Sights of Sortavala: Karelian nature

Sortavala is a small European town on the shores of Ladoga, which, by the will of fate, became part of Russia. This is one of the most ancient cities in Karelia, and the sights of Sortavala are of great value and are included in the list of historical and cultural heritage of the all-Russian level.

The city attracts with its architecture, which incorporates the features of cozy European cities, northern Ladoga landscapes and the proximity of the island of Valaam. This is the second most popular city among tourists in Karelia after Petrozavodsk - both lovers of outdoor activities and pilgrims heading to the Valaam Monastery come here.

Interesting things about Sortavala

The lands on which Sortavala is located today were inhabited by the ancestors of modern Karelians more than 8 thousand years ago.
The historical name of the city is Serdovolye. For centuries before the advent of Peter the Great, it was constantly conquered by either Russian or Swedish soldiers. Regular changes from hand to hand and the outflow of the local population turned the city into a run-down and impoverished village of Serdobol - as wild rose was called in these places. Only Empress Catherine II managed to give the settlement a second life, returning it to the status of a city.
After the revolution of 1917, the city again became Finnish territory - it was then that it received its current name. As a result of the Russian-Finnish war of 1939, it became Soviet, but not for long - after a couple of years Sortavala was occupied by the Finnish army. After the liberation of Karelia, the settlement was finally transferred to the USSR, but the Finnish name was preserved.
Sortavala has been included in the list of historical cities of Russia since 1990.
The population of the city is 18.8 thousand people.
Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Karelians and Finns live in Sortavala.
Sortavala is the only city in the republic that has preserved its historical appearance. The nearly 200 buildings in the city center are built in a variety of styles.
The name of the city is pronounced in the Finnish manner - with emphasis on the first syllable. The word "Sortavala" is not inclined.
The city has the youngest monument to Lenin in Russia - it dates back to 2010.
For some time, the famous Russian philosopher and artist N.K. lived in Sortavala. Roerich.
The distance to St. Petersburg and Petrozavodsk is approximately the same - about 250 km, to the border with Finland - 60 km, to the island of Valaam - 42 km.
The nearest city is Lakhdenpokhya, located 42 kilometers away.
The central street of Sortavala is Karelskaya.

Tips for staying in the city

Sortavala is a city, most of whose attractions are natural monuments. That is why the bulk of tourists come here during the warm season. It starts in June and ends in August. July is the hottest month of the year - the average temperature reaches 20 degrees. In June you can catch white nights, which are much whiter than in St. Petersburg. You can also plan a trip for May or September; the city is much colder - 12–14 degrees, but there are much fewer tourists. In winter in Sortavala it is not too frosty - on average minus 6 degrees, but looking at waterfalls, parks and lakes is not as interesting as in summer. But winter holidays in Sortavala also have their own charms - underwater fishing, visiting museums, winter sports.

It is traditionally believed that white nights in Karelia last from May 26 to July 17

When planning a trip, you need to take into account that you will be able to explore all the memorable places of Sortavala and the surrounding area in only two or three days:

During the first of these, it is worth visiting the city’s museums and studying its fascinating architecture.
In the second, it’s worth going to explore the natural monuments located near Sortavala.
Having three days left, the last of them can be taken to visit the island of Valaam.

Tourists will not have problems with accommodation, because even though the city is small, there are plenty of hotels here. They are located in different parts of the city, but even if you settle on the outskirts, you can get to the center on foot in fifteen minutes. Public transport in Sortavala is not developed; there are mainly buses going to nearby villages and villages.

When visiting Sortavala, it is impossible not to bring a gift to your loved ones. There are a lot of souvenir products here and they are quite varied:

Magnets, keychains, dishes with the name of the city and surrounding area - Ruskeala and Valaam.
Balms. Karelian balms are infused with herbs, berries and roots that grow in the local forests. The product is alcoholic, but has a healing effect.
Berries and jam. You can pick northern berries yourself or buy them from local residents. They also sell jam made not only from berries, but also, for example, from lilacs or cones.

