Chekalin is a city imbued with the patriotism and courage of the Russian people. Its atmosphere is imbued with warmth, kindness and friendliness of the locals. Everyone here knows each other, which is typical for small towns with a population of up to 1,000 people. There is one school and one kindergarten in the city. Many people work at a dairy plant, the only industrial enterprise.
The city itself is located on a hill with a panoramic view of meadows and fields intersected by strips of trees. Natural landscapes are fascinating, they reveal amazing beauty, take you away from the hustle and bustle of big cities and give you peace.
Chekalin is a city with an ancient history. It was first mentioned in 1565 during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Initially, it was a small village of Likhvin, since 1746 — the city of Likhvin, which means "dashing". According to legend, this name was given by the Mongol invaders for the heroic resistance of the villagers to the invasion of troops.
In 1944, the city was named Chekalin in honor of the 16-year-old partisan scout Alexander Pavlovich Chekalin, recognized as a Hero of the Soviet Union. He showed courage and fearlessness in the struggle in the rear of the German invaders. A central street, a square, a school are named in his honor, and the film "The Fifteenth Spring" was shot. The small town cherishes the memory of the heroic deed of Alexander Chekalin and thousands of other WWII soldiers in monumental structures. A monument "Grieving Mother and Warrior" has been erected in honor of the residents who fell in the battles.
There are many places of interest in Chekalin, which can be visited in 1 day. One of the main attractions is the monument to Alexander Chekalin in the form of a granite bust of a warrior. Installed in the central square, it rises 3.5 meters high.
A memorial stone has been erected next to the monument at the place where the Nazis executed Chekalin. This is a symbol of the tragedy of the people: according to the memoirs of local residents, a young partisan walked to the place of execution with bloody feet, and after hanging, the Germans forbade removing his body from the gallows for more than 3 weeks.
Visitors are attracted not only by interactive zones, but also by a machine for making souvenirs from coins. For greater comfort and convenience of guests, there is a cafe on the territory of the museum. Admission is free for young visitors under 12 years of age.
Another pride of Chekalin is the local House of Culture built in 1982. At least 10,000 people visit its walls every year. About 200 employees are engaged in the maintenance and development of the institution, and this is a fifth of all residents of the city. Entertaining excursions, exhibitions and clubs are held here. The teams employ people of all ages, from preschool to the elderly. They participate in various city and district events.
The Likhvin fortress was recreated on the territory of Cathedral Mountain. In the Middle Ages, it protected local residents from invaders: people took refuge in a structure with five towers and raised suspension bridges. Moats blocked the foreigners' way to the building itself.
The art park provides everything necessary for a comfortable stay for visitors: equipped sports grounds for sports and games, children's areas.
Built in 1815, the Prison Castle is one of the most amazing and fascinating places in Sakhalin. The facility was designed to serve sentences for 32 criminals. This historical monument is an impregnable wall, towering 3 meters. It is made of red brick, which has acquired a dark shade over time .
The Vvedensky Temple is a building dating back to 1821, which has retained its original appearance to the present day on the initiative of S.P. Rtishchev. Services have been held here since 1835, but services have stopped since 1937, as the building was converted into a workshop. Since 1988, the temple has been restored to its former status.
Chekalin and its surroundings are an area with amazing flora and fauna, which amazes with its uniqueness, riot of colors and stunning landscapes. Endangered representatives of the Red Book can be found here. For example, a purple T-shirt beetle lives here. The insect is not only extremely beautiful, but also dangerous — when in contact with human skin, it leads to chemical burns.
If you want to delve deeper into the history of the country, get to know the heroes of the Second World War, or just take a break from the noise of big cities, come to Chekalin. Russia's smallest city is waiting for new tourists.
