The Museum of Local Lore (Kaluga) has a rich collection of exhibits, many of which date back to the 17th century. The total number of storage units has long exceeded 100 thousand objects. At its beginning, the museum gathered ten branches and, by a decision taken in 2016, transferred to the status of a united museum-reserve.
The oldest museum of local lore
Museum of Local Lore (Kaluga) was established in 1897. To house it, one of the oldest buildings of the city was taken away - the chambers that once belonged to the merchants Korobov (17th century). The first exposition consisted of five shop windows where archaeological finds, ancient coins, household items of past times were exhibited. The museum worked only twice a week, the number of visitors per year was very small - only 500 people.
By 1904, the museum of local lore (Kaluga) kept about 1000 objects in the collections, among which were letters from A.S. Pushkin, a pen of N.V. Gogol, and in 1915 the collection consisted of 1,200 items.
After 1918, the institution was transformed into the “Provincial History Museum”. Funds and expositions moved to the building, which now houses the Kaluga Regional Museum of Local Lore, in 1922. The first branches were merged in 1924, and the Museum “For Good Deed”, an art museum, was transferred to the balance. The latter in 1925 as part of several branches came under the jurisdiction of Glavnauka.
The main replenishment of funds took place in the 30s, when the museum of local lore (Kaluga) began to replenish the property of abolished churches and nationalized estates. By 1939, the collection consisted of 10 thousand items.
From war to the present day
During the Great Patriotic War, the halls of the museum did not work for only 10 months, the rest of the time the exposition was open to the public. During the occupation, for 78 days, the museum was closed. It was not possible to evacuate the historical heritage and throughout the year (1942-43), employees calculated the extent of the damage. The final document stated that 10% of museum funds dating back to the 18th century classicism were looted.
In 1944, the museum became regional, by 1945, the funds consisted of 7,712 exhibits, of which 2,143 units were opened for general access. During this period, employees of the institution collected materials, documents and memoirs about the Great Patriotic War, which became the basis for the formation of several folk museums in the region in the 50s and 60s. Subsequently, six of them became branches and entered the museum of local lore (Kaluga). Today, the institution invites visitors to 10 branches.
Manor complex
The Museum of Local Lore (Kaluga) has existed for more than 100 years, all this time the collection funds have been constantly replenished and to date, there are more than 100 thousand unique exhibits. In 1982, the architecture of the old manor house in which the museum is located and the collection of values acquired a single sound, thanks to the idea that united them, performed by Leningrad artists and scientists.
The most notable exhibit of the collection is the architectural complex, built in 1808, which now houses the Museum of Local Lore (Kaluga). The history of the main house tells that it was once called the palace, and it was the richest manor in the city. The facade of the building is decorated with high reliefs from the history of the ancient Greek epic, the front entrance is decorated with columns, an arch and openwork wrought iron fence, coupled with massive gates. In the inner part of the courtyard there is a front wing, a carriage room, a covered gallery encloses the space, set on a white stone terrace decorated with Tuscan columns.
Description of the museum exposition
The interior of the palace was famous throughout Kaluga, Italian architect S. Campioni led the work on their design. On the ground floor, where previously there were premises for household needs, materials of the nature department are now on display.
On the second floor, in eleven halls, there is an exposition dedicated to the history of the region. The first stands are filled with archaeological finds that demonstrate the high level of development of ancient peoples. The following are household items, jewelry, merchants costumes Rusich. The reign of Peter I is marked by the appearance of the first industrial production. In the halls of the museum, a watch is presented, presented by Empress Catherine II in honor of the opening of governorship in Kaluga.
A large volume of exhibits is collected in the halls dedicated to the war of 1812 and the Great Patriotic War. In addition to historical events, the collection contains the cultural heritage of 19th century literature classics who visited Kaluga, and exhibits belonging to N.V. Gogol, F.M. Dostoevsky, A.P. Chekhov and other writers are contained here.
Branches
Regional Museum of Local Lore in Kaluga invites you to visit the branches:
- Nameless height. The exposition is dedicated to the liberation of the Kuibyshevsky district during the Great Patriotic War, when a group of fighters consisting of 18 people managed to capture an important height of 224.1. The name of the museum was given by the song of V. E. Basner “At an unnamed height”, dedicated to this feat of Siberian soldiers.
- Borovsk . The branch is located in the ancient city of Borovsk and reflects its history. The sections of the museum are devoted to merchants, Old Believer traditions, the history of two monasteries - Pokrovsky and Pafnutiev-Borovsky is examined in detail. The subject part of the exhibition contains fragments of ancient frescoes, architectural parts of the Nativity Cathedral and monasteries, ceramics, handmade bricks of the 16th century. A large collection of archival photographs tells of excavations at the grave of the noblewoman Morozova. Household items of merchants and petty bourgeois families are presented.
- Zaitseva Mountain. The exposition is dedicated to the long history of the battles of the Soviet army with the German invaders over the Warsaw highway and the demolition of German resistance for strategic heights, one of which was Zaitseva Gora.
- Ilyinsky lines. The memorial is dedicated to the feat of the Ilya students of military schools. For 12 days they restrained the invasion of the invaders to Moscow.
- Kozelsk. The exposition reflects the history of one of the most ancient cities of the Kaluga region; its history begins from the 12th century. The museum is located in the old mansion of merchants Tsyplakovs. In the halls are presented archaeological finds, objects of the history of Ancient Russia. Two thematic expositions, “Devil's Hillfort” (9-10th century) and “Vyatsky funerary complex of the 12-13th century”, are also presented. One of the central places is occupied by the battle canvas dedicated to the Battle of Kozelsk.
