Why is Myshkin the birthplace of felt boots? 

Strictly speaking, the inventors of felt boots called Nomadic peoples during the Mongol-Tatar yoke, then Siberians, Kostroma residents, residents of the Tver province, and Semyonov in Nizhny Novgorod. Researchers noted a mention of woolen footwear in "The Tale of Igor's Campaign," written in the 12th century, and this warm footwear became more widespread in the 16th century. They were called "pimas," "koty," or "katanki." These were boots made of felted wool with a sole and a short shaft made of another material sewn onto it. Modern felt boots, one-piece and with a high shaft, were invented by started to felt in Myshkin, Yaroslavl province In the mid-18th century, Myshkin became a center of the felting industry thanks to the local Romanov sheep breed. Their wool is highly feltable and provides excellent warmth. And thanks to its seamless construction, the shoes became comfortable, preventing chafing, and the high shaft allowed for stepping into any snowdrift. These shoes quickly gained popularity and became known as valenki (felt boots). 

People say: simple as a felt boot. But to make They're very difficult to make. After the sheep are sheared, the wool is washed and combed, then run through a wool-beating machine. The resulting wool is laid out by hand, layer by layer, according to templates, forming the cones of the heel and toe. Then the product is boiled, and it's almost finished—only human-sized. The giant boots are placed on a last and shaped with a wooden mallet. Afterwards, the boots are dried in an oven and shaved to prevent them from itching. At the "Russian Valenki" Museum, which opened In Myshkin, eight women, founded in 2000, still hand-felt traditional Myshkin felt boots. And demand for them remains strong: people buy them not as souvenirs, but to comfortably wear them for nature walks or fishing trips. 

The museum offers felt boots for every taste: with patterns and lace, with carved tops, and even with the inscription: "Never say never." 

Incidentally, these felt boots were once considered a symbol of wealth: in wealthy families, every member had one, while in poor families, everyone had one pair. Felt boots were considered a very valuable gift; they were passed down through inheritance and given as dowries. Now they much more accessible, but you will still have to prepare from three to several thousand.