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Sights of the region

Kstovo

On we go on our journey around the Nizhny Novgorod region, and this time we have decided to tell you about the ideal weekend route: a trip to the Kstovo district, which is very close by. Many people associate Kstovo with its famous water park, its sambo school, and its large mall, but in fact it has the fascinating tucked away places and gorgeous nature that have inspired many filmmakers. So, it is no coincidence that the Kstovo district has even been dubbed the Russian Hollywood!

A FEW FACTS

«Ksta»

According to one version of events, the name of the city comes from the Mordovian word «ksta», meaning «wild strawberry». This is connected to the abundance of these berries in the area (they even celebrate special strawberry festivals here). According to other versions, the name is associated with the cross and comes from the words «kstitsya» («to make the sign of the Cross») and «krestovy» («crusiform»).

A Young City

Kstovo is one of the newest towns in the Nizhny Novgorod region, with the village of Kstovskaya receiving city status as recently as 1957. At the same time, the first written mention of the village dates back to the end of the XIV century. Until 1763, it was in the possession of the Pechersky Ascension Monastery. After that, it came under state ownership and in the possession of the Pashkov miners.

Primitive Settlements

In the Kstovo district, near the village of Bezvodny, 18 sites of primitive people have been found, belonging to the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

The Homeland of Farmers

Historically, the main occupation of the Kstovo residents was agriculture, as well as barge-hauling, tree-felling, drawing wire, and weaving metal nets. Many locals also worked on the ships on the Volga.

Oil Refining

The modern development of the town of Kstovo is in no small way connected with the construction of an oil refinery here in the late 1950s, which would become the largest petrochemical enterprise in the European part of Russia.

The Russian Hollywood

The Kstovo district is a real Russian Hollywood; many films have been shot here, including Gaidaev's «The Twelve Chairs», the TV series «The Method» starring Konstantin Khabensky, «The Village Detective» about the policeman Aniskin, the drama «The Story of Asya Klyachina ...» and many more.

The Sambo Center

Kstovo is one of the centers of sambo martial arts, which name stands for «self-defense without weapons». Sambo has been flourishing in Kstovo since 1964, and the World Sambo Academy is located here, which regularly hosts various tournaments, both domestic and international.

WHAT TO DO IN THE CITY

Find the waterfall

Not far from the Zelyony Gorod, or Green City, which is also considered the Nizhny Novgorod city district, on the Kudma River, you will find probably one of the few waterfalls in the Nizhny Novgorod region! This is an artificial structure: according to some sources, it is an unfinished dam for a small hydroelectric power station on the river. Incidentally, the waterfall does not freeze, even in winter!

Take a walk in the center of Kstovo and visit the water park

Head to Lenin Square, where you can look at the artworks and fountain, take a turn on the swings, and relax on the unusual-looking benches. Nearby you will find one of the town’s main attractions, the Atoll water park, with its comprehensive range of water activities, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a hammam and numerous slides, including the extreme Kamikaze.

Learn more about cinema at the Volga Cinema Museum

In the museum exhibition dedicated to Nizhny Novgorod cinema, you can see a large collection of materials about films that were shot in the Russian Hollywood. You will be amazed at how many pictures were shot in the Kstovsky district, including Gaidai's «The Twelve Chairs», Konchalovsky's «The Story of Asya Klyachina ...» and many more.

Go to the local museum of history and folklore

The museum's displays are devoted to the history of the Kstovo district, and its collections contain over 8000 exhibits covering palaeontology, archeology and ethnography, as well as household items from the Soviet era.

Admire Veliky Vrag from the Lovers’ Slope

The Otkos Vlyublyonnykh, or Lovers' Slope, is a popular vacation spot for Kstovo’s residents. It provides incredible views over the Volga, the forests, and the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Built back in 1792 in the village of Veliky Vrag, the church now is a major architectural monument of federal significance. Some kind of movie has been filmed in almost every part in the Kstovo district, and Veliky Vrag provided the picturesque background for the «Method» series about a city detective, and the film «Aniskin and Fantomas» about the village detective.

Visit the village of Bezvodnoye

Bezvodnoye is one of the most beautiful places in Russia as it is located on the high bank of the Volga. The buildings here are merchant houses, made of solid stone with homemade carvings. It's wonderful just to take a walk around here, but be sure to visit the local attractions. Among them are Church of the Holy Trinity with its ornate altar-screen, and the Sunday School Museum, where you can see school supplies from the early XX century, antique clothing and jewellery, as well as learn about the traditions of the Orthodox feast of the Trinity.

