Tver Oblast

Background

Tver Oblast is a federal subject of Russia located in the western part of the country, with its administrative center in the city of Tver. It has been known under its current name since 1990; from 1935 to 1990 it was called Kalinin Oblast. According to the 2010 census, the oblast had a population of 1,353,392.

The region lies in an area of lakes and forested uplands, including Seliger and Brosno, and much of its territory is part of the Valdai Hills. Several major Russian rivers originate there, including the Volga, the Western Dvina, and the Dnieper, giving the oblast geographic importance beyond its administrative role. It is also regarded as one of Russia’s tourist regions, with a developed tourism infrastructure and historic towns such as Torzhok, Zubtsov, Kashin, Vyshny Volochyok, and Kalyazin.

Historically, the oblast includes places associated with significant episodes in Russian history, including Rzhev, which is known for the battles fought there during World War II and the Rzhev Memorial. Staritsa was the seat of the last appanage principality in Russia, while Ostashkov on Lake Seliger is a center of recreational and nature tourism. In recent national policy discussions, the region was among the finalists in the All-Russian Competition “Financial Culture Capital 2026,” reflecting its continued involvement in federal programs and public initiatives.