Orlovskoye Polesye National Park, Russia

Transportation

Hotels, motels and where to sleep

 

Description of Orlovskoye Polesye National Park

The Orlovskoye Polesye is a national park in the north-west of the Oryol Oblast of Russia in the territory of the Znamensky and Hotynetsky districts, in the southern part of the Oryol-Kaluga Polesie. It was formed on January 9, 1994 on the initiative of E. S. Stroev. The total area of the park is 77,745 ha. The park has two hotel complexes, a zoo-food complex, and an arboretum. The pride of the park is a herd of European bison (about 200 heads).

 

History

Orlovskoye Polesye National Park was founded in 1994 to preserve plants and animals of a unique southern Russian taiga.

 

Landscape

The area of the park covers about 360 km2 of forest and steppes, many streams cross the forests and there are few dozen lakes, many of them are located at the old peateries and amidst peat bogs.

Flora and fauna
Flora Deciduous and coniferous woods alternate with forest-steppes. There are pines, common spruce, oaks, birches, linden, aspen, maples, ash trees and black alder.
Fauna Typical taiga birds (wood grouse, hazel grouse, black woodpecker) are neighbouring steppe birds & animals like steppe polecats, partridges, steppe marmots and quails. Red deer, elks, lynxes, roes, wild boars, wisents populate the deep forests. Beavers, otters, minks, Russian muskrats and musquashes live on the river banks. Wisents have been brought to the park since 1996, now they are 170 head; endemic Russian muskrats are under preservation programme.

 

Travel Destinations in Orlovskoye Polesye National Park

Sacred Spring and the Orthodox Chapel nearby. The spring comes out of white 'boiling' sands; you may take a cold bath few metres below. The water is believed to be sacred and curing.
The Zoo complex at the open air
Ostrich Farm, if you have never seen an ostrich
Holy Trinity Church in Lgov. The church was built in 1765.
Lakes are very calm and picturesque! The water is often transparent black colour, because some lakes are located at the old peateries.

 


Transportation

How to get there
By car
From Orel drive along the Naugorskoye highway towards Znamenskoye (about 40 km to the north-west), before reaching Znamenskoye, turn left following the sign to Orlovskoye Polesye and then follow the same signs all the time. You will pass the village of Lgov, and then you will enter the pine forest - this is, in fact, National Park Orlovskoye Polesye. The total distance is about 75 km. The road is two-row, in good condition, winds between the buckwheat fields. An alternative road through Khotynets, but it is longer - about 110 km.

By bus
At the bus station in Orel, take the bus to Khotyntsa (3 times a day), in Khotyntsa take a bus to Zhudra (3 times a day). Find out the schedule in advance!

By train
From Orel, take the Orel – Bryansk train (4 times a day), get off at Hotynets, then take the bus to Zhudra (3 times a day). Find out the schedule in advance!

 

Hotels, motels and where to sleep

There are two small hotels located in the park, camping is also allowed:

Dom Lesnika, ☎ +7 4862-73-59-58, +7 4862-48-75-15, e-mail: domlesnika@mail.ru. Check-in: Noon. from US$85 double room per night, FB +US$37 per day; Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard. edit Located in the forest in 3 km from the Central Lake. Russian billiards, sauna, bike, ski rental, horse riding, daily tours and eco trekking.
Orlovskoye Polesye, ☎ +7 920-080-67-77, +7 920-811-77-71. from US$65 double room per night. Hotel & Restaurant located on the bank of the Central Lake and surrounded by deep forests. Boat & bike rental.

 

Contributions and passes

Entry and entry is free.

The entrance to the pet food complex according to the condition for 2015: an adult ticket - 200 rubles, a child’s ticket - 100 rubles, children under 3 years old - free of charge.