Shchelokovsky farm is one of the favorite parks for walks and outdoor recreation of the inhabitants of Nizhny Novgorod. On the territory of a unique forest there is the eponymous architectural and ethnographic museum. Today it is one of the most interesting sights of the city.
Green lungs of Nizhny Novgorod
Shchelokovsky farm is a large forest park located in the vicinity of Maryina Grove in Nizhny Novgorod. Today it is the largest natural area in the upper part of the city. Once these lands belonged to the Mahotinsky farm, erected by the police chief Mahotin in the middle of the XIX century. Since the 1870s, this area has become the property of Shchelokov. This is a local grocer engaged in the new holdings producing sugar. It is from here that one of the popular names of the forest park - “Sugar Dol” - went. Today Maryina Grove and Shchelokovsky Farm are recognized as natural monuments and taken under protection. A vast territory of forest parks is studied by specialists and is improved from time to time. In 1967, a cascade of three lakes appeared here. Today on the territory of the Shchelokovsky farm there is a museum of Russian architecture, entertainment and health centers.
History of the museum Shchelokovsky farm
In many cities on the Volga, a large number of architectural monuments have been preserved. In Nizhny Novgorod, even today, modern skyscrapers and ancient wooden residential buildings coexist comfortably. For this reason, this city in tourist booklets is often called "eclectic." In 1973, the Museum of Architecture and Life of the Nizhny Novgorod Volga Peoples was opened.
The Shchelokovsky Khutor Forest Park allocated 32 hectares of land to create a unique open-air architectural ensemble. For several years, unique historical buildings were brought here from all over the Nizhny Novgorod region. Each building was carefully dismantled, transported, restored and assembled in a new place. Today you can observe the whole village: residential buildings, household buildings, barns, churches and mills. Inside many monuments of Russian architecture, interiors have been recreated, giving an idea of how our ancestors lived.
What to do while visiting the Shchelokovsky farm?
The Ethnographic Museum conducts excursions for tourists. If you wish, you can just walk around the territory and take beautiful photos on the background of architectural monuments. A variety of events are regularly held at the museum. They give historical lectures, organize master classes and meetings with interesting people. The Schelokovsky Khutor Architectural and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve invites everyone to celebrate truly Russian and modern public holidays.
On the territory of the old village, festivities are held. The museum regularly hosts theatrical performances and historical festivals, during which you can see ancient battles and ceremonies. Having visited the museum, you can go for a walk in the forest park. In the warmer months, local ponds are open for swimming. Each lake on the Shchelokovsky farm can boast its own comfortable beach. On the territory of the forest, including in the immediate vicinity of the ethnographic museum, there are cafes.
Ticket price and visiting rules
You can visit the Shchelokovsky Farm Museum any day of the week. In the summer, the territory of the ethnographic complex is open from 10.00 to 17.00. In winter, the museum closes an hour earlier, you can visit it from 10.00 to 16.00. Separately, tourists will appreciate the cost of tickets. Entrance to the reserve for adults - 100 rubles, for pensioners and students - 80 rubles, for school students - 50 rubles. Children under the age of 7 are admitted to the museum for free.
The territory of the ethnographic complex is quite extensive. We recommend that you set aside at least 2-3 hours, and preferably half a day, to inspect it. Museum ticket offices stop working an hour before the closure of the territory. If desired, it is not difficult to get to the reserve on the routes of urban passenger transport. The best option is bus number 28, which takes you to the Shchelokovsky Khutor stop, which is very close to the main entrance to the museum. You can get to the Sakharny Dol stop by tram no. 5, 19 or bus number 62. Then you have to walk a bit. The exact address of the Ethnographic Museum: 41 Gorbatovskaya Street.