Cloudberry jam is a popular Karelian souvenir
Tea. The most popular tea drink among tourists is Ivan tea. It will make a great useful and eco-friendly gift.
Shungite. Karelia is the place where this dark mineral is mined. Beads, creams, shampoos and much more are made from it here, because the stone has cleansing and bactericidal properties.
Birch bark products. Karelian birch differs from ordinary birch - it has a beautiful pattern and increased strength. Therefore, a box, dishes or kitchen utensils made from its bark will last much longer.

Museum named after Kronid Gogolev

Website: www.artgogolev.ru

Kronid Gogolev is a famous Karelian craftsman, the author of many paintings and wooden figures, and a master of relief wood carving. In his works he reflected the life and nature of the Russian North.

The museum, dedicated to the work of Kronid Gogolev, carefully preserves and presents not only unique examples of wood carving, but also paintings made in different techniques. Vernissage workers regularly carry out mass work - they give lectures, conduct master classes and excursions for everyone.

On weekends, the institution organizes Open Days, where visitors are not only introduced to the amazing creativity of wood carving masters, but also told about the rich history and culture of the city.

Interesting Facts

1. Philologists are still arguing whether the name of the city Sortavala is inclined. The stress falls on the first syllable.

2. The city is closely associated with the number 3:

3 dates of birth,
3 titles,
The population changed completely 3 times,
was part of 3 states.

3. In terms of population it is in 5th place, in terms of tourist attractiveness it is in 2nd place after the capital of Karelia.

4. City monuments:

wooden architecture - 165,
historical - 17,
archaeological - 8,
cultural - 2.

5. Sortavala is located closest to Valaam, therefore it is considered its gate.

6. A personal exhibition complex of the famous woodcarver K. Gogolev has been opened in the city.

Sortavala, whose sights reflect the rich cultural and historical past of the city, is especially interesting for its architecture, which is not typical for the Russian northern lands, as well as its original nature.

Author: Marina K.

Article design: Mila Friedan

Regional Museum of the Northern Ladoga Region

Website: museum-sortavala.ru Address: Ladoga Flotilla embankment, building 5.

This is the only institution in the city that functions both as a museum and as a local history center. Here you can get acquainted with the history of the region and see unique exhibitions, including the armor of Swedish warriors, samples of rare rocks, works of Karelian folk craftsmen on the subjects of their epic “Kalevala”, photographs, handicrafts and much more.

It must be said that the institution has a fairly large number of interesting exhibits for a regional-level museum - perhaps this can explain its enormous popularity among tourists.

Monument to the Rune Singer

Rune singers were the name given to performers of runes—epic folk songs of the Finno-Ugric peoples. Often the singing was accompanied by playing the kantele, a folk musical instrument of the Karelians.

Getting to such a landmark of Sortavala as the monument to the rune singer is not difficult - just go to the park on Vainamainen Square. The statue was installed in Sortavala in 1935 and dedicated to the centennial anniversary of the first edition of the world famous epic “Kalevala”.

The statue of a gray-bearded old man holding a kantele on his knees is a collective image dedicated to all Karelian rune singers. However, a number of sources say that this is a monument to a specific person - the rune singer Petri Shemeikka, who lived in these parts in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Ancient settlement Paaso (Spasskoye)

How to get there: with an excursion from Sortavala, or on your own, along the A-129 highway. Navigator coordinates: 61.732262°, 30.698997°

The site of the Paaso slope not only offers panoramic views of Sortavala and the surrounding area.

Here was an ancient settlement of the Korela people (not Karelians, but specifically Korelas - a mixture of different Finno-Ugric tribes). It’s very easy to find the path up: stand with your back to the highway, and there will be an inconspicuous path on your right. Local residents will tell you the way.

St. Nicholas Church

St. Nicholas Church, also located in the historical center of Sortavala, is one of the first stone buildings in this city of the 2nd half of the 19th century. It is impossible to pass by this stunningly beautiful snow-white building with sky-blue domes and gilded domes, almost entirely built at the expense of the capital merchant Eliseev.

The temple is crowned with a large dome, on top of which there is a so-called anchor cross - an element inherent in religious buildings of the pre-Mongol period. Today, both the church building itself and the surrounding areas are constantly being improved.

