Borovichsky District: Suvorov’s Estate and the Msta

Places in Borovichsky District tell stories of history and landscapes in different ways: Konchanskoye is associated with Alexander Suvorov, while Opechensky Posad is shaped by its history as a pilots’ town and its surviving riverside architecture. An arboretum and an ecological walking trail add to the area’s Msta-related attractions. You can tailor your trip to what interests you most: a historic estate, the history of a riverside town, or nature and outdoor activities.

Konchanskoye: Suvorov’s Estate and Rural Life

Konchanskoye is home to the only estate of Alexander Suvorov that survives today. It was a Suvorov estate in the 18th century; from 1797 to 1799, it became the place of exile for the disgraced military commander. These dates give the site a clear historical focus.

The Suvorov Museum is an 18th-century historical and architectural manor complex set in a 4.2-hectare park. The estate’s kitchen wing houses an exhibition on traditional peasant life from the late 18th to the early 19th century. As well as Suvorov’s biography, it therefore explores the daily life and way of life of the rural population. In Gverstyanka, the Neklyudov estate is another architectural monument with a hundred-year history.

Opechensky Posad: River History and Riverside Architecture

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Opechensky Posad was an important pilotage center on the Vyshny Volochyok water system. The surviving riverside architecture brings this history to life: First Line in the town is home to a granite embankment about 900 meters long, with cast-iron bollards and two stone arched bridges. A memorial on the bank of the Msta commemorates Catherine II’s visit to the village in 1785.

The area’s architectural history can also be traced through specific dates: the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Opechensky Posad was built in 1764. The Ushchanov Arboretum’s collection includes more than 150 tree and shrub species from different parts of the world. It also has an observation platform overlooking the bank of the Msta. Rafting and kayaking trips to the Mstinsky Rapids start in Opechensky Posad.

When choosing a holiday rental in Borovichsky District, start with the kind of trip you want: if Suvorov’s history is your main focus, Konchanskoye is the natural place to begin. If you are more interested in pilotage history, riverside architecture, and trips to the rapids, Opechensky Posad may be more appealing.

Walking along the Msta

The “Gornaya Msta” ecological walking trail was established in 2021 along the bank of the Msta, between the villages of Rovnoye and Maly Porog in Borovichsky District, Novgorod Oblast. Its riverside setting adds a walking route to the region’s historical and architectural attractions. The trail and trips to the rapids offer different ways to experience the Msta as part of your journey.

More Places to Explore in Novgorod Oblast

In Novgorod Oblast, Valdai National Park covers 159,100 hectares and extends across the Valdaysky, Demyansky, and Okulovsky districts. Mount Ryzhokha is the highest point in the national park. Its 25-meter-high observation tower offers views of the taiga, Lake Velyo, and other bodies of water. A circular trail in the Bor area runs through typical taiga forests on hilly terrain and a variety of wetlands in the hollows between the hills.

Valday in Novgorod Oblast also offers its own cultural attractions. At the Bell Museum, staff demonstrate bell-ringing techniques and give visitors the chance to try them for themselves. The Bell Museum Center brings together bells from around the world and displays examples ranging from the 3rd century BC through the Middle Ages to modern souvenir bells. Opened in 1998, the County Town Museum’s exhibition covers the daily lives of the town’s residents, the development of local crafts, and the lives of individual Valday families and well-known summer visitors.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Novgorodsky District, Soletsky District, Marevskiy rayon, Valdayskiy rayon, Okulovskiy rayon, Soletskiy rayon, Starorusskiy rayon, Khvoyninskiy rayon.

Back to the regional travel guide: Novgorod Oblast.