Chkalovsk
Chkalovsk, as you may have guessed, is the birthplace of the renowned aviator Valery Chkalov, so any journey through the city will be imbued with his name: there are museums, a monument to the great man, a Hall of Culture, and much more. A veritable paradise for aviation enthusiasts! If you are also planning a trip around the district, you will find one of the most beautiful churches of the Nizhny Novgorod region in Katunki, and amazing pieces of wooden architecture in Purekh, a village once owned by Dmitry Pozharsky.
A FEW FACTS
Vasilyeva Sloboda
The town which was to become Chkalovsk was founded in the XII century. It was named Vasilyeva Sloboda in honor of its founder, Prince Vasily Yurievich, son of Yuri Dolgoruky. The settlement served as a backup defence point for Gorodets.
The Land of the Shuysky Family
From the XIV to XVII century, Vasilyeva Sloboda was owned by the Shuysky princes; its last owner from among the representatives of this clan was Vasily Shuysky, tsar of Russia from 1606 to 1610.
Pottery Masters
Pottery has flourished in the village since ancient times. In the mid-19th century, there were over 20 pottery workshops here, and their products were shipped to the lower Volga and Kama. Additionally, Vasilyeva Sloboda was known as one of the main sources of barge haulers for work on the Volga.
Chkalov’s Birthplace
Еhe famous Soviet aviator Valery Chkalov was born in Vasilyeva Sloboda In 1904. In 1937, after his unprecedented non-stop flight over the North Pole to the USA, the village was renamed in his honor.
The Great Flood and Reconstruction
After the construction of the Gorky Hydroelectric Power Station, most of Chkalovsk was flooded, and the city was moved to a new, higher point, and rebuilt according to a new masterplan.
The Gorky Sea
Chkalovsk is one of three towns in the Nizhny Novgorod region, along with Zavolzhye and Gorodets, which is located on the shores of the Gorky Reservoir or, as it is customary to say in the Nizhny Novgorod region, the «Gorky Sea».
Engineering Tests
Here near Chkalovsk, there once were a research base where the renowned scientist and shipbuilder Rostislav Alexeyev tested various models of the flarecrafts he had designed.
WHAT TO DO IN THE CITY
01
Visit Purekh
Before reaching Chkalovsk itself, be sure to stop by the village of Purekh, where you can find fabulous wooden houses (the most interesting are on Lugovaya Street). Many of Purekh’s residents were mahogany workers cabinetmakers at the local furniture factory. An example of one of the most beautiful houses adorned with deer belongs to Nikolay Kaloshin, who has been continually embellishing his house since the 1970s. Thanks to the bloggers who first drew attention to this house, it has become famous throughout the country.
02
Make a wish while the bells ring
In Purekh, you can visit the local museum of history and folklore, where you will be encouraged to ring the bells to make a wish come true. In the past, the bronze-casting business was the leading industry here, and small bells were produced for the couriers and postmen of the time, which were used as signalling devices. It was believed that Purekh's bells had the longest ringing as their sound lasted for up to 40 seconds.
03
Visit the Chkalov House Museum
As soon as you arrive in Chkalovsk, you should of course head straight to the Chkalov Museum, located in the house where he was born. By the way, the house is not in its original place: when the town was flooded, the house was moved away from the shoreline. Chkalov's belongings are stored and preserved here. For example, you can see the penny he found in his pocket when he landed in America. Once a businessman wanted to buy this penny for 100 dollars.
04
Marvel at the famous Chkalov aircraft
This museum is not just a house, but also features a hangar-pavilion located nearby. Here you can see unique airplanes that Chkalov flew. The legendary ANT-25, in which the pilot made his most famous non-stop flights from Moscow to the island of Udd in the Sea of Okhotsk (now Chkalov Island), and to the USA via the North Pole to Vancouver, takes central place. Notice how narrow and small the airplanes of that time were. But Valery Chkalov was comfortable in them, as he was barely 5’5” tall.
05
Get to know the Museum of Velocity
Right opposite the Chkalov House Museum stands an imposing three-storey building with a tower, spire, and bas-reliefs. This is the Chkalov Hall of Culture; its main point of interest is the Museum of Velocity, a large and diverse collection dedicated to Rostislav Alexeyev, the developer of hydrofoils and flarecrafts. What’s more, in the Hall of Culture itself, you can see an exhibition of works by the cinematographic artists Alexander Vagichev and Nikolay Markin, featuring unique sketches from their work on the famous Soviet films «Viy» and «The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors».
06
Admire modern technologies at the Virage Center
Chkalovsk is a relatively new modern town, because despite all its long history, it was partially flooded during the construction of the Gorky Reservoir in the mid-20th century. Numerous merchant houses and churches were totally submerged, but the Rukavishnikovs' house, built in 1880, survived. Here you will find the relatively recent Virage Museum and tourist center for children and youth, where games and excursions take place, and you can even try a flight simulator.
07
Head to the «river gates» of Chkalovsk
From the museum complex, head to the embankment and pier, one of the main attractions for both locals and tourists. The concept for the embankment is, of course, related to aviation and river navigation. There you will find works of art in the form of aircraft, a modern children's playground, and workout equipment. On the observation deck, there is a pair of binoculars that you can use to inspect the spectacular views all around you more thoroughly.
