These days there are many opportunities to visit any country in the world and see what your heart desires. And few people think that there are a great many interesting places on the territory of our country, visiting which will not only give pleasure, but also allow you to better know our history.
Probably, one of such places is the unique museum-reserve "Old Sarepta", located in the Krasnoarmeisky district of Volgograd. This unique open-air museum complex consists of old stone houses that have preserved authentic household items. In the center of the village, no less ancient church has been preserved, services in which are held to this day.
History of Sarepta
The museum-reserve "Old Sarepta" was created in Volgograd on the basis of an ancient settlement of Protestant Germans (Gernguters) who moved to Russia indistant 1765. This resettlement took place in response to the invitation of foreign colonists by Empress Catherine II with the aim of settling undeveloped lands. The village was named Sarepta in honor of the city mentioned in the Old Testament.
In addition to agriculture and industrial development, the settlers were engaged in missionary activities, trying to convert the Kalmyks to Christianity. The locals, who have been practicing Buddhism for a long time, did not really want to change their faith. Therefore, the settlement existed for a little over 120 years and was abolished by the community management.
Some of the colonists returned to their homeland, but many wanted to stay and continued to live and work in Sarepta. Over time, they joined the Russian Lutheran Church.
After the revolution, all lands and enterprises were nationalized, and the village practically ceased to exist. The few remaining population of Sarepta, who were ethnic Germans, were expelled during the Great Patriotic War, and the village finally fell into disrepair.
Creating a museum
The idea of creating the Old Sarepta museum on the basis of an old abandoned settlement appeared in the 90s of the last century. The goal was to preserve the architectural heritage of the XVIII-XIX centuries and restore the unique village.
The first inhabitants of Sarepta were deeply religious people, and this was reflected even in the layout of the settlement. The village was planned in the form of a cross, from the center, where the church was located, the houses were built up along four perpendicular lines. Allthe territory of the village and even the local cemetery were decorated in the form of a blooming garden of Eden. The residents believed they were creating heaven on earth.
It was to preserve this singularity that the museum "Old Sarepta" was founded in Volgograd. At the moment, most of the buildings have been restored, thanks to the efforts of local residents, the museum's exposition has been replenished with many antiques, archaeological finds and even banknotes of those times.
Walk around the village
Entrance to the territory of the museum "Old Sarepta" and inspection of all buildings is absolutely free. Although it is much more interesting to join an excursion for a nominal fee and learn many interesting facts about the life of settlers and local Kalmyk residents.
The tour lasts for several hours, during which time you can see the restored buildings, visit the church (there are no special requirements for appearance here, but it is better to respect the feelings of the parishioners) and the unusual sculpture "Equilibrio" installed on Freedom Square (it used to be was called Church).
If you have time, you should go to the exhibition hall (there was a family shop "Goldbach and sons" in this building). Now there is a wine cellar in the huge cellars, and temporary thematic exhibitions are held in the building itself. Here you can also buy souvenirs to remember the trip.
"Balance" in the Square
On some photos of the museum "Old Sarepta" you can see a strangea stele made of deliberately unworked blocks of light granite. This is a gift from the residents of Cologne, Volgograd's sister city. This monument is called "Equilibrio" ("Balance") and is a component of a significant sculptural composition.
German sculptor Rolf Schaffner planned to symbolically unite five cities in five different countries. The center of the composition is located in Cologne, another sculpture is located in Norway (the city of Trondheim). Two more are installed in the city of Santalja in Spain and in Cork (Iceland). The last element was placed in the allotted place after the death of the sculptor.
The grandeur of the idea is that if you connect the obelisks on the map with imaginary lines, you get a huge cross.
Wonderful music in the old church
The building of the church, built in 1772, was a peculiar center of the village. The building was located quite symbolically, behind the church there was a village cemetery, and two separate entrances to the building began from Church Square. In those days, morality was strictly followed, and inside the church was divided into two halves: male and female.
Things are much simpler these days, parishioners attend services together. It is surprising that in this small church there is a real organ, and it is completely mechanical, with a live sound. The snow-white openwork instrument, which has become one of the attractions of the Old Sarepta Museum, was donated by the residents of the German city of Wächtersbach.
When planning a visit to this iconic building, you need toPlease note that there are no guided tours during the service. You can take pictures of the decoration of the church and the famous organ, but the photos are conditionally paid - one frame costs 10 rubles. The collected money is intended for rather expensive maintenance of the organ.
History of the industry of the settlement
During the tour, amazing things are revealed related to the development of the village in the distant 18th century. For example, the settlers discovered a spring and built the first water pipe in the Volga region from it, using home-made ceramic pipes.
In 1898, its own bakery began its work here, the bread from which was in demand outside the settlement. Here they began to produce mustard, which was then sold in the capital of the empire.
Surprisingly, one of the first mineral water and therapeutic mud resorts was opened near Sarepta. This was made possible by the amazing development of Sarepta medicine.
In a low building of the distillery, built next to the inn, many different drinks were produced: several varieties of amazingly pure vodka, German schnapps, various liquors. The famous Sarepta balsam was known far abroad for its medicinal properties.
Tours around the old village
Despite the fact that far from all the buildings have been restored and desolation reigns somewhere, visiting the museum will leave interesting impressions.
Here you can walk alongold buildings, look at the preserved elements of the life of the settlers. You can listen to an interesting story about the development of winemaking in Sarepta, look at the tools of winemakers and try real Sarepta wine in a huge old cellar.
You can also take part in a master class on making real mustard oil, which was the pride of local industrialists. After trying to make mustard seed oil using an old-fashioned press, a jar of already prepared oil will be a nice gift.
And, of course, take a photo in the Staraya Sarepta Museum-Reserve in Volgograd against the backdrop of the snow-white turret of an old church.
