History and sights of Chukhloma
Continuation of the story about the journey through the Kostroma and Vologda regions along the old Arkhangelsk route from Moscow to Totma. Having said goodbye to Galich, we moved on. Chukhloma was waiting for us ahead. I don’t know about you, but for me the name of this city used to be associated exclusively with the expeditionary raid in the Kostroma wilderness “Full Chukhloma”. From Moscow - only 450 kilometers in a straight line. But this is a completely different world, with its own passage of time.
Village in the distance
As we moved north, villages became less and less common, and the forests became denser. There were practically no oncoming or passing cars. The quality of the road surface is average. The shadows lengthened noticeably: time was inexorably approaching sunset.
Hills
We entered the Chukhloma district.
Village with dilapidated houses
desert road
Road towards Chukhloma
Chukhloma appeared. We left the road and turned towards the city center.
Chukhloma
The first written mention of Chukhlom dates back to 1381, but archaeological evidence indicates that a settlement in this area existed already in the 10th century, on the site of the current Avraamiev-Gorodetsky Monastery - a little away from the city. Today the population of Chukhloma is just over 5,000 people.
We are entering Chukhloma
Typical two-story wooden houses
Freedom Street
Almost all houses in Chukhloma are wooden. Many people have firewood piled up in front of them. I wonder if there is a main gas supply here? No characteristic yellow pipes were observed.
Firewood dumped near one of the houses
We parked in the very center, on Revolution Square, where ancient stone houses that belonged to the Chukhloma nobility before the revolution have been preserved.
Klimov House, 1916-1917. Nowadays there is a civil registry office and the Chukhloma Museum of Local Lore.
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1723
Houses in the center of Chukhloma
In the 15th-16th centuries in Chukhloma, on the high bank of the Sandeba River, a wooden fortress in the shape of an irregular quadrangle was built. It burned down during the “great fire” in 1727. Earthen ramparts up to 4 meters high have survived to this day.
Chukhloma Center
Teahouse of the Bolshakov merchants, mid-19th century. Nowadays the Beryozka Hotel
And we decided to go down the steep street to Lake Chukhloma.
Street leading to Lake Chukhloma
One of the streets in Chukhloma
Lake Chukhloma is quite large. In the distance you can see the Intercession Avraamiev-Gorodetsky Monastery, located in the village of Nozhkino. It was founded at the end of the 14th century by the Monk Abraham of Gorodetsky, a disciple of Sergius of Radonezh. Representatives of some noble families, including the Lermontovs, are buried in the monastery.
Chukhloma Lake and Avraamiev-Gorodetsky Monastery
Chukhloma is an interesting place! But we still had a way to go.
Climb
Chukhloma
Memorial stone in honor of the 600th anniversary of Chukhloma and a monument to Lenin
Houses in the center of Chukhloma
Chukhloma
Chukhloma
Old wooden house
Having left Chukhloma, we stopped in thought. Either go straight to Soligalich, or, after spending an hour, make a detour to Astashovo, where the miracle tower stands. To be continued…
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“Chukhloma Button”: Chukhloma has never seen such a holiday
The first open festival of creativity “Chukhloma Button” is over, but residents and guests of the city continue to discuss the big two-day holiday and share reviews. The festival, dedicated to the memory of People's Artist of the USSR Mikhail Pugovkin, was held in his small homeland in the Kostroma region on July 14 and 15. The first day of the festival was full of exciting events. At the stone erected in honor of the founding of the city of Chukhloma, poetry lovers read poems about their native land and the famous fellow countryman Mikhail Pugovkin. A memorial plaque was unveiled on the building of the House of Culture in honor of another famous Chukhlomich - circus artist Mikhail Aleksandrovich Ivanov - the founder of the world-famous Ivanov circus dynasty. Alexander and Mikhail Ivanov came to honor the memory of their father and grandfather: “ We are proud that in Chukhlom everyone knows about their fellow countryman Mikhail Alexandrovich Ivanov, who glorified his family and his small homeland throughout the world. I would like to believe that we are worthy successors to this name
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A wide fair was held on the main square of Chukhloma for two days. Especially for the festival, local craftswomen made buttons - souvenirs made using a variety of techniques. To remember the festival, guests of the festival could purchase booklets, calendars with descriptions of funny incidents that happened to Mikhail Pugovkin on the film sets, pens, plates and cups. Elena Ivanova, Volgorechensk:
There were a lot of interesting, colorful paraphernalia at the festival - logos, booklets, calendars, a film. Everything was made specifically for the Chukhloma Button. The programs, which outlined all the events, helped us a lot; we could easily make our plans. Of course, a great scene. And in general, we have something to compare with; in Chukhloma everything went at a high level.
