Shchuchye: Fairy Tales and Military Technology in Victory Park

Two very different themes come together in Victory Park in Shchuchye: an open-air military technology museum and a fairy-tale-themed play area. The Kolokolnikov Merchant’s Steam Mill also provides a distinct point of connection to the town’s history. Technology, a fairy-tale concept and historical landmarks give visitors several ways to plan their trip.

An open-air military technology museum opened in Victory Park in 2018. Since 2019, the park has also had a themed play area called “Po shchuchemu veleniyu,” inspired by a fairy tale. The museum is devoted to military technology, while the “Po shchuchemu veleniyu” play area is based on a fairy-tale concept. If you are planning a visit, check current visiting arrangements in advance.

Technology, Fairy Tales and Remembrance

The Unknown Soldier monument is also part of Victory Park’s history; it was restored in 2020. Another historical landmark in Shchuchye is the Kolokolnikov Merchant’s Steam Mill. It is considered the oldest building in the town. Together, the monument and the mill offer a different perspective on the area from the park’s themed attractions: here, remembrance and architectural history take centre stage.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: would you mainly like to explore Shchuchye, or are you also interested in other destinations in the wider region of Kurgan Oblast? The regional examples below broaden the picture beyond the town, with other cultural and natural attractions.

Culture and Nature in Kurgan Oblast

The ensemble of Dalmatov Monastery in Kurgan Oblast was founded in 1644. It is considered the earliest stone monastery in the Urals and Siberia, as well as the largest stone ensemble. The Savin sanctuary, also known as the Trans-Ural Stonehenge, offers a different historical perspective: it is an ancient observatory dating from the 4th to 3rd millennium BC and a cultural heritage site of federal significance.

Savin Archaeological Park reconstructs life in the Early Iron Age. It explores earlier ways of life and diets, as well as the warfare of the Scythians and Sarmatians. Guided tours and workshops are also available; check current arrangements before travelling. The distinction between the periods is worth noting when planning: the sanctuary is associated with the 4th to 3rd millennium BC, while the park focuses on the Early Iron Age.

The region’s natural attractions also have different highlights. The Ryabinovy Dol nature trail passes through a pine forest with rowan undergrowth, a plant community that is rare in the forest-steppe zone. Facilities include a pavilion, benches and tables, art installations, a selfie spot, and information about the Ryabinovy Dol natural monument. The Zverinogolovskaya health trail runs through a pine forest in the Prozryvinsky State Zoological Sanctuary and leads to the “Wonder Tree” botanical natural monument.

The Vishnevo-Ostrovnaya Dacha natural monument is located on two peninsulas that extend from north to south into Lake Medvezhye. A pine forest with small-leaved lime trees grows there, an unusual feature of the Trans-Ural region. An excursion to this natural monument can be booked; confirm availability before travelling. Swimming and treatments using lake mud and brine are available at Lake Medvezhye as health-related therapies.

Those interested in events can find a festival of mud, Holi colours and rock music on the shore of Lake Gorkoye, traditionally held every July. Check the plans for the relevant year before travelling. The Belozerskaya Sloboda ethnographic complex offers another cultural perspective: opened in 2022, the open-air museum presents the region’s everyday life, work and traditions in the atmosphere of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Borisova, Kurtamysh, Kurgan, Cheremisskoye, Shadrinsk, Dalmatovo, Shumikha.

Go to the main travel overview: Kurgan Oblast.