Main

Sights of the region

Voskresenskoye

The Voskresenskoye district is quite away from Nizhny Novgorod, so we advise you to go there for a couple of days to have time to see everything. According to folk legend, the great Russian taiga starts here, at the confluence of the Kerzhenets and Vetluga rivers (by the way, the Vetluga is almost 900 kilometers in length!). There is a lot to see here – churches, forest trails, nature landmarks, mansions, and of course, the mysterious Svetloyar!

A few facts

Magical Svetloyar

The district’s most important natural landmark is Svetloyar, the deepest lake in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is associated with the legend of the city of Kitezh. The water in it is considered to have healing powers, and the lake itself is sacred: pilgrims come here from all over the country, and many people gather for the feast of Ivan Kupala. They say that if you make a wish and walk around the lake three times carrying a lighted candle, then your wish will definitely come true.

Population

The oldest residents were the Mari (the Voskresenskoye district borders the Republic of Mari El in the east). During the development of this territory in the XV and XVI centuries, landowners resettled serfs here from other provinces in Russia.

The Main Industries

Voskresenskoye has been known since the XVI century as a trading village: its residents were associated with agriculture, and particularly the forestry. The local area is very rich in high quality timber, and this has traditionally served as the main local trade.

Voskresenskoye Forest

Timber from Voskresenskoye was floated along the Vetluga to Kozmodemyansk, and from there along the Volga to Astrakhan on huge white wooden ships, up to 100 meters long and with a load capacity of up to 10 thousand tonnes. The ships were dismantled down to the last log upon arrival and sold along with the timber they had brought.

«The River Plays»

Vladimir Korolenko once visited Voskresenskoye, and his trip here served as the basis for his story The River Plays where the author described the surroundings of the Vetluga River and the people he met there. Gorky highly appreciated this story, and in a letter to Korolenko, he wrote: "The River Plays is my favorite story; I think it helped me a lot in understanding the ‘Russian soul’.»

Lower and Upper Voskresenye

Voskresenskoye is also mentioned in Pavel Melnikov-Pechersky’s epic novel In the Woods, and there is information dating to the XIX century on the former name of the settlement: «In the Vetluzhsky region, the city of Vetluga is still called Upper Voskresenye, as it was called up until 1778, when it was granted the status of a county town. Lower Voskresenye is a large village on the Vetluga in the Makaryevsky district of the Nizhny Novgorod province. The second name is Voskresenoye. These are the two main trading points on the Vetluga.»

The Beginning of Taiga

At the beginning of the XX century, the Voskresenskoye district was one of the most remote areas of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Its entire territory was covered with impenetrable forest; almost the only communication routes were rivers and dirt roads, along which horses travelled. It is still believed that it is here, in the north of the region, that the great Russian taiga begins.

WHAT TO DO IN THE CITY

Discover the secrets of the deepest lake in the Nizhny Novgorod region

Lake Svetloyar the region’s main attraction, is in the Voskresenskoye district. With a depth reaching 35 meters, the water is crystal clear and is considered to have healing qualities. Everyone is probably familiar with the legend of Svetloyar and the invisible city of Kitezh: during the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the entire city slipped beneath the water. It is said that bells can still be heard here, and the shadows of houses are reflected on the water. The energy here is powerful, so if you have a secret wish, then you just need to walk three times around the lake carrying a lit candle, and it will definitely come true.

Take a walk along the Tales and Stories of Svetloyar eco-trail

Along the two-kilometer eco-trail you will find eight information posts, where fantastic and scientific facts about the famous lake are combined into a single narrative. The route will demonstrate the connection between legends and scientific research, which complement and contradict one another. You can walk along the trail either as part of an excursion or on your own.

Visit museums in Vladimirskoye

Not far from Svetloyar, there is the Grad Kitezh Museum and Tourist Complex, a large cultural center built in the style of a XVII century princely manor, where master classes are held, and you can even find a movie theater. The Kitezh Historical and Art Museum occupies the building of a former village school. The first part of its exposition is devoted to the history of the village, and the second part is dedicated to the art of ceramics. The museum is very original and interesting; we advise you to pay attention to its elegant architecture.

Be amazed at the Bolshiye Otary museum of arboriculture

This distinctive museum is located in the former manor house of the timber industrialist Egor Yarantsev. Attentive people working here will tell you how the timber industrialists lived and worked. The exhibitions are of the very highest quality, and the house itself is arranged in such a way that a surprise awaits you around every corner.

Drop by the Belyaev estate

The estate of the timber industrialist Belyaev is an important place in the district. It is worth a visit because the Voskresenskoye National Museum of Local History is situated here. The museum occupies the mansion that is an architectural monument in the style of wooden Art Nouveau dating back to 1904. The building resembles a belyana, or timber barge. Here you can find out more about the history of the Belyaev merchant family, the glassworks of the district, the influence of the Mari culture, and much more.

