Nekrasov came to the Novgorodian land for the first time in the 1840s, and after the railway was built in 1851, he started visiting more often. A hunting enthusiast, Nekrasov stayed with his friends here and explored the region by wondering in its woods. Nekrasov bought a small house in Chudovskaya Luka and spent his summers there in 1871-1876. He used to talk to peasants to learn how they lived and worked and helped them improve their welfare.
In 1892, the poet’s sister, Anna Butkevich, opened an agricultural school on the estate, called after Nikolai Nekrasov. Today, it hosts an exhibition Nekrasov and the Novgorodian Land, as well as a 19th century schoolroom and an exhibition space.
