On January 18, 2025, the primary trade union organizations of the VSMU staff and students organized an unforgettable tourist and excursion trip to one of the oldest cities in Russia – Smolensk.
The excursionists visited the small village of Talashkino, where Repin, Korovin and Roerich worked at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. The participants of the trip walked along the picturesque alleys, enjoying the beauty of nature and the historical atmosphere. A visit to a school for peasant children allowed them to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the past and get acquainted with school items. A special impression was made by the fairy-tale house "Teremok" and the preserved mosaic "The Savior Not Made by Hands", as well as other items from the 19th - 20th centuries, which seemed to revive the pages of history.
The travelers took a sightseeing tour of Smolensk, admired its grandeur and rich cultural heritage; visited the Gromovaya Tower Museum, where a costumed tour took place, telling about the construction of one of the longest fortresses in the world and its defenders. And a real surprise was the opportunity to climb the fortification walls, from where a breathtaking view of the city and its surroundings opened up. Next the group visited the Smolensk Region during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 Museum, where they familiarized themselves with the photographs and documents from the first months of the war. Students and staff learned in detail about the events of the occupation period and the liberation of the Smolensk Region.The next item on the program was a visit to the Holy Dormition Cathedral, the main shrine of the city. Majestic and beautiful, it impressed everyone without exception with its architecture and atmosphere.
One of the places that made the deepest impression on the participants of the trip was the Katyn memorial complex. The memorial is located in the Katyn forest on the site of the tragic events of the 1930s and 1940s, the victims of which were citizens of the Soviet Union and Poland. Katyn is a symbol of martyrdom and doom of peoples before the monstrous power of totalitarianism.
This trip became a real journey through time, allowing them to touch the rich history and culture of Smolensk, and left all the participants with unforgettable impressions, to which they will return more than once.