Self-guided walking route

For self-examination, you can suggest the following walking route.

Väinämöinen Square
Monument to the Rune Singer.
Karelian Bridge.
Leander's house.
Siitonen merchants' house.
The building of a wooden fire station with a tower.
Finnish bank.
Exhibition Center K. Gogolev.
House with a syringe.
Church of St. John the Evangelist.
St. Nicholas Church.
Memorial Complex.
Finnish cemetery.
Town Hall.
Ladoga fortress.
Museum of the Northern Ladoga Region.
Vakkosalmi Park.

Karelian Bridge

Karelian Bridge Sortavala
The city of Sortavala is located on the shore of Lake Lyappajarvi, which is part of the waters of Lake Ladoga and dissects the city into two halves. The Karelian Bridge, built in 1932, connects the city and is a continuation of Karelian Street. The length of the reinforced concrete bridge is 220 meters, width is 11 meters.

Excursion routes

To explore Sortavala and all its attractions you will need at least 3 days. If your stay is limited, you can use the suggested excursion routes.

For connoisseurs of architectural and historical places, a tour of cultural Sortavala is suitable. The beginning of the tour is the central part of the city, where the main architectural monuments and historical buildings are concentrated. The program includes the Karelian Bridge, the town hall, and churches. The tour ends at the K. Gogolev Exhibition Center.

The program includes exploring natural attractions. Trip to the village. Ruskeala to visit the mountain park and Ruskeala waterfalls and marble gorges.

Architecture of Sortavala

The unique architectural ensemble of Sortavala took shape over decades, mainly from the end of the 20th century to 1939. Stone buildings organically alternate with wooden ones. In total, about 200 historical buildings created by famous Finnish architects in different styles have been preserved in Sortavala. Here you can see eclecticism, a type of modernism - Finnish national romanticism, pseudo-gothic, neoclassical and functionalism.

Town Hall

Former town hall building

Address: st. Lenina, house 18. Year of construction: 1885. Style: eclecticism. Architect: Frans Anatolius Sjöström.

The Sortavala Town Hall building is located in the city center, next to the Lenin monument, and is the oldest in the city. Once upon a time, the city council met here and the burgomaster worked here. The main hall of the town hall was the venue for all significant city events. During Soviet times, there was a party office here, and later a library, which moved out in 2013 due to the disrepair of the building. Now the building of the former town hall is empty.

Sortavala forestry

Address: st. Ladozhskaya, house 1. Year of construction: 1900. Style: Finnish romanticism. Architect: Johan Alvar Åkerman

The Sortavala forestry building once housed a Finnish hotel and store.

Leander House

Address: st. Karelskaya, house 13. Year of construction: 1905. Style: Finnish romanticism. Architects: Eliel Saarinen, Armas Lindgren and Hermann Gesellius.

This most famous architectural landmark of Sortavala now houses a branch of Sberbank. Initially, Leander's house was built for the National Joint Stock Bank; the bank's management lived on the second floor. The customer of the building was Oscar Leander, a famous architect and director of the above-mentioned bank.

United Nordic Bank

Address: st. Karelskaya, house 19. Year of construction: 1913. Style: Finnish romanticism. Architect: Uno Ulberg

The building was built at the beginning of the 20th century for the United Bank of the Nordic Countries. Nowadays the Russian Post and Post Bank are located here.

The building of the Sortavala girls' school

Building of the Sortavala girls' school (1911)

Address: st. Gagarina, house 14. Year of construction: 1911. Style: pseudo-Gothic. Architect: Johan Jakob Arenberg

Once upon a time there was one of the best Finnish schools; in Soviet times there was a physical education college, a school, and a boarding school. Now the well-preserved building houses the district library.

Hotel Seurahuone

Address: st. Karelskaya, house 22. Year of construction: 1939. Style: functionalism. Architect: Erkki Huttunen

Hotel Seurahuone was built on the site of an old hotel as a multifunctional modern building. The previous building was built in 1909 by the architect Onni Tarjanne in the Nordic Art Nouveau style. During the Soviet years, the House of Officers was located here. Now there is a hotel, cafe, cinema and youth center.