- Mosalsk. The museum is dedicated to the history of the city, considered in sections on the nature of the region, history, ethnography, events of different years. The visitors are keenly interested in the reconstruction of the peasant's hut in pre-revolutionary Russia.
- The estate-reserve "Linen factory". Two estates belonging to the Goncharovs and Shchepochkins joined in a single complex. A feature of the estate is its location on the territory of linen and paper manufactories. Here are the museum-estate of the Goncharovs, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, park and greenhouse complexes, a stable and other historical architectural objects.
- Tarusa Museum of Local Lore . The first mention of the city of Tarussa refers to the chronicles of 1246. In the halls of the city museum ethnographic exhibits, a literary exposition are presented, a separate part of the stands is devoted to the life and work of the writer K. G. Paustovsky.
- Tarusa museum of the Tsvetaev family. In the halls there is an exposition telling about the life and work of the poetess Marina Tsvetaeva.
Excursions
In 2016, the museum moved into a new status and is now called the Kaluga United Museum-Reserve. At the moment, internal reorganization processes are taking place and new programs are being prepared. But the activity of the museum of local lore cannot be interrupted, and visitors are invited to excursions:
- History of the Kaluga region. Periodically and periodically, the periods of economic development of the region from the 17th century are examined, a lot of attention is devoted to urban development, cultural development, literature, and art.
- The nature of the Kaluga region. The exposition examines in detail the geological and geographical features of the region, presents fossils of prehistoric life forms found during excavations or construction work in the region. Most of the exposition is occupied by the flora and fauna of the region, presented in exhibits from ancient periods to the present.
- Exotic animals. The tour acquaints visitors with representatives of the fauna of different countries of the world (South America, Asia, Africa, etc.), many exhibits demonstrate the life of the underwater world, the animal world of central Russia is presented.
- Under the banner of the Soviets. The excursion talks about the formation of Soviet power, the development of the region until 1941, the fate of individuals is considered as a reflection of the time of the Civil War, the Stakhanov movement, and repression. The center of the exposition, which is devoted to the thematic tour, is the recreated interiors of a school class, communal apartment.
- Kaluga Region during the Great Patriotic War. The thematic tour is held in the hall dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Victory in the war. The exhibits are presented in chronological sequence, reveals the course of events, perpetuates the names of citizens - active participants in hostilities and rear workers. The central place is given to the diorama “Liberation of Kaluga”.
The halls of the museum have a rich collection that gives a variety of reasons for excursions. So, the stories about the Decembrists, the history of porcelain and faience, the events of the war of 1812 and much more are of interest.
Helpful information
The guests of Kaluga, the Museum of Local Lore, are warmly welcomed (working hours - 9:30 - 17:30, the ticket office ends the ticket issue at 17:00). Opening hours on Saturday: 11:00 - 19:00. The day off is Monday. The cost of tickets starts at 100 rubles.
Reduced cost is provided for students, seniors and schoolchildren. Free admission is available to all citizens on Museum Day, as well as certain categories of citizens on an ongoing basis, you can go to the Museum of Local Lore (Kaluga). Address: Pushkin street, building 4.
Sights of Kaluga
Many historical events, architectural monuments, cultural centers can please the tourist city of Kaluga. Attractions are presented in such a quantity that it will not be possible to get to know them in one day. The ten iconic places where you should definitely visit include:
- St. George's Cathedral built in 1701.
- The Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the 17th century, located on the territory of the fortress.
- Optina deserts (70 km from Kaluga). According to legend, the monastery was founded by the repentant robber Optoy at the end of the 19th century. A miraculous spring is located on the territory of the complex; the second holy spring is located on the banks of the Zhizdra River.
- State Cosmonautics Museum named after Tsiolkovsky. It has the largest exposition in Russia dedicated to space exploration. About 600 thousand items are stored in the funds, 400 thousand units are available.
- Chambers of Merchants Chambers. It is an architectural monument of ancient Russian architecture of the 17th century.
- The stone bridge connecting the edges of the Berezuevsky ravine. The viaduct was built in 1785 and is the largest stone structure of its kind in Russia. The length is 160 meters and the width is more than 20 meters. The middle part is two-level with arches.
- Gostiny Dvor on Old Torg Square. The building and the area date back to the 18th century, the construction was initiated by merchants on the site of an old ravine. The restoration was carried out in 2015.
- The pearl of Kaluga is the Zolotarevs estate, where the local history museum is located.
- Museum of craft architecture and life. It has an extensive exposition of the history of the development of traditional folk crafts, a large exposition of clay toys. Some exhibits date back to the 17-18th centuries.
- Nikola-Lenivets, a village on the territory of the Ugra national park, where the Archstoyanie art festival is held annually. On the territory, artists and architects create unique sculptures from natural materials that are scattered throughout the reserve.
This is not a complete list of what a tourist can admire when he arrives in the city of Kaluga. Attractions are located in the city and in the region. The unique Shamordinsky monastery is located near the village of Shamordino. The central Kazan Cathedral is decorated with 15 chapels, the general decision relates to the Old Russian style, which bizarrely reflected epic legends. Vorobyevo estate, a monument to the system administrator, the House of Masters and much more are worth close attention.