Gustomesovo on the Volga

Gustomesovo lies on a high bank of the Volga. The Church of the Dormition stands in the northwestern part of the village and is clearly visible from the river. The place thus combines a striking riverside setting with a specific cultural theme: a parish church whose design reveals several architectural influences. If you are interested in rural religious architecture, the church offers a clear point of interest; its architectural composition and the preserved altar cross provide two different perspectives on the building.

Russian-style church and carved altar cross

The Church of the Dormition is an example of a Russian-style parish church. Its unusual architectural composition also shows the influence of Art Nouveau. The two references relate to different aspects: Russian style describes the building’s classification, while Art Nouveau is evident as an influence in its composition. The church is built of brick. It was probably designed by N. I. Gorlitsyn, the city architect of Kostroma.

The church also houses a carved stone altar cross. It probably dates from the 17th century and was brought here from a wooden chapel in the village of Orlets, near Gustomesovo.

More places to explore in Kostroma Oblast

In the wider destination of Kostroma Oblast, the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve complements cultural interests with a natural setting. It comprises two separate areas that preserve the southern taiga’s diverse landscapes, with their zonal and provincial physical-geographical features. The “Journey into the Protected Forest” tour includes a visit to the ecological trail of the same name, which passes through an area of old-growth southern taiga forest. Check the tour’s current arrangements in advance.

Another cultural highlight in Kostroma Oblast is Shchelykovo, the estate of Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky. Guided tours of the park and A. N. Ostrovsky’s house are offered at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, and 15:30. They are intended for groups of five or more; alternatively, payment for five people is possible. As arrangements may change, check the details before your visit.

The Susanino Local History Museum devotes its five halls to the nature, archaeology, history, culture, and everyday life of the Susanino region. The renewed exhibition “At the Crossroads of History and Legend” preserves Ivan Susanin and Savrasov’s “The Rooks Have Come” as motifs of importance to the region. The museum also offers walking and bus excursions to places associated with Ivan Susanin, including the Isupovo Marsh and the villages of Derevenki and Domnino.

Another perspective on the culture of Kostroma Oblast is offered by “Kostromskaya Sloboda” in Kostroma: the museum features historic wooden houses and churches, as well as ethnographic exhibits about the lives of peasants in the Kostroma region.

Discover more destinations

Stanovshchikovo, Stepanovo, Drenevo, Bui, Krasnoye-on-the-Volga, Lunëvo, Kostroma, Chukhloma

Back to the main travel overview: Kostroma Oblast.