Sights of Priozersk

The picturesque town of Priozersk, pleasant in all respects, is located 145 km from St. Petersburg. It has been known since 1295, when the Swedes attacked and destroyed the settlement of Korela. The Novgorodians defended this landmark patrimony and built a fortress here in 1310. But the town continued to wander from one ruler to another. Over the entire period of its existence, it visited the Principality of Novgorod, Muscovy, and the Kingdom of Sweden. Russian Empire, independent Finnish Republic, Soviet Union. Together with the authorities, the name of the city changed each time. It became Priozersk only in 1948. Such is the fate of any border settlement.

The layering of different cultures played a good role in the organization of tourism infrastructure. There is something to see, a place to relax, and a comfortable place to spend the night. The best hotels in Priozersk offer guests excellent accommodation conditions. It is worth paying attention to the Kexgolm hotel, the design hotel Tochka na karte Priozersk, and the central hotel Korela. They have a high rating among travelers. In 2021, the city celebrated its 727th anniversary. By the date, it especially blossomed, and also prepared for a new wave of tourists in the autumn-winter period.

The city's restaurants offer a variety of cuisine - from refined European to authentic Caucasian and Karelian-Finnish. There are many farms in the area that are engaged in fishing, so fresh delicacies are always served to the table. In the center there are two cafes that are in demand among visitors and city residents. These are “Point and Line on a Plane” and “Picnic”.

All the sights of the city can be visited in 5-6 hours. But this does not mean that this will be enough for the inquisitive traveler. After getting acquainted with the remarkable places of Priozersk, it is worth stopping and taking a ride through its surroundings. There are several car rental points in the city; hotel administrators will assist in finding a profitable option. You can go by public transport or use the services of tourist clubs. There are a large number of agencies on Ladoga organizing water trips along Lake Ladoga, to the Valaam archipelago and the Ladoga skerries. The clubs provide water equipment, a kayak or kayak, and the group is led by an experienced instructor.

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

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

White Lake

Recommend a place

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.

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.

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.

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:

Games on video simulators from 25 rubles.
Interactive 7D attraction from 50 rub.
Short 3D cartoons from 25 rub.
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

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.

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.

Neighborhoods of Priozersk

The surroundings of Priozersk are very picturesque. From the west it is adjacent to the Karelian Isthmus with its pine forests, sands and the majestic Vuoksa River. From the east - Lake Ladoga. To the north of Priozersk, almost immediately after Berezovo, the Republic of Karelia begins.

Chapel of St. Andrew the First-Called on Vuoksi

One of the most picturesque places in the vicinity of Priozersk is the chapel of St. Andrew the First-Called, which is located on a small rocky island on Vuoksa, not far from the village of Vasilyevo. The chapel is modern, built in 2000, but made in the ancient traditions of Russian wooden architecture. Now the island is connected to the shore by a massive metal bridge, which has disrupted the atmosphere of privacy and picturesqueness of this place, but, on the other hand, thanks to it, getting to the chapel has become much easier.

Read more: Church of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called on Vuoksi

Church of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called on Vuoksi

Lutheran Church in Melnikov

In the village of Melnikovo, which until 1948 was called Räisälä, several interesting Finnish buildings have been preserved: a Lutheran church built in the style of Finnish national romanticism, a Finnish military cemetery and a monument to Finnish soldiers “For the Motherland”, a house with a mezzanine, which is unreasonably called “ Mannerheim's dacha", the remains of the old bridge over Vuoksa, a residential building, an estate and other buildings of the first third of the 20th century. In 2002, the Trinity Church was built there.

A visit to Melnikovo can be combined with a trip to the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called on Vuoksi, which is located nearby.

Read more: Lutheran Church and monument to Finnish soldiers “For the Motherland” in Melnikov

Finnish Lutheran Church in Melnikov (Räisälä)

Trinity Church in Melnikovo

Karelian Isthmus

From Priozersk you can make other various trips along the Karelian Isthmus. In particular, look at the Vuoksa River and Lake Vuoksa, see the remains of the Finnish Mannerheim defensive line, built in the 1920-1930s. A very picturesque place called the Golden Valley. Nearby is the Svetloye radio astronomy observatory, one of the divisions of the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAP RAS).

Read more: Karelian Isthmus: some sights and interesting places

Radio Astronomy Observatory "Svetloye"

Road across the Karelian Isthmus

The village of Berezovo and the Lehmalahti Bay of Lake Ladoga

To the north of Priozersk there is the village of Berezovo, which is definitely worth including on your route. There are several interesting sights here, and the picturesque Ladoga skerries begin.

The Pukinniemi estate , which stands on a high cape above Ladoga, at one time belonged to an associate of Peter the Great, Admiral Peter Sievers and his family. Here he was in exile from 1732 to 1740. The current house was built in 1880 under agricultural advisor Edward von Essen.

Read more: Place of exile of Admiral Peter von Sievers: Pukinniemi estate in Berezovo

The main house of the Pukinniemi estate.
Other attractions in Berezovo are the living history museums “Björkagard”, “Streltsy Ostrog” and “Border Outpost”. Unlike ordinary museums, where you are prohibited from touching exhibits, in living history museums you can try on and touch everything. These are reconstructions with complete immersion in the era.

"Bjeorkagard" , located on Beloyarsky Island, is dedicated to the era when the Varangians mastered the Ladoga region. Here you can see a reconstruction of a Viking camp, a Viking house, and clothes worn by the Varangians, Slavs and Finno-Ugrians of that time.

Read more: Björkagard Viking Age Living History Museum

In Björkagard,
“Streltsy Ostrog” takes us to the era from the mid-16th to the beginning of the 18th century, when the Streltsy army existed in Russia. The museum represents a generalized image of the Streltsy fort. Similar fortresses were built on the southern borders of the Muscovite kingdom, in Siberia and the Far East.

Read more: Museum of Living History “Streletsky Ostrog” in Berezovo

Streletsky fort
"Border Outpost" is a generalized image of the military unit of the Red Army in 1939-1940. The museum is dedicated to the history of the NKVD Border Troops and talks about the Soviet-Finnish conflicts.

Frontier Post Living History Museum

On the shore of the Lehmalahti Bay, next to the Berezovo recreation center, there is a large stone with a memorial plaque on which it is written that “In this place there was a hut in which in 1711 Grand Duke A.D. Menshikov and his family rested by order of Peter I". Next to the stone is a spring.

From Berezovo you can take a boat tour of the picturesque Lekhmalahti Bay of Lake Ladoga . You can go on an organized trip or negotiate with a private owner.

Read more: On a motorboat along the Lehmalahti Bay of Lake Ladoga

Bay of Lehmalahti

One of the islands in the Gulf of Lehmalahti

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

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.

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.

Sablinskie caves

Recommend a place

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.

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:

“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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Train Station

One of the few log buildings that have survived in the city since Finnish times is the railway station building, built in 1916 according to the design of the architect Grönholma in the Nordic Art Nouveau style.
Initially it was a complex of buildings, including warehouses and a locomotive depot, but these buildings did not stand the test of time. In 1941, during the retreat, Soviet troops set fire to Kyakisalmi (Priozersk). But miraculously, the fire did not touch the station building, which over its 100-year history has undergone virtually no significant alterations, preserving for us the spirit of the era of the late Russian Empire and the last years of the Grand Duchy of Finland being part of a huge country. The only discrepancy is the color of the facade. In 2008 it was painted red, the standard color for Finnish stationmasters' houses.

Address : Privokzalnaya st., 1, Priozersk, Leningrad region, 188760

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.

Where to stay in Priozersk

There are several very comfortable hotels in Priozersk. We stayed at the “Point on the Map” and were very pleased with both the hotel itself and the restaurant attached to it. So I can confidently recommend it to my readers.

Many people highly praise the Kexholm Hotel , the Korela , the KaroZa and others.

Of course, my small guide does not include all the attractions of Priozersk and its environs. But hopefully, if this is your first time coming here, my tips will be useful.

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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 2021). 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 parties to the “battle” are Russian and Swedish troops

Actors from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Vyborg, Riga, Narva and Sweden are participating in the reconstruction - all in costumes of the 18th century

A special bonus for the audience is the 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 and 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 nationality of the region holds its own interactive platform with an exhibition and 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.

Monrepos Park

Recommend a place

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.

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

Monument on the territory of the Korela fortress