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).
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.
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.
To visit, you'll typically first travel to Oryol (the nearest major
city), then continue to the park.
Getting to Oryol from Moscow
By Train: Trains depart from Moscow's Kursky Railway Station (Moskva
Kurskaia) to Oryol (Orel) station up to 5 times daily. The journey takes
around 3 hours 55 minutes to 4.5 hours, with tickets costing
approximately ₽1,800–2,600. Options include premium express trains for
comfort.
By Bus: Buses run from various Moscow stations to Oryol,
often the cheapest option but slower (typically 5-6 hours). Check
schedules and compare prices on platforms like CheckMyBus.
By Plane:
Direct flights are available from Moscow airports (such as Vnukovo or
others) to Oryol Airport (OEL). Flight times are short (under 1 hour),
but availability varies—search via Skyscanner for current options and
no-added-fee bookings.
By Car: Drive south via the M2 highway (Crimea
Highway) for about 4 hours (326 km). The route is straightforward, but
factor in traffic and tolls.
From Oryol to the Park
Once in
Oryol, you can reach the park via car or public transport. The park
entrance is near Zhudre settlement, and distances within the park can be
long, so consider renting a car or bike upon arrival for exploration.
By Car: From Oryol, head northwest along Naugorskoye Chaussee toward
Znamenskoye (about 40 km). A few kilometers before Znamenskoye, turn
left following park signs. Continue past Lgov village into the pine
forest area of the park. The total drive is around 75 km on a good
two-lane road that winds through fields. An alternative route via
Khotynets is longer (about 110 km).
By Public Transport:
Take a
bus from Oryol bus station to Khotynets (departs 3 times daily), then
transfer to a bus to Zhudre settlement (also 3 times daily).
Alternatively, take a train from Oryol railway station toward Bryansk (4
times daily), get off at Khotynets, then bus to Zhudre (3 times daily).
Tips
Always check current train/bus timetables in advance, as
schedules can change—use apps like Russian Railways or local transport
sites.
No major international airport directly serves the park; Oryol
Airport handles limited domestic flights.
Inside the park, watch for
wildlife like hedgehogs on roads, and plan for walking or cycling due to
spread-out attractions like lakes and eco-paths.
For accommodations
or excursions, contact the park administration via the official Oryol
tourism site.
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.
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.
Environmental and Pre-Park History
The region
encompassing Orlovskoye Polesye National Park, located in the Oryol
Oblast of Russia about 85 km northwest of the city of Oryol, has a rich
environmental history shaped by both natural processes and human
activity over millennia. Situated in the Central Russian Upland within
the Upper Oka River basin, the area represents a unique transition zone
between southern taiga forests and forest-steppe ecosystems.
Paleoecological studies, particularly from sediment cores in Lake
Chashchinskoye within the park, reveal vegetation dynamics over the last
4,000 years. During this Late Holocene period, woodland coverage
fluctuated modestly between 38% and 52%, but the structure of forests
underwent significant changes primarily due to anthropogenic influences
rather than climatic shifts.
Prior to around 1,500 calibrated years
before present (cal. yr BP, roughly corresponding to 500 CE), the
landscape featured birch-pine forests alongside mixed temperate
deciduous woodlands dominated by oak, elm, ash, and lime trees, with
Scots pine and a dense shrub understory of hazel and alder. This era
reflected a relatively stable forest-steppe ecotone, with minimal human
disruption allowing for diverse broadleaved species to thrive. However,
starting around 1,500 cal. yr BP, increased agricultural colonization by
Slavic populations led to widespread deforestation through tree cutting,
burning, and farming practices. These activities reduced the prevalence
of broadleaved trees, promoting the expansion of secondary
birch-dominated forests. While climate variations influenced the broader
ecotone, human impact was the dominant force driving vegetation shifts,
resulting in a more open, anthropogenically modified landscape by the
medieval period.
The area's prehistoric roots trace back further to
the last glacial epoch (Valdai glaciation, approximately 25,000–10,000
years ago), when vast Eurasian plains supported megafauna such as steppe
bison (ancestors of modern European bison), woolly mammoths,
rhinoceroses, cave bears, and saber-toothed cats. Remnants of this
ancient ecosystem persist in the park's flora and fauna, making it a
living archive of Ice Age biodiversity.