A high-level festival - this is what residents and guests of the city said about the Chukhloma Button. According to the administration of the municipal district, more than 5 thousand people visited the festival on the opening day alone. Many managed to take seats on the wooden benches near the stage, others watched what was happening while standing or even danced on the platform near the cinema. By the way, the Ekran cinema, where the Mikhail Pugovkin Museum opened, was visited by hundreds of guests. The first excursion for everyone was conducted by the artist’s widow Irina Konstantinovna Pugovkina.
Irina Pugovkina:
Each exhibit is a story from the life of Mikhail Ivanovich or from the film set. You can talk a lot about each subject for a long time. They are all dear to me. I am very glad that now all the exhibits will be stored on Chukhloma soil.
The concert dedicated to the opening of the Chukhloma Button festival lasted about three hours. More than 20 of the best creative groups from the Chukhloma, Soligalich, and Galich regions, circus artists Ivanov, and solo performers performed on the stage. Artist Nikas Safronov and actors Emmanuil Vitorgan and Dmitry Kharatyan sent their video congratulations on the opening of the festival.
Dmitry Kharatyan, People's Artist of the Russian Federation:
It is so gratifying that your fellow countrymen remember the outstanding, truly People’s Artist of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Ivanovich Pugovkin. I congratulate you on the opening of this wonderful festival. Chukhlomichi residents and city guests greeted all the artists appearing on stage with loud applause.
Participants of the dance group “Sacvoyage” (Parfenvo village):
The stage is great, you just want to dance on it, it’s very comfortable. We dance for everyone who loves and remembers our beloved Mikhail Pugovkin.
Natalya Samarina, St. Petersburg:
I specially came from St. Petersburg for the Chukhloma Button festival. I was born in Chukhloma. And I follow the news. Everyone was talking about the Chukhloma Button; there was a lot of information. I didn’t regret coming at all. Chukhloma unfolded with such power! I did not expect. I really hope that thanks to the festival our city will make waves throughout the country.
Irina Strukova, editor of the newspaper “Susaninskaya Nov”:
I liked it all very much. I was on the first day almost until the very end, but there was no fatigue. All rooms are thought out and well selected.
The second festival day was no less eventful. At a creative meeting, People's Artist of Russia Yuri Chernov told why he was embarrassed to approach Mikhail Pugovkin on the set, People's Artist of Russia Alexander Pyatkov brilliantly performed an excerpt from "Vasily Terkin", singers Igor Artamonov, Arseny Svyadoshch and Georgy Volchek, lead singer of the group "Doctor Watson" amazed the Chukhlomichi people with their voice and repertoire.
Yuri Chernov, People's Artist of Russia:
I want to thank everyone who created this festival. I have a feeling that this is the first time that a holiday of this scale has been celebrated in Chukhloma. The stage, wooden sculptures, cinema - this is a colossal work. In some Russian city they opened a cinema named after. Gerard Depardieu. In my opinion, this is terrible. Well done, you named the cinema in honor of your great fellow countryman. We came to your holiday with great pleasure. And I will be very happy, as will Sasha Pyatkov, if you invite us next year.
Nikolai Chernov, director of the Moscow M.I. Center Pugovkina:
There were creative people here who know a lot about various festivals and creative meetings. So they say: “The festival you held in Chukhloma is just super.” I think that next year we will be able to approach the level of the “Evdokimovsky” and “Shukshinsky” festivals.
Alexey Baranov, deputy of the Kostroma Regional Duma:
We were very worried about how the festival would go, we tried to take into account all the nuances, from the placement of trade tents, stage design, to the development of a good script, the selection of creative acts. I really hope that we managed to surprise the residents of Chukhlomych and guests of the city. And most importantly, throughout the two festival days we talked about the great fellow countryman Mikhail Pugovkin, remembered his roles and life in his small homeland. I think this is very valuable.
Tamara Duryagina, deputy head of the Chukhloma district administration:
Our holiday was a success! For two days there was such a warm and homely atmosphere. People walked around the city from early morning until late evening. We listened to artists, went boating on the lake, and came to our concert venue again. These two went down in the history of the Chukhloma region.
A few days after the end of the Chukhloma Button festival, conversations about it do not subside. Residents share their impressions of the holiday, show each other photos taken with a miracle button with a diameter of 3 meters, which has already become a favorite landmark of the city. And the organizers are already thinking about what the Chukhloma Button 2022 will be like.
PHOTO ALBUM
Festival partners:
- center of visual capabilities "GLAVMOSPRINT" - Kostroma branch of the All-Russian political party "United Russia" - - OTRK "Rus" - information portal of the Kostroma region Media44 - Soligalichsky lime plant - - trade and production - Astashovo forest tower
