What to see in Priozersk or Where did the Korelian land come from?

Priozersk is a city in the north of the Leningrad region. I have been here many times while passing through on my way to Karelia. Being sure that apart from the fortress, which I visited back in 2010, there was nothing else to see in Priozersk, I always passed through it without stopping - well, except to stop at a gas station and buy all sorts of small things at local grocery stores. I remember that I once asked an acquaintance who lived here to show me the city - so he took me to some industrial zone located on the very outskirts, where he said that there was nothing else interesting in Priozersk. This time, while part of our team went to explore the fortress, which they had never been to before, I finally managed to look around a little. Previously, it seemed to me that Priozersk was completely rebuilt after the Second World War, and these days it should be an ordinary faceless Soviet regional center, built up with standard five-story buildings. But no! Some pre-war Finnish buildings, including wooden ones, have been quite preserved here. Come on, I'll show you!

One of the ancient legends says that Prince Rurik died on the site of present-day Priozersk in 879 (according to another legend, his grave is Shum Mountain in the Novgorod region).

There is no reliable written evidence about the time when the first settlement appeared on the shore of Lake Vuoksa (in ancient times it was known as Uzerva). Archaeologists believe that this happened no later than the 12th century. It is known that in 1295 a certain fortified point, located at the mouth of the Vuoksa, was plundered by Swedish knights who came here from the newly founded Vyborg.

The fortress that appeared here in the 13th century was traditionally called Korela in Russian chronicles. At that time, the fortification was the administrative center of the Korelia land, the prototype of modern Karelia. The Swedes called Korela Kexholm (from the Swedish Kexholm - “Cuckoo Island”), and from 1611 to 1918 the city was known by this name. In 1918, Finland, which gained independence, of which it was a part, renamed it in its own way - Käkisalmi (from Finnish Käkisalmi - “Cuckoo Strait”). Since 1948, the city received its modern name - Priozersk.

The main city attraction is the Korela fortress. In the Middle Ages, this fortification was the most northwestern outpost of Rus'. Today, the fortress has been restored, and a historical museum is located on its territory.

This is what Korela looks like from a bird’s eye view (thanks to Anna Toporkova for the photo from a quadcopter). The endless blue in the background is Lake Ladoga.

View in the other direction - towards Lake Vuoksa. Before the appearance of the Losevskaya channel in the middle of the 19th century, the water level here was one and a half meters higher, and Korela was surrounded by water on all sides.

The central square of Priozersk is expectedly named after Lenin (in the past - Kauppatori, from Finnish Kauppatori - “Market Square”).

Old Finnish buildings have been partially preserved in the city center. For example, this building was built shortly before the Winter War in 1939. It was called “seurahuone”, a word that used to be used in Finland to designate multifunctional public buildings.

The distinctive house with a red tiled roof is a former Scandinavian bank built in 1925. Now this building houses the St. Petersburg Bank. We tried to get inside to photograph the tiled stoves preserved there, but were ingloriously kicked out by bank tellers. Well, nothing is sacred!

Next to the bank is another old Finnish building.

In 1930, a stone church was built in the city.

Next to it is the Spartak city court. Yes, yes, they play gorodki here.

An espalanda, a traditional city park for Finnish cities, stretches from the central square to the northeast, bounded by streets on both sides. In Priozersk these are Lenin and Kalinin streets (oh, those Soviet toponyms).

In the middle of the park stands one of the most unexpected monuments - the sculpture “Panther Bagheera and Mowgli”, which appeared here in Soviet times.

A couple of blocks from the central square, the old wooden buildings are partially preserved. By the way, these days it is unexpectedly in pretty good condition.

A local masterpiece of wooden architecture is the city railway station.

This building was built in 1916.

For some reason, the station waiting room is disfigured by a wretched plastic entrance. I can’t wait until we introduce fines for damaging old wooden buildings with cheap plastic double-glazed windows and other foreign elements.

That's all about Priozersk.

Korela Fortress

The exact date of foundation of the Korela fortress is not known to this day. Some sources mention that already in 1143 a Swedish town was located on the territory of what is now Castle Island; there are chronicles referring to the year 879. Official data says that in 1310 the Novgorodians built a wooden fortress, which burned down 50 years later and was then restored.

Since then, the building has changed owners many times, who completed and improved it, introducing elements of their national styles. Thanks to this, the fortress is characterized by a special spirit and atmosphere of antiquity, unlike other fortresses in the north-west.

The ancient coat of arms of the city depicts a crane holding a stone in its paw. According to legend, flocks of cranes migrated over the swamps of Karelia and stopped here for the night. One bird guarded the flock and held a stone in its paw. If the watchman fell asleep, the stone fell, and the changing of the guard woke up. The crane with the stone was a prototype of the fortress, which from time immemorial guarded the borders of the Russian state.

The territory of the fortress is small, so a visit will take 1-3 hours. Medieval stone buildings have been preserved on the territory of the fortress courtyard: the Round Tower, the Old Arsenal and the Powder Magazine.

Pay attention to the Round Tower. The surviving Swedish building from the late 16th century was of great importance in the defense of the city.

In the tower itself you can see the reconstructed interior decoration of the tower rooms. In the 18th-19th centuries the tower was used as a prison. The wives and children of Emelyan Pugachev were imprisoned in it, hence the second name of the tower - Pugachevskaya. The Decembrists also awaited their fate here. Previously, there was an underground passage 1.5 km long from the tower to the river; now only 5 meters have survived.

On the territory of the fortress there is a local history museum; the main part of the exhibition is located in the premises of the New or Suvorov Arsenal (built in the 18th century). In the museum you will get acquainted with the history of the area from the time of the glaciers to the 20th century.

Where else to go and what to do?

In addition to the main attractions, Priozersk also boasts interesting leisure activities: here you can go fishing, relax in sanatoriums, and travel through the Karelian forests.

Gastro tours, including to Karelia, have become very popular. Read here about gastronomic tourism in Russia.

What to see in one day?

In 1 day in Priozersk and the surrounding area you can:

• visit the Korela fortress museum and examine all the exhibits and objects;

cross the Vuoksu wooden bridge at the place where the waters of the river connect with Lake Ladoga;

visit the Konevsky Monastery and the Horse-Stone on the island;

go to a fish smokehouse in Losevo.

Historical reconstructions and medieval festivals are often held in Priozersk. If you're lucky, you can get to one of these events.

What should a tourist do in winter?

Although Priozersk is geographically located in the Leningrad region, the winters here are snowy in Karelian style. Many tourists go to the city in winter to go skiing or sledding, roll around in the snow, celebrate the New Year and holiday holidays.

Thanks to the rocky terrain, alpine skiing is thriving in Priozersk - routes are laid here for beginners and lovers of active recreation.

In winter, fishing on the lake and rivers is popular. Many even compete to see who can catch the most.

Recreation centers

Recreation centers in Priozersk perform two functions at once - entertainment and health. People come here to improve their health, on vacation or on holidays.

Popular recreation centers:

1. “Pearl” - located on the left bank of the Vuoksa, intended for business class representatives;

“Yunost” has affordable prices and is located in the village of Losevo. This is the only base in the Leningrad region where extreme sports enthusiasts can try their rafting skills;

“Dobry Los” is located in picturesque places and is conducive to a relaxing holiday. Nearby is a forest rich in mushrooms and berries, and a ski resort;

“Otradnoe” is a quiet and peaceful place, ideal for fishing. Suitable for middle class people.

You can see even more sights of Priozersk in this video:

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Viking village Bjorkagard

Just 22 km from Priozersk - in the village of Berezovo - there are three living history museums:

• Streletsky fort
• Border Outpost
• Viking village Bjorkagard

The last location is the most famous and popular among tourists, and all thanks to the unusual concept of the exhibition. Firstly, all the exhibits here can and should be touched with your hands - they are reconstructions made in strict accordance with ancient technologies. Secondly, this is the unusual location of the Viking village - on Beloyarsky Island in the Lehmalahti Bay of Lake Ladoga. To get here, you need to take a boat and cross the small bay that separates the island from the mainland. Thirdly, the Björkagard Viking Living History Museum is a full-fledged village, where there is a traditional Scandinavian longhouse , ordinary Viking dwellings, a barn, storehouses and other outbuildings. The exhibition itself and all household items, weapons, and clothing date back to the era of the formation of the ancient Russian state and the invaluable role played by the Varangians in this process.

The “highlight” of the Viking village is full-fledged models of Varangian longships and other vessels. And in some of them you can swim through the waters of Lake Ladoga under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

Address : Beloyarsky Island, Berezovo, Leningrad region, 188751

Under Finnish administration

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Kexholm (pronunciation in Russian) changed the countries to which it belonged several times, and as a result went to the Grand Duchy of Finland (after it was removed from the Russian Empire and received full autonomy). In December 1917, the provincial Finnish town was renamed Käkisalmi and began to actively develop both economically and territorially. Railway communications developed, including with Russian cities, sawmills and pulp mills were built, as well as the famous Lutheran church. When going to see the sights of Priozersk in the Leningrad Region, tourists come here first. The church is also famous for the fact that during the Great Patriotic War it was used as a base for the Soviet NKVD (after the city became part of the USSR).

