Turovo: Commemorating Viktor Gorshenin

The local history of Turovo is closely linked to the commemoration of Viktor Alekseyevich Gorshenin. A memorial commemorates the partisan and reconnaissance agent at a place that also bears witness to the history of his death in Turovo. The wider Tosnensky District offers nature and culture themes as well, providing a different focus for a trip.

Commemorating Viktor Gorshenin

The memorial to Viktor Alekseyevich Gorshenin was unveiled on 27 November 1977. Gorshenin was a partisan and reconnaissance agent; the Nazis shot him in Turovo. The memorial stands at the site of the execution. It is listed as a cultural heritage site of local, municipal significance. The years 1941 and 1977 are recorded in the listing.

A separate memorial in Turovo is a single war grave. Thus, two historical subjects stand side by side in the village: a memorial to a person commemorated by name and a burial site. Those planning a history-focused trip can take this distinction into account.

Nature and Geology in Tosnensky District

In the broader travel destination of Tosnensky District, the “Sablinskiy” natural monument is a distinctive landscape and history destination. It lies on the Ordovician Plateau and stretches along the gorge-like valley of the Tosna River. The area includes the confluence of the Tosna and Sablinka rivers and the Sablinka ravine, which extends to the “Sablinskiy” waterfall. The two lowland waterfalls, “Sablinskiy” and “Tosnenskiy,” are also located there.

The Sablin caves include old mine galleries dug by people. Quartz sand was mined there for glassmaking from the mid-19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. The landscape thus combines natural features with its history of use: river ravines and waterfalls sit alongside galleries whose creation was linked to a specific raw material and industry.

The “Sablinskiy” eco-trail has a wooden boardwalk that makes it possible to walk along the slope in all weather. Information boards explain the geological, biological and historical features of the protected area; specially designed viewing points are provided for photographing the waterfalls. The trail is intended for the summer season, from May to October. Check current conditions before visiting.

Forestry History and Different Routes

Another regional focus is the history of Russian forestry. The Museum of Nature and History of Russian Forestry in Lisino-Korpus devotes seven rooms to the subject. Topics include a map from 1676, Peter I’s decrees on forest use according to forestry principles, and the founding of Russia’s first forestry educational institution, the Lisino Forestry Institute, which became today’s Lisinski Forestry College. Collections, including natural specimens and historical maps, add to this account of the development of the field.

For a practical guide to distance and duration, the “Kolibel russkogo lesovodstva” (“Cradle of Russian Forestry”) ecological route in the “Lisinskiy” protected area is described as being in Lisino-Korpus, 3.5 kilometres long and taking one hour. The route can be planned by distance and duration; the “Sablinskiy” eco-trail, by contrast, is intended for the summer season from May to October.

Gardens and Attractions in the Wider Destination

The Maryino Estate in Tosnensky District also offers a variety of attractions. The English Park includes a garden of monastic herbs, the Queen of Spades Garden and an Oriental garden. The estate also has a Japanese garden with guided tours, photo shoots and workshops. The boat station rents out boats and catamarans.

The estate’s farm park includes a poultry yard with geese, ducks, guinea fowl, pheasants and chickens, as well as a stable with horses and ponies; greyhounds are also part of the park. The animals kept there may change. Thus, in the wider Tosnensky District, garden culture, waterside activities and a farm park complement the historical and natural-history attractions.

Discover more destinations: Lodeynoye Pole, Agalatovo, Primorsk, Domozhirovo, Kusino, Shapki, Otradnoye, Pikalyovo.

For the broader travel overview: Leningrad Oblast.