Osa: Discover the city’s history and nature

In Osa, church architecture meets a local history museum offering insights into the region’s natural environment, as well as walks through the historic district. The themes range from fossils of the ancient Perm Sea to the history of the Peasants’ War and the expeditions led by Vitus Bering. This makes it possible to plan a stay around different interests, focusing on architectural history and exhibitions, old streets or birdwatching.

Architecture and history in Osa

The Holy Trinity Cathedral in Osa was built in the Russian-Byzantine style from 1902 to 1916. A walking tour of the historic centre described by the local history museum ends at the cathedral, a monument to church architecture designed by Perm architect A. B. Turtsevich.

The local history museum itself also has a layered history. It stands on the site of the former Osa settlement, which existed from the 2nd century BC to the 3rd century AD. The museum building is the former Dormition Cathedral. It was built from 1792 to 1824 with funds from parishioners and was the city’s first stone building.

The exhibition “Nature of the Osa Kama Region” comprises more than 670 museum objects illustrating the nature of the Osa region. These include fossils of the ancient Perm Sea, rocks, minerals and mineral resources, as well as shells, insects, fish, birds and other animals. Gymnosperms and angiosperms are also represented. The exhibition therefore ranges from geological evidence to plant and animal life.

A special exhibit is the diorama of the same name: including its naturalistic foreground, it measures 180 m² and is described as Russia’s second-largest nature diorama. Another diorama is devoted to the events of the Peasants’ War of 1773 to 1775 and is described as the only one of its kind in Russia. The exhibition “Vitus Bering - Osa. On the Way to Great Discoveries” focuses on the key stages of the Second Kamchatka Expedition through Russia, led by Vitus Bering.

Walks and experiences

A walk through the historic part of Osa includes the open-air exhibition “Osa. Time of the Masters” – “Walks through Old Osa.” Another walk described by the local history museum goes across Sobornaya Square and along the old streets of the historic district to the Kama riverfront. The route follows historic footpaths and cobbled streets and ends at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Those who want to learn more about old Osa can take part in a quest organised by the local history museum, available on request: participants walk through the city streets with museum staff and learn about its history. An ornithological trail is also offered on request. Participants can listen to birds and watch them with binoculars. These offer different focuses: the city’s history on the one hand, and observing and listening to birds on the other.

When looking for a holiday rental in Osa, this distinction can help with planning your trip. If you are particularly interested in architecture, museum themes and historic streets, the city’s history is the local focus. The quest and the ornithological trail each offer their own highlights; the stated request requirements apply to both.

A further look at the Perm region

In the wider Perm region destination, there are two excursion routes in the Basegi Nature Reserve: “To the Summit of Northern Basegi” and “To Southern Basegi.” The “To the Summit of Northern Basegi” route starts at the checkpoint near the “Schastlivyy” ranger station. It runs on foot for 3,700 metres through taiga forest, that is, the mountain forest zone, and for about 300 metres across mountain meadows. Including the return journey, it is 11 km long; the guided excursion, including time to rest, takes 5 to 8 hours. The excursion season runs from June to October. Check the current arrangements with the nature reserve before planning. This gives Osa’s urban history and museum focus a distinct natural counterpart elsewhere in the Perm region.

Discover more destinations: Senkino, Solikamsk, Yaiva, Berezniki, Polazna, Chernushka, Gremyachinsk, Sokol.

Go to the main travel overview: Perm region.