Dubki Park

The appearance of the park is closely connected with the founding date of the city; in September 1714, Peter the Great laid the first foundation stone of the residence and planted more than 200 oak trees. There were global plans for the development of the city, but after the death of Peter the Great, the “Oak Estate” fell into disrepair.

Today this is a favorite vacation spot not only for city residents, but also for guests of St. Petersburg. It offers beautiful views of Fort Toleben and the Gulf of Finland. In the park you can stroll along shady alleys and visit attractions. The park has an equestrian club, tennis courts, and numerous cafes. This is where public events and concerts are held, and in the winter there is an ice skating rink here. The main attraction of this place is the centuries-old oak tree.

Monuments in Priozersk

Priozersk (whose sights attract hundreds of tourists every year) has classic and original monuments, sculptures of famous people.

Russia's first monument to Mowgli

The sculptural composition: a boy and a bagheera, is located in the city center, on Kalinin Street (Petrovsky Square).

Priozersk, the first monument to the character Mowgli.

The monument demonstrates the relationship of man to nature. The composition was built on the initiative of the animal protection service. The monument was made of concrete in the 20th century.

Memorial sign to the Kexholm regiment in the Korela fortress

Established on the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the regiment by Peter 1. The Kexholm regiment was formed in 1710 by decree of the emperor. The soldier's shako on top of the monument is a mandatory item of clothing for a soldier. The anchor symbolizes participation in sea battles.

The memorial sign was erected by officers and sailors of the ship support division in 2011, June 29. Located at: Leningradskoye Highway-3. The monument is also associated with an obelisk in honor of Peter the Great, located on the main square of the city.

Monument to Rurik

The stone at the crossroads is a reminder of Russian folk tales, leading to the origins of folklore original creativity. The inscription says that in 879 Rurik died, eternal glory to him, the memory of the people. A unique monument is located in the Korele fortress. There is no analogue to the monument in Russia.

Memorial of military equipment in Priozersk

The complex consists of two demonstrative samples of military equipment. The first tank to be delivered was the IS-3 (Joseph Stalin). The tank was released post-war and did not take part in battles. Installed in 2000 on the 55th anniversary of the Great Victory.

The second model is ISU-152, installed in 2005. The tank began production in 1943 and was used in battle for 2 years. The memorial is located on the bank of the Vuoksa, along the Priozerskoye Highway, stop “Ulitsa Liteinaya”.

What to see depending on the time of year

The sights of Priozersk delight tourists in all seasons. In summer it is green and romantic, in autumn and spring it is colorful, and in winter it is cool and magical. In addition, in different seasons Priozersk entertains its guests with events:

• Leningrad Region Day (July 28);
• sports and tourism festival “Ladoga Fest” (August);
• military-historical reconstruction festival “Kexholm Garrison” (September);
• ethnocultural festival of the Leningrad region.

Day of the Leningrad Region in the Priozersky District

Priozer residents respect the history of their region, so they actively take part in the regional holiday. On the region’s birthday, the Priozersk Philharmonic Society opens its doors to fans of official events, events are held on the streets and children’s playgrounds are open with games and competitions. During the celebration, you can not only take a walk and watch street concerts, but also learn more about the history of Priozersk and the region.

On the Day of the Leningrad Region, entire families and groups of citizens take to the streets

The celebration begins with a procession through the streets of the city, and the ceremonial part of the holiday takes place in the Philharmonic.

Sports and tourism festival "Ladoga Fest"

Ladoga Fest is a major international sports tourism festival. The authorities of the Leningrad region decided that Priozersk would be the birthplace of the new holiday (it will take place for the first time in 2022). The festival will last 9 days, and athletes from different cities and regions will take part in it.

Several competitions are planned as part of the festival:

• Priozersky Half Marathon (21.1 km);
• athletics mass race for the Cup of the head of the district administration (5 and 10 km);
• two-day King of the Hammers competition and off-road vehicle exhibition;
• sports auto tourism competitions and the “Tailwind” motorcycle festival;
• European gathering of off-road vehicle owners and enthusiasts;
• sports and tourism race Vuoksa Race and a large equestrian festival;
• ring trophy race on SUVs, buggies, ATVs and all-terrain vehicles;
• airsoft game and much more.

During the boat race, those interested will learn the basics of maritime and rigging, the history of shipbuilding, and the design of ships.
Those wishing to attend the festival as a guest or participant must be mobile. The holiday will begin in Priozersk and continue in various festival cities on the coast of Lake Ladoga. The last events will take place in the capital of the festival.

Military-historical reconstruction festival “Kexholm Garrison”

“Kexholm Garrison” is the only international reconstruction festival in Russia dedicated to the Peter the Great era. The first event was held in honor of the 300th anniversary of the liberation of the city in the Northern War. A reenactment is a historical event reenacted by historical actors with some degree of accuracy (the Swedish garrison held the siege for 2 months, but the reenactment of the assault lasts only 1 hour). Reenactors from several countries take part in the festival:

• Russia;
• Sweden;
• Finland;
• Baltic countries, etc.

Viewers can watch the recreated actions of soldiers of Peter the Great's Preobrazhensky Regiment:

• arrangement of the camp;
• drill demonstrations;
• preparing a soldier's lunch in the field;
• training for beginners;
• storming the Korela fortress;
• fighting at the fortress walls;
• surrender of the Swedish army, etc.

Photo gallery: scenes from the Kexholm Garrison reconstruction festival

The festival is dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the liberation of Kexholm in the Northern War, so the sides of the “battle” are Russian and Swedish troops. Actors from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Vyborg, Riga, Narva and Sweden participate in the reconstruction - all in costumes of the 18th century. A special bonus for spectators - performance of the military orchestra of Peter the Great's time. The main event of the festival is the capture of the Kexholm fortress by the troops of Peter I

Festival guests will be able to watch scenes from the life of the Kexholm garrison of the 18th century

The festival venue is the Korela fortress. The date may vary depending on the weather, weekends, etc. (usually the festival is held in the last ten days of September).

Annual ethnocultural festival “Russia - Consonance of Cultures”

“Russia - Consonance of Cultures” is a large-scale ethnocultural festival, which is held annually in different cities of the Leningrad region. This is a multinational holiday in which representatives of different regions of the Northwestern Federal District take part. Colorful festival events take place at several venues:

• festive procession of festival participants;
• interactive performances of nationalities;
• master classes on traditional crafts and national dishes;
• children's games and attractions;
• performances by creative groups.

Photo gallery: some sites of the festival “Russia - Consonance of Cultures”

Delegations from different districts of the region and national cultural associations take part in the procession. The holiday is accompanied by a large concert with the participation of children's and adult creative groups

“National farmsteads” are exhibitions of traditional applied arts, household items, and national costumes. Each ethnic group in the region holds its own interactive platform with an exhibition and a mini-fair

The festival hosts many master classes in which anyone can take part.

The location of the festival depends on which city acted as the organizer.

History of Priozersk

The first settlers began to develop these lands in the 12th century, it was here that the border of the Novgorod possessions passed and the intrepid Vikings, and then the Swedes, often attacked and destroyed the houses of civilians. The city of Priozersk, which in ancient times was called the city of Korela, is located near the confluence of the Vuoksa River with Ladoga. The city arose as a fortress more than 700 years ago. Its construction was due to the fact that a fairly busy trade route passed here, which is why structures were erected that today are historical landmarks and protected by law.

The inhabitants of the ancient fortress city constantly suffered due to the raids of foreigners and the Crusades of knights from Sweden, who destroyed all the local shrines and city attractions in their path. When the Novgorod Republic was founded in 1136, these lands became part of it, and later Korela developed as an outpost on Ladoga, and in population density the city surpassed all nearby settlements of Northern Rus' and was famous for the sights of wooden architecture.

The first battles with the Swedes near the ancient city began in the 13th century and at the turn of 1294-1295 the fortress fell under the pressure of the Swedish crusaders, the city was renamed by the Swedes to Kexholm, which translated means Cuckoo Island. Many historians consider this time to be the year the city of Priozersk was founded. During its turbulent history, the city often changed hands, but the Swedes were its main owners; they captured the city of Korela in 1580 and owned the area for 17 years, but then the Novgorodians liberated the city, although not for long. During the Great Troubles at the beginning of the 17th century, the Swedes retook the city, and for more than 100 years it was under their occupation. Almost all Russian wooden fortification buildings, which were a landmark of the Russian city, were replaced by stone Gothic.

During this period, monumental defensive structures were erected: the Round Tower, the Old Arsenal Building and the Powder Magazine, which today are part of the historical sights of Priozersk and the region. All Russian religious buildings were burned, and churches were built in their place.

Attention! Russian troops twice tried to take the impregnable fortress, but to no avail.

Only during the Swedish-Russian War in 1710 did the fortress fall under the pressure of Russian soldiers, the city was liberated, and the church on Spassky Island was converted into the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The name of the city of Kexholm existed before the revolution, when, with the recognition of Finland, Vladimir Lenin signed a decree transferring Karelia to the new state. The city was renamed Kakisalmen or Kukushkin Strait.

