Ostap Bender Museum of Satire and Humor, Kozmodemyansk

About museum

The museum is dedicated to the novel 'The Twelve Chairs' by I. Ilf and E. Petrov and to its character, the swindler Ostap Bender. Since 1995, every late summer the city of Kozmodemyansk has hosted the traditional festival of satire and humor 'Benderiada', because Kozmodemyansk served as the prototype for the town of Vasyuki in the novel. The chess tournament that took place in Vasyuki is a mandatory element of the festival, the center of which is the museum.

Upon entering the museum, visitors are immersed in an atmosphere of satire, humor and contemporary art. Here you can try on the role of the Great Combinator, his friend, the 'giant of thought' Kisa Vorobyaninov, the incomparable Ellochka Shchukina, and even become Ostap's muse — Madame Gritsatsuyeva.

The museum's exhibits are unusual and original. There is a unique opportunity to meet and speak with a great contemporary sculptor, a master of claywork, Nikolai Ledeneikin.