Discover Sonkovsky District

In the east of Tver Oblast, Sonkovsky District lies in the headwaters of the Korozhechna and the Sit. The Korozhechna is a left tributary of the Volga, while the Sit is a right tributary of the Mologa. This places the region within both the context of its river sources and the larger river systems. Historic sites and buildings add another, cultural perspective to the landscape.

Getting around and transport

Sonkovo is now an important railway junction. From there, railway lines run to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Rybinsk and Uglich. Check current train connections and timetables before setting off. A road connecting Sonkovo, Bezhetsk and Tver links the district with the administrative centre of Tver Oblast; a bus service also connects the district with this centre. Check current road conditions before driving, and bus timetables in advance.

Local history and buildings

A precise historical landmark lies on the right bank of the Sit near the village of Bozhonka. On 4 March 1238, a battle took place there between the forces of Yuri Vsevolodovich, Prince of Vladimir, and the Tatars. The date, riverbank and parties involved place the event firmly within the region’s history.

In the village of Koy, the two-storey Church of the Trinity took more than ten years to build and was consecrated in 1731. Fairs are also part of the village’s history: five were held there annually over several centuries, on the feasts of the Annunciation, Pentecost, the Saviour, the Intercession of the Theotokos and St Nicholas. Their connection to these feast days shows how the historic market calendar was linked to the religious year. Koy is also the birthplace of Alexander Petrovich Kunitsyn (1783–1840), professor of moral philosophy at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum.

Among the sights of Sonkovsky District is the 19th-century Shchegolev merchant’s house. In the village of Sinevo-Dubrovo, cascade ponds and acacia avenues are among the remains of the estate complex. The Tikhvin Church, built between 1775 and 1784, stands on the edge of the village. Together, these sites represent different historical landmarks: merchant architecture, an estate complex and church architecture.

Nature in Tver Oblast

In Tver Oblast, the wider travel destination, the Central Forest Nature Reserve offers a nature-focused excursion. Guided tours are available on the ecological trails “Tajny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka.” Visitors use their own vehicles for trips to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog. The “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” ecological trail runs through a raised bog with extensive open areas entirely covered in moss and unusual plants.

The visitor centre on the reserve’s central estate has information about the organisation’s history and structure, a regular exhibition of children’s work and a gift shop. The Central Forest Nature Reserve Museum showcases the protected area’s main ecosystems and the species that live there; a separate room is devoted to scientific research. The hike to the “Barsuchikha” ranger station can be taken as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest cabin. Along the way, visitors can see southern taiga forest and a raised bog.

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Explore more destinations: Vesyegonskiy rayon, Zubtsovskiy rayon, Selizharovskiy rayon, Rzhevskiy rayon, Penovsky District, Kimrskiy rayon, Torzhokskiy rayon, Konakovo District.

Back to the wider travel overview: Tver Oblast.