After the Second World War in 1948, the Soviet government fought against any manifestation of the royal legacy and the great deeds of Peter I, so the city received a new name Priozersk. Only the unique historical sights of the city and its surroundings preserve the history of this amazing region.

Priozersk

Video: Priozersk

Basic moments

Fishing on Ladoga
The small provincial town of Priozersk with low-rise buildings, where only 18,000 people live, has not yet been spoiled by the attention of tourists. Many travelers who accidentally stopped here on the way to the resort Sortavala or to the memorable places of Ladoga are surprised to discover that the thousand-year history of the quiet and modest Priozersk is extremely rich in bright events, the memory of which is preserved by unique monuments. Here still stand the walls and towers of one of the oldest fortresses in Russia, erected by medieval Novgorod warriors on the ruins of even more ancient defensive structures. It is from the Old Fortress, also known as the chronicle fortress of Korela, that tourists begin their acquaintance with Priozersk. According to established tradition, costumed military tournaments are held annually within its walls in June/July.

The surroundings of Priozersk with their dense forests, clear waters of Lake Ladoga and the Vuoksa River attract lovers of hiking, river rafting, and fishing. In the city itself and very close to it there are convenient beaches where you can have a pleasant time on a hot summer day.

There are several hotels in the city, here you will find restaurants with excellent cuisine and cozy atmospheric cafes. In the city's surroundings, modern park hotels and holiday homes have been built, and there is also a good sanatorium offering a variety of health treatments. A federal highway runs through Priozersk, along which you can get here by car from St. Petersburg in a couple of hours. This charming corner of Karelia is easily accessible from the Northern capital by bus or train.

Priozersk from above City of Priozersk

History of Priozersk

The time of the founding of Priozersk has not been established, and, as local guides say, this date is lost in the mists of time. Archaeologists discovered the oldest traces of the material culture of the Karelians on the territory of the Old Fortress. A burial ground and several artifacts were found under the defensive rampart. The burials date back to the 6th-8th centuries. While digging a construction pit on Station Square, a graveyard of the 10th-11th centuries was accidentally exposed. However, written reports about the settlement standing here appeared much later.

Kexholm on a map of Sweden in the 17th century

In 1143, the Novgorod chronicler mentioned the Korela fortress. In the medieval Swedish chronicles, under 1295, there is a record that the knight Sigurd Lokke and his retinue captured an ancient and well-fortified Karelian settlement at the mouth of the Vuoksa River. In those days, the lands belonged to the sphere of influence of Novgorod the Great. Having learned about the attack on the border village, the Russians sent boats with a detachment of Novgorod warriors there and drove out the invaders. The Swedes called this city Kexholm, the Novgorodians called it Korela. The village also has a Finnish name - Käkisalmi.

In 1310, the Russians built a powerful detinets in Korel, expanding the territory of the city. The chronicle reports that the dilapidated ancient defensive structures were demolished. Modern archaeological research has confirmed this fact. It turned out that the previous fortifications were about 500 years older than the Novgorod ones and dated back to the 9th century, the Viking period. Several pieces of jewelry found here and an iron ring belong to this era. According to some historians, it was in this fortress, standing on one of the branches of the branched waterway “from the Varangians to the Greeks,” that the legendary King Rurik, the founder of the princely dynasty in Kyiv, was buried.

After the conquest of Novgorod and all its lands by the Moscow principality, Korela was again strengthened, and a military garrison was stationed in the border fortress. In 1568, there were more than 400 households in the city, there were four Orthodox monasteries and a parish church.

At the beginning of the 17th century, Moscow Tsar Vasily Shuisky ceded Kexholm to the Swedish king in exchange for military assistance during a period of conspiracies and unrest. At that time, the fortress was rebuilt. The advent of firearms placed new demands on military fortification. Stone projections in the form of rhombuses and polygons appeared on the ramparts, raised 6-8 meters high. The guns mounted on these redoubts were able to fire in several directions and hit the enemy at the foot of the walls. The main gate of the stronghold was built on the eastern side, they were cut into the embankment of the rampart at the Black Bastion. There was a drawbridge here, and in front of it stood a ravelin - an additional protective structure made of stone.

Kexholm Plan 1843

On September 8, 1710, the army of Tsar Peter I stormed the Kexholm fortress, the borders of Sweden moved far to the north-west, and the city fell into the possession of the Russian Empire. The fortress, damaged during the battle, was restored and rebuilt, but it soon lost its military significance. A century later, Korela-Kexholm, under the name Käkisalmi, was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Finland, the Russian governor-general. The powerful, squat Round Tower, erected by the Novgorodians, has remained virtually untouched by time. For 600 years it served as both a defensive structure and a prison. There are many tragic stories associated with this dungeon. Members of the family of the rebel Emelyan Pugachev, the Decembrist conspirators who rebelled in 1825, and Petrashevsky revolutionaries were kept here. An exhibition dedicated to the famous prisoners of the fortress dungeons is currently being formed in the Round Tower.

In 1888, in the Grand Duchy of Finland, a group of historians organized a Museum Committee. Among the numerous historical and cultural monuments of Karelia that require restoration and protection, enthusiasts especially highlighted the well-preserved ancient fortress in Kexholm. An ethnographic museum was created in one of the premises of the fort in 1894.

In March 1917, Finland declared independence, and the city remained on the territory of this country. Following the results of the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940, the Finnish population left Käkisalmi. In 1948 the city was renamed, and since then it has been named Priozersk. A large pulp mill and woodworking enterprises, and a plant for processing finishing Karelian granites were built here. It was decided to turn the dilapidated and dilapidated fortifications into museums in 1962. Restoration work and archaeological research began on the historical territory. Recreation centers and tourist campsites were built in the picturesque surroundings of Priozersk. In the 90s of the last century, the pulp mill, which poisoned the environment with waste, was closed. In recent years, the authorities of the ancient city have been focusing on the development of ecotourism.

Geography and climate

The city of Priozersk is located on the hilly Karelian Isthmus among dense forests, dominated by typical northern vegetation - spruce, pine, birch, alder, and aspen. In full accordance with its name, Priozersk lies between two lakes - Ladoga and Vuoksa. The city is surrounded by a dense lake-river system, the core of which is the Vuoksa River, which feeds the lake of the same name and flows into Ladoga. The beds and beds of reservoirs are depressions, cracks and faults in granites created by an ancient glacier.

The narrow Karelian Isthmus separates the waters of the Baltic Gulf of Finland from the expanses of Ladoga. The proximity of these masses of water makes the climate in Priozersk quite mild. January marks the coldest period, the air temperature drops to –12…–10 °C. By the end of March, daytime temperatures cross the zero mark, and spring comes into its own. On Ladoga and on the surrounding rivers and lakes the ice begins to melt. The most comfortable temperature is set in July-August: +22…+23 °C. Features of the local climate include significant amounts of precipitation falling in Priozersk throughout the year.

In summer, the water in Ladoga near Priozersk warms up to +18...+19 °C, which is not conducive to long swims.

Sights of Priozersk

Pugachev Tower
The old fortress of Priozersk, built on the banks of the Vuoksa River, is the historical core of the city. These powerful fortifications, erected no later than the 13th century, were rebuilt over many centuries. Today, the squat silhouette of the ancient stronghold is clearly visible at the entrance to Priozersk from St. Petersburg. The appearance of the citadel that has come down to us combines the features of the defensive architecture of medieval Novgorod and Swedish military buildings.

To the southeast of the Round (Pugachev) Tower, the Old Arsenal, built by the Swedes in 1591, has sunk into the ground. The massive rectangular building, made of crushed stone, houses four vaulted halls with separate exits to the fortress courtyard. Weapons and military equipment were once stored here. These spacious rooms now host traveling exhibitions from other museums and art galleries, and the largest room serves as a conference room. There is also a souvenir shop here.

Adjacent to the northern wall of the Old Arsenal is the Powder Magazine, built in 1582. Archaeologists have established that in the 16th century the main fortress gate stood here, but with the further expansion of the citadel, they were blocked with stones and turned into an underground powder warehouse. A thick layer of earth was poured over the cellar; since the 17th century, a battery of heavy cannons had been located on it. This formidable redoubt was called the Cavalier Bastion in the garrison; the best artillery officers served here.

Korela Fortress

Worn stone steps lead through a squat arch into the dungeon below the bastion. As you walk down through the tunnel, appreciate the work of the masons who built five-meter-thick walls from huge boulders. It was here that the mysterious prisoner, identified in the prison book as “Nameless,” spent thirty long years. In August 1803, Emperor Alexander I visited the Kexholm fortress. The Emperor inquired about the names and deeds of state criminals languishing in underground casemates, but even the head of the prison did not know who Nameless was, who was sitting in solitary confinement for more than fifteen years. The Tsar ordered to call and question Nameless, but he firmly refused to talk about himself in front of everyone. Then the emperor retired with him, and after the conversation appeared with tears in his eyes. Alexander I ordered the old man to be released, given a house and a modest government allowance, but Bezymyanny was prohibited from leaving the city limits. According to the recollections of contemporaries of this event, the tsar kindly invited the freed prisoner to dinner, and at parting he hugged and presented him with his cap with the Romanov cockade. From that time until his death, the new settler enjoyed respect among the townspeople, but he never revealed his name to anyone. On his tombstone there was the inscription “Unnamed”, but that grave, unfortunately, has not survived.

