Tula on the way – we tell you about the sights near the M2 highway

When a road becomes not just a journey, but a story, every kilometer of it reveals new pages of history. In the shadows of ancient villages and on the hills of the Tula region, there are places where time seems to have stopped. We suggest that you not just drive past, but stop, look deeper and discover Tula for real!

1 stop –

"V.D. Polenov Museum-Reserve"

The most picturesque corner of the Tula region, which inspired the artist Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov to create his masterpieces. The estate includes a number of buildings located on and off the territory. "Abbey" is an artist's studio with a large window, "Half–timbered" is a shed for carpentry, "Admiralty" is a former boathouse and many other outbuildings.

Nearby, by the way, is the village of Behovo, which is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Russia. 

2 stop –

Museum of the commander of the cruiser Varyag V.F. Rudnev
To get to the museum, you need to move along the M2 and turn off at the 120th kilometer interchange towards the Old Moscow Road, which is now called 70K-024. Between the old and new routes from Tula to the capital is the village of the commander of the legendary cruiser Varyag, Savino. He stayed here in the last years of his life. There is also the Church of the Kazan Mother of God, the grave and the Rudnev Museum.

Russian Russian Navy officers will experience the atmosphere of life of Vsevolod Fyodorovich Rudnev through the exhibits. Visitors to the museum will learn in detail about the history of the Russo-Japanese War and discover the pages of the life of Vsevolod Fyodorovich Rudnev using his example.

3 stop –

Museum-estate of A.T. Bolotov "Dvoryaninovo"

During his almost century-long life, Bolotov left a mark in twenty-eight fields of activity, becoming, among other things, the discoverer of many phenomena. He went down in history as an outstanding scientist, writer, encyclopedist, founder of Russian agronomic science, artist, educator, philosopher, healer, park builder.

The museum includes a house, a manor house with ponds, a forest park, the grave of Andrei Timofeevich at the cemetery in the village of Rusyatino and extensive agricultural land.

By the way, it is Bolotov that we should thank for the appearance of potatoes and tomatoes on the tables.

4 stop –

"The Museum-estate of Leo Tolstoy "Yasnaya Polyana"

This is one of the few estates that have preserved their historical appearance today, but what distinguishes it from others is that one of Russia's greatest writers, Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy, lived and worked here. 

Tolstoy lived here for more than 50 years, having written his masterpieces. The "Big House" has preserved many of the writer's personal belongings, including his library. For almost a century, the exposition of the Tolstoy Memorial House has remained unchanged: the interiors and the purpose of the rooms are preserved according to the model of 1910, the last year of the writer's life.

Today, the estate is not only a museum, it includes century–old trees and young shoots, picturesque park alleys and secluded forest paths, the glassy surface of ponds and the bottomless sky, an amazing world that inspired Leo Tolstoy! 

5 stop –

Historical, cultural and Natural Museum-Reserve of I.S. Turgenev "Bezhin Meadow"

The village of Turgenevo is the ancestral estate of the great Russian writer. The story of the creation of stories from the cycle "Notes of a Hunter", the novels "Faust", "Lull", "Desperate", the novel "Fathers and Children" is connected with this place.

The museum's guests will be able to walk through the pine and lime alleys of the park, founded in the 19th century by the writer's grandfather, and see the preserved buildings of the Turgenev estate — a carriage house and a paper mill. In the Hunting Plots hall, they will get acquainted with a unique collection of paintings and sculptures dedicated to the theme of hunting, and will see authentic objects from the furnishings of the manor house.

And they will also admire the beautiful horse Grinda in the stable next to the estate.

We are finishing our journey along the federal highway M-2, another colorful estate in the Tula region

6 stop –

"Никольское-Вяземское"

Since 1747, Nikolskoye belonged to Leo Tolstoy's great-grandfather, then the estate changed status and owners, Turgenev and Fet were frequent guests here, and in 1860 Lev Nikolaevich himself took possession of Nikolskoye.

In the family estate, the writer was inspired by his best works – "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina", "Harmful air", "Hunger or not hunger". Today, in the manor you can get acquainted with its past, surroundings, and admire the picturesque view of the park with the Assumption Church from the balcony.

And then, take a walk to that very "Oak Tree" and, just like the famous hero, discover something amazingly beautiful and new in your soul!