Kokovkino on Lake Sterzh: Lake, Routes and History

Kokovkino lies on the shore of Lake Sterzh; the lake near the village is a destination for recreation and fishing. A specific story about an artist is also part of the village’s history: the painter Ivan Shishkin lived in Kokovkino in the 1890s. Here, the lakeside setting and a historic chapter in someone’s life come together. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Kokovkino, you can first consider whether the village and Lake Sterzh, or exploring the wider destination of Tver Oblast, should be the focus of your trip.

Lake Sterzh and Routes Around Kokovkino

Access to Lake Sterzh is difficult because of the lack of paths and the many streams and ravines. The upper part of the lake is more accessible in the area around Kokovkino and Vorovskoye on the left bank, and near Alexeyevskoye and Ivanovskoye on the right bank. This distinction is useful when planning an excursion to the lake: the more accessible upper sections should not be confused with the entire lakeshore.

A 60-kilometre passenger line once ran across Lake Sterzh between Peno, Zhirkov Pogost and Kokovkino. A route that passes through Kokovkino is called “K istoku Volgi – velikoy reke Rossii.” The “Bolshaya Seligerskaya krugosvetka” water route runs from Kokovkino to p/o Koroviy. If you are planning a trip on this water route, check the current operating conditions with the relevant authority in advance.

These facts offer different perspectives on the village: Shishkin’s stay is part of Kokovkino’s history, while Lake Sterzh offers opportunities for recreation and fishing, and the routes connect the village with its surroundings. When looking for a holiday apartment, a practical question is whether to make Kokovkino itself your focus or choose accommodation based on the places that interest you in the wider destination of Tver Oblast.

Nature and Culture in the Wider Destination of Tver Oblast

The Central Forest State Nature Biosphere Reserve offers an excursion to the “Staroselskiy Mokh” raised bog; visitors use their own vehicle for this excursion. Guided tours are also available on the “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka” ecological trails. The “Boloto Staroselskiy Mokh” nature trail crosses a raised bog with vast open areas completely covered in moss and unusual plants. There are several ways to explore the bog landscape: an excursion in your own vehicle, guided trails, and a nature trail through the described raised bog.

Another option in the reserve is a hike to the “Barsuchikha” forest ranger station. It can be taken as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest hut. Along the way, you will see southern taiga forest and a raised bog. Choosing between a day hike and an overnight stay is a practical difference when planning your time; the night in the hut is part of this hiking option, not accommodation in Kokovkino.

The reserve’s central estate is home to a visitor centre with information about the organisation’s history and structure, a regular exhibition of children’s work, and a souvenir shop. The reserve’s natural history museum showcases important ecosystems of the protected area and the species that live there; one room is dedicated to scientific research. The visitor centre and museum complement the nature experiences with insights into the work carried out in the protected area and its landscape.

Cultural attractions also shape the wider destination of Tver Oblast. In the historic centre of Torzhok is Verkhneye Gorodishche, an archaeological monument of federal significance and a tourist attraction. The Novotorzhskiy-Borisoglebskiy Monastery in Torzhok was founded in 1038 and is one of Russia’s oldest Orthodox monasteries. The “Blin s Pripyokom” and “Kuzminki v Torzhke” festivals are held annually at the Novotorzhskiy Kremlin. Nilova Pustyn is located on Stolobny Island and is a centre of religious and pilgrimage tourism. Your choice of location can therefore reflect different interests: Kokovkino and its history on Lake Sterzh, or cultural and nature destinations within Tver Oblast.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Protivye, Nastasino, Emmauss, Pleshkovo, Sudimirka, Zhirnosovo, Pechki, Rzhev.

Go to the main travel overview: Tver Oblast.