Selizharovskiy District: Springs, Churches and Monastic Sites

In Selizharovskiy District, striking river settings meet religious heritage: at the Okovets Holy Spring, the natural landscape and sacred buildings share the same location, while the Volga and Selizharovka rivers converge in Selizharovo. Churches from different centuries and a local history museum in a merchant’s house complete the picture. When looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider whether springs and churches, local history, or the natural and cultural attractions of Tver Oblast should be the main focus of your trip.

The Okovets Holy Spring and its sacred sites

The Okovets Holy Spring lies near the village of Okovtsy, in a sharp bend on the left bank of the Pyroshnya. A church dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Saviour was built and consecrated at the spring, on the site of a former chapel; regular services have resumed there. Next to the spring is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Skete of the Nil-Stolobensk Hermitage. The river bend, spring and sacred buildings together shape the character of this place.

Every year on 24 July in the New Style calendar, a liturgy with the blessing of water takes place at the spring. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check locally before travelling to confirm that it will take place.

Churches and river settings in Selizharovo

In Selizharovo, the Orthodox Trinity Monastery stands at the confluence of the Volga and Selizharovka rivers. The Church of the Resurrection was built in 1763 on the low left bank of the Volga, on the site of an older wooden church. Here you can explore different historical and geographical contexts: the monastery at the confluence and the church on the riverbank, whose history includes an earlier predecessor building. If you include religious sites in your itinerary, you can make these differences in location and historical sequence a focus of your visit.

Architectural history in the district

The stone Church of St Nicholas in Golenkovo-Pogost offers a different building history. The Vetlits-Tolbukhin family had it built in 1882 in the Russian-Byzantine style characteristic of the time; the church has survived to this day. Compared with the Church of the Resurrection, built in 1763, both its later date and its specifically documented style stand out. The Selizharovo Local History Museum adds a secular building to the sacred sites: it is located in the centre of town in an old merchant’s house dating from the late 19th century.

Natural and cultural attractions in Tver Oblast

For a wider range of destinations in Tver Oblast, you can also visit the nature trails of the Central Forest State Nature Biosphere Reserve. Guided tours are offered there on the “Tainy Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka” ecological trails. The “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” educational trail passes through a raised bog with broad, open areas completely covered in moss and unusual plants. Visitors use their own vehicle for the excursion to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog.

Another option for enjoying nature is a hike to the “Barsuchikha” 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. This hike offers a choice between a day trip and an overnight stay.

The cultural heritage of Tver Oblast also offers a different historical perspective. In the historic centre of Torzhok is the 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. Its founding date is much earlier than the church buildings dating from 1763 and 1882 in Selizharovskiy District. The Novotorzhskiy Kremlin hosts the “Blin s Pripyokom” and “Kuzminki v Torzhke” festivals every year. If you would like to plan your trip around one of the festivals, check the date locally in advance.

More places in Selizharovskiy District

Also discover Bor Volgo and Larionovo.

Discover more destinations: Kalininskiy District, Sandovskiy District, Spirovskiy District, Bologoye, Oleninsky District, Penovskiy District.

Back to the regional travel overview: Tver Oblast.