Penza region is extremely rich in various interesting places. The sights of the Penza region include many ancient estates in which the greatest figures of Russian culture lived, and a large number of holy places, including unique ones, such as underground and cave monasteries, ancient temples, holy sources and miraculous icons. And archaeological sites make the funds of local history museums very curious.
Homesteads
The modern territory of the Penza region during the time of Peter I attracted great interest of landowners and nobles due to its fertile chernozems and amazing nature. Many prominent figures of that time had their estates in this region. The most famous place, without a doubt, is Tarkhany, the estate in which Lermontov spent his youth. Today it is a museum reserve 100 kilometers from Penza. Here you can see unique objects - personal belongings of Lermontov and his family, as well as his grave.
Journey to literary places can be continued by visiting Belinsky's estate - in it the future critic and publicist spent his childhood. This museum is interesting not only with the exposition of personal belongings of Belinsky and his family, with his personal library with lifetime editions, but also with household displays. Among them are a manor house, kitchen and gymnasiums of the serf school.
At 160 kilometers from the capital of the region there is a unique architectural monument, alas, being in ruins - one of the estates of Prince Golitsyn. After the main building was flooded with groundwater, it was launched, only the church and the tomb of the Golitsyn family were partially restored.
Many other unique buildings are now in ruin, but there are also completely restored, for example Radishchev's estate. On its territory, the baroque house in the Baroque style of Peter the Great, the family church with a unique carved iconostasis and the building of the Zemstvo school, in which the museum now operates, has been preserved.
Natural attractions of the Penza region
The Volga region is rich in beautiful places created not by man, but by nature. So, for example, in the southwest you can visit the reserve on an area of ​​8 hectares “Volga forest-steppe”. The visit can be combined with a visit to the estates and temples located on its territory, as well as go on an excursion telling about the unique local flora and fauna, for example, beaver settlements and plants listed in the Red Book, which may still surprise the Penza region.
Sights, photos of which do not convey the beauty of these places, are scattered throughout the region. So, the Ardymsky Shihan is a unique natural monument - it is a mountain or a hill from which a magnificent view of the surrounding landscapes opens. Legends claim that the shihan hides countless treasures hidden in the mound by the Mongol khan. Perhaps this is true, because excavations at the foot of the mountain allowed archaeologists to find many interesting objects.
Temples and Monasteries
Religious sights of the Penza region will surprise you with ancient temples and monasteries. One of them is the Trinity-Scanov Convent - the pearl of Russian Orthodox culture. This is a beautiful architectural complex, built in the early 17th century. It includes the Trinity Cathedral, the temple, the bell tower, the church and the monastery building. Of particular interest is the miraculous icon of the Mother of God.
A few kilometers from the monastery there is a unique cave complex with an underground monastery and a healing spring. This underground monastery unites many cells and other rooms connected by a labyrinth of corridors on three tiers, which in scale exceeds even the cave complex of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. In the 20th century, much was destroyed, but now restoration work is underway on a unique complex that is included in the best sights of the Penza region.
The most important thing in the list of attractions of the Penza region is, of course, Tarkhany, so when visiting Lermontov’s estate, look into the old church of Archangel Michael. It was built by the grandmother of Mikhail Yurievich and over the centuries has suffered many different events. In 1991, the church was consecrated and receives parishioners.
The ancient Trinity Church is located in the village of Ershovo, one of the most remote places in the region, but it is worth coming here because of the beautiful nature and the majestic stone church (the owner of the estate, Prince Razumovsky, tired of constant fires, built stone houses for the peasants, and in place of a wooden church built a majestic stone temple), and also because of the miraculous icon donated to the temple by pilgrims from Jerusalem 250 years ago.
Archaeological sites
Penza region has something to surprise lovers of archeology and history. The most famous archaeological monument of the Penza region is the Zolotarevskoe fortification. A huge number of finds indicate a colossal battle with the Tatar-Mongols. Such significant finds related to hostilities are not found anywhere else in Europe.
But the archaeological site “Mar” (or “grave hill” translated from Mordovian) is not so famous, but it is a unique object dating back to the Bronze Age. It is located in the village of Stepanovka and is available for inspection by everyone.
There are burial grounds in the region (for example, “Yerikley” in the Neverkinsky district), which are still waiting for their researcher and archaeologist.
Museums
About museums at the estates, we can confidently say that these are the main attractions of Penza and the Penza region. They talk a lot not only about the former owners, but also about the landlord and peasant life. But besides them there are other interesting museums in the region. For example, the Museum of Glass and Crystal in the city of Nikolsk. The glass factory was founded here in the 19th century, and the best craftsmen from all over Europe were brought to local craftsmen for careful copying. So a collection of unique objects from around the world was collected, supplemented by excellent examples of the work of local craftsmen.
The Gorodishchensky museum of local lore, which presents unique archaeological finds made in this region, is also interesting. Another museum of local lore of the Narovchatsky district is distinguished by the fact that it has the status of a reserve and is located in a historical building of the 19th century.
Among the museums of the Penza region there are also unusual ones, for example, a museum of prison life all in the same Narovchatsky district. The clergy and repressed local residents were kept in the local prison building. The museum’s exposition includes not only chamber rooms, punishment cells and the warden’s rooms, but also archival documents and photographs telling the history of the Penza region.
Monuments
Let's continue the description of the Penza region. Attractions include monuments. As in any other region of Russia, in the Penza region there are many diverse monuments and memorials. But there are special ones among them, for example, it is here, in Penza, that the world's first monument to Karl Marx is erected.
But not only in the capital of the region there are interesting monuments. The village of Ramsay, for example, is famous for its modern sculpture park. It was formed thanks to the symposium of sculptors held here.
Mystical sights of the Penza region
Photos describing the mystical sights of the area will not tell you anything. You need to visit here in person. Fans of everything mystical and mysterious will find many interesting places.
Golodyaevsky Pond invariably attracts esotericists of all stripes. It is believed that local dew is healing thanks to a mysterious cloud that regularly and invariably gathers over the pond and rains.
You can also visit the ancient chapel near the Smolensk ravine, where once the serfs hid the Radishchevs from the Pugachev riot, and later a miraculous icon of the Mother of God appeared here.