In the Kaluga region, legends and superstitions strangely coexist with science and progress. This area has gone down in history as the cradle of astronautics. The final battle was fought on the banks of the Ugra River, ending the era of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. The landscapes that inspired artists, writers and musicians continue to attract creative people today. In spring, dry weather has not yet set in in nature reserves with relict forests and green river valleys. Therefore, May is a good time to explore ancient cities and modern museums.
Day 1
From the Moscow Ring Road to the first stop along Kaluga Highway 96 kilometers, which can be covered in about an hour and a half without traffic jams. The cost of renting a car in Moscow on OneTwoTrip starts from 3600 rubles per day.
Mu-Mu Trash Art Museum
Photo: PhotoChur/Shutterstock.com
Less trash and more meaning—that’s the credo of this private museum. On its territory, reasonable consumption is combined with creativity. Russian and foreign artists are building a beach out of bottles, growing giant dragons out of tires, assembling a portrait of Steve Jobs from broken phones… In a word, they turn unnecessary things into masterpieces.
Inspection time: 1.5 hours.
Entrance: 320 rubles.
For children, the museum has a large themed play center.
House of S. P. Fedorov (Alyoshkovo estate)
From the Museum “Mu-Mu”to the Aleshkovo estate it is about 50 minutes by car along Varshavskoye, and then along the Kievskoye highway, from which you need to turn to the village of Vorobyovo. The white and blue house in the Art Nouveau style with a shell porch, curved window openings, pointed turrets and other elegant details will interest lovers of architecture, park walks and photography.
Time to inspect the house: 15 minutes.|
Walk through the park: 1 hour
Admission: free.
Kaluga
Kaluga is located 60 kilometers from Aleshkovo. First, the road leads along a toll section of the Kyiv Highway, then turns towards the city center through Central Street. You can also travel for free along a winding chain of country streets, starting from Central. Then you won’t have to go back to the highway from Vorobyovo. The city has many establishments with interesting menus and interiors. On holidays, it is better to book a table in advance, for example, at The Pub 102 or the Gastronom cafe. You can start your evening walk from the high bank of the Oka River, on which the Kvan ski complex is built. Then, by car or bus No. 4, get to the “Victory Square” stop and walk past the Baroque Church of Cosmas and Damian, the House of Masters (in the daytime, master classes on folk art are held here). Then look for souvenirs in the Gostiny Dvor, go through the Central Square to the Central Park, see the Stone Bridge and end near the museum and local history center “Chambers of Korobovs”.
Where to stay
There are enough options for overnight stays in the city. There are hotels of different price ranges, for example:
Rocket Hostel – from 500 rubles. per night per person*;
“Fisher” – from 1800 rub. per night per person*;
Historical Hotel “Kaluga” – from 2800 rub. per night per person*;
Four Points by Sheraton Kaluga – from 4800 rub. per night per person*.
Day 2
State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after. K. E. Tsiolkovsky
Photo: Simol1407/Shutterstock.com
One of the oldest space museums in the world attracts tourists from all over the world. One part of the exhibition tells about the development of the scientific thought of K. E. Tsiolkovsky: from gliders and all-metal airships to space rockets. Other halls display aircraft, astronaut suits, satellites and lunar rovers. The classic museum should open new multimedia rooms by May. Tickets to Planetarium the museum runs out quickly, so it’s better to come before the opening, having breakfast at one of the wonderful coffee shops in the city, for example, “Heroes of Our Time” or Surikat Territory.
Photo: Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock.com
Address: Kaluga, st. Academician Korolev, 2.
Time to visit the museum: 1.5 hours.
Session at the Planetarium: about 40 minutes.
Entrance: to the museum – 200 rubles, to the planetarium – 400 rubles.
House-Museum of K. E. Tsiolkovsky
Photo: PhotoChur/Shutterstock.com
From the Museum of Cosmonautics you can walk on foot to a small wooden house on the banks of the Oka River, in which the scientist lived and worked. Many original things of the genius have been preserved here, including instruments for observing the sky.
Address: Kaluga, st. Tsiolkovsky, 79.
