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Wooden Animal Sculptor. Photo By Marc Pascual –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Les-Chudodey Museum

The Les-Chudodey Museum is also known as the Forest Wonder Museum. It is located in Kostroma, Russia, in a picturesque building that depicts creative art. The structure is one of its kind displaying modern marvels of human creativity through story-telling.

The museum is a key monument in the city owing to its unique architectural design. It is housed in a classical country mansion that is made of wood, with a roof mimicking 17^th and 18^th-century architecture. It is within a tourist area with the museums of Kostroma Linen Manufactory and Museum of Flax and Bark forming part of its neighbourhood.  

The town’s history and location have guided the nature of the museum’s fairy tales and folklore. The wealth of art contained within the walls of its galleries makes it a popular tourist destination and a great place to bring children.

1. The Les-Chudodey Museum Was Opened  By A Noble Of The Grand Duke Paul

Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich. Photo By Sergey Lvovich Levitsky –

The Les-Chudodey Museum was officially opened in 2013 by Natalya Pavlovna Zabavina who is a native of the town of Kostroma. She is a Russian aristocrat born of nobility to a Grand Duke by the name of Paul Alexandrovich.

The museum is aimed at providing an interactive experience for its visitors. It exhibits the rich Russian culture of legends, myths, folklore, and fairy tales that have been rife within Russian traditional practices. It has gained popularity over time among the local community members who have been keen on rediscovering their culture and passion for art.

2. Its Creator Also Built The Museum-Estate Of Flax And Bark

Natayla Pavlovna Zabavina is a renowned art collector and critic who has been bold about her passion for creativity and the preservation of culture and traditions through art. Upon building the Museum-Estate Flax and Bark, it was met by positive critical acclaim amidst rising popularity among members of the general public within the town.

This enhanced the owner’s passion for art in addition to fueling her determination to establish similar ventures to enhance talent and celebrate art and culture.   

3. The Les-Chudodey Museum Is An Appreciation Of Russian History

Traditional Russian Mermaid in Carving. Photo ByOlga-lisenkova –

Unlike most museums in the region, the Les-Chudodey Museum is dedicated to the rich historic culture of Russian fairy tales, beliefs, and legends. It extensively features molds and sculptures of famous heroes and characters from ancient stories.

In a unique display of art and talent, the museum is dedicated to telling the history of Russian folklore and encouraging the appreciation of the rich heritage that the culture offers to the current generation.

4. The Museum Is Home To Unique Wooden And Metal Sculptures

Wooden Animal Sculptor. Photo By Marc Pascual –

The practical nature of the art displayed in the museum is unique to an art museum of its status. The museum features wooden sculptures of bears and other characters from folklore.

The metal sculptures in the museum’s halls create a charm for the visitors as they acquire familiarity with the forest’s inhabitants, folklore, and legends heroes.

5. The Les-Chudodey Museum Has Been A Major Driver To Public Education Of Russian History

The Les-Chudodey Museum has hosted several workshops and seminars. These workshops aim at raising awareness on the importance of art and cultural preservation among members of the general public.

The museum has been part of the concerted efforts to ensure that the public makes conscious decisions about learning their history and culture. This has also been deemed important for reinforcing good morals through storytelling.

6. The Les-Chudodey Museum Offers Lessons On Traditional Arts And Crafts

Basket Maker. Photo By cocoparisienne –

The museum provides guided lessons that are devoted to equipping the members of the public with indispensable art and craft skills. This ensures their full participation in the creative process.

The Les-Chudodey Museum teaches children and adults basic art and craft skills that are related to processing wood and other natural materials. These mediums were what were popularly used to create art pieces in the museum.

 The museum also offers public insightful classes on basket weaving, painting, and wood carving.            

7. It Features A Hall Dedicated To Forest Treasures And Ancient Crafts

The first hall in the museum provides a reflection on the purported magical properties possessed by the trees. Numerous wood carvings in addition to artistic forgings provide character and personality to the museum as they represent the unique creations of the earth.

The hall also showcases the healing properties of trees and expounds on their role in the well-being of the whole of humanity.

8. The Les-Chudodey Museum Has Characters of Slavic Myths Created By The Kostroma Blacksmiths

Blacksmith at Work. Photo By Schulte –

Throughout history, the Kostroma blacksmiths passed down the history of slavic myths and legends from one generation to the other. The characters held significant roles in the Russian blacksmith society that lived in the city this being demonstrated through the artifacts in the museum.

The characters from the slavic myths are also depicted through metal sculptures that are designed to mimic small creatures and insects. These were created by skilled Kostroma blacksmiths who had perfected their craft over the years.

9. The Museum Contains ‘The World Of Forest Fairy Tales’ Hall 

The museum is home to the World of Forest  Fairy Tales hall. The hall has intertwined intricate branches that detail actual forest life and characters from forest-based tales. This is critical to the history of Kostroma given that it is surrounded by forests and the fairy tales in the region are mostly based on forest life and characters.

10. The  Les-Chudodey Museum is A Privately Owner Museum

The Les-Chudodey Museum maintains private ownership owing to the private nature of its acquisition and its development. It sources its collections from private artists and maintains ownership of all pieces that are displayed in its galleries.

The museum is open to members of the public at a fee. It charges both individuals and children who intend to visit its galleries and exhibitions. It maintains a strict non-discriminatory policy for potential visitors.