the earlier building explicitly links the present-day church to the history of the site.

The Sokolovo local history museum has a historical and archaeological room, a local history room, an exhibition room and a literature room. The Itkulsky spirtzavod company museum in Sokolovo offers a different perspective: its exhibition covers Russian entrepreneurship from the 19th to the 21st century, as well as the history of the distillery from its founding in 1868 to the present day. Sokolovo is therefore a place to explore local and archaeological history as well as business history.

Summer festival on Lake Utkul

Another cultural highlight is the open-air festival for amateur composers, “Pesni itkulskogo leta.” It has been held annually in July since 1999 on Lake Utkul, near the village of Pleshkovo. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant year in advance.

Choose a holiday rental to suit your travel interests

When choosing a holiday rental, it is worth deciding in advance what your trip will focus on: nature, archaeological history or culture. If you are travelling with family, you can weigh up these interests together. Then, as you search, check which location suits the specific places in your plans.

Discover more destinations

Egoryevsky District, Chemalsky District, Mayminsky District, Shebalinsky District, Ust-Koksinsky District, Zavyalovsky District, Shipunovsky District, Kulundinsky District

For the regional travel overview: Altai Region.