Study the architecture of Rabotki

You can finish your journey through the Kstovo district at Rabotki. Sometimes Rabotki is referred to as «Vasyuki», because it was here that Soviet filmmaker Leonid Gaidai shot an episode of the film «The 12 Chairs» in 1971. After that the director had assigned the future capital of the USSR and all mankind to Rabotki. The main character of that film Bender also organized a simultaneous chess session here.In the XVIII and XIX centuries, Rabotki was the center of wooden shipbuilding. There were many merchants here, which means that a lot of abandoned mansions have been preserved! Don’t miss, for example, the house of merchant Ilyichev, the Ukhov estate, or the Boltunov house.

WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO SEE

The Waterfall on the River Kudma

Zelyony Gorod

This popular and amazingly beautiful place is, in fact, a concrete dam on the Kudma River near the forest, where you can take wonderful photos whatever the time of year.

The Baranov Spring

Kozlovka Village

A sacred spring, next to which the road to the Makaryev fair used to pass, and named after a merchant who was cured of his blindness after washing himself with water from this spring.

The Kstovo Puppet Theatre

Kstovo, 16 A 2nd MKR

The theatre’s repertoire includes more than thirty performances for children of different ages, including «Frozen», «Flint», «The Kid and Carlson», while more mature audiences are catered for with «The Marriage of Balzaminov» and «The Taming of the Shrew».

The Volga Cinema Museum

Kstovo, 2A Lenina sq.

A museum exhibition at the Pushkin Library dedicated to Nizhny Novgorod cinema. Among other things, you can find here a large collection of materials about the films that were shot in the Russian Hollywood, including «Burnt by the Sun», «Foma Gordeev», «The Twelve Chairs» and many others.

Lenin Square

Kstovo, Lenina sq.

The town’s main street, where you can pay your traditional homage to the «leader of the world revolution», cast your eye over the artworks and the fountain, have a go on the swings, or relax on the unusual-looking benches.

The Atoll Water Park

Kstovo, 5 Lenina sq.

A water entertainment complex with wave and hydro massage pools, a range of slides, including the Space Tunnel and the extreme Kamikaze, as well as a Jacuzzi, steam-baths, and a hammam.

The Monument to Chkalov

Kstovo, 40 let Oktyabrya str.

A memorial erected in 1956 in honor of the great aviator. In addition to Chkalov himself, you can also see a plaque with an inscription about his famous non-stop flight to the North Pole.

The Kstovo Museum of Local History

Kstovo, 11 Shkolnaya str.

The museum's displays are devoted to the history of the Kstovo district. Its collections contain over 8 000 exhibits covering palaeontology, archeology and ethnography, as well as household items from the Soviet era.

Otkos Vlyublyonnykh

Zimenka Village

With a name translating into English as «The Lovers’ Slope», this is a popular vacation spot for both Kstovo’s residents and guests of the district. It is located on a high hill in the village of Zimenki, from where you can enjoy magnificent views of the Volga, the surrounding forests, and the Kazan Church.

The Church of the Holy Trinity

Bezvodnoye Village, 36 1 Maya str.

A stone church built with donations from locals in 1894, which in Soviet times was used as a grain store. Inside, you can see the ornate iconostasis and murals throughout the interior.

The Museum of Folk Life

Bezvodnoye village, 1 Maya str.

A museum located in the Sunday school of the Church of the Holy Trinity. There, you can see school supplies from the early XX century, antique clothing and jewellery, as well as learn about the traditions of the Orthodox feast of the Trinity.

Merchant Ilyichev's House

Rabotki Village, 38 Lenina str.

A merchant's estate complete with a trading room, built at the end of the XIX century in a traditional brick style with elements of historicism.

Merchant Boltunov’s House

Rabotki Village, 23 Lenin str.

Another merchant's manor house built at the end of the XIX century, with interesting architectural elements, for example, the ornate arched windows.

Merchant Ukhov’s House

Rabotki Village, 1 Nizhegorodsky S’yezd str.

A manor house dating to the beginning of the XX century. Its architecture adheres to features of the classic brick style. Just a few steps from the manor there is a long staircase with a great view.

Anokhin’s House

Chechenino Village, 38 Zelyonaya str.

The country house where from 1890 until 1892 the writer Vladimir Korolenko lived with his family and wrote his stories «The Artist Alymov» and «Gone!».