Voronezh Oblast: Chalk Landscapes and Cultural Heritage

At the Divnogorye Museum-Reserve, striking chalk formations meet traces of human history. Voronezh Oblast offers a range of reasons to travel: nature reserves, archaeological sites, museums and a historic stud farm each offer their own attractions. When planning, consider whether you would like to spend more time on landscapes, exhibitions or cultural history.

Chalk Landscapes and Trails in the Natural Environment

The Divnogorye Museum-Reserve is known for its chalk landscapes: unusually shaped chalk cliffs rise along steep slopes, alongside large, ridged chalk ravines. Divnogorskiy Canyon is about one kilometre long and up to 200 metres wide. The cave complexes are also part of the area's character. Six sacred caves and cave complexes have been hewn into the chalk massif on the right bank of the Tikhaya Sosna and Don rivers, extending for about 8.5 kilometres. The reserve's cultural heritage also includes Stone Age settlements and the ruins of the medieval Mayatskaya Fortress. The Divnogorye Museum-Reserve's “Paleolithic Workshops” recreate the Stone Age and host workshops on making stone tools.

Two cave churches also show how chalk has served as a building material. The Church in Honour of the Sicilian Icon of the Mother of God in Bolshiye Divy is carved into the base of a chalk cliff. Its two levels are connected by a stairway. The walk to the Cave Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Malye Divy passes through the grounds of the museum-reserve and takes 30 to 40 minutes. Access to the church is arranged through the monastery's pilgrimage service.

The Khopyor Nature Reserve extends across the Novokhopersky, Povorinsky and Gribanovsky administrative districts. For planning your time, you can compare two tours by their stated distance and duration: the “Legendy Khopra” walking excursion covers 5 kilometres and takes three hours; it is closed during the spring flood. The “Tur de Khopyor” cycling tour is 26 kilometres long and takes four hours. The difference in duration is one hour, and the difference in distance is 21 kilometres.

The reserve's nature museum offers a different perspective. Its two halls explore wildlife and habitats, with exhibits on beavers, Russian desmans, water-dwelling and predatory birds, wild boar, elk, fallow deer and red deer. A large relief map of the reserve is also on display. If you plan to visit the museum, check the visitor arrangements before your trip.

Archaeology, a Stud Farm and Crafts

At the Kostenki Museum-Reserve, the archaeological museum building completely covers a Stone Age settlement site. The reserve's area covers 9 hectares and includes 25 protected zones with around 60 Upper Paleolithic sites. The reserve covers 9 hectares and includes 25 protected zones with around 60 Upper Paleolithic sites.

In the southeast of the oblast is the Khrenovskoy Stud Farm, regarded as the birthplace of the Orlov Trotter and the oldest stud farm in Russia. Count Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov-Chesmensky founded it on 24 October 1776. A visit includes the old stables and modern horse boxes, as well as the chance to see Orlov Trotters. Tours take place daily but must be arranged in advance; confirm the arrangements with the operator before you travel. The Horse Breeding Museum displays old studbooks and the pedigree of the Orlov Trotter breed. Other exhibits include horse blankets and trophies and medals won by the stud farm's horses at racetracks in Russia and abroad.

Other museums focus on crafts and regional culture. The Felt Boot Museum in Bobrov explores traditional felting methods and tools, as well as the stages of making felt shoes; a second hall covers the history of felt shoes in Rus'. At the “Mastera” Museum of Folk Art and Crafts in Khokhol, the carpet hall displays works by folk artist and hereditary carpet weaver M. Gladneva and her students. The Dmitry Venevitinov Museum Estate in Novozhivotinnoye, meanwhile, includes residential, agricultural and park buildings dating from the 17th to the early 20th century. Together, these attractions range from archaeological sites and stud farm history to craft techniques and a historic building complex.

Discover more destinations: Kantemirovskiy rayon, Zaoserednye sady, Podpolnoye, Ramonskiy rayon, Ostrogoschsk, Sergeevka, Medovka, Chertovitsy, Rossosch, Petropavlovka, Pavlovsk, Khitrovka, Saburovka, Aydarovo, Panino, Boguchar, Solnechnyy, Sloboda, Podgorenskiy, Liski, Divnogorye, Voronezh, Kuchugury, Novoaleksandrovka, Borok, Novousmanskiy rayon, Bogucharskiy rayon, Nizhnedevitskiy rayon, Povorinskiy rayon, Anninskiy rayon, Bobrovskiy rayon, Novousmansky District, Voronezh, Khvoshchevatka, Polyana, Pavlovskiy rayon, Verkhnekhavskiy rayon, Borisoglebsk.

Back to the main travel overview: Russia.