08
Buy Nizhny Novgorod guipure as a souvenir
Should you grow tired of the aviation theme and want to buy an interesting souvenir from Chkalovsk, then make your way to the Nizhny Novgorod Guipure exhibition hall. Here you can learn more about a special type of embroidery, better known in English as Venice lace, that emerged at the end of the XIX century in Vasilyeva Sloboda, as the Chkalovsk district was then called. The embroidery is distinctive for its geometric ornamentation, which is not found in other regions. The exhibition hall also has a shop where you can buy something to remind you of your visit.
09
For nature and beauty, head to Katunki
Katunki is a village located on the shore of the Gorky Reservoir. It also known as «the second Kitezh», because during the construction of the local hydro-electric power plant, the most part of the once large village was submerged, with only one church surviving intact. That church was the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God, and it is a real treasure: from floor to ceiling, the interior is decorated with 19th-century oil paintings with biblical scenes in the Italian Baroque style painted by masters of the Nizhny Novgorod Stupin School.
10
Take a walk to the Gruzinsky-Turchaninovs' estate
If you find yourself in Katunki, be sure to take a walk through the former estate of the Gruzinsky-Turchaninovs, which was frequented at one time by Gorky and Shalyapin. It is said that it was here that Shalyapin first performed «Ei, uhnem!», better known in English as the Song of the Volga Boatmen. The estate was transformed into the Katunki rest and relaxation center for workers of the Gorky Automobile Plant. This center is no longer functional, so just go and relax on the shore of the Gorky Reservoir and watch the local fishermen.
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO SEE
The Chkalov Hall of Culture
Chkalovsk, 4 Chkalova str.
An architectural monument built in 1940 in the Stalinist Imperial style, resembling the shape of an aeroplane viewed from above.
Working hours
Tuesday - Sunday — 10:00 – 17:00;
Monday — day off
The Museum of Velocity
Chkalovsk, 4 Chkalova str.
The museum's displays are dedicated to the history of speed on water, from barge hauling to flarecrafts, as well as to the famous Soviet shipbuilder Rostislav Alexeyev.
Working hours
Tuesday - Sunday — 10:00 – 17:00;
Monday — day off
The Virage Museum and Tourist Center for Children and Youth
Chkalovsk, 2 Khalturina str.
A centуr with interactive exposition located in the house of the merchant Rukavishnikov, where games and excursions take place, and you can also test a flight simulator.
Working hours
Tuesday - Sunday — 09:00 – 17:00;
Monday — day off;
Tours by appointment
The Embankment and Pier
Chkalovsk, Mira str.
Here you can play on the children's playground, have a workout, and use the binoculars to look at the magnificent landscape all around.
Monument to Chkalov
Chkalovsk, Chkalov sq.
A monument to the legendary aviator and native of the town, located on the square in front of the Hall of Culture.
Chkalov Memorial Museum
Chkalovsk, 5 Chkalova str.
The museum complex includes the memorial house where the aviator was born and grew up, and a hangar containing the airplanes he flew, including the famous ANT-25.
Working hours
Tuesday - Sunday — 10:00 – 17:00;
Monday — day off
The Chkalovsk Water Tower
Chkalovsk, Lenina str.
An abandoned red brick water tower which was in operation until the 1990s.
The Nizhny Novgorod Guipure Exhibition Hall and Shop
Chkalovsk, 65 Belinskogo str.
The Nizhny Novgorod Guipure Company has an exhibition hall dedicated to this embroidery technique, and the shop where you can purchase bedding, clothing, and other products.
Working hours
Exhibition hall Monday - Friday — 08:00 – 17:00, weekends — by request;
Shop Tuesday - Friday — 09:00 – 18:00, Saturday — 09:00 – 14:00
The Hall of Culture and Sports
Chkalovsk, 1 Chkalov sq.
A Hall of Culture built in 1965. The façade of the building is decorated with a stunning metal composition. Concerts, performances, and exhibitions are held here.
Working hours
Daily 08:00 – 22:00
The Dukhovskaya Church in Purekh
Purekh, 73 Lenina str.
An abandoned mid-19th-century church built in the Russian eclectic style.
The Pozharsky Purekh Museum of History and Folklore
Purekh, 66 Lenina str.
A museum dedicated to the history of the people's militia of 1612, also featuring a large collection of bells which you can ring to make a wish.
The Church of the Transfiguration in Purekh
Purekh, 70A Severnaya str.
A church built in the XVII century by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, where you can see ancient stucco and frescoes. A 12-tonne bell was there once.
The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God in Katunki
Katunki, 7 Pervomayskaya str.
An incredibly beautiful church on the shores of the Volga, with huge biblically-themed murals in the Baroque style.
The Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in Katunki
Katunki, Kirova str.
A church where unique icons from churches destroyed during the Soviet period were once hidden. You can see them now in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God.
The estate of the Gruzinsky-Turchaninovs in Katunki
Katunki, 1 Kirova str.
An estate with a park, where during the Soviet period there was a now-abandoned «Katunki» rest and recreation centre for employees of the Gorky Automobile Plant.