Cultural and Historical
Context
Culturally, Orlovskoye Polesye is steeped in Russian folklore
and literary heritage. The region is linked to ancient legends,
including tales from Russian epics about the hero Ilya Muromets and the
villainous Solovey-Razboynik (Nightingale the Robber). According to
myth, Solovey-Razboynik ambushed travelers from nine ancient oaks in the
southwestern part of the area, robbing and destroying sites like the
Odrinsky Monastery before being defeated by Ilya Muromets. This legend
inspired the renaming of the "Devjat Dubov" (Nine Oaks) substation to
"Odrinskaya" to honor the monks. The park also preserves historical
sites, such as the Holy Trinity Church in Lgov, constructed in 1765,
which serves as one of the oldest temples in the Oryol region and hosts
annual Trinity Round dances, a major cultural event. Nearby, the Sacred
Spring emerges from white "boiling" sands, believed to have healing
properties, with an adjacent Orthodox Chapel where visitors can bathe in
its cold waters.
The area gained literary prominence through the
works of the renowned Russian writer Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev
(1818–1883), who drew inspiration from its landscapes during his hunts
along the marshy Vytebet and Shkovka rivers. Turgenev's "Notes of a
Hunter" features characters and settings from Polesye, while his short
novel "The Trip to Polesie" vividly describes the bend of the Rosata
River amid vast ancient forests resembling a "high sea." He also
authored practical hunting guides like "Fifty Drawbacks of a Gun Hunter
and Fifty Drawbacks of a Gun Dog." The Turgenev Polesie Museum in
Ilyinskoye village showcases late 19th-century Oryol peasant artifacts,
including household items, utensils, and clothing, allowing visitors to
experience cultural traditions like tasting viburnum jam. Remote
sections of the park feature mystical elements, such as the white
Nymphaea (water lily), surrounded by folklore about mermaids and ancient
myths.
Establishment of the National Park
Orlovskoye Polesye
National Park was officially established on January 9, 1994, by Decree
No. 6 of the Russian Government, uniting the largest forest massif in
the Oryol region to protect its unique natural and cultural landscapes.
Spanning approximately 77,745 hectares (about 360 km²) across the
Znamensky and Khotynetsky districts, the park was created to preserve
the biodiversity of southern Russian taiga, including deciduous and
coniferous woods interspersed with forest-steppes, streams, lakes, and
peat bogs—many formed in old peat extraction sites. Its primary goals
included safeguarding traditional land uses, promoting recreational
activities, and advancing ecological education. The park's designation
addressed the need to restore and protect Central Russia's unique
natural complexes, blending taiga species (like wood grouse, hazel
grouse, and lynxes) with steppe inhabitants (such as polecats,
partridges, and marmots), alongside mammals like red deer, elks, wild
boars, beavers, and otters.
Post-Establishment Developments and
Conservation Efforts
Following its founding, the park quickly became
a hub for conservation initiatives. In 1996, 20 individuals of the
endangered Russian desman (a semi-aquatic mole-like mammal) were
reintroduced to the Vytebet River basin as part of a preservation
program. That same year marked the beginning of a landmark effort to
establish a free-roaming population of European bison (wisents), making
Orlovskoye Polesye the central site for this species' recovery in
Central Russia. The initial group included animals sourced from Russia,
Sweden, Holland, Germany, and other European countries, effectively
concentrating the global genetic diversity of wisents into one
population for the first time. This was integrated into the "Wisent Shoe
Project," a collaborative program involving multiple protected areas,
including Ugra National Park, Smolenskoye Pooserye National Park,
Bryansky Les Nature Reserve, and Kaluzhskiye Zaseki Nature Reserve, with
expertise from the Prioksko-Terrasny Zapovednik's Main Wisent Breeding
Center.
The bison population has since grown significantly, forming
the Orel-Kaluga-Bryansk group with over 500 individuals exhibiting
stable growth, including annual births. This success aligns with
Russia's broader "Program of Wisent Saving," which enhanced
inter-reserve cooperation. In 2016–2017, the Russian Geographical
Society funded a documentary, "Russian Wisents: Past, Present and
Future," filmed largely in the park to raise awareness about human-bison
relations and conservation. The park now protects over 940 plant species
(23 listed in the Red Book of endangered species) and 285 vertebrate
species (89 in the Red Book), including endemic Russian muskrats under
ongoing preservation.