Finnish bank

The building of the former Bank of Finland

Address: st. Väinämöinen, house 4. Year of construction: 1915. Style: neoclassicism. Architect: Uno Ulberg.

The building of the former Finnish Bank in Sortavala was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It is completely lined with granite, which gives the building a strict, monumental and slightly gloomy appearance, making it look like a medieval castle. The historical function of the building continues to this day - today a branch of the Bank of Russia is located here.

The best attractions in the vicinity of Sortavala:

Mountain Park "Ruskeala"

30 km from the city there is a park located on the site of an old marble quarry. By the 19th century, the quarry was mined out and abandoned. Gradually lakes and rivers formed here. The place is so beautiful that at the beginning of the third millennium, tourism infrastructure began to be developed here.

An incredibly beautiful place - you need to admire the Karelian nature here. Worthy of attention are the Marble Canyon, the Italian Quarry, and the Ruskeala Gap. In addition, the park is well-equipped - cafes, souvenir shops, and many observation platforms are available to visitors. Hotels and recreation centers are located nearby.

Address: Ruskeala, Mramornaya street, Republic of Karelia, Russia

Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 21:00; seven days a week

Entrance: for adults – 400 rubles, for children – 150 rubles, children under 7 years old free

Official website: https://ruskeala.ru/

Ruskeala waterfalls

Located on the Tohmajoki River, there are only 4 waterfalls. They are quite low (4 m), but are brown in color (there is a lot of iron in the local water).

It’s worth coming here to admire nature, stroll along the hanging bridges, and even go kayaking. There are a couple of cafes nearby that serve local fish, as well as a souvenir shop. By the way, this place is well known to TV viewers. The old film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” was filmed here.

Address: Ruskeala, Mramornaya street, Republic of Karelia, Russia

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 21:00;

Entrance: for adults – 200 rubles.

Official website: https://ruskeala.ru/

Karelian Zoo

A huge zoo (30 hectares) with local animals. The main emphasis is on ungulates - deer, llamas. Plus, more than 150 birds live here. Animals live in the most natural conditions possible.

The zoo will appeal to children - there is a contact department. Also here you can pet and feed sheep, rabbits, and ponies. Nearby there are camp sites for lovers of nature recreation and fishing.

Address: pos. Kirkkolahti, Republic of Karelia, Russia

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 19:00

Entrance: for adults – 500 rubles, for children – 300 rubles, children under 3 years old free

Official website: https://kareliazoo.ru/

Tohmajoki River

The river flowing near the city flows into Lake Ladoga. A very picturesque body of water, most tourists know Tohmajoki because of the Ruskial waterfalls, which are located in its flood.

But rafting connoisseurs appreciate the reservoir for its length of descent (from 45 km) with many rapids and dams. But such a journey takes about 3 days.

Address: Tokhmajoki River, Republic of Karelia, Russia

When to visit : any time

Free admission

Lake Janisjärvi

A natural attraction is a clean and in some places very deep lake (up to 57 meters). It is believed that the lake's depression is a trace of a fallen meteorite.

The lake attracts fishermen - there is a very diverse underwater world here. In addition, calm water and picturesque shores attract lovers of water recreation - there are convenient tourist centers nearby.

Address: Lake Yanisjarvi, Sortavala district, Republic of Karelia, Russia

When to visit: any time

Free admission

Doctor Winter's cottage

Country house on Cape Taruniemi. Time of creation 1909. The dacha belonged to a local native, surgeon and public figure Gustav Winter.

The estate has two floors - the first floor is decorated with stone, the second is made of wood. There is a park around the building with many coniferous plants. Now there is a park hotel here, but there is also a museum exhibition.

Address: Tarulinna village, Sortavala, Republic of Karelia, Russia

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Official website: https://dachawintera.ru/

The dacha of the pharmacist Jaskeläinen

The building was created in 1935 by the Finnish architect Blomsted in the style of romanticism and functionalism. The cottage is located on the shore of Kiryavalahti Bay, 20 km from Sortavala.

