Nikolskaya Tower and an 18th-Century Barn Become New Gems on the Tourism Map of Russia’s Komi Region

Komi Saltwork's History

The Seregovo saltworks, located on the outskirts of the village of Seregovo on the banks of the Vym River, was founded in the 16th century. Rich salt deposits in the area and convenient river routes made it possible to quickly establish distribution channels, turning the enterprise into one of the most successful industrial projects of its era. At its peak in the 17th century, the plant produced up to 300 poods of salt per year and employed more than 200 workers. In 1918, the facility was nationalized, production was modernized, and a new industrial building was constructed. The plant continued operating successfully until 2001, when it went bankrupt. The remaining buildings, which hold significant historical and cultural value, gradually fell into disrepair.

Today, specialists are working to preserve and, where possible, reconstruct the lost elements of the site. To raise public awareness, a dedicated exhibition was launched, showcasing for the first time architectural drawings of the barn and plans for an open-air museum that was originally proposed in 1987–1988 for the village of Seregovo.

A Long-Standing Dream of an Open-Air Museum

The virtual tour of the saltworks complex serves as a digital extension of the museum exhibition, allowing users to remotely “visit” buildings reconstructed in a digital environment. The experience is available through the museum’s online platform and offers not just isolated structures, but panoramic views of the village, the river, and the entire industrial ensemble from multiple perspectives.

Plans to create an open-air museum on the site date back to 1987, but the project never moved beyond the planning stage. By now, most of the original buildings have been lost. The two surviving structures are the barn and the Nikolskaya brine-lifting tower, whose sodium chloride brine once supplied the Seregovo health resort. Historical photographs made it possible to digitally recreate how these buildings appeared during their operational years. 

Today, very little remains in Seregovo – a 19th-century barn and the Nikolskaya brine-lifting tower, which was renamed Oktyabrskaya during the Soviet period. Everything else has been lost. As late as 2003, records still documented industrial salt extraction. The official closure date of the Seregovo saltworks is December 28, 2004. This exhibition was created in part to encourage public discussion about whether this heritage should be preserved, and how that can be done

Natalia Khozyainova

Head of Cultural and Educational Programs, National Museum of the Komi Republic

Immersive Experience With Sound Design

The project relies on augmented reality technologies. Using 11 archival photographs from the 1980s, the late-19th-century tower and the 18th-century barn were digitally embedded into the present-day landscape. The Nikolskaya brine-lifting tower serves as the main navigational reference point for the tour. The creators focused not only on visuals but also on audio. Visitors can hear wind and natural ambient sounds, creating the impression of standing on the riverbank and exploring the historic structures in person.

The technical implementation was led by Nikita Overin. Historical consulting was provided by Sergei Pavlyushin, deputy head of the Komi Republic’s cultural heritage protection authority. The project was curated by Natalia Khozyainova, head of cultural and educational programs at the National Museum of the Komi Republic.

Expanding Access to Local Cultural Heritage

Virtual tours of regional landmarks are becoming a growing trend in Russia. They support tourism development, interregional cooperation, and cultural diplomacy, while also stimulating demand for specialized IT services that require both technical expertise and cultural awareness.

The exhibition and virtual tour dedicated to the Seregovo saltworks help preserve historical memory and expand access to the Komi Republic’s local heritage. Even many residents of the region are unaware of the site’s historical significance. The virtual format allows both locals and visitors to explore a lost industrial complex, contributing to regional identity and public engagement with local history.

The project aligns with the broader trend of digitizing cultural heritage and serves as a model for similar regional initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting architecturally and industrially significant sites.