Manor of the medieval Rushanin in Old Russa

The manor of the medieval Rushanin is an interesting museum, opened in 2014, 100 meters from the entrance to the Resort of Old Russa. In the 12th century, rich deposits of salt beds were found in Old Russa, which were available for industrial extraction. For several centuries, Old Russa remained one of the centers of salt production in the North-Western region. Old Russa became the balneological resort only in 1828. 

Museum-reconstruction the Manor of the Medieval Rushanin looks like a fortress, fenced with a wooden wall. Inside there are several wooden houses made of logs. All the passages between the houses are paved with decking. Such decking was used for urban improvement in the Middle Ages. 

From the entrance to the museum, you can go to the mansions. They are built on a high basement to keep the house warm. The family of a wealthy Rushanin (a resident of Old Russa) lived in them. Next to the mansions rises a three-story tower. Usually such towers were not heated because of their very large size. Next to the tower, there is a bathhouse, which was heated in black (without exhaust pipe), and in the farthest corner of the estate, there is a cattle yard.  

Of great interest are the forge and the saltworks. The exposition of the Medieval Rushanin Manor museum is dedicated to salt making, as well as the life of a medieval family. The first mention in the chronicle of Old Russa dates back to the middle of the 12th century. The first stone building in the city, the Transfiguration Cathedral, was built in 1193. With the development of industrial salt production, salt factories began to appear in the city, which were built by wealthy Rushanin.  

Salt was extracted in Old Russa using the technology of evaporation of vora (salt solution of Old Russa’s springs). In the Saltworks of the museum there is a hearth where Cern is installed. It is a large tray where the solution was evaporated. Since a high temperature is required to evaporate salt, heat exchanger began to appear later in Old Russa. The salt solution passed through the branches, turning into a concentrated brine, from which salt is easier to evaporate. 

In the mansions and in the tower there are the main expositions dedicated to the life of a rich medieval family. Here you can see a stove-heater, which was heated by huge stones, looms and linen shirts with northern ornaments. There are wooden dishes on the massive dining table.  

The Medieval Rushanin Manor Museum hosts master classes for children and adults, which allow you to try medieval folk crafts. Here you can also see objects of medieval life that were found during archaeological excavations in Old Russa.