The attraction is interesting due to its harmonious fusion with the surrounding nature. Stone and wood were used in construction and decoration.

Since the middle of the century, the dacha has been occupied as a creative house for the Union of Composers, and there is a small hotel on the second floor.

Address: Kiryavalahti, Republic of Karelia, Russia

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Ladoga Skerries Park

A natural complex created to protect lake skerries (small islands). Untouched nature, dense forests, many birds and animals.

The place seems to be created for ecotourists. Here you can simply admire nature, or you can go boating, have a picnic and, of course, fish. You can stay at a camp site or just pitch a tent.

Address: Sortavala, Karelia, Russia

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Official website: https://weblab.karelia.ru/

Valaam Island

Strictly speaking, Valaam is located in the archipelago of the same name, 40 km away. But Sortavala is the closest city to the island, and everyone gets to Valaam through it. Natural beauty, historical heritage and active Orthodox monasteries make Valaam the center of northern tourism in Russia.

The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the Valaam Museum-Reserve and a number of monasteries (St. Vladimir, Red, Gethsemane), Mount Elion and Monastic Bay are interesting.

People come here to admire the monastery architecture, admire the landscapes, and go around the island by boat on the lake.

Address: Valaam Island, Republic of Karelia, Russia

When to visit: daily

Free admission

Ladoga lake

A huge lake (the largest in Europe) with colorful nature, sandy beaches and many islands. More than 10 rivers flow here, but only the Neva flows out.

Connoisseurs of active recreation like to come here - hiking, diving, rock climbing, kayaking. Another place is famous for its fishing. Plus, the islands of the lake are not only beautiful, but also the Valaam archipelago and the island of Riekkalansaari have an ancient history.

Address: Lake Ladoga, Republic of Karelia, Russia

When to visit: daily

Free admission

Mount Paaso

Mountain is a strong word, Paaso is a fairly gentle hill, 80 meters high. It has both natural and historical significance.

From here you can admire the picturesque nature of the city's surroundings. In addition, this is the site of a Karelian settlement of the 13th century. But nothing remains of the ancient buildings. People go up here along a hiking path to admire the forests and lakes that lie around.

Address: Mount Paaso, Republic of Karelia, Russia

When to go up: daily

Free admission

Läppäjärvi Bay

The city stretches on both sides of the Läppäjärvi Bay. A picturesque area overlooking a wide bay, there is a pier from which Meteors sail to Valaam, along the Ladoga skerries. A favorite place for tourists, you can take a walk along the embankment - a well-maintained street with cafes, souvenir shops, and benches.

It’s good for parents and children to walk here - admire the lake, feed the ducks. Closer to 2nd Pristanskaya Street there is a cozy square with benches and a small observation deck.

Address: Sortavala, Lyappajarvi Bay, Karelia, Russia

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Old Finnish cemetery

The history of this Sortavala landmark goes back about two hundred years and is shrouded in mysticism and mystery. Currently, the cemetery is in disrepair, but monuments and crypts, as well as inscriptions on them, are still well preserved. Being here, you not only touch the history of these places, but also seem to be immersed in an unknown other world, inaccessible to the common man.

The only unfortunate thing is that vandals regularly spoil the appearance of burials and tombstones with obscene inscriptions, and some particularly brave townspeople even have picnics here, leaving behind heaps of garbage.

central bank

Behind the Petri Shemeikko monument, on Väinämöinen Street, there is a building unique in its appearance - the Central Bank. In 1915 it was built for the Central Bank of Finland, and since 2010 it has housed the Central Bank of Russia. At first glance, the building seems as if it was carved into a monolithic rock, perhaps because the main facade is lined with large blocks of unique Serdobol granite - a material that was mined only on the shores of Ladoga.

There is no less pathos inside the building. Thus, the floor of the operating room is covered with mosaic slabs: small hexagonal tiles and large square ones. The walls are covered with narrow mahogany cladding panels, with numerous vertical bracings. Between the ceiling and the panels there is a profiled stone cornice with crackers located under it. The doors are made of mahogany and decorated with panels. If the Bank is open, be sure to take a look inside, it’s an impressive sight.