It is still unknown who this prisoner was and why he so touched the emperor. There is an assumption that the nobleman Ivan Pakarin, whose only “crime” was his high origin, was imprisoned under the heading “Nameless” in a gloomy casemate far from the capital of Kexholm. According to one version, he was born as the fruit of the secret love of Catherine II and Count Nikita Panin. The noble bastard served in the Foreign Order and one day, over a glass of wine, he blabbed about his parents. They say that that same night, on the orders of the empress, who immediately heard rumors, he was instantly captured and taken to the Kexholm fortress in a carriage on lathered horses. If this is true, then Nameless was a side uncle to the emotional Alexander I.

Powder magazine of the Kexholm fortress, where the prisoner was kept

The famous French writer and passionate traveler Alexandre Dumas, who visited the Kexholm fortress in the 50s of the last century, heard about this mysterious story. He talked about her in his travel notes. In this book, Dumas also mentions a conversation with a local man in the street, who informed the traveler about the existence of secret passages and chambers dug much lower than the basements of the Powder Magazine, leading outside the fortress. Priozersk archaeologists hope to find these mysterious dungeons.

A visual exhibition has been created in the Powder Cellar, which presents a cross-section of all the cultural layers traversed by archaeologists during the excavations of the fortress, and artifacts found in the ground are exhibited here. Among them are stone spindle whorls, flint armchairs, fragments of steel chain mail, a spear tip, cavalry spurs, and an amber cross. The oldest objects found here are silver shoulder brooches made in the Merovingian era, in the 7th-8th centuries.

A monument to military valor was erected in the Old Fortress - a monument to the Kexholm Regiment, formed here by Peter I in 1710. Near the memorial sign, made in the form of a soldier’s shako, there are two cast-iron cannons from Peter’s times on wooden battle carriages.

IS-3ISU-152Memorial sign to the Kexholm regiment in the Korela fortress

The monument at the entrance to the Old Fortress in Priozersk reminds of the Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of Karelia from the Nazis. Here, an IS-3 heavy tank and an ISU-152 tracked armored self-propelled gun with a large-caliber gun are installed on pedestals.

The old fortress is open for tours from 10:00 to 18:00, the ticket office closes at 17:45. On Fridays, inspection ends at 17:00. The entrance ticket costs 100 rubles. Days off: Monday, Tuesday.

On Kalinina Street, 5, stands the snow-white cathedral in the name of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in the classical style according to the design of the St. Petersburg architect Louis Visconti in 1836-1847. One of the attractions of the temple was a bronze bell, cast in 1649 in Sweden, weighing 62 pounds, but it was lost. In Soviet times, the cathedral belfry was demolished and the bell was sent to scrap. And the long-suffering cathedral itself survived a lot of destruction. In 1940, after the capture of Priozersk by Soviet troops, a warehouse for military equipment was built in the temple. After the war, the Museum of Atheism was located here, then the House of Pioneers, then the regional printing house. In 1991, when the cathedral was returned to believers, it housed the sewing and shoe workshops of the city House of Public Services. The church was restored at the expense of the community; its main shrine was the icon with the relics of St. Arseny Konevsky. In the park near the temple there is an obelisk with a bronze bust of Emperor Peter I.

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Lutheran Church in Priozersk

The Finnish presence in Priozersk is reminiscent of the grandiose Lutheran church on Leningradskaya Street, 8, made of gray and pink granite. The Finns built the church in the neo-Gothic Scandinavian style in the 30s of the last century. The building was badly damaged during the Second World War, when the organ and church utensils disappeared from the church. In 1945, the rebuilt church housed the NKVD department, then the city House of Culture. Since the 1980s, a youth leisure center and disco have been located here. Slot machines were installed in the church and there was a bar. In the summer of 2002, a fire broke out in the church, destroying the roof and interior. The building was restored with funds from patrons; now access to the church is closed. At the western wall there is a monument to Finnish soldiers who died in these parts during the Second World War.

Near the northwestern outskirts of Priozersk, one and a half kilometers from the railway crossing, on the shores of the Vuoksa Gulf, a line of defensive structures from the first half of the 18th century, which has floated over time, has been preserved, filled with soil and lined with untreated stone. Further to the north, 5 km from the center of Priozersk, near the highway to Sortavala, are the Pernovsky redoubts, built in 1741-1743. At the end of the 18th century, Alexander Suvorov visited here to inspect the fortifications.

On the banks of the Vuoksa, see the remains of the New Fortress, built by Russian military engineers in the 18th century. At that time, the fortress stood on Spassky Island, but over the years the channel silted up and turned into dry land. Here stretches a line of earthen bastions lined with boulders facing north. The ramparts are cut through by two well-preserved fortress gates. The oak doors of the gates leading to the city were once sheathed with rusted metal - riveted trophy armor of Swedish officers captured during military conflicts during the time of Peter I. They say that the tsar himself ordered the gates to be shackled with the armor of the opponents. Another gate - Karelian - goes out onto the Fedorovskaya channel.

The fortress church and barracks from Peter's times survived. In the 80s of the 19th century, by order of the Finnish government, several buildings were built here for a psychiatric hospital. The administrative building with turrets, built of yellow brick in 1908, has been preserved. Subsequently, this shelter was abolished, and in 1918 the buildings were rebuilt to accommodate the Finnish military garrison. After the Great Patriotic War, buildings of a military sanatorium were erected on the territory of the New Fortress; this health resort is still in operation today. The building is surrounded by a beautiful park, with picturesque bridges across the channels and streams. The walk can be continued on a boat rented at the pier of the sanatorium boat station.

Beaches

On the coast of Ladoga and the Vuoksa River in the city limits of Priozersk there are several equipped sandy and pebble beaches. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available here, and there are fast food kiosks and cafes.

One of the best city beaches is called “Rocky”. It is located on an island of the same name at the mouth of the Vuoksi River on the territory of the city recreation park, a 15-minute walk from the Old Fortress. The entrance to the water is gentle here; townspeople visit this beach with children.

Kamenisty Island

Grabbing sandwiches, a towel and a blanket, take a walk along the shore of the mouth of the Vuoksa, which flows into Lake Ladoga. Here, in the forested area, you will find many “wild” swimming spots. But be careful when stepping into the water - there is often broken glass lying at the bottom.

Ladoga lake

Leisure

Fishing on Ladoga
Fishing is the queen of active recreation in Priozersk. The rivers and lakes of the Ladoga basin are home to more than 50 species of freshwater fish - from small rudd and crucian carp to trout, pike and bream. If you're lucky, the catch may also include delicious representatives of the salmon family: vendace, whitefish, and grayling. Fishing spots are found in abundance on the winding shores of Lake Vuoksa, indented with coves. The average depth of the reservoir is about 5 meters, but at the bottom there are depressions five times deeper. In summer, the water here warms up well.

On a rented boat it is interesting to explore a real archipelago of small rocky islands covered with pine trees. Travel companies in St. Petersburg organize fishing tours to Vuoksu, and you can join groups kayaking and rafting to the lake. The estimated cost of a three-day weekend tour is 3,500 rubles. Departure from St. Petersburg on Fridays, return on Sunday evening. The price includes three meals a day, rental of boats, life jackets, and the services of an instructor-guide. Travel to Priozersk by train or bus is paid separately.

Purchases

There is a souvenir shop in the building of the restored Old Arsenal on the territory of the Korela fortress. Interesting original paintings on historical themes, watercolors and landscapes by local artists, ceramics - cups and mugs, jugs, flasks, funny figures, T-shirts with images of Priozersk sights, postcards, local history literature are sold here. Noteworthy are the skillful crafts made from Karelian birch, wooden items for interior decoration - boxes, carved plates, wall panels with drawings, candlesticks, mantel clocks, amulets, embroidery, flowerpots.

Local kitchen

Karelian casserole in the Gast House cafe.
Cafes and restaurants are open in Priozersk, specializing in both the traditional Karelian menu and European, Caucasian, and Japanese cuisine. Not far from the Korela fortress, on Leningradskoye Shosse, 2-A, there is a cafe-restaurant "Gast House". Despite its foreign name, the establishment is designed in the form of a wooden Russian hut with deliberately roughly knocked together wide oak tables, benches and tree stumps instead of chairs. The walls are decorated with hunting rifles and trophies. In the summer, you can take a table on the spacious veranda, covered with wooden planks. Russian and European cuisine is served. The food here is tasty and satisfying, the portions are generous, but not cheap. The cost of main courses starts from 480 rubles. This is the only restaurant in the city that is open 24 hours a day.

