Ostashkov: Churches, Local History Museum and Lake Seliger

Ostashkov combines views of Lake Seliger with a rich architectural and museum history. From the viewpoint in the bell tower of the Trinity Cathedral, a panorama opens up over the city, the lake and its islands. Churches and exhibitions also give your stay a clear cultural focus.

Churches, Museum and Local History

The Trinity Cathedral was built in 1697; since 1977, it has housed the Ostashkov Local History Museum. The local history exhibition “Istoricheskoye proshloye Seligerskogo kraya” explores the trades and crafts of the Lake Seliger region, as well as the cultural and historical traditions of the Ostashkov area. Another exhibition, “Charuyushchiy mir Seligerskogo kraya”, presents animals from forests, fields, waters and shorelines in dioramas depicting their natural habitats.

On the shore of Lake Seliger, the Church of the Ascension of Christ, also known as the Znamensky Church, stands on the grounds of the Znamensky Convent, which was closed in 1928. Construction of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ began in 1677 in the Monastyrskaya Sloboda monastic settlement. In the second half of the 18th century, it was painted by artists from Ostashkov. The fire station with its fire tower is a cultural heritage site of federal significance.

The halls of the local history museum host various concerts and festivals. If you would like to include an event in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: will churches, exhibitions and the history of Ostashkov be your priority, or would you also like to include natural attractions elsewhere in the wider destination of Tver Oblast? Choose your accommodation base according to the specific places you plan to visit.

Nature and Culture in the Wider Destination of Tver Oblast

The Central Forest Nature Reserve offers a different focus in the wider destination of Tver Oblast. Visitors use their own vehicle for the excursion to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog. The “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” ecological trail runs through a picturesque raised bog with broad, open areas completely covered in moss and unusual plants. The reserve also offers guided tours along the “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka” ecological trails.

Also in the wider destination of Tver Oblast, a hike leads to the “Barsuchikha” ranger station. It can be taken as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest hut; along the way, visitors see southern taiga forest and a raised bog. Nilova Pustyn offers another distinctive perspective on Tver Oblast: the monastery is on Stolobny Island and is a centre of religious and pilgrimage tourism.

The Central Forest Nature Reserve Museum showcases the protected area’s main ecosystems and the species that live there; one hall is devoted to scientific research. The reserve’s central estate also has a visitor centre with information about the organisation’s history and structure, a regularly changing exhibition of children’s artwork, and a souvenir shop.

Discover more destinations: Sverdlovo, Poddubki, Nerl', Olino, Protivye, Nikola Rozhok, Likhoslavl, Kalyazin.

View the wider travel guide: Tver Oblast.