Take a walk around the Levashov estate and the Levashovskoye-Povetluzhye eco-trail

The Levashov nobles were sophisticated and progressive people. For example, they even had an observatory with a telescope in one of the houses, and a greenhouse where cherries, peaches and pineapples were grown. Time, of course, did not spare the estate, and over the years everything fell into disrepair, but the houses have been preserved, and they are almost two centuries old!

See the glass crosses on the Kazan Icon Church

This XIX century church has been renovated and restored over many years thanks to private donations, but it's worth coming here to see the unique glass crosses with your own eyes and climb the 35 meters high bell tower, one of the highest buildings in the area.

Ride a horse and meet reindeers at the Grey Horse and Noah's Ark centers

At the equestrian club, you can engage in outdoor activities, including horseback riding or a costumed Royal Hunt, where participants dress up in historical hunting costumes. There is also a Noah’s Ark fauna park on the territory, where you can see northern and spotted deer, elk, roe deer, and other animals in their natural habitat.

WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO SEE

Lake Svetloyar

Vladimirskoye Village

The lake associated with the legend of the sunken city of Kitezh. It is believed that if you make a wish and walk around it three times, your wish will definitely come true.

Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

Vladimirskoye Village

The temple is located on a hill next to Lake Svetloyar, on the site of an ancient chapel.

The Tales and Stories of Svetloyar eco-trail

Vladimirskoye Village, 56.81772, 45.10002

A circular route around Lake Svetloyar where you can hear the theories of its origin, folk legends, and much more.

The Grad Kitezh Museum and Tourist Complex

Vladimirskoye village, 51 Sovetskaya str.

A cultural center with terem-style architecture, where exhibitions and other events take place, and the walls are decorated with fantasy-themed paintings by the artist Leonid Kolosov.

Kitezh Historical and Art Museum

Vladimirskoye village, 37 Proletarskaya str.

A museum where you can find out more about the secrets of Lake Svetloyar and the history of the village of Vladimirskoye, as well as its crafts and folk life.

Grad Svetly Ceramics Museum

Vladimirskoye Village, 37 Proletarskaya str.

A museum with original ceramics from the workshop of the Zhebel family, dedicated to Slavic culture and Orthodox symbols.

Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

Vladimirskoye village, 19 Sovetskaya str.

One of the oldest preserved wooden churches in the region, built in 1766 near Lake Svetloyar.

The Belyaev estate

Voskresenskoye village, 55 Pushkina str.

The opulent estate of the timber industrialist Sergei Belyaev, where the museum of local history is located. Also, the observation deck will give you a wonderful view of the Vetluga region’s natural beauty.

Rusenikha Settlement Museum

Rusenikha village, 2A Shkolnaya str.

This complex includes a historical and archaeological museum, where you can learn about the past of the Vetluga region, and the Mari burial ground on the Rusenikha territory.

Grey Horse Equestrian Club

Troitskoye village, 43 Kirova str.

An equestrian club where you can engage in outdoor activities, including horse riding or a costumed Royal Hunt.

Noah’s Ark Fauna Park

Troitskoye Village, 43 Kirov str.

An ecological trail on the territory of the Grey Horse equestrian club, where you can see northern and spotted deer, elk, roe deer, and other animals.

Churches of the Trinity of the Life-giving, Zosima and Savvatiya

Troitskoye Village

The temple complex consists of two wooden churches, which according to legend were built in the XVII century by monks who fled here from the Solovetsky monastery.

E.I. Yarantsev Museum of Arboriculture

Bolshye Otary village, Tsentralnaya str.

A museum where you can learn about the traditions, technologies and history related to the forestry industry, see spectacular installations made of wood, and take masterclasses or just drink tea in the atmosphere of a XIX century manor.

Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

Bogorodskoye Village

A church built to honor the victory over Napoleon, with a 37-meter bell tower decorated with glass crosses.

The Levashov estate

Galibikha village

This manor complex dating back to the middle of the XIX century was designed by the brilliant engineer Andrei Delvig. It includes several buildings, every one of which will tell you more about the history of the Levashov family.

The Levashovskoe-Povetluzhye eco-trail

Galibikha Village

The Path of Reflection is accessible for free in the grounds of the natural park, where you can see all the beauty of the Voskresensky Povetluzhye, the historical manors, and the ancient temples.

How to get there

By car

Leave Nizhny Novgorod along P159 and P-177 towards Oktyabrskaya St in the direction of Voskresenskoye. If you drive, the distance to the village of Voskresenskoye is 144km.

Travel time

~ 2 hours

By bus

You can travel to Voskresenskoye by bus from the Kanavinsky bus station, which offers bus services to Voskresenskoye bus station.

Travel time

2,5-3 hours

Departure time

4 times a day

Cost

₽453