Boksitogorsky District: Museum History and Nature

In Boksitogorsky District, wartime history and landscape offer different kinds of travel experiences: the “Astrakha, 1941” Museum explores the events near Tikhvin, while the Ragusha River and flooded quarries offer their own natural attractions. If you’re looking for a vacation rental, you can first consider whether cultural history or nature should shape your stay.

Wartime history at the “Astrakha, 1941” Museum

The museum tells the story of the events near Tikhvin in November and December 1941, focusing on the real-life stories of a Russian boy and a German boy. This brings a historical period together with two personal life stories. The interactive exhibition presents a running chronicle of the war on four screens; visitors can also interact with authentic objects from that period.

The chronicle provides a timeline for the events, while the two boys’ stories bring individual perspectives to the fore. Together with the opportunity to interact with the objects, this gives the museum a clearly defined theme: you can explore the events near Tikhvin and the human stories behind them, rather than encounter only a general account of the wartime period.

Natural monument and flooded quarries

The Ragusha River is near the destination and the village of Rudnaya Gorka; it is a regional complex natural monument. Some of the district’s exhausted quarries offer a different aspect of the landscape: they have flooded and formed artificial lakes. Together, a natural monument and bodies of water created by the former use of quarries represent different landscape histories.

Fish species are also part of this natural landscape. The quarries of Boksitogorsky District are home to trout, muksun, perch, roach, bream, and catfish, among other species. The list adds another dimension to the description of the lakes.

A revived tradition in Efimovskoye

The Somino Peter’s Fair is also part of the cultural side of Boksitogorsky District. It is a revived tradition of the urban-type settlement of Efimovskoye, which was once a well-known merchants’ village. Two different eras come together here: the revived tradition and the place’s former importance as a merchants’ village. This complements the museum’s wartime history with a distinct look at local history and customs.

Leningrad Oblast: nature and history in a broader context

In the broader destination of Leningrad Oblast, Vepsian Forest Nature Park lies in the oblast’s far east. It encompasses seven nature reserves with particularly strict protections and numerous lakes. The largest is Lake Lerinskoye, in the reserve of the same name. Among the park’s special features are old spruce and pine forests in the “Vepsskiy les” and “Ashozerskiy” reserves.

These forests are important to numerous organisms that can survive only in forests undisturbed by economic activity. Brown bears are found in significant numbers in the nature park; the wolverine, which is extremely rare in the region, has also been observed. Culture is part of this regional context too: the Veps, a small people of Russia with their own culture and traditions, have traditionally lived in the nature park.

Another cultural destination in Leningrad Oblast is Koporye Fortress, a museum and monument of Old Russian stone architecture. Its present form dates back to the 16th century, while parts of the masonry date from the 13th century. You can visit without a guide using the “Koporskaya Krepost 2.0” multimedia guide; check whether it is available when planning your visit. The walls and towers must not be climbed because they are in an unsafe condition.

Discover more destinations: Lomonosovsky District, Kingiseppsky District, Vsevolozhsky District, Slantsevsky District, Luzhsky District, Priozersky District, Kirovsky District, Gatchina District.

For the broader travel overview: Leningrad Oblast.