Krestetsky District: Embroidery, Churches and Lakes

In Krestetsky District, you’ll encounter textile crafts, a rich church history and lakes, each with its own landscape. In Kresttsy, the «Krestetskaya strochka» embroidery introduces you to local crafts; other visits focus on churches, workshops and nature. When planning your trip, you can organise these different highlights according to what interests you most.

Embroidery and workshop visits

On a tour of the «Krestetskaya strochka» factory, you can visit all the workshops and follow the embroidery-making process from design and fabric preparation through to packaging the finished products. The tours are led by experienced embroiderers, who explain the «Krestetskaya strochka» tradition and its distinctive features. The visit also includes the «Krestetskaya strochka» museum, where embroidered textiles are on display. Advance booking is required for a tour; check the current arrangements with the factory before your trip.

The «Rozhdestvo» factory in the village of Kresttsy offers a different experience: by prior arrangement, you can take part in a guided tour and workshop and take home the souvenir you make. The options range from a look at several stages of production to a visit where you make something yourself.

Churches and local history

The Holy Trinity Church in Kresttsy was consecrated in 1865. The church was also damaged in a fire. From 1872 to 1875, it was restored with donations from parishioners and St Petersburg merchants; it was consecrated again in October 1875. During the Soviet era, the church fell into disrepair. Restoration began in the 1990s, and the fully restored church was consecrated in 1996.

Another historical thread leads to St Catherine’s Cathedral on Sobornaya Square. It was built in 1777 by order of Empress Catherine II. Together with the history of the Holy Trinity Church, it offers insight into different periods of construction and rebuilding in Kresttsy.

Everyday culture and workshops

The «Starovercheskoye podvorye» in Lyakova is a house showcasing everyday Old Believer life. It opened in 2011, operates year-round and offers interactive tours. Workshops on making the “Arkhangelsk bird” are held at the Velimir Khlebnikov Museum in the village of Ruchyi. The bird represents kindness, eternal life and remembrance of ancestors.

Lakes and landscapes

Lake Beloe covers 3.5 hectares and lies in the «Ust-Volmsky» State Regional Nature Reserve. The reserve is located in the northern part of Krestetsky District, near the confluence of the Kholova River and the Msta. The round-shaped Lake Gverstyanitsa lies in a hollow between moraine hills with diverse forest vegetation. It covers 50.78 hectares and is up to 22 metres deep. Beloe is the smaller lake in the nature reserve; Gverstyanitsa lies in a hollow between moraine hills and is considerably larger.

An arched bridge over the Yarynya River is also located in Krestetsky District, adding another architectural feature alongside the churches and crafts.

Choose a holiday rental to suit your interests

When looking for a holiday rental in Krestetsky District, you can start by deciding what matters most to you: would you like to focus on embroidery tours and church history in Kresttsy, plan a workshop in Ruchyi or choose based on the landscapes?

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Eresino, Malovishersky District, Staraya Russa, Novgorodsky District, Borovichsky District, Chudovsky District, Valdaysky District, Soletsky District.

Back to the main travel overview: Novgorod Oblast.