Ferzikovsky District: Country Estates, Parks and Excursions

The Ferzikovsky District brings together the history of country estates and landscapes in many different ways: Bogimovo recalls the Pronchishchev family and A. P. Chekhov, while parks, terraces and ponds define the estate at Gorodnya. Avchurino and Grabtsevo add to the picture with old avenues, historic buildings and further stories of country estates. There are also experiences involving horses and agriculture.

Country Estates and Their Landscapes

Bogimovo was the ancestral estate of the Pronchishchev family. Vasily Vasilyevich Pronchishchev, who later became a navigator and Arctic explorer, was born there in 1702 and spent his childhood there. A. P. Chekhov stayed at the estate in the summer of 1891. The estate includes a formal park dating from the 1830s, with avenues of linden and pine trees. The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God is also part of the estate: built in 1830 in the Empire style, its bell tower has been lost.

The Gorodnya estate includes a formal linden park and an overgrown landscape park with two ponds dating from the late 18th century. The parks lie on terraces along a slope descending toward the Gorodenka River. One pond is right beside the house, the other by the river. Visitors are free to walk around the estate grounds; access to the surviving house is restricted because a school is housed there. Check access arrangements before your visit, as they may change.

An oak avenue two kilometers long was laid out at Avchurino in the early 18th century under Yaguzhinsky. It was associated with the expectation that Emperor Peter I would arrive, and is relatively well preserved. The estate also includes an overgrown landscape park, mostly planted with linden trees, with a pond. A “Gothic” house with a tower was built in the 1840s and formerly served as a library. The surviving buildings and park are listed as architectural and cultural heritage of federal significance; the park is also listed as a natural monument of regional significance.

The estate of the noble Yeropkin family in Grabtsevo dates back to the 18th century. Its church complex is recognized as cultural heritage of federal significance. The formal park is well preserved; the avenue leading down to the Gorodenka is particularly wide.

Visitor Experiences and Special Interests

Gorodnya is part of the “Starinnye dvoryanskie gnezda” tourist route, which also includes Grabtsevo and Avchurino. Check whether the route is currently operating before making plans.

At the Volnoye equestrian and tourism club in Bebelevo, visitors can learn to ride and go on horseback excursions through the fields. Other offerings include photo sessions and opportunities to interact with horses and other ranch animals. Contact the club directly before your trip to ask about current visiting arrangements.

The “Istoriya v Bogimovo” organic dairy farm combines features of dairy farming with stories about polar explorers and Chekhov’s work. The project also aims to promote organic farming and develop agritourism in the fields of gastronomy, education and cultural history. Check the current availability of tours before your trip.

Traces of Limestone Mining near Koltsovo

The Koltsovo caves are remnants of 19th-century limestone mining. In the surveyed section closest to Koltsovo, the passage systems total more than 800 meters.

Choose your accommodation search based on which of these stops matter most during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Dzerzhinskiy rayon, Peremyshlskiy rayon, Maloyaroslavetskiy rayon, Zhukovskiy rayon, Peremyshlsky District, Gorod Obninsk, Mosalskiy rayon, Yukhnovsky District.

Return to the regional travel overview: Kaluga Oblast.