(OBLAST BY OBLAST)
Tver
tver oblast – тверская область
staritsa – старица
This historic town has been known since 1297. The main attraction of Staritsa is the Assumption Monastery that according to the chronicles was established much earlier in the year 1110. Russian tsar Ivan IV better known as Ivan the Terrible for some reason liked Staritsa and spent there quite a time during his rule. The first Russian Patriarch - the head of the Russian Orthodox Church - named Job (1525-1607) was born and died in Staritsa. Job was buried in the Assumption Monastery but later his relics were moved to the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow Kremlin. The Assumption Monastery in Staritsa is best seen from the opposite high bank of the Volga River.
The tomb of Job - the first Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The statue of Job.
The monastery graveyard.
There are several old unrestored churches in Staritsa.
About 40 km south-east of Staritsa close to the village of Balashutino there amid grassy meadows stands a modest but interesting memorial dedicated to the event that took place in the distant past. On December 22, 1317 the cavalry of the then Tver principality defeated the Mongol cavalry. It was the first registered victory over the Mongol cavalry which before considered to be invincible. The event went down into Russian history as the battle of Bortenevo. The village of Bortenevo does not exist any more.
In 1941-43 Tver oblast was the scene of many fierce battles of Soviet troops against Germans and their satellites. Therefore, big and small WWII memorials are quite common in and around Staritsa.
rzhev – ржев
Located on the outskirts of Rzhev is a big military cemetery divided into two parts: Soviet and German. The battle of Rzhev lasted with short breaks from January 8, 1942 till March 31, 1943. Irretrievable combat losses on both sides amounted to more than 1,200,000 persons.
The Soviet Soldier memorial was opened in June 2020 next to the Moscow - Minsk highway near Rzhev.
lake seliger – озеро селигер
Lake Seliger is a scenic spot popular among holiday makers. The lake has a very intriguing shape. It is a whole archipelago of lakes all linked together by short channels and rivers.
The Stolobny Island 25 km by road from the town of Ostashkov is home to the Saint Nilus Monastery founded by a hermit named Nilus in 1528. The buildings we see now were built in the 18-19th centuries. In 1939-41 about seven thousand Polish prisoners of war were kept in the monastery. Six thousand were executed by the Stalin regime.
the volga river source
The Volga River has its source in the area of Lake Seliger. By road go from Ostashkov to the village of Svapushche (Свапуще). In Svapushche turn left towards the village of Volgoverkhovie (Волговерховье). In 20 km you will reach the spot where the longest river in Europe begins. The place is marked with a chapel.
vyshny volochek – вышний волочёк
The town is located right on the way from Moscow to Saint Petersburg. It can be bypassed by M11 highway but if you have a couple of hours to spare you can drive through Vyshny Volochek and visit the 1881 Kazan Monastery on its eastern outskirts.
The 1814 Epiphany Church is in the central part of the town.
kalyazin – калязин
The town of Kalyazin located about 160 km east of Tver is famous for its "floating" bell tower. In 1939-40 the town was partially flooded due to construction of a dam down the Volga River. The church and other buildings were disassembled or demolished but the 1800 belfry remained standing.
sverdlovo – свердлово
Sverdlovo is a village located near the border with Moscow Oblast. In case you need a quiet and comfortable place to stay away from city noise and hustle, the village offers you the Daphne Hotel with a nice view at the Volga River.
krasnoye – красное
The village of Krasnoye is home to the 1790 Transfiguration Church built in extremely rare for Russia pseudo gothic style. Another church of similar design was built in 1780 in Saint-Petersburg. Both churches passed the test of time, survived all troubles and are in use.
The interior is rather modest.
