Travels in Russia every year, selects an increasing number of our compatriots. Would you like to admire the picturesque beauty of nature, change the situation and see the historical monuments of architecture? You do not need to buy tickets abroad, just go to the neighboring region. Excellent place for traveling - Smolensk. What are the most interesting sights of the Smolensk region?
The legendary Katyn
Start your journey around the Smolensk region with a visit to the memorial complex. In 1940, in these places, NKVD officers shot several thousand captured officers from Poland, who were arrested during the occupation of Polish lands by Soviet troops. This is a scandalous crime, since a secret burial was discovered by German servicemen back in 1943. At the same time, the international commission recognized the USSR's guilt in committing this massacre. However, after the end of the Second World War, an investigation was carried out on the orders of the Soviet authorities, during which it was possible to "find out" that the Germans had allegedly carried out executions in 1941. Only in 1990 justice was restored and documents related to massacres in the region were declassified. Soon there was a memorial complex "Katyn", dedicated to the memory of the victims of the NKVD. According to some reports, the victims of repression were shot here right up until the 1940s. Today, the memorial consists of the Russian and Polish parts, there is a long wall with memorial plates on which the names of the deceased officers and the mass graves are decorated . Also in the memorial complex is a pavilion at the main entrance, where you can see the memorial exposition "The totalitarian past of Smolensk".
In the footsteps of great people in the Smolensk region
In the Smolensk region were born, and also lived and worked many outstanding personalities. The most famous is the birthplace of the famous traveler and explorer NM Przhevalsky. In the village of Przhevalskoe, the house-museum of Nikolai Mikhailovich is open today. Nearby there are other interesting sights of the Smolensk region, for example the museum of partisan glory. Smolenshchina is also famous as a place where the composer Mikhail Glinka was born and grew up. In the village of Novospassky you can visit his memorial museum, organized in the house of his father Mikhail Ivanovich. The village of Khmelita in the Smolensk region is the birthplace of writer A. S. Griboedov, today there is a museum-reserve where you can learn more about the life and work of the great writer.
Natural attractions
It is often said that Smolensk is a forest land. Indeed, approximately 40% of the region is mixed forests, rich in diversity and diversity of flora and fauna. Famous natural attractions of the Smolensk region: Smolensk Lake and the Gagarinsky Nature Park. Today these are reserved areas of federal significance, in which serious work is carried out to protect, study and maintain natural ecosystems. Here you can see the rarest plants and amazing animals, and also admire the picturesque natural views.
What else to see in the Smolensk region?
During the journey through Smolensk, it makes sense to visit one of the oldest cities in the region - Vyazma. This settlement was founded in 1239, to this day there are preserved unique ancient buildings, for example, the real gem of Russian architecture - the church Odigitrii. Interest for tourists are not only the ancient cities of the Smolensk region. One of the modern attractions is Demidov. It is a small town, famous as the birthplace of the famous artist Yuri Nikulin. Another favorite place for tourists in Smolensk is the historical and architectural complex Teremok in the village of Flenovo. Once upon a time there was a unique art center in which prominent painters, sculptors and musicians stayed and worked at different times. Today in Flenovo you can see the following sights of the Smolensk region: the building "Teremok" (built in 1901), the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (1902-1903), and the building of the Agricultural School.