Peremyshlsky District: Nature, Monasteries and History

Peremyshlsky District brings together distinctive natural landscapes and a multifaceted history. At Lake Tish and along the “Pokrovskie Kurgany” nature trail, the landscape takes centre stage; churches and monastery complexes tell stories of religious life and earlier eras. Vorotynsk, now a village in Ugra National Park, is another place shaped by historical change. When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to decide first whether you are more interested in nature, trails and scenery, or in the history of churches and villages.

Lake, Ridge and Nature Trail

Lake Tish is located in Ugra National Park in Peremyshl District. It is an important botanical area and a resting place for migratory birds. The steep ridge along the village of Zhelokhovo offers a view of the lake; Tish is one of the most scenic lakes in Kaluga Oblast. The ridge has also traditionally served as a launch site for paragliders. This area is notable for both its natural environment and its striking viewpoint, each with its own character.

The “Pokrovskie Kurgany” nature trail near Korchevskie Dvoriki can be explored on foot or by bicycle and is suitable for visitors of different ages. Information boards, signposts and bicycle parking are provided along the route. A group of burial mounds along the trail is designated as an archaeological monument and burial mound site. Those interested in archaeology can encounter history right along the trail.

The scenery varies too: the trail offers a panorama of the Zhizdra River and a view of the Sharovkin Monastery, which dates from the 16th to the 18th century. Before exploring the trail, it is worth checking the national park’s current visitor regulations as part of your planning.

Churches and Monastic History

The history of Sharovkin Monastery is linked to the hermitages of the hermit Feognost Sharovka in the early 16th century. He gathered a community of hermits there. The monastery’s two churches present contrasting pictures: the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God is being restored in stages, and services are held there. Since 1974, it has been a monument of federal significance for history and architecture. By contrast, only ruins remain of the Church of St. Sergius; it is designated a monument of regional significance for history and culture.

A holy spring dedicated to the Prophet Elijah, with a bathing pool, is located near the monastery. The combination of monastic history, a restored church and ruins also makes this part of the district interesting to travellers drawn to the different traces of its religious heritage.

Another story of church architecture is associated with Achlebinino. There, I. Ya. Konshina, the estate’s last owner, had the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God built in 1916. The church has been restored, and services are held there. In addition to the church, Konshina shaped the village’s cultural life: she organised the production of folk embroidery and recruited embroiderers from 69 villages. She designed patterns for peasant embroidery herself and taught children to draw. She also founded a temperance society and a library. These historical details give the place its own cultural dimension.

Vorotynsk also shows how a place can change over time: it was once an urban settlement and is now a village within Ugra National Park. This transformation adds the development of a settlement in today’s protected area to the history of churches and monasteries.

Learning About Nature in Kaluga Oblast

In the wider travel region of Kaluga Oblast, near Korchevskie Dvoriki in Peremyshl District, you’ll find the “Kingdom of the Russian Desman” museum, which opened in 2024. It provides information about the Russian desman’s habitat, biology and adaptations. Visitors can hear the animal’s calls and see it on a screen, but not in person. The museum welcomes both individual and group visits. Check the current visitor regulations before your visit.

Kaluga Oblast also offers opportunities to learn about the Russian desman beyond the museum: one of its largest populations lives in the floodplain of the Zhizdra River in Ugra National Park. This regional perspective complements the district’s nature-related attractions without limiting them to a single location.

Choosing the Right Holiday Apartment

Choose your search for a holiday apartment in Peremyshlsky District based on which of these sides of the area you’d like to explore during your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Gorod Obninsk, Zhukovskiy rayon, Zhizdrinskiy rayon, Yukhnovsky District, Maloyaroslavetskiy Rayon, Kozelskiy rayon, Ferzikovsky District, gorod Kaluga.

For the wider travel overview: Kaluga Oblast.