Kizhi: how to get there. Kizhi, Valaam: excursions. On the ship in Kizhi

The northern beauty of the nature of Karelia, its mesmerizing endless forests, leaves unforgettable impressions for the whole life of all who once visited this amazing and magical land. Do not remain without attention and unique monuments of ancient architecture, which left the departed generations of this harsh land. Among them, the real miracle-island of Kizhi stands out. How to get to this "incomparable fairy tale of domes"?

"Zaonezhskaya Hellas"

Visiting Kizhi is included in the routes of popular river cruises, invariably passing through the Onega Lake. Its area, along with the islands of the most varied length and shape, is 9,930 square kilometers. Km. The pearl of Zaonezhye is rightfully considered the Kizhi archipelago. This travelers' entangled and complex labyrinth of the most picturesque islands of the Onega skerries was called "Zaonezhskaya Hellas". Its relatively small area allows you to get acquainted with typical for Karelia landscapes, interesting monuments of nature, history and architecture. In this amazing place is a real miracle of architecture - an architectural complex, known far beyond the edge.

History of the island of Kizhi

The island has a rich history. It was here that the first settlements on the archipelago appeared. The first mention of the Kizhi Pogost, uniting several villages, was discovered by scientists in the scribe book of 1582-1583. In the 16th century the island became the center of the Spassky Pogost, which included 130 villages. The word "churchyard" in Ancient Russia denoted a large settlement with a church and a cemetery. Once it was the center of the cultural, spiritual, and economic life of the district. There were fairs, folk gatherings and various holidays.

The name Kizhi comes from the Veps word kisi, which means "merrymaking". Probably, once on the island the Finno-Ugric tribes conducted certain pagan actions.

Open-air museum

In 1990, the UNESCO organization added another valuable asset to the World Heritage List, which became the Kizhi Reserve. Karelia in the preliminary list represents another natural and cultural complex - the Valaam Archipelago. The unique petroglyphs of the region can replenish priceless historical objects.

Kizhi Island is known as one of the most popular open air museums in Russia. Here is a unique wooden architecture, which is the pinnacle of carpentry. The source of inspiration for ancient architects, perhaps, was the diversity and picturesqueness of nature, unusual for northern latitudes. It is worth noting that the buildings of the Kizhi cemetery, different in shape and height, excellently flow into the severe northern landscape.

Historical and architectural ensemble

Among the unique monuments of the complex, the Transfiguration Church stands out for its quite complex construction, in which gradation, stratification and pyramid are traced. Three tiers of the temple are formed by three octagons, one above the other. To the widest lower tier adjoin the curved extensions, to the central head of the church five stairs rise numerous domes. Each of these elements is coordinated with another and is subject to a single architectural idea.

The design of the Intercession Church is also original. Its nine heads form a kind of crown. The interior decoration of both churches was not preserved in the original appearance, they were repeatedly subjected to restoration.

Successfully harmonizes with the general ensemble and landscape of the churchyard and the Shatrovaya bell tower, built much later, already in the era of the decline of northern wooden architecture.

The ancient fence of the churchyard, erected in the middle of the XVII century, has not survived to the present day. Following the pattern of the remaining wooden fortifications, a modern fence was reconstructed, similar to the one that surrounded the ancient fortress.

In 1966, a unique architectural ensemble was supplemented with a peculiar environment and opened the state ethnographic and historical-architectural museum. There were transported religious wooden buildings: chapels, churches, mills, peasant houses and other structures. When inspecting the churchyard, you can see the numerous household items of that time. These are old manuscript books, icons, furniture, utensils, utensils, various instruments of labor.

Negative weather and climate factors adversely affect the state of the wooden relic, thus causing experts' concerns. To avoid the destruction of the unique buildings of the Kizhi ensemble, a comprehensive restoration program was developed and successfully implemented.

The times of "old times"

The Russian North is not without reason called the treasure of monuments of wooden architecture. One of the outstanding masterpieces of folk craftsmen is the Kizhi Pogost. Such a wealth of forms and irrepressible building fantasy is rarely where you meet. The fantastic city-temple as if rises above the gray surface of the northern waters, its tall wooden buildings are visible from afar. A unique panorama opens to the sight of tourists on board cruise ships regularly visiting the island of Kizhi. How to get there To a place fanned by the breath of "old times"?

Road to Kizhi

Kizhi is an islet, lost in the labyrinths of the skirts of Onega Lake. It is protected from all sides by waves, which are often played out in the open spaces of Onego. Water in the spring on the shallow coastal waters quickly warms up and is freed from the ice cover. All this was favorable for the arrangement of the parking of vessels in Kizhi. How to get to the island?

In the winter, Kizhi is laid winter road, in the summer time high-speed vessels and ferries regularly go here. The island is constantly visited by tourists and pilgrims, to see with their own eyes a unique architectural monument.

In Kizhi from the northern capital

The classic program of river cruises with a starting point from St. Petersburg is the most in demand among tourists. Such routes give an opportunity to get the most complete picture of the life of ancient Russia, when life was built around rivers and large bodies of water, to feel all the extraordinary beauty of the nature of the Russian North, to make fascinating excursions to its unique monuments of antiquity, ancient monasteries, islands. The Kizhi-Valaam tours on the ship are especially attractive. Traveling along the river will please everyone who loves the change of places, eager to discover new, unexplored places. Excursion to Kizhi, Valaam is a recognized classic of tourism in Karelia. It invariably causes a lot of pleasant impressions and peace of mind.

River cruises organized in the north-west of Russia from St. Petersburg usually represent traditional short cruises that take 1-2 days. There are also longer tours of the Ladoga and Onega lakes. The program of river cruises includes visits to Mandrogi, Pellotsaari, Petrozavodsk, Konevets and Lodeynoye Pole.

Such cruises, which operate daily from May to October, are offered by various tourist companies. Departure of motor ships is carried out from the berths of the River Station of the northern capital.

By boat from Moscow

On the ship to Kizhi you can get directly from Moscow. Visiting the famous reserve is included in the excursion programs of river cruises on routes from Moscow to Solovki or St. Petersburg. The most interesting part of them is in Karelia. Tours along the Volga-Baltic waterway pass through Myshkin, Uglich, Goritsy, Svirstroy, Mandrogi with a visit to the islands of Kizhi and Valaam.

In Kizhi from Petrozavodsk

An amphitheater on the coastal terraces of Lake Onega is the capital of Karelia - Petrozavodsk. Only in 68 km from it there are Kizhi skerries. Naturally, the best starting point for visiting the reserve is the capital of Karelia. Choosing the route "Petrozavodsk-Kizhi", how to get through the open waters of Onego into the straits between the numerous picturesque islands of the archipelago, forming a natural labyrinth, is no longer a problem. It is better, of course, to familiarize yourself in advance with the information provided on the official website of the reserve, about the flights to the island, the timetable of the routes. And choose the most suitable option. An excursion to "Zaonezhsky Hellas" can be bought in one of the tourist companies of the city and go, for example, to the tour "Kizhi-Valaam" by boat, or you can organize your trip yourself.

From Petrozavodsk from the Water Station during the navigation period (from May to September), ships leaving for Kizhi are plying daily. A one way trip is 1 hour and 15 minutes. The duration of stay on the island is 3 hours. Tickets for "Meteor" and "Comet" can be purchased at the mobile ticket office at the entrance to the station or directly at the cash box at the quay No. 4.

Trip to Kizhi In the inter-navigational period, when the Onego is ice-bound, is possible on helicopters, on hovercrafts or off-road vehicles-pneumatic crossovers. For lovers of outdoor activities in winter, extreme tours are provided for snowmobiles, skiing and dog sledding in Kizhi. How to get and what kind of excursion to choose, each one has to be solved either independently or with the help of travel agencies, relying on personal preferences.

You can also get to Kizhi from the nearest village of Velika Guba. This village is located in Medvezhiegorsk district. Here, local entrepreneurs offer their services for delivery to the reserve on boats. Before the Great Luba, you can reach the R-17 and M-18.

New Year's magic

New Year tours in Zaonezhie, an amazing land, full of mystery and magical charm, are remembered for life. New Year and Christmas programs are quite full. They often include helicopter excursions to the pearl of Lake Onega - Kizhi. To spend the most long-awaited and beloved holiday in such an unusual place is already quite unique.

There are also tours to Kizhi and Kizhi necklace. They include visiting not only the famous nature reserve, but also a journey through the old Karelian villages on the other islands of the archipelago. Such trips allow you to fully enjoy the beauty and silence of these unusual places, preserved almost in its original form.

The types of travel offered are very diverse. These can be weekend tours, skiing, fishing, a combination of them or just an excursion.