The interiors of the stylish cafe-restaurant "Captain Morgan" (Lenina Street, 16) are decorated in the spirit of the wardroom of a pirate sailing ship. The walls are decorated with paintings of naval battles, models of ancient frigates, and examples of cunning sea knots woven from ship hemp ropes. There is a pirate sitting by the fireplace, and there is also a talking parrot. Price range – 500-1500 rubles. The restaurant is open from 11:00 to 23:00.

Interior of the cafe "Captain Morgan"

At the “Point on the Map” hotel, located on Priozernaya Street, 12, you will find a gastronomic cafe with delicious delicacies from the chef. Try the specialties here with unusual flavors - northern trout steak with pickled beets and horseradish mousse (670 rubles), pike cutlets with tarragon accompanied by smoked boiled potatoes (340 rubles), baked lamb shoulder with coffee-almond sauce (760 rubles) , cabbage rolls with veal, flavored with aromatic herbs and lingonberry sauce (440 rubles). For dessert, they offer original ice cream with a pine flavor (240 rubles), chocolate mousse with roasted nuts (340 rubles) and other unusual sweets that will be remembered for a long time.

Restaurant at the Tochka na Karte hotel

Dishes from the restaurant “Point on the Map” Shish kebab at the restaurant “Kexgolm”

At the Kexholm Hotel, the restaurant of the same name welcomes everyone. Try Finnish fish soup, Swedish cream of mushroom soup, and Russian fish solyanka here. We recommend tender veal stewed with herbs and spaghetti with lake salmon. A steamed liter jug ​​of ice-cold berry juice is served on the table. The average cost of lunch without alcoholic drinks is 1,750 rubles for two.

In Priozersk, you can have an inexpensive lunch at the chain cafe “Eurasia” (Kalinina Street, 11), where dishes of Chinese, Japanese and Russian cuisine are served. The average bill per person is 300-600 rubles. From 12:30 to 15:30, guests are offered set lunches. On Friday and Saturday, the cafe operates as a nightclub and receives visitors from 11:00 to 02:00; on other days of the week, the doors of the establishment are open from 11:00 to 23:00.

Cafe "Eurasia"

Where to stay

One of the best hotels in Priozersk is the already mentioned “Point on the Map”. Her original two-story cottages with huge panoramic windows are located in separate modules in a pine forest on the coast of Ladoga. Guests can choose from standard rooms to spacious suites. The hotel has its own beach and there are gazebos with grilling facilities on site (additional charge). The cost of living is from 4250 to 8455 rubles per day, breakfast is included (buffet).

Hotel "Point on the Map"

The 3* Friends Priozersk Hotel (Kalinina Street, 9) is intended for family holidays. The hotel has a cafeteria; if you wish, you can cook yourself in the shared kitchen. Smoking is not allowed in the rooms. The cost of daily accommodation is from 2800 rubles per room. Next door, on Kalinina Street, 11, there is a three-story building of the 3* Korela Hotel. Here you can hire a nanny for your baby, the hotel has a small restaurant, and there are Georgian and Chinese cafes very close by. You need to pay 3,600 rubles for the room.

Hotel "Friends Priozersk"

Hotel Korela

In the center of Priozersk there is the Kexgolm hotel (Sovetskaya street, 18-A). The cost of living is from 2778 rubles per day. You can stay inexpensively in the budget mini-hotel “Uyut”, recently built on Gagarina Street, 18. A room here will cost from 2,000 rubles.

Hotel Kexholm

Hotel Uyut Apartments “Comfortable Priozersk”

For budget travelers, the Comfortable Priozersk apartments (Sovetskaya Street, 1) provide overnight accommodation. The newly renovated rooms are decorated in Scandinavian style. Each room has a kitchenette, toilet, shower. Shops and cafes are within walking distance. For accommodation you will need to pay from 1900 rubles per day.

Numerous recreation centers have been built in the vicinity of the city. The closest of them is eloquently called “Samaya Ladoga”; it is located 4 km northeast of the railway station, in a coniferous forest on the coast of Lake Ladoga. Cozy individual cottages have been built here for guests; each house has a gazebo with barbecue facilities. On the territory there is free parking, a well-kept beach, a bathhouse, a massage room, playgrounds, rental of boats, bicycles, fishing and sports equipment, fuel briquettes and frozen foods are sold. There is no cafe at the base. Renting a standard double house with a kitchenette, toilet and shower will cost 3,300 rubles. You can stay in a family cottage with two bedrooms, a living room, an equipped kitchen and a terrace overlooking the lake for 7,000 rubles per day.

Recreation center "Samaya Ladoga"

6 km from the center of Priozersk, on the opposite shore of Lake Vuoksa, there is the Yarkoe Park Hotel, which has its own restaurant and beach. Accommodation in a double room with a loggia will cost 3,850 rubles; you can stay in a suite with a separate entrance for 4,950 rubles, breakfast included.

Park Hotel "Yarkoe"

Booking.com

Rest and treatment

Priozersk Military Sanatorium
On the southern outskirts of Priozersk, next to a large park, on the banks of the Vuoksa River, the Priozersk Military Sanatorium is located (Leningradskoye Shosse, 1). Sanatorium buildings were erected on the territory of the former New Fortress. This climatic resort specializes in helping patients with cardiovascular and neurological problems. Therapeutic procedures include sapropel mud baths, magnetic therapy, underwater massage, and pine baths. The dining room offers several dietary menu options.

Unpretentious tourists can stay in this health resort as in an ordinary hotel, without requiring medical procedures. But the rooms here have long been in need of renovation, and the old furniture needs to be replaced. In buildings built back in Soviet times, the amenities infrastructure is kept to a minimum. But on the territory you will find a well-equipped beach, sports grounds where you can play tennis or volleyball, a sauna and billiards, and boat rentals are available. In the immediate vicinity there is excellent fishing on Lake Vuoksa, and in season the surrounding forests are full of berries and mushrooms. You can stay in a double one-room room with shared amenities for 1,050 rubles per day. For a “superior comfort” double room, that is, with an individual toilet and shower, they ask for 1,700 rubles per day. Bus route No. 1 runs from the city railway station to the sanatorium. For 100 rubles, you can take a taxi to the sanatorium from the electric train stop.

Transport

The city has a railway station and a pier on the shore of Ladoga. Buses run around Priozersk, several routes go beyond the city limits, they connect neighboring villages with the local railway station.

How to get there

The building of the railway station of the Priozersk station
Priozersk is connected by direct railway communication with St. Petersburg, electric trains depart from the platform of the Finlyandsky station. The ticket price is 364 rubles, the trip duration is 2 hours 36 minutes. Trains pass through the Devyatkino station, located within the city limits and combined with the metro station of the same name (the terminus on the red line). From here the ticket costs a little cheaper - 330 rubles. But we don’t recommend saving for tourists - it is from the Devyatkino station that St. Petersburg residents go to their dachas, and on weekends it happens that they won’t be able to get into the carriage the first time. Trains traveling along the route St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha also make a stop in Priozersk. It is convenient to view the train schedule to Priozersk on the Tutu.ru website.

By taxi you can get from Finlyandsky Station to Priozersk in two hours; the cost of the trip will be about 4,000 rubles; a trip from Pulkovo Airport will cost about 700 rubles more.

You can also get to Priozersk by regular buses No. 859; during the day they run almost hourly from the platforms of the St. Petersburg Northern Bus Station, which is near the same Devyatkino metro station. Travel time – 2 hours 30 minutes.

Where is Priozersk located?

The Russian city is located 140 kilometers from St. Petersburg, in the northeastern part of the Karelian Isthmus. Priozersk is located at the confluence of the Vuoksa River into Lake Ladoga. Priozersk has a railway station, a bus station, and a highway. There is no direct route to the city; you need to get to St. Petersburg by train, plane, or bus.

There are several ways to get from St. Petersburg to Priozersk:

1. Every day on the route from St. Petersburg-Priozersk by regular or express train.
2. A bus leaves daily from the Parnas and Devyatkino metro stations (in St. Petersburg). Travel time is 2 hours.
3. By private car in 1.5 hours...
4. Custom car from travel agencies, taxi.

Buses and trains run from Priozersk to nearby cities and stations.

How to get to Priozersk

You can get to Priozersk by several means of transport:

• by car: from St. Petersburg on the A129 highway it takes about 2 hours;
• by train or commuter train: the journey from Finlyandsky Station in St. Petersburg takes about 3 hours;
• by bus No. 859 or 960 from St. Petersburg: the ride takes about 3 hours.

The most convenient trains are:

• St. Petersburg - Kuznechnoye (express);
• St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha (long-distance train).

The most convenient, but most expensive way is a taxi. You can get to Priozersk on it from almost any city; in this case, the fare is calculated either by travel time or by mileage. I had to get to different cities by taxi, sometimes due to a lack of tickets (for example, I went from Penza to Samara for the New Year holidays). All the offices where I inquired about the cost of travel politely offered to pay for the carrier’s services in advance. Moreover, the cost is calculated for the taxi driver’s round trip.

