Smolensk flax

The cultivation of flax, its processing, weaving on the Smolensk land people have been engaged since time immemorial.

Once spinned by hand, then on self-steering machines, now on powerful machine tools. It was quite natural to create a department of the Smolensk flax museum-reserve (opened on December 25, 1980), which became the first flax museum in Russia.

Richly and vividly presented here is the history of the development of flax farming in the Smolensk region. This unique exposition is called the anthem "Northern silk". It included arable tools, genuine tools of cultivation and processing of flax, a rich collection of Smolensk costume with belts and headdresses - "Andaraki", "sayana", "forty-coloured", embroidery, typing, lace, revealing the colorful world of folk art.

Visitors to the museum have the opportunity to acquire the skills of weaving belts on “leaks” and “thighs”, make a doll with their own hands in national costume, take part in ritual holidays.

Currently, the museum "Smolensk flax" is located in the Nikolskaya tower of the Smolensk fortress wall.