Time for inspection: 20 minutes.
Entrance: 170 rubles. There are discounts for preferential categories.
Doll House “Bereginya”
On this day, the first point outside of Kaluga is a private museum of a craftswoman who collects ancient amulets dolls and sews modern versions of them. The hostess will tell the story of this unusual toy. From Kaluga along the Kievskoe highway you need to get to the nearest junction and turn onto the P-132 highway, and then a few more kilometers to the village of Kozlovo.
Inspection time: 30 minutes.
Entrance: 250 rubles.
Kazan Ambrosievskaya Hermitage (Shamordinsky Monastery)
To get to the next point on the route, you need to return to the Kievskoye Highway, after 3.2 kilometers turn right and drive 4 kilometers to the village of Shamordino. The red brick buildings of the monastery, founded in the 19th century, resemble ancient merchant chambers. Russian style, intricate details and decorations, turrets and porches will be of interest to lovers of architecture and photography. This is one of the most picturesque monasteries in the region.
Inspection time: 20 minutes.
Admission: free.
Fairytale country Vikhlyandiya (Kozelsk)
Photo: Nathalie Thai/Shutterstock.com
From Shamordino to the fairy-tale kingdom on Old Cossack Street in Kozelsk is about 20 kilometers by car. In the Compound of the creative tandem of philanthropist Vladimir Vikhlyandtsev and architect-artist Vladimir Kolesnikov, over the course of ten years a beanstalk grew, a pirate ship ran aground, a giant flea, the dragons Katyusha and Vanyusha and many other strange creatures took up residence. This fabulous location is for those who love to be surprised and take pictures. In Vihland you can snack on hot dogs, but it’s better to stop by for a full lunch at the nearby Kars restaurant.
Time for inspection: 1 hour, with children – at least two.
Entrance: 350 rubles.
Optina Pustyn
One of the main religious centers of Russia is located 4.5 kilometers from Vikhlyandiya. By car – 10 minutes. Founded in the 15th century, the monastery includes several temples, a picturesque grove and a monastery closed from the world. F. M. Dostoevsky wrote some chapters of the novel “The Brothers Karamazov” under the impression of a visit to these places. Today pilgrims from all over Russia come to the monastery.
Time to explore the monastery: 1 hour. The territory of the monastery is closed to visitors.
Ticket cost: free.
Day 3
Museum-diorama “The Great Stand on the Ugra River”
Photo: Damira/Shutterstock.com
From Kaluga to the Vladimir monastery, where the museum is located – half an hour by car. In these places, a battle between Russian and Tatar-Mongol troops took place, the victory of which brought Rus’ independence from the 300-year-old Horde yoke. The battle, which went down in history as the “Standing on the Ugra River,” is reproduced in a picturesque diorama. The battlefield comes to life thanks to the guide’s story, light and sound. Sessions start every hour. It’s better to call and make an appointment in advance.
Inspection time: 1 hour
Ticket price: 300-500 rubles.
Polotnyany Factory Estate and Park
Photo: Asetta/Shutterstock.com
20 kilometers from the Vladimir monastery there is a large three-story estate of the Goncharov family, from which A.S. Pushkin’s wife, Natalya, came. The unique estate of the 18th century included the main house, an industrial complex, sailing and linen and paper manufactories, the Church of the Transfiguration, a horse yard, parks, a greenhouse, ponds and other objects. Today, the restored house and park are united into the Memorial Historical-Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve “Polotnyany Zavod”. Here you can also dine at the Goncharov restaurant, which serves Russian cuisine with themed names.
Time for inspection of the house: 40 minutes.
Time for a walk in the park: about 1 hour.
Ticket cost: to the museum – 150 rubles, to the park – free.
Buzeon Paper Museum
A large interactive museum has recently opened in one of the buildings of the Linen Factory. In addition to different types of paper, ink, pens, typewriters, printing presses, factory equipment from different times and other exhibits are collected here. Children, together with a guide, can make their own paper.
Time for inspection: 40 minutes.
Ticket cost: 250 rubles.
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