20 kilometers from the Prokhorovsky field, at the source of the Psel river, is the Ethnographic village Kostroma. It is located at the foot of the chalk slope. Many springs flows down on the slope and form Psel river. That is why this ethnographic village sometimes is also called “Springs”.
A visit of the Spring Park can be combined with a visit to the Memorial on Prokhorovskoe field. They are located close to each other. In the 19th century, the noble estate of Konstantin Pitra was located here. There was a mill on the site of the source of the Psel river, but now nothing remains of this estate.
Above the source of the Psel river, on the site of the old mill, there is now a chapel of the Archangel Michael, as well as a font where everyone can plunge into the icy consecrated water. There are Hiking trails around the chapel, as well as in the surrounding area on the chalk mountain, where you can walk and enjoy the scenic views.
The Kostroma ethnographic village is located on the shore of lake with the same name - Kostroma. It consists of several traditional peasant houses. In every house, you can see exhibits dedicated to some village craft. In the house «World of childhood» you can see how rag dolls were made, the farmstead "Locks and keys" is dedicated to blacksmithing skills. There is a farmstead "Needlework", "the Brewing and winemaking", "Bakery", "Traditional Russian cuisine".
Unlike other regions of Russia, where peasant houses are made of wood, here you can see the influence of Ukrainian traditions. The houses of the Kostroma village are made of mud huts with thatched roofs. Their walls were built of wooden frames, like half-timbered houses in Europe. The gaps between the frame were filled with brushwood, straw or reeds, and then covered with clay.
