In the central part of the East European Plain, on the Central Russian Upland, a small Tula region is located. The nature of this region impresses with its splendor: nets (strips of forest) are replaced by river valleys, sandstones by lush greenery, and natural wonders by monuments created by human hands and tourist sites. It’s worth at least once to see the beautiful places of the Tula region in order to understand: the Russian people don’t need any foreign countries, because “there” everything is alien and cold, though beautiful, and here it’s its own, native, present!
Quarries on the Sturgeon River
Byakovsky, or, in other words, Guryevsky, quarries are separate systems of underground passages, stretching for a distance of 70 to 150 km along the banks of the Sturgeon River. In the 15-16 centuries, limestone was mined here by prisoners. But the stone turned out to be of poor quality, so the mine was closed. At that place, a cave less than 1 km long appeared. In 1946, it was littered, but a man who remained unknown, cut a "window" into the quarry, simply digging out a vent. Since then, in this beautiful place of the Tula region there are many people.
Ishutinsky settlement
Amazingly beautiful place in the Tula region for walking by car. It is fanned by many different myths and legends. They say that a very long time ago there was a city that the Crimean Tatars could not take. It’s just that when they arrived, people disappeared somewhere, leaving behind only the coals in the stoves, and this was repeated many times. It is worth noting that the answer to the present has not been received. No secret caves where the inhabitants of the city could go have yet been discovered. A river with a terrific name - Beautiful Sword - washes the hillfort .
Armored train "Kozma Minin"
To visit the beautiful places of Tula and the Tula region and not to visit the Chern railway station is a big omission. After all, here you can touch the history itself - to see a real armored train, which at one time was an example of armored vehicles. It is installed on the spot where the commanders of the 31st special Gorky Division once died.
Abandoned manor family von Mecca
The estate located in Khruslovka once belonged to the king of the Russian railway - Karl von Meck. And although the entrepreneur himself was almost forgotten, his wife will forever remain in history. Indeed, in her honor one of the works of P.I. Tchaikovsky was written. Despite the fact that the estate survived after the revolution, now it is in a terrible state. However, this does not make him less beautiful and grandiose.
Museum-Reserve "Kulikovo Field"
When listing the beautiful places of the Tula region, it is impossible to lose sight of the Kulikovo Field Museum Reserve, which covers 5 different places: the legendary battlefield, Monastyrshchino, Tula, Epifan and Red Hill. About this area in 1380, Prince Dmitry Donskoy, together with his warriors, won the first victory over the Mongol Tatars. And let Russia finally get rid of the yoke only after 100 years, that battle will forever remain in the memory of the people. Currently, there is a military historical museum and a nature reserve. You can visit the complex as part of an excursion group or on your own, including by car.
The farmstead "Yasnaya Polyana"
Literature lovers who decide to drive through the beautiful places of the Tula Region by car should definitely visit the Yasnaya Polyana estate, where Leo Tolstoy once lived and worked on his immortal works. It was here that he wrote such famous novels as War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
The estate consists of several buildings combined into a museum. It is surrounded by a beautiful apple orchard, centuries-old oaks, lindens planted in the French style, white and pink flowers, poplars. Here still remained and the bathhouse, which went to Lev Nikolaevich, and 2 ponds, and even a small bench. The eminent writer often sat on it, lost in thought.
Today the museum holds festivals and exhibitions, gives lectures, and introduces children to the world of literature. All landscapes of Yasnaya Polyana are carefully guarded and restored, hired specialists look after the gardens. Restoration is not amenable only to premises, but perhaps still to come ?!
Tula "Switzerland" (Krasnogorye village, Efremovsky district)
This is one of the most beautiful places in the Tula region can not be called otherwise. Hills, forests, hills and hills, the coastal landscape of the Beautiful Sword River - all this is literally mesmerizing, makes hearts sing with delight and tenderness. But it is best to come here in the summer when forest raspberries and wild strawberries are blooming, their clearings are just bewitched. Many people have a desire to put a berry after a berry in their mouths.
It is worth noting that there were some legends here. They say that in pre-revolutionary times in Krasnogorye (Efremov district) there lived sorceresses, in whose honor the village was called Vedmin (former name). It sounds very symbolic if you look at the stone piles scattered on the edge of the village. Who knows, maybe the ladies really arranged their covens here? Or, perhaps, these are the petrified skulls of the oldest inhabitants of the planet? There are no answers to these questions.
And there lies a stone-horse ...
When listing the beautiful natural places of the Tula region, you can not ignore another attraction - megalith, located in the village of Kozye. A huge boulder stands on several smaller stones, as if on a pedestal. Some say that this megalith was a reference point for launching merchant ships sailing to Istanbul or Crimea, others - that this is a monument to the victory of the Russian army over the Mongol-Tatar warriors.
The most interesting version is this: once a hero died here in an unequal battle. His faithful horse could not survive the loss and was petrified with grief. As it was, the story is silent. But, according to legend, megalith has healing power. A man sitting on it will gain new sexual powers, and a woman will be able to bear and give birth to a child.
Careers in the village of Konduki (Uzlovsky district)
Not a single photo of the beautiful places of the Tula region will convey the feeling of unity with nature that arises when visiting these huge quarries. Once coal was mined here, it was closed after the mine, and the area gradually began to turn into the edge of lakes with an amazing color of water. If you stand on the shore of a reservoir and look around, you get the feeling of being on another planet, and not on Earth. This is really awesome!
Arapovsky caves
Karst caves are located near the village of Gremyache, on the banks of the Tetyakovka River. At present, they present a system of branched right moves, with niches and benches cut down inside. Some tunnels form high empty rooms, in the largest of them an adult can easily fit.
Who created the Arapovsky caves, history is silent. Some scholars say that ancient people once lived in them, the second - that they were the underground part of the Gremyache fortress. But the most popular and common version says the following: these places were discovered by the peasant Jacob and his comrades in 1849 with the aim of carrying out prayer here. Anyway, today only a small part of the caves has been preserved, since by the order of the governor of the region many of them were destroyed.
Tula Exotarium
People come here to look at amphibians and reptiles, which park staff bred in order to preserve the species. There are more than 500 snakes alone, and yet there are still lizards, venomous lizards, large turtles, monkeys, blunt crocodiles, fennec foxes and many other exotic animals. If you are going to visit Tula, be sure to visit this place. Of course, maybe it’s not the most beautiful in the Tula region, but it’s unique for sure. There are simply no analogues to him in Russia!
In conclusion
Tula region is rich in truly beautiful places. Therefore, if you suddenly gathered to go somewhere to have a rest, think: are all these Thailand and Egypt really needed? Is it not better to go to the same river Beautiful Sword or visit the estate "Yasnaya Polyana"? After all, it is both simpler and cheaper, and healthier for the mind with health.