Navashino
The main Navashino brand is shipbuilding. Since 1907, one of the largest domestic enterprises has been operating here, where cargo ships and bridges were built for the whole country. The architecture of Soviet classicism, the XVII century church, the camp site from childhood and even a pyramid — in our guide, we are going to tell you what’s interesting can be found in Navashino.
A FEW FACTS
WHAT TO DO IN THE CITY
01
Visit the Palace of Culture
The central point of Navashino, Lenina Square, is glorified with a large Palace of Culture that appeared on the initiative of the Navashino Shipyard in the 1960s. This characteristic example of Soviet classicism architecture has something to surprise: outside, there are rows of massive white columns and a pair of mosaic panels, and inside, there are ship-themed paintings, space-themed murals, caissons, all kinds of rosettes and a concert hall in the spirit of the Stalinist Empire. Very impressive!
02
Learn about shipbuilding
Like the bright mosaic on the facade of the Palace of Culture, the snow-white bas-reliefs on the building of the Children's Creativity Hall were created by the famous Nizhny Novgorod artist Kim Shikhov in the late 1970s. There is also a small museum of local history, where you can learn about the history of Navashino and the local shipyard that was established in 1907 and became the most important supplier of river barges. In addition to ships, bridges and pontoons were also manufactured here — this story continues at the Oka Shipyard to this day.
03
Take a walk in the park
The local public park is located near Lake Zelenoe; it was opened in Soviet times. It's good to take a walk near the shore or under the shade of trees, to admire the sculptures of cartoon characters like Cheburashka or Leopold the cat and, if you're lucky, get on the launch of ship models. Be sure to buy a loaf from a bakery near the park — the aroma here is fantastic!
04
Take a look at the Murom Bridge
One of the most beautiful Russian bridges connects the Nizhny Novgorod and Vladimir regions near the city of Murom. Due to the cable-stayed structure, it seems that the bridge hangs on thin threads, but all the load falls on the pylon supports through a system of cable stays. If you can't take a ride on it, at least look at the replica of the bridge in the Shipbuilders public garden, where children will definitely feel themselves like a ship captain or a pirate. All aboard!
05
Visit the Three Bayonets memorial
Such monuments dedicated to the memory of the veterans of the Great Patriotic War symbolize the connection of generations. They are often found in Russia, but images of flying cranes add special grace to this particular monument — it looks very beautiful at any time of the day.
06
Feel nostalgia at the Lake Svyato Recreation Center
A half-hour drive from Navashino, there is a campsite on Bolshoe Svyatoe lake, which can only be called a time capsule. The atmosphere of Soviet children's camps has been preserved here: cozy wooden houses, volleyball playgrounds, a sandy beach with wild vegetation — all of this bring bright flashbacks about first love, jumping into the lake water and songs by the campfire. And if you go deep into, you will see a small chapel.
07
Be amazed by the pyramid
Perhaps few people expect to see a pyramid in the south-west of the Nizhny Novgorod region, but it is there! In a picturesque place on the border with the Vladimir region, on the territory of the Peremilovy Gory Park-Hotel, like-minded associates of the expert in alternative history, scientist Andrei Sklyarov constructed a copy of the pyramid of Cheops. In order not to get lost in the woods, focus on its edges, which are located on the cardinal directions.
08
Examine the architecture of the Church of Our Savior
Among the Navashino religious buildings, the Church of Our Savior in the Dedovo village stands out in particular. According to legend, its main relic, the icon of the Miraculous Image of the Savior created in 1591, surfaced from the Holy Lake that emerged on the site of the destroyed church. In any case, this is a wonderful example of religious architecture created at the end of the XVII century, an antiquity, of which few have survived.