Discover Kostromskoy District: Volga, Wetlands and a Chapel

In Kostromskoy District, riverscapes meet extensive wetlands and a building dating from the late 17th century. In the southwest, the Volga flows for 48 kilometres within the district as part of the Gorky Reservoir. This section of the reservoir is colloquially known as «Kostromskoye More» («Kostroma Sea»). The name gives this waterscape its own identity, while remaining connected to the Volga and the Gorky Reservoir.

Rivers, Lakes and Marshes

The district’s larger rivers include the Kostroma and its tributaries, the Mesa and Andoba. They flow south from the forested north and empty into the Volga as left-bank tributaries. The Kostroma and its tributaries are surrounded by numerous extensive marshes and lakes. Water and wetlands are therefore as much a part of the landscape as the forested north.

The Brick Chapel in Nekrasovo

Another perspective on the district leads to the chapel in Nekrasovo. The brick building is covered with lime plaster and was built between the 1680s and the early 1690s. As an example of religious architecture, the chapel reflects the characteristics of the local architectural school of the late 17th century. Its materials, light plaster finish and construction date together invite visitors to take a closer look at the building’s appearance and architectural context. This gives you two different interests to choose between when planning your trip: the expansive waterscape and wetlands, or the history of religious architecture.

More to Explore in Kostroma Oblast

Kostroma Oblast offers a variety of nature and culture experiences beyond Kostromskoy District. At Kologrivsky Les Nature Reserve, the «Puteshestvie v zapovedny les» tour includes a visit to the ecological trail of the same name. It passes through a section of old-growth southern taiga forest. The reserve comprises two separate areas that preserve different southern taiga landscapes, with zonal and provincial physical and geographical characteristics. Check the tour’s arrangements before your trip.

The Shchelykovo estate in Kostroma Oblast is associated with the Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky. Tours of the park and the house of A. N. Ostrovsky take place at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 15:30. They are available to groups of five or more, or for a fee covering five people. As arrangements may change, check the times and group requirements before making plans.

At the Susanino Local History Museum, exhibits in five halls tell the story of the nature, archaeology, history, culture and everyday life of the Susanino region. The renewed exhibition «Na perekrestke istorii i legendy» preserves Ivan Susanin and Savrasov’s painting «The Rooks Have Arrived» as important motifs for the region. The museum also offers walking and bus excursions to places associated with Ivan Susanin, including the Isupovo bog and the villages of Derevenki and Domnino.

The «Kostromskaya Sloboda» in Kostroma offers further cultural insights, with historic wooden houses, churches and ethnographic exhibitions about the lives of the region’s peasants. The Museum of Dreams in Nerekhta tells the city’s story through the life stories of people who dared to dream big; original mementos bring their stories to life. The Natural History Museum, meanwhile, features present-day animals, birds, insects and fungi alongside the paleontological past of Kostroma Land. Check the current visitor arrangements for «Kostromskaya Sloboda».

When choosing a holiday rental, consider which themes you want to shape your trip: rivers and wetlands in Kostromskoy District, the chapel in Nekrasovo, or nature and cultural attractions in different parts of Kostroma Oblast. This way, your search for a place to stay begins with the experiences that interest you most.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Sharyinsky District, Mytishchinsky District, Volgorechensk, Nerekhtsky District, Kostromskoy District, Makaryevsky District.

Back to the regional travel overview: Kostroma Oblast.