Priozersk railway station

Another must-see attraction of Priozersk is the miraculously preserved wooden station building, built in 1916. The architecture is unusual - compare at least with the photo of the lost building. After restoration in 2008, the building was restored to its historical appearance.

Inside, the impression is slightly spoiled by typical plastic doors and benches, but overall it’s very beautiful:

Electric train ET2EM-002 “Vuoksa” at Priozersk station:

Another representative of Priozersk buses is the rather rickety LiAZ-5256.23-01:

Residential buildings opposite the station:

Graffiti in the courtyards:

There are many interesting wooden houses in Priozersk:

Korela Fortress

Of course, the main attraction of Priozersk is the Korela fortress, a cultural heritage site of federal significance. It is extremely easy to find; it is located right on the A129 highway in Priozersk itself and is marked with the appropriate road sign. It was not easy to find a parking space opposite on Saturday; I had to wait until one of the cars pulled out.

Parking near the Korela fortress

The Korela fortress is popular; excursion buses heading to Karelia stop here. And also Finnish excursion buses, our neighbors, the Finns, love to visit Vyborg and Priozersk, their former cities.

Near the parking lot there is a self-propelled gun-152, which took part in the battles for Käkisalmi, and an IS-3 tank from the Second World War (Joseph Stalin), which did not participate in the battles.

Self-propelled gun SAU-152 in the parking lot near the Korela fortress IS-3 tank in the parking lot near the Korela fortress

What we can see now is only a small part of the once vast Swedish fortress of Kexholm. The older remains of the Novgorod fortifications that existed on the site of the fortress in the pre-Swedish period have not survived to this day. Previously, the fortress was located on two islands connected to each other by a bridge and an underground passage, but now only the fortifications on a small island have been preserved. This can be clearly seen in the photo below.

View of the Kexholm fortress of the 17th - 18th centuries

Right next to the fortress there is a memorial plaque stating that it was here that the legendary Rurik died in 879. The memorial plaque was installed in 2004, and Staraya Ladoga also claims to be the final resting place of Rurik; very little historical information on this matter has been preserved, so it is impossible to reliably say anything about Prince Rurik and his resting place.

The stone says that it was here that Rurik died in 879

The Korela fortress stands on the banks of the Vuoksa flood, a very picturesque place in itself. There is a park around the fortress.

Backwater on Vuoksa

Below is a plan of the Korela fortress, in reality it is not very large; the entire tour, including two museum halls and a souvenir shop, will take no more than 1.5 hours, but if you hurry, you can do it in 30 minutes.

Plan of the Korela fortress

The Korelu fortress can be put on a par with the Finnish Savonlinna, Koporye, Ivangorod fortress, Shlisselburg. All these fortresses took part in the Russian-Swedish confrontation, which ended in 1721 along with the Northern War.

In summer, entrance to the fortress is paid, but the fee is only 30 rubles.

Entrance to the Korela fortress

Nowadays, the Old Arsenal houses a souvenir shop and an art salon, where products of local craftsmen are presented.

Old Arsenal (1591) Artillery House

In the New Arsenal (1776) there is a local history museum, which we visited. The entrance ticket costs only 60 rubles, children are free. The museum has only 2 halls. Various finds of archaeologists, ancient Swedish and Russian armor, historical documents and newspapers are presented.

Dress of a Swedish knight in a museum

In the second hall of the museum, many documents are presented in Finnish; now in the territory of the Republic of Karelia there are up to 40,000 people who speak Finnish; the Karelian language, also widespread in the republic, is closest to the Finnish language.

The history of the creation of the Kexholm regiment and its daughter Maria of Kexholm is interesting, but this is a completely different story. In the museum it is illustrated with old photographs.

Hall in the museum

Another museum hall is located in the Round Gate Tower. There are gates on display there, covered with Swedish armor in 1710 on the instructions of Peter I himself. The armor is very rusty and anyone can pick at it with their finger.

Round gate tower

Once upon a time, the wives and children of Emelyan Pugachev himself were kept in this tower.

Round gate tower

At the time when the tower became a prison, there was heating, wooden floors and furniture, but none of this has survived to this day.

After the wives and children of Emelyan Pugachev, the Decembrists A.P. Baryatinsky, I.I. Gorbachevsky, and M.M. Spiridonov entered the prison. In the center of the tower there is an entrance to an underground passage. Previously, it led to a fortress that existed on a neighboring island.

Round gate tower inside the Monument on the territory of the Korela fortress

What to see when traveling as a child

A tourist with a child can visit any attraction in Priozersk. The unique architecture and unusual nature will not leave your child indifferent. But if your child wants children's entertainment, visit the following places:

• monument "Mowgli and Bagheera";
• sculpture to the characters of “Thumbelina”;
• recreation park on Kamenisty Island.

Monument "Mowgli and Bagheera"

“Mowgli and Bagheera” is a sculpture dedicated to the heroes of R. Kipling’s book. This monument is more than 50 years old, and its author was the sculptor B. Karagod, who immediately after finishing his studies came to Priozersk for an internship. The monument represents the figure of Mowgli sitting next to Bagheera. The sculpture is installed on a low stone pedestal, to which steps lead, so this place is very popular with children. Kids sit on the panther figure and hug it while parents are busy taking photos.

At one time, this sculpture was the first monument in Russia to an Indian boy who grew up in the Jungle. Later, similar objects began to appear in other cities.

The monument to “Mowgli and Bagheera” is very popular among children.
The monument to the heroes of “The Jungle Book” is located in Petrovsky Square.

Sculpture of a toad from “Thumbelina”

The figure of a giant toad from the fairy tale about Thumbelina is installed not far from the Mowgli sculpture. A large green toad sits on a stone slab, and next to it in a large flower stands Thumbelina herself. The monument is cared for and, if necessary, restored, but in 2001, vandals destroyed part of the sculpture. For 13 years, the pedestal was decorated with a lonely toad; in 2014, a new figure was installed instead of the old Thumbelina.

Alas, the monument to the heroes from the fairy tale “Thumbelina” often suffers from vandals

Recreation park on Kamenisty Island

Recreation Park on Kamenisty is an amazingly beautiful forested park area on a separate island. This island is also called Rocky Island (Kalliosaari - “rocky island”). Like most attractions in Priozersk, Kamenisty has its own rich history. From the 17th to the 18th centuries there were defensive structures here, which have not survived to this day. In Soviet times, there was a mud bath on the island, where residents from different regions of the country came. Therapeutic mud was extracted from Lake Vuoksa. Currently, the island is a picturesque park with a rocky landscape.

I've been to rocky places. This nature, I must say, is amazing. If you forget for a while where you are, you can feel like a Viking. What is also surprising here is that in the summer heat it is cool in such places (the stones cool down during the night, and during the day they are cool). The main thing is to wear comfortable shoes: sneakers with thin soles can cause tired feet.

The park on Kamenisty Island offers fresh air, boulders, lots of water and centuries-old trees

You can get to the island on foot: you need to walk to Beregovaya Street, then cross the railway tracks and turn right. The park is located in the central part of the island.

Interesting places to relax with children

Priozersk has specially equipped complexes for families with children: entertainment centers with slot machines, bathhouse complexes with children's pools, cinemas with a repertoire of children's cartoons, tourist centers with sports equipment for children from 3 years old.

Family Club "Ocean"

The leisure and recreation center includes a bath complex, a Finnish sauna, a phyto-barrel, and relaxation rooms for children.

In the “Ocean” there is a swimming pool with hydromassage, a specially equipped small pool with a slide and toys, balls, and armbands for children. The complex is located on Bumazhnikov Street 11.

Entertaining

The complex includes several recreation areas:

1. Games on video simulators from 25 rubles.
2. Interactive 7D attraction from 50 rub.
3. Short 3D cartoons from 25 rub.
4. Cafe with fresh pastries, a wide range of drinks and sweets.

The center is located on Zavodskaya str. 2.

Water adventures

Center for rental of boats, sports and tourist equipment. Cost from two hundred rubles. Providing consultation with a specialist, organizing water and hiking trips. Conducting tournaments, battles, relay races, water sports races. Located at: Beregovaya street 1

Sablinskie caves

Recommend a place

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Sablinsky caves are old underground workings where quartz sand was once mined for glass production. Now these artificial caves are visited with curiosity by tourists. In addition to them, in the surrounding area you can look at ancient burial mounds, visit the former estate of Count Alexei Tolstoy - the Pustynka farmstead, and see the place where Alexander Nevsky stayed with his army before going against the Swedes.

Sablinsky caves appeared at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries. St. Petersburg needed a lot of glass; active construction was underway in the city. Natural reserves lasted until about the 40s of the last century. Abandoned caves began to gradually collapse

They still require caution during inspection. The labyrinths of underground mines are complex

Tourists are usually offered a tour of four large caves - Verevka, Shtany, Zhemchuzhnaya, Pomoika - and several small ones. These extreme places are located near St. Petersburg, in the Tosnensky district. You will have to travel 40 kilometers from the northern capital to explore the underground kingdom of Sablino.

