Oshevensk - the most beautiful village in Russia

The village of Oshevensky Pogost (the official name is Pogost) is located 45 km north of Kargopol on the Churiega River. Once Oshevensk was a vast volost of the Kargopol district — 12 villages, two and a half thousand inhabitants. Currently, about fifty people live in the village of Pogost.

The main attraction of Oshevensk is considered to be the Holy Assumption Aleksandro-Oshevensky Male Monastery, founded in 1453 by St. Alexander Oshevensky. The monastery is located at the entrance to the village, in Soviet times it was devastated and abandoned, but today it is operating and is being restored.

 

Another center-piece of Oshevensky Pogost is a well-preserved quarter of traditional northern wooden buildings, the pearl of which is the Epiphany Church of 1787, built with an octagonal dome and a separate bell tower. One of the largest wooden churches in the vicinity of Kargopol is decorated with a painted wooden ceiling — «sky».

  
Tourists are also attracted here with old «black» saunas, master classes of working with old spinning wheels and baking classes of traditional pastries. Traditional wedding ceremonies still live in Oshevensky Pogost, for example, baking ceremonial cookies from salt dough, teterka — grey grouse. Edible amulet brings wealth to the newlyweds’ house.

No less interesting are the surroundings of Pogost — the chapel of St. George the Victorious and traditional cabins in the village of Niz, the Ilyinsky chapel and the disappearing river in the village of Bolshoy Khaluy.
  

In June 2016, Oshevensky Pogost was registered as the second member of the Association «The most beautiful villages and towns of Russia».

Members of the aAssociation «The Most Beautiful Villages of Russia» from the Arkhangelsk region:
— Kimzha (Mezensky district)
— Kiltsa (Mezensky district)
— Verkola (Pinezhsky district)
— Oshevensky Pogost (Kargopol district)