Village Ovsishche

Sights
The village of Ovsishche has been a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of Russia since 2021. The name of the village, Ovsishche, comes from the Ovsy tribe of the Russian people, who were the first to sow oats. Until 1478, the area was part of the Novgorod land. Since ancient times, people have settled along the banks of the Volchina River (a tributary of the Mologa) and the surrounding lakes. This is evidenced by archaeological sites and objects. A fortified settlement, two burial mound groups, and individual burial mounds are registered in the area. In 1886, the village had 37 households, 222 residents, a church, a volost administration office, two mills, a dyeworks, and a small shop. Residents are former landowner peasants. Trades include firewood haulage, trade, millers, dyers, stove-makers, sawyers, and tailors. Ovsische is associated with such famous artists as Alexey Venetsianov, Grigory Soroka, and Stanislav Zhukovsky. Their works are now housed in some of Russia's largest museums.
Ovsische was the setting for the films "I Was Born in Siberia" and "World War III."
Every year, the Milyukov Estate Museum and Cultural Complex hosts the "One Day in a Russian Estate" festival, attracting tourists from many Russian cities.
Its convenient location makes it a popular destination for vacationers, as well as those interested in history, art, and culture. Ovsische is located 36 km from Vyshny Volochyok on the Bezhetsk highway. A popular tourist destination is the Milyukov Estate Museum and Cultural Complex, whose program includes tours of the estate, visits to exhibits and exhibitions, master classes, and tastings of local dishes. Plein air sessions for artists of all ages are regularly held here. The Museum and Cultural Complex was formerly the ancestral home of the Milyukov noble family.
One of the attractions of the village of Ovsishche is Lake Chepolshevskoye, the deepest lake in the Tver Region (3 km long, 600 m wide, and 37 m deep). Its shores are a popular camping spot.
Ovsishche is also home to the grave of geographer, traveler, and Central Asian explorer V.I. Roborovsky (1856-1910), and the grave of Honored Physician of the RSFSR V.A. Strelkovsky (1898-1964).

Food, gastronomy, terroir.
One of the main local dishes is Ovsishche dzhur. Dzhur is a sweet dish reminiscent of oatmeal jelly. However, it was prepared in an unusual way – baked in the oven. Dzhur was served with honey, viburnum, dried fruits, berries, and butter. This dessert was delicious and very popular among the village elders of Ovsishche.

Here you can also try jam made according to the unique recipe of the owner of the Milyukov estate, the very same jam that the Milyukovs themselves loved so much.
At the "One Day in a Russian Estate" festival, the traditional dish is Chepolshevskaya fish soup, made from fish caught in Lake Chepolshevskoye, where the owner of the estate and his sons loved to fish.
On the way to Ovsishche are the "Prokhovskoye Podvorye" recreation center and the "Mets" hunting and fishing lodge. The resorts boast cafes serving fish caught in local lakes, as well as game. Both resorts are located in picturesque spots on the shores of lakes.
The terrain is hilly, marshy in places. The soil is gray and sandy loam, with underlying layers of sand, clay, and limestone. The area is shaped by the Volchina River, which flows out of Lake Volchino.

Accommodation
Recreation Center "Prokhovskoye Podvorye."
The resort is styled after ancient Russian life; everything here is authentic and radiant. You can dine with friends in a traditional tavern, visit a sauna, take a dip in the lake, play tennis and volleyball, go boating, and much more. Winter and summer activities are available according to the season. The resort has two cottages and nine rooms.
https://prohovo.ru/#services

Recreation Center "PORP-Metz." The recreation center is located near the village of Gryady, on the shore of Lake Metz. Surrounded by forest on three sides, the grounds offer a tranquil atmosphere. The center is ideal for youth, corporate, friendly, and family vacations. The center offers rooms and cottages, a sauna, picnic areas, a two-story cottage with hotel-style rooms, and a wooden village house for 2-3 people. A sauna is located nearby. Guests can enjoy fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities.
https://vk.com/baza_mez

How to get there
By car
From Moscow toward St. Petersburg, drive 310 km along the M11 toll road to Vyshny Volochyok. From St. Petersburg, drive 400 km along the M11 toll road to Moscow to Vyshny Volochyok.
Then drive 36 km from Vyshny Volochyok along the road to Bezhetsk.
By bus
You can get to Ovsishche from the bus station in the center of Vyshny Volochyok (near the Trade Rows) by bus. The current bus schedule is here.
By train
ou can reach Vyshny Volochyok by train from Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as transit from other cities. You can take a taxi from the train station or arrive by bus (board in the center of Vyshny Volochyok (near the Shopping Arcade)).

Museums
The Milyukov Estate Museum and Cultural Complex invites you to visit its exhibition dedicated to the history of the estate itself and the lives of its inhabitants, the Milyukov noble family. The Museum and Cultural Complex hosts exhibitions of paintings, costumes, and other items. Plein air painting sessions and painting workshops for children and adults are held on the estate grounds, with the participation of members of the Union of Artists of Russia. The painting workshops are part of the "Venetian Region - A Place Where You Want to Create" project, supported by the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives. Tours of the estate are also available.
The Milyukov Estate Museum and Cultural Complex is a finalist for the Russian Event Awards 2023, an international award in event tourism.
The Museum and Cultural Complex annually hosts the "One Day in a Russian Estate" festival, one of the most vibrant and unforgettable celebrations in the Vyshnevolotsk Urban District.

Event Calendar
"One Day in a Russian Estate" Festival

Useful Links
"One Day in a Russian Estate" Event Group
https://vk.com/milyukov_estate
"Milyukov Estate Museum and Cultural Complex" Group
https://vk.com/club203317371
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