Tips for staying in Priozersk

Tourists should consider a few basic tips when preparing for their trip:

• if you are traveling to Priozersk by car, remember the speed limit: in some places the road looks like a mountain serpentine;
• In the evening it is cool near the reservoirs, so you need to take warm clothes with you;
• if you are going to visit wooded areas and parks, do not forget to wear closed clothing that will protect against ticks, mosquitoes and mosquitoes;
• take care of a spare mobile phone: a wet mobile phone is no help;
• Carry a sufficient amount of cash with you: taxi drivers and ferry drivers do not always accept cards;
• Prepare maps of the city, islands and entire region in advance: purchase a paper guide or download a special application.

Photo gallery: useful maps

A map of the islands is needed in order to navigate on the water. No trip is complete without a tourist map. A map of the area is needed for those who travel by personal car.

Metochion of the Valaam Monastery

On the territory of the old cemetery there is a courtyard of the Valaam Holy Transfiguration Monastery, created through the efforts of Patriarch Alexy II in 1990.

On its land there are two existing churches - the old Church of All Saints and the new Church of the Nativity of Christ. There are also several chapels here, in particular the chapel of St. Arseny. The monastery refectory is famous for its delicious pastries. Monks and workers live in the cell building and work on their own farm.

In the 90s on Vuoksi, the courtyard now has its own pier, from where pilgrims and necessary cargo are sent to the island of Valaam.

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery

The construction of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery began in the 14th century. The monks did not cut down a single tree; they only used those that had been knocked down by the wind. They barely had time to complete the construction and the number of monastic brethren increased to 600 inhabitants when Swedish troops began to penetrate here, and the monastery fell into disrepair.

Peter the Great did not particularly favor monasteries and monks, but he could not refuse the abbot of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, who asked for the restoration of the Valaam monastery. And construction began again on the islands. And the tests continued: new wooden buildings were destroyed by fire

Elizaveta Petrovna paid special attention to the monastery, helped in its restoration, but what could the 11 monks who remained in the ruined monastery do, even with the support of the empress!

And yet the monastery rose. A new period of prosperity began in the 19th century, when Father Damascene ruled the monastery with a firm hand. He introduced a strict rule: a monk who came to Valaam could no longer leave it. Construction was carried out under the guidance of the best architects. It was then that a water supply system was built on Valaam, and regular communication with St. Petersburg was established. The monastery at this time had its own small fleet.

By the beginning of the 20th century, 1,000 people lived here. Russian sovereigns also came here as pilgrims: Alexander the First and Alexander the Second; Russian writers, artists and philosophers sought to gain wisdom here from the Valaam elders: Roerich, Shishkin, Kuindzhi, Leskov.

It was not easy for the monastery at a time when Valaam turned out to be Finnish territory. Russian Orthodox monastery in a Lutheran-Protestant country! It got to the point that services had to be conducted in Finnish. But every cloud has a silver lining. The involuntary “emigration” saved the monastery from ruin, but complete desolation awaited it ahead. Before the liberation of Valaam by the Soviet army, the monks, driven by fear of reprisals, left the island and subsequently founded a monastery in Finland, which they called New Valaam. And on the orphaned island, they first opened a school for young boys, and then a boarding house for the disabled.

Many years passed, and in 1989, on Valaam, on the significant day of memory of St. Andrew the First-Called, six monks landed on Valaam. A new life began for the old monastery.

Other interesting places

For travelers without wheels, free walks around the city are ideal options. While walking, you can meet a lot of interesting things and visit places where guidebooks will never lead you. The city of Priozersk, whose attractions are open to tourists not only in the city center, but also on the outskirts, invites you to meet and explore the Museum of Local Lore, the monument to Peter the Great, the monument to Rurik, the monument to the defenders of the Karelian Isthmus, as well as the only monument to Mowgli on the territory of the Russian Federation. Tanks of the Great Patriotic War are installed in front of the main entrance to the Korela fortress. They were installed in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in World War II. The ISU-152 and the IS-3 tank are real combat vehicles that now guard the entrance to the park and the Old Fortress.

How long does it take to explore the city?

The city of Priozersk can be explored in 1 day. It takes more time to visit at least 3-4 islands, and it is the road and crossing that takes a lot of time, and not just getting to know the sights. Although tourists traveling as part of an excursion group barely have time to explore the city and several islands in a day.

Do I need to check into a hotel?

Priozersk is a small town, so there are few hotels here. The most popular among tourists is, perhaps, the Korela Hotel. There is always a free room, the service is unobtrusive, and the services are provided at the proper level. This hotel has the title of “three-star”, but it has free Wi-Fi, laundry, and pets are allowed. Room prices start from 2500 rubles. The Korela Hotel is located on Kalinina Street in the city center.

The Korela Hotel in Priozersk enjoys the trust of tourists with its small but cozy rooms.

White Lake

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White Lake is located in the Palace Park of the Gatchina Museum-Reserve. The lake was created artificially in the second half of the 18th century. Due to the construction of a dam on the Teplaya River, White Lake was born. It is relatively small, its length is just over a kilometer and its width is only 350 meters.

Under Empress Catherine II, reconstruction of the entire park in the Gatchina region began. The White Lake, together with the Silver Lake, is located in the center of the English Garden, laid out on the territory of the park. To make the lake picturesque and beautiful, its shore was artificially indented, making small bays, capes, and creating several small islands in the lake itself.

Now on the shores of White Lake there are several beautiful pavilions and a boat station with rental boats and catamarans. The lake is home to fish: roach, perch, crucian carp, pike, burbot. Sometimes you can see muskrats, black swans fly in.

Sights of the city and surrounding area - photos and descriptions

Not only in the city itself, but also in its surroundings there are many interesting monuments. The area passed from the hands of one state to another more than once, and this fact was reflected in many historical sites.

Architectural objects

• Korela Fortress. The fortress is located in the very center of the city on an island of the Vuoksa River and is considered the main attraction of Priozersk. Korela was founded in the 13th-14th centuries, but only a stone building from the 16th century, rebuilt by the Swedes, has survived to this day.

On the territory of Korela there are many historical and architectural sites, including museums and towers.

Central square. The monument to V.I. Lenin proudly stands on the main square of the city. Around the square there are cafes, hotels, and administrative buildings.

Religious buildings

1. Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The cathedral was built in the first half of the 19th century in the Russian-Byzantine style. The architect of the project was L. Visconti from France. The cathedral was closed and reopened several times. Now the temple is under restoration, services are held there twice a day.

Lutheran Church. The church was built in the 30s of the 20th century in the style of Finnish romanticism. At the end of the 20th century, a fire occurred in the building, destroying almost all of the interior space. Restoration is currently underway, and the church is temporarily closed.

Read the article about what other fascinating places to visit in Karelia.

Estate of the Priozersky courtyard of the Valaam Monastery. On the territory of the estate there are two churches: the Church of the Nativity of Christ and the Church of All Saints. The latter was built in the 90s of the 19th century in the neo-Russian style and is distinguished by its elegant forms. In the estate's courtyard they sell delicious and inexpensive homemade baked goods.

Museums

• The building of the Suvorov Arsenal on the territory of the Korela fortress.
• Museum-fortress "Korela".
• Museum of Living History of the Viking Age in the village of Berezino.
• Museum of Winter History in the village of Petrovskoye.

Natural monuments

1. Konevets Island. Located in Lake Ladoga, its outline resembles a horse’s head. There is a huge boulder on the island, presumably dating back to the Ice Age. At this stone, until the 14th century, people made sacrifices to the gods so that they would send them rich, fertile cattle. Then the holy Arseny Konevsky sailed to the island and expelled demonic entities from the stone.

In honor of the holy savior, the Konevsky Monastery was built on the island.

Vuoksa River. This is the largest river in Northern Europe, connecting Lake Ladoga with the Saimaa River. During its history, Vuoksa changed its course several times, so it has a large number of branches. In the warm season, the river bank is full of tents, boats, bonfires, and in winter - fishermen. In the waters of Vuoksa there are burbot, bream, ruffe, and roach.

Petrovsky Square. Within the city there is a wonderful park not far from the central square. In the park there is a monument to Mowgli, which is more than half a century old.

Lutheran Church

One of the most recognizable sights of Priozersk is the former Lutheran church, built in 1930 according to the design of the Finnish architect Armas Lindgren . This was not the first Lutheran church in the city - the penultimate building was erected in 1759, but it could not accommodate everyone and by the second decade of the 20th century it had become very dilapidated. The new building, which has survived to this day, was built practically by “the whole world” - donations from townspeople, the Savo Jaeger Regiment stationed in Käkisalmi, government loans, as well as investments from several large banks in Finland. The new building of the Lutheran church was made in the style of Finnish romanticism with external decoration made of red granite brought from Ladoga . In 1937, a 36-register organ , and Godenhyelmin’s altar painting “The Crucifixion” was moved from the old church building.
In addition, the room was equipped with a heating system, which made it possible to use it for its intended purpose all year round. The fate of the new Lutheran church turned out to be sad. In 1940, the building was severely damaged as a result of Soviet aircraft bombing. After Kyakisalmi (Priozersk) transferred to Soviet jurisdiction, the premises were used for the needs of the NKVD. The events of the Great Patriotic War in the first half favored the Finns, and they were able to return the city to their fold, restoring the church by 1944. But according to the peace treaty signed in Moscow, Finland ceded Käkisalmi (Priozersk) to the Soviet Union. The religious building was closed and transferred to the needs of the local party branch. Later a House of Culture was opened there. In the mid-2000s, the building began to be put in order with the help of Finnish restorers. Currently, it hosts exhibitions of decorative and applied arts.

