"Meshchera: from page to map": participants in "Geography Lessons" followed in the footsteps of Konstantin Paustovsky
The National Centre RUSSIA branch in the Ryazan Region, which is scheduled to open in 2026, together with the Ryazan Multidisciplinary Social Rehabilitation Centre "Sosnovy Bor", organised an environmental initiative as part of the "Geography Lessons" project. More than 60 guests learned about the role of local nature in Russian literature.
At the open-air lecture titled "Meshchera: from page to map. In the footsteps of Konstantin Paustovsky", participants were invited to immerse themselves in the history of the author's journeys through the untouched areas of the Ryazan region. Acquaintance with works inspired by the picturesque landscapes of the Meshchera land continued with a walk along the "literary route" of the Soviet writer, known today among residents of Ryazan as the Paustovsky's Trail.
Guests immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the writer's works, comparing the picturesque locations with descriptions found in the writings of Konstantin Paustovsky. Participants in the excursion were also introduced to art installations located along the route and dedicated to the writer and the nature of Meshchera.
The programme also included a collective environmental clean-up effort: participants helped restore a section of the ecological trail and contributed to preserving the natural legacy of the Ryazan region.
"Geography Lessons" is a large-scale project of the National Centre RUSSIA. It is dedicated to the history of the country's spatial development, geographical discoveries and cartography. The project introduces participants to the history of Russia, its peoples and the cultural diversity of its regions.
Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, has been elected Deputy Chair of the Public Council under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
