Kurkinskiy District: The Legacy of the Battle of Kulikovo

A central theme in Kurkinskiy District is the Battle of Kulikovo: museums, a monument and a church offer different ways to explore history and remembrance. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between these highlights: the Museum of the Battle of Kulikovo explores the realms and armed forces involved; at Red Hill, a monument, a viewpoint and a church come together; and in Kurkino, the local history museum focuses on the region’s history.

Museum and memorial site of the Battle of Kulikovo

In Ivanovka, the Museum of the Battle of Kulikovo displays exhibits on the Russian principalities of the 14th century, Sarai as the capital of the Golden Horde, and the armed forces that met on the Kulikovo Field. Political realms, a named center of the Golden Horde and the opposing armies are thus presented side by side as specific exhibition themes. Those interested in the battle can also explore the historical actors and the backgrounds of each side.

At the Red Hill Memorial, a column bears a monument to Dmitry Donskoy. It is described as the main symbol of the Battle of Kulikovo and its victory. Beside the column monument is a viewing platform overlooking the battlefield. The Church of Sergius of Radonezh on Red Hill was built in the early 20th century to a design by Alexey Shchusev, and forms an ensemble with the monument. At this site, a memorial, a view of the field and a church built in a later period come together. The church is open to visitors daily, free of charge; check the visitor information before your trip.

Play, explore and discover

At the children’s museum “Odin v pole ne voin,” each of the eight games on offer tells a different story about the battle and its heroes. In a monk’s cell, visitors can learn why monasteries were centers of learning in the Middle Ages and leaf through an old manuscript. The “Corridor of Time” offers another focus: activities help visitors distinguish Russian weapons from those of the Horde; they also explore the materials used in the 14th century to make armor, chain mail, swords and bows. Games, manuscripts and material culture provide different ways to engage with these historical themes.

In Kurkino, the Kurkinsky Local History Museum is dedicated to the history of war and the region. It was established on January 1, 2004, when a room at the Department of Culture of the Kurkinsky District administration was converted into a museum. The collection comprises 1,760 objects; its size may change. Together with the exhibitions on the Battle of Kulikovo, the local history museum offers a different thematic focus within Kurkinskiy District.

More cultural topics in Tula Oblast

Museums in the wider travel destination of Tula Oblast also explore the history of the Kulikovo Field. In Tula, the exhibition “Skazanie o Mamaevom poboishche” at the “Tulskie drevnosti” Museum covers the battle. Interactive activities include weaving a piece of chain mail, trying on armor and learning to read miniature chronicle illustrations. In the same museum, the exhibition “Sekrety tulskikh masterov” features a pottery workshop, a blacksmith’s workshop and household objects from the 17th to 19th centuries. The two exhibitions therefore offer different perspectives: one on the battle and interactive activities, the other on craftsmanship and historical everyday objects.

Another regional attraction is the Yasnaya Polyana Museum Estate in Tula Oblast. A guided walk through the central part of the estate is scheduled from May to October. It covers Tolstoy’s favorite places for daily walks, local flora and fauna, the history of the Tula defensive lines and Tolstoy’s plantings. Check the tour dates before your visit. The region’s cultural history also includes Leo Tolstoy’s personal library, which was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, and the Polenovo estate, where the artist Vasily Polenov designed all the buildings himself.

Discover more destinations: Kurkino, Aleksinskiy District, Novomoskovskiy District, Kireevskiy District, Shchyokinsky District, Tula, Zaokskiy District, Teplo-Ogarevskiy District.

Return to the main travel overview: Tula Oblast.