Infrastructure development has transformed
the park into a modern ecotourism destination, with over 80 picnic
spots, ecotrails (e.g., "Kudeyar Trails" through lichen-covered forests,
"Storeroom of the Sun" exploring swamps, and "Echo of the War" at a WWII
command post), hotels, and a zoo in Zhudersky village. Free entry,
guided tours, and cultural events continue to promote its dual role in
preservation and education.
Orlovskoye Polesye National Park, established in 1994, is a protected area in central Russia dedicated to preserving the natural and cultural landscapes of the region. It is renowned for its diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and grasslands, and serves as a key site for biodiversity conservation, notably the reintroduction of European bison. The park's geography reflects a transition zone between taiga and forest-steppe environments, shaped by its position in the Mid-Russian Uplands.
The park is located in Oryol Oblast, approximately 85 km northwest of the city of Oryol. It straddles the Znamensky and Khotynetsky districts and borders Kaluga Oblast to the north and Bryansk Oblast to the west. Its total area is 77,745 hectares (about 777 square kilometers), making it the largest forested expanse in Oryol Oblast. This size encompasses a mix of protected zones, including core conservation areas, buffer zones, and areas for recreational use.
The park lies in the middle of the Central Russian Upland (also known as the Srednerusskaya Highland), within the catchment basin of the Upper Oka River. The terrain is characterized by a high hilly valley dissected by numerous ravines and gullies, with elevations ranging from 220 to 250 meters above sea level. This undulating landscape creates a mosaic of microhabitats, from elevated plateaus to low-lying depressions that support wetlands. The geology is influenced by glacial and post-glacial processes, resulting in a varied relief that includes moraine hills and erosional features typical of the Mid-Russian Uplands.
The park spans two natural climate zones, reflecting its position in a transitional area between southern taiga and northern forest-steppe. It experiences a moderate continental climate with distinct seasons: warm summers (average July temperature around +18°C), moderately cold winters (average January temperature around -10°C), and annual precipitation between 490 and 590 mm, mostly falling as rain in summer and snow in winter. This climate supports diverse vegetation but also leads to seasonal variations in hydrology, with potential for spring floods and summer droughts in lower areas.
Hydrologically, the park is part of the Vytebet River basin, a tributary of the Zhizdra River, which ultimately flows into the Upper Oka River. The area features extensive wetlands, including peat bogs, muskegs, and numerous small lakes and streams. These water bodies are crucial for maintaining biodiversity, with low-lying areas along the Vytebet River supporting marshy ecosystems. The hydrology is influenced by the hilly terrain, leading to rapid runoff in ravines and groundwater recharge in depressions. Peatlands, in particular, act as natural sponges, regulating water flow and preventing erosion.
Soils in the park vary with the terrain and vegetation. In forested upland areas, gray forest soils and podzols predominate, formed under mixed woodlands with moderate fertility and good drainage. Lower wetlands and peat bogs feature hydromorphic soils, rich in organic matter but often acidic and waterlogged. In grassland and steppe-like zones, chernozems (black earth soils) occur, offering high fertility due to historical grass cover and humus accumulation. These soil types support the park's ecological diversity but are sensitive to human impacts like deforestation or drainage.
Vegetation is a highlight of the park's geography, featuring mixed forests that cover about 33,000 hectares—the largest forest massif in Oryol Oblast. The forests include pine and spruce stands, coniferous-broadleaved mixtures, and broadleaved woodlands dominated by linden (lime), with admixtures of Norway maple, oak, and ash. Black alder forests thrive in wetter areas, while left-bank zones along the Vytebet host muskegs with cranberry, marking the southern limit of such habitats. Grasslands dotted with wildflowers and patches of steppe vegetation add to the diversity, creating a forest-steppe ecotone. Historical pollen records indicate that during the Late Holocene (last 2,500 years), the area shifted from birch-pine dominance to mixed temperate deciduous forests with oak, elm, ash, lime, Scots pine, and understories of hazel and alder, influenced by climate fluctuations and human activity. Protected species, such as orchids (e.g., Dactylorhiza), underscore the park's botanical richness.
The park incorporates elements of southern taiga, with thick forests providing habitat for wildlife like European bison (over 500 individuals in a breeding program). Sacred springs, open-air zoos, and cultural sites blend with natural features, enhancing its appeal. Human impacts, including historical agriculture and forestry, have shaped the landscape, but conservation efforts focus on restoring natural dynamics. The park's geography also supports recreational activities like hiking, with trails navigating its ravines, forests, and meadows.