Address : Leningradskaya, 12, Priozersk, Leningrad region, 188760

Monrepos Park

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Mon Repos is a rocky landscape park on the shores of the Vyborg Bay. The name Mon Repos is translated from French as “my peace”, “my rest”.

The official name of the park is the State Historical-Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve "Park Monrepos". This is the only rock landscape park of the 18th-19th centuries in Russia.

The total area of ​​the museum-reserve is about 163 hectares. In 2010, Mon Repos Park turned 250 years old. In the 18th century, the owner of Mon Repos was the chief commandant of the Vyborg fortress P.A. Stupishin, then the Vyborg Governor-General Prince F. of Württemberg, and from 1788 to 1943 the Monrepos estate belonged to the family of barons Nikolai, with whose name the prosperity of this place is associated. It was Ludwig Heinrich Nikolai and his son Paul who created the park on the estate, which became so famous in Russia and Europe. The most famous architects, artists and sculptors of that time took part in the creation of Mon Repos.

The estate complex is a monument of classicism architecture from the early 19th century.

The museum was created here in 1988.

Church of St. Andrew the First-Called

Despite the fact that the temple was built quite recently - in 2000 - every year it is gaining popularity among guests of Priozersk and its outskirts. And it’s all about the unusual place chosen for the construction of the church - on a tiny rocky island on the Vuokse River . This is the only temple of its kind, which was even included in the Guinness Book of Records .
For a long time, it was possible to get to the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called only by boat in the summer, or on ice in the winter. But the tourist attractiveness of the object made it possible to create a more convenient demi-season path - a metal bridge with openwork railings. On the one hand, this, of course, destroyed the romantic appeal of the place, and, on the other hand, it added a new location for admiring the local landscapes and unique northern nature - right from the middle of the bridge.

Address : Vasilyevo, Priozersky district, Leningrad region, 188765

Priozersk on the map

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Priozersk is located in the northwestern part of Russia.

Where is?

The city is part of the Leningrad region and is located on the Karelian Isthmus between the banks of the branches of the Vuoksa River.

You can get to the town from St. Petersburg:

• by train - trains depart from the Finsky Station in St. Petersburg 8-10 times a day (2-3 hours on the way);

by bus - buses run from the Parnas and Devyatkino metro stations every hour (travel time - 2.5 hours);

by personal car - along highway 129 St. Petersburg - Sortavala (there may be traffic jams in the summer).

The distance from Priozersk to St. Petersburg is 145 kilometers.

Excursion areas

Popular excursions include the following:

1. water excursion on Lake Ladoga;
2. travel to the monasteries of the city and nearby settlements;
3. departure from Priozersk to Valaam and back;
4. bus tour throughout Karelia;
5. excursion with fishing on lakes and rivers.

Due to common borders, Russians living in the northwest often visit Finland. Read here which Finnish spa hotels are the most popular.

Road

The A-121 Sortavala highway leads from St. Petersburg to Priozersk and further to Sortavala. It is currently being actively reconstructed. Part of the road is a modern four-lane highway, two lanes in each direction, with a median, reflectors and lighting in certain areas.

Reconstructed highway A-121 “Sortavala”

Closer to Priozersk it ends and turns into an older two-lane road. Finally, beyond Priozersk to the border with Karelia there is a very winding dirt road (the asphalt has apparently been washed away). Next to it, construction of a new highway is underway at an accelerated pace, so that in a few years it will be possible to travel from St. Petersburg to Sortavala in a breeze.

Construction of the A-121 Sortavala highway near Berezovo (August 2018)

Neighborhood

Church of All Saints who shone forth in the Russian Land in Sosnovo

Construction of the temple began in 1993 with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II. Work was carried out until 2004.

Now in the village of Sosnovo there is a whole temple complex, made in the traditions of classical Russian wooden architecture.

Next to the church there is a high - 28 meters - bell tower. The temple itself is slightly lower - only 23 meters. It is decorated with 12 domes, the floors inside are lined with Byzantine mosaics, and the walls are made of logs. The complex also includes a belfry and the Holy Gate.

Particles of the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh are considered one of the main shrines of the church. They were laid during construction between the seventh and eighth crowns in the eastern wall of the altar.

The iconostasis for the temple was made in Greece, and on site it was supplemented with Byzantine carvings and Doric columns. Various church accessories were brought from Greece: candlesticks, proskynathria, Greek chandeliers, etc.

Most of the icons were painted by local artist Anna Prokofieva. They are also made in the traditional Byzantine style.

Church employees are active in social activities. In particular, they do a lot of work with young people, organizing hikes, tent camps, lectures, etc.

Lutheran Church in Melnikov

Address: pos. Melnikovo, st. Kalinina, 5

The Finnish church is called Räisälä. This was the name of Melnikovo until 1948. Räisälä was built in 1911 by the architect J. Stenbeck in the style of Finnish romanticism. The granite-brick temple was preceded by three wooden churches. The first appeared in 1635.

Opposite is the cemetery of Soviet soldiers, and nearby is the burial place of Finnish soldiers.

Nowadays the church is not operational, but is maintained in good condition. Former residents of the village of Räisälä and their descendants look after their shrine.

You can visit the former temple freely. Currently, within these walls there is a House of Culture, a village store and a warehouse.

On significant Lutheran holidays, services are held in the church. Anyone can visit them.

Pukinniemi Manor

Coordinates: 61.162494, 29.870995 Address: village. BerezovoHow to get there: 23 km from Priozersk along the A-121 highway, travel time - 20 minutes

The estate is located in the village of Berezovo, formerly called Pukinniemi, which translated from Finnish means “goat cape”. The settlement has been known since 1500.

This place is associated with the name of the Russian admiral Peter Sievers, a native of Sweden. For almost thirty years he successfully served the Imperial Navy. But he made a lot of ill-wishers. Following a false denunciation, Empress Anna Ioannovna sent him into exile in a village given to him.

The current house was built in 1880 on higher ground. From here you can see the view of Lake Ladoga. Despite the fact that the estate passed from one owner to another, it was well preserved. In 11 rooms you can see antique decorative interior elements. There are also stoves with tiles left. In addition, several centuries-old trees and a partially larch alley survived.

In the 30s this territory belonged to Finland. It was at this time that the estate grew into a farm with a glacier, a stable, a forge and a mill. However, these buildings have not survived. During Soviet times, the house housed a school and then a recreation center.

Now the estate belongs to the St. Petersburg University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. The commandant lives in the house. He also conducts excursions for those interested.

Museum of Living History "Streletsky Ostrog" in Berezovo

The founder of the unusual museum, Alexander Testov, created a collective image of the forts of the 16th and 17th centuries. Similar defensive fortresses were built in border areas throughout Rus'.

Streletsky fort offers excursions and reconstructed battles. Schoolchildren are brought here to visually study history. Here guests will be introduced to the life of warriors, weapons, and clothing. The guides themselves are dressed in traditional Streltsy red caftans.

Also in the museum you can:

• take a course of medieval combat training;
• take a photo with a shooting weapon;
• take a master class on blacksmithing and coinage;
• live in the barracks;
• go to the bathhouse.

On the territory of the museum you can help with the construction of new facilities, as well as purchase local products: jam, mead, kvass, etc.

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Cathedral of the city of Priozersk is a unique temple that was not originally intended for believers of the Orthodox faith.
Over the almost century-long history of the city as part of the Kingdom of Sweden, there was not a single Orthodox parish in Priozersk (then called Kexholm), but a Lutheran church was erected in 1692. After the capture of Kexholm on September 8, 1710 by Russian troops under the leadership of Robert Bruce, the Lutheran church was converted into an Orthodox cathedral and illuminated in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - it was this holiday that the Orthodox celebrated on the day of the fall of the Swedish garrison of the fortress. Services in the former Lutheran church were held until 1836, when cracks appeared in the walls of the church and part of the bell tower collapsed. It was decided to build a new cathedral for the city in the Byzantine-Russian style and the Empire style that was dominant at that time. The main construction costs were compensated by the local merchant A.V. Lisitsyn (about 16,000 royal rubles), but the main architect was the French specialist Louis Tullius Johamm Visconsi . The illumination of the new cathedral took place in 1847.

During the years of Soviet power, the church was closed and until 1991 it was used as premises for various secular institutions. With the destruction of the USSR, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. It remained practically undamaged over almost a century of use other than for its intended purpose - minor restoration work on the facade and interior decoration made it possible to quickly return it to its original appearance.

Address : st. Kalinina, 9, Priozersk, Leningrad region, 188760