"Small Korely" - a museum where the history of Rus revives

About life and people's lives in previous centuries, we can learn from ancient legends and legends, as well as artifacts preserved in museums. And how do you get the idea to go on a weekend to a real northern village of the 16th-19th centuries? This place is, and it is located very near the large modern city of Arkhangelsk. The architectural and museum complex "Malye Korely" is located on a vast territory and is one of the largest museums of wooden architecture in the country.

The beginning of a large-scale reconstruction

Back in 1963, architects worried about the preservation of ancient monuments of Russian architecture. Unique and unusual buildings are preserved in many places, where people lived from time immemorial. However, the problem was that usually it was a single church or a dwelling house in a remote village. In this case, the object is not properly guarded, in a timely manner it is not restored, as a result of which it simply decays and collapses.

The chief architect of the Arkhangelsk Specialized Research and Production Workshop started creating a unique museum complex. It was chosen a picturesque place, and virtually all the surroundings of the city of Arkhangelsk were searched in search of monuments of Russian architecture.

In 1974, the museum "Malye Korely" was opened, and its first visitors could see at once 11 ancient buildings of various purposes. The complex received its name in honor of the village, located nearby.

History of the Museum

Today the museum complex is a member of the Association of European Open-Air Museums. And in 1996, "Small Korely" was included in the State Code of especially valuable objects of cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation. Noteworthy in the history of the museum and 2012, then he received the prestigious award "The North's Property".

To date, the exposition includes about 120 buildings of various types and purposes. There are among them apartment houses, farm buildings, and majestic temples. Unites exhibits that all of them are constructed of wood and without a single nail. All monuments of architecture were created in the 16th-20th centuries, completely disassembled for transportation, after which they were restored and collected on the territory of the museum.

Architectural monuments

To date, the total area of the museum is about 139.8 hectares. Its uniqueness lies not only in its scale, but also in its organization. All architectural monuments are inscribed in the surrounding landscape and look as natural as possible. For the convenience of tourists, "Small Korely" is divided into several sectors (mini-villages): Mezensky, Pinezhsky, Dvina, Kargopol-Onega. While visiting the museum you can admire not only architectural forms, but also learn more about the life of our ancestors. In some buildings, internal decoration is restored, services are held in the temples, and even from the bell, from time to time there is a ringing.

Apart from peasant manors, barns, churches and chapels, the pride of the complex is windmills, there are 7 of them, and one has a restored working mechanism. Also in the museum you can see wells, old vehicles, benches and fences - such as our ancestors used. The Museum of Wooden Architecture "Malye Korely" regularly holds a variety of festivals and folk festivals on major holidays, with a true true Russian color and immersion in a bygone era.

Work schedule and cost of visiting

You can visit the museum at any time of the year. It is open for tourists every day from 10:00, it closes in the summer period - at 19:00, and in the winter - at 17:00. You can explore the monuments of architecture yourself or accompanied by a guide in an organized group. For the guests there are several excursion programs with different themes, duration and cost. The price of an adult ticket is 100-150 rubles, discounts are provided for students, pensioners and children.

How to get to the museum "Malye Korely"?

The architectural and historical complex is located 25 kilometers from Arkhangelsk. You can reach it by private or public transport. Orient it should be to the village of Malye Korely - it is near it is a reserve with the same name. To the desired settlement there are buses No. 104, No. 108, No. 111. Many tourist agencies of the city offer excursions with transfer to the museum and back to the city. If you are traveling by private car, it is most convenient to use the navigator or to orient yourself towards pointers. If the place of your holiday or business trip is Arkhangelsk, "Malye Korely" is a place that must be visited. Only here you can enjoy all the splendor of northern architecture in its pristine form. Visiting this museum will be interesting for everyone, but if you are in doubt - come here for a holiday or one of the festivals.