Leninsky District: Discover Bogucharovo Estate

Bogucharovo Estate in Oktyabrsky, in Leninsky District, brings together buildings and landscape features from several centuries. The manor house, church, bell tower and parkland form a historic ensemble whose components date from different periods. For culturally minded travelers, its special appeal lies in being able to appreciate not just one building, but the interplay of the estate’s various elements.

The Bogucharovo Estate Ensemble

The manor house dates from the late 18th century; the side wings were built in the second half of the 19th century. The active Church of the Presentation of the Lord was built in 1841 to a design by A. S. Khomyakov, and the bell tower dates from 1894. If you plan to attend a service, check access in advance. The ensemble also includes the steward’s house, a formal park from the 18th century and a landscape park from the 19th century. Other features include a system of three ponds and a cemetery from the second half of the 19th century in the northwestern part of the estate.

One way to understand the estate is to compare its features: the manor house and its side wings were built in the late 18th century and the second half of the 19th century, respectively; the parks, meanwhile, include a formal park and a landscape park from different centuries. This offers two distinct ways to look at the same estate: the different periods represented by its buildings and the contrast between its park styles.

The estate is the only property of the Khomyakov family preserved in its original state, and a monument to provincial aristocratic life. By Decree No. 176 of the President of the Russian Federation, dated February 20, 1995, it was added to the list of sites of historical and cultural heritage of federal significance.

Culture in Tula Oblast

In the city of Tula, in Tula Oblast, the exhibition “The Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo” at the Tulskiye Drevnosti Museum explores the Battle of Kulikovo. In the interactive areas, visitors can weave a piece of chain mail, try on armor and learn to read chronicle miniatures. Another exhibition, “Secrets of Tula Craftsmen,” at the same museum features a pottery workshop, a blacksmith’s workshop and household objects from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

At the Yasnaya Polyana Museum-Estate, you can take a guided walk through the central part of the estate. The tour covers Tolstoy’s favorite places for his daily walks, the local flora and fauna, the history of Tula’s defensive lines and Tolstoy’s plantings. Walks are offered from May to October; check the specific dates before planning your trip.

The Polenovo Estate in Tula Oblast also has a distinctive architectural connection: the artist Vasily Polenov designed all the buildings himself. This offers a different perspective from Bogucharovo, whose ensemble includes buildings and park styles from different centuries.

Discover more destinations: Shchyokinsky District, Teplo-Ogaryovsky District, Aleksinsky District, Zaoksky District, Kurkinsky District, Leninsky District, Novomoskovsky District, Kireyevsky District.

For the regional travel overview: Tula Oblast.