Bastion Historical Park

Website: vk.com/history_park_bastion Cost of visiting: 450 rubles, children - 350 rubles.

Bastion Park was opened in December 2022 and has become a popular attraction in Sortavala. Here on the shores of Lake Ladoga there is a living history museum of the Viking Age “Svartbjornborg” - a black bear fortress.

The museum is a Scandinavian house surrounded by fortress walls in the form of a palisade with towers. There is a shooting range, a working forge, a pier with wooden ships of the 10th-11th centuries and a collection of Viking clothing, weapons, and household items. Visitors can take pictures in historical costumes, touch exhibits,

Bondarev Museum

Military History Museum named after Colonel A.L. Bondarev on the territory of the Bastion historical park opened in May 2022 and is dedicated to the Soviet-Finnish armed conflicts of the 20th century.

Bondarev Andrey Leontievich - Hero of the Soviet Union, commander of the 168th Infantry Division, which in 1941 heroically held back the onslaught of Finnish troops near Sortavala. On August 12, the division was cut off from other parts of the Red Army and began to retreat. On August 21, 1941, Bondarev’s division managed to escape to the island of Valaam, preserving its military equipment. After 5 days she was transferred to Leningrad. A street in Sortavala is named after Bondarev.

The museum displays the finds of the Ladoga search party: uniforms of the Finnish army and the Red Army, weapons, ammunition, equipment and household items, personal belongings of soldiers.

Vakkosalmi Park

Vakkosalmi Park, laid out in the 2nd half of the 19th century in the west of Sortavala, is a place loved by many residents. Translated from Finnish, its name means “singing field” - city singing festivals used to take place here.

Now this place looks more like a dense forest than a landscaped park area, but despite this, city residents have been coming here for many years. Here you can leisurely stroll along the long alleys, sit on a bench with a book in your hands, or climb to the top of Mount Kuhavuori, which offers a beautiful panorama of the city and views of Lake Airanne.

Sortavala Town Hall

Another decoration of Sortavala is the small wooden building of the city hall, built in 1885. By the way, one of the few wooden buildings in Sortovala that survived the fire of 1903. Nowadays the former town hall houses the city library. On the facade, right under the roof, there is a window with an arched pediment - before the Second World War, the medallion of this window had the coat of arms of Sortavala on it. The roof of the building is topped with a small turret with a spire and a weather vane.

Ruskeala Mountain Park

Ruskeala Park is one of the most popular Karelian attractions, located on the territory of a former marble quarry. At the beginning of the 21st century, tourism infrastructure began to develop here - routes began to be laid, equipment rental points for outdoor activities appeared, and a little later hotels and guest houses began to be built.

Ruskeala waterfalls

Near the Ruskeala quarry there are the famous Ruskeala waterfalls, also called Tokhminskie. Tourists come here to enjoy the enchanting views of the harsh and wild nature of the Russian North.

Ruskeala waterfalls are streams of water falling from a height of four meters onto stones and mossy rocks. The water has a reddish tint due to the high concentration of iron salts. This combination of green forest, dark rocks and rust-colored water creates a stunningly beautiful picture.

Valaam Island

Valaam Island is located in the north of Lake Ladoga and is a famous tourist attraction throughout the country. You can get from Sortavala to Valaam by boat in about an hour.

First of all, pilgrims go to Valaam to visit the main local attraction - the Valaam monastery, but ordinary tourists will also like it here. The complex, founded 10 centuries ago, is a most valuable monument of Russian architecture. In the form in which the monastery exists now, it was built in the 18th century.

Best hotels in Sortavala

Related materials:

43 best attractions in Minsk,…
37 must-see attractions in Dubrovnik
28 best Ivanovo attractions that…
24 must-see attractions in Cappadocia
27 best attractions in Lipetsk that...
32 sights of Kronstadt that are worth visiting
20 best attractions in Belgium
29 best attractions in Orel,…
38 sights of Pskov recommended for…

Did you like the article? Share with friends: