Quiet provincial Tarusa is a small town in the Kaluga region, sung in the verses of the incomparable Marina Tsvetaeva. It is mentioned in the ancient chronicles of the 13th century, but its image is a frozen picture of the 19th century with stone temples, city estates of aristocrats and merchants and small cozy streets.
Tarusa is included in the list of historical settlements in Russia. The life and work of many cultural figures are associated with the city - the poetess M. I. Tsvetaeva, the writers K. G. Paustovsky and N. A. Zabolotsky, the artist V. D. Polenov. The entire territory of Tarusa can be bypassed in just a couple of hours, but if you look into local museums and carefully study the expositions, then a few days may not be enough.
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What to see and where to go in Tarusa?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Peter and Paul Cathedral
Before the fire of 1779, after which only 23 houses remained in Tarusa, it became necessary to redevelop the city and build a new church, since the wooden church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker also burned down. By decree of Catherine II, the construction of the Cathedral of Peter and Paul began in 1785 and finished in 1790. Later, a refectory and two additional chapels were added. In Soviet times, the bell tower was demolished, and all valuable church property was burned in the main city square. In the late 1990s, the building began to be restored to its original appearance.
Church of the Resurrection of Christ
A 17th century temple that survived several fires due to the fact that it was built of stone on Voskresenskaya Hill, which is separated from the city center by a deep ravine. In the 18th century, the building was rebuilt, adding an additional side-chapel; at the beginning of the 20th century, during the reconstruction, the church was expanded again and its facade was decorated in the Russian-Byzantine style. Despite the destruction in Soviet times, the decorative elements are still preserved.
Monument to Marina Tsvetaeva
M. Tsvetaeva loved to visit Tarusa. She dedicated a lot of poetic lines to the town. Moreover, the writer wanted to be buried here, but the circumstances were different. In 2006, a monument was erected in Tarusa in her honor. The sculpture stands on the high bank of the Oka River in the middle of the observation deck of the city park. A rowan tree grows next to the bronze figure of Marina - one of the creative images of her poetry.
Monument to K. Paustovsky
K. Paustovsky has lived in Tarusa for over 20 years. In 1967 he was awarded the title of honorary citizen of the town. In 2012, a monument to the writer was erected on the banks of the Oka. The sculptor embodied in bronze the homely and simple image of Paustovsky: he strokes his faithful dog named Terrible, leaning on the fence. Before making the sculpture, the author of the monument carefully studied the photograph where the writer was depicted with a dog.
Museum of the Tsvetaev family
M. Tsvetaeva's grandfather acquired a small wooden estate at the end of the 19th century. The writer's father was born here, Marina and her sister often came here on vacation. The museum opened in 1992. It has a small collection of personal belongings of the Tsvetaev family, furniture, household items and books. Various events dedicated to the work of the poetess are often held here.
House-Museum of Paustovsky
The exposition is located on the territory of a small modest house where the writer once lived. The museum opened in 2012, it became the first and only one in Russia dedicated to the life and work of K. Paustovsky. Inside, the atmosphere of the 1950s and 1960s has been recreated, personal belongings have been collected and a study has been reconstructed, where the author's typewriter and desk, as well as his favorite books, are located.
Private Museum of Sergei Zharov
The museum collection consists of pieces of furniture and interiors, sculptures and art objects made from scrap metal by a talented local resident S. Zharov. You can also see old irons, photographs, records, household utensils and sewing machines. An unusual exposition was launched in 2012; the Governor of the Kaluga Region became its first visitor. Some of the exhibits are in the house, the other part - in the yard (their number is constantly increasing).
Cenotaph of Marina Tsvetaeva
A memorial stone installed at the place where M. Tsvetaeva was supposed to be buried according to her will. It is located under a rowan tree on the banks of the Oka River. The first lump appeared in 1962, it was made on his own scholarship by a student of the Faculty of Philology - an ardent admirer of the poet's work, but by the will of her daughter Marina Ariadna, the stone was removed a week later. The second was delivered only in 1988.
Tarusa art gallery
The art museum was founded in the 1960s by the initiative of local art enthusiasts. At first, the exhibition hall was located in the refectory of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, then the collection moved to another location. The exposition consists of paintings by Itinerant painters: P. A. Sukhodolsky, I. K. Aivazovsky, V. D. Polenov, G. G. Gagarin and others. There is also a department of graphics and sculpture, where the works of V. Vatagin are presented.
Oka river
The Oka is a large tributary of the Volga. It flows through the territory of several regions of Central Russia, including Kaluga. Tarusa just stands on its picturesque shores, overgrown with forest and dotted with secluded sandy spits. Also, the channel of the waterway passes through Kaluga, Oryol, Kashira, Kolomna, Ryazan and other cities. In summer, it is pleasant to relax on the green high banks, go fishing or go boating.
