Housewarming for “Smolensk flax” museum

Nikolskaya tower of the Smolensk fortress wall will house the museum now. Deputy Governor Olga Vasylieva attended the opening ceremony of the “Smolensk flax” museum.

The “Smolensk flax” museum is the first establishment of this kind in Russia. The exhibits tell us the story of the cultivation and processing of flax. The museum was opened 32 years ago and has been one of the most popular in the region ever since.

The exposition of “Smolensk flax” is now placed on the two floors of the Nikolskiy gate. An interior of a peasant’s izba (log hut), tools used to process and fabricate the linen, houseware, traditional Russian homespun items such as inwrought table-cloths, towels, icon cover cloths, drapes, gored bias-cut sarafan (folk dress), shirts, ponevas (traditional skirts), skirts, aprons as well as modern articles made by the Smolensk linen factory contribute to the atmosphere of a traditional Russian household.

There are five tours that will interest the young museum visitors: “The history of flax-growing in Smolensk region”, “Smolensk folk costume”, “How a shirt grew in a field”, “Family rituals”, “Magic thread ball”. Also, everyone can try themselves at weaving with an antique loom. Various exhibitions are held in the museum, as well as traditional celebrations where folk music bands play.