The Sad Beauty of Russia's Abandoned Villages
Russia’s big cities may appear to be flourishing, filled with shops, restaurants, recently built apartment buildings, malls and entertainment venues. But many if not most of Russia’s villages are not enjoying the same economic boom. Infrastructure is in poor shape, job opportunities are scant, schools are closed as families move to larger towns and cities, and churches that once welcomed several villages are now abandoned and crumbling.
Tver oblast is right next to Moscow. It is considered a top spot for vacations with several beautiful lakes, including Lake Seliger, famously the site of a Kremlin-sponsored youth camp, and the Valdai hills where three enormous rivers have their sources: the Volga, the Dnipro (called Dnieper in Russia) and the Daugava (called the Western Dvina in Russia).
The most populous cities in the region are Tver, Torzhok, Kimri and Rzhev, and the region has some industry. But it ranks in the lower half of economic development in Russia, in 39th place out of 83 federal subjects.
Tver oblast is right next to Moscow. It is considered a top spot for vacations with several beautiful lakes, including Lake Seliger, famously the site of a Kremlin-sponsored youth camp, and the Valdai hills where three enormous rivers have their sources: the Volga, the Dnipro (called Dnieper in Russia) and the Daugava (called the Western Dvina in Russia).
The most populous cities in the region are Tver, Torzhok, Kimri and Rzhev, and the region has some industry. But it ranks in the lower half of economic development in Russia, in 39th place out of 83 federal subjects.
Eski village.
A village store.
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Kor-Koshevo village.
A house that must have once been the pride of the street, beautiful "nalichniki" (carved window surrounds) and a second-floor balcony.
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Kor-Koshevo village. .
But a cat has good mouse hunting in this abandoned home
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Despite intact decorative carving and bright paint, this house also appears abandoned.
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Biology classroom in an abandoned school in the Tver region.
A small village school that was heated by stoves but provided an education at the same level as in major cities.
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Biology classroom in an abandoned school in the Tver region.
Children came from several villages nearby by buses, bikes, car and on foot.
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Chemistry classroom in an abandoned school in the Tver region.
The school was closed when there were only a few children in the district of school age.
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Church of Michael the Archangel (1819), Sukhodol village.
A bell tower that once called people to church.
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Church of Michael the Archangel, Sukhodol village.
The interior has been stripped of all but the remnants of frescos.
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Korovkino village.
No power lines mean that these houses have to generate their own heat and electricity.
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Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Beloye village.
No roads lead to this church today.
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The surviving domes of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God of Tikhvin in the village of Sinevo-Dubrovo.
The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is believed to have been created by the Apostle Luke and appeared miraculously near the Tikhvin River.
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Church of the Presentation of the Lord in the village of Kor-Koshevo.
The faded images in a fresco appear to still welcome worshippers.
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Road to Eski village.
The road may be narrow, but a snowplow has gone through.
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Church of the Holy Trinity in the Skirki village.
In 1859 the village had 205 inhabitants; in 2010 it had one.
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The flooded bell tower in Kalyazin.
The bell tower was built 1796—1800 as part of the Monastery of St. Nicholas. In 1939 Stalin ordered the monastery dismantled and the area flooded when a dam was built. The bell tower was used as a lighthouse. Now it holds occasional services.
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Сulture center in Kalyazin.
The sign calls people to vote in the presidential elections: "Together we are strong; vote for Russia."
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Untended graves.
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