Sortavala: attractions and excursions. What to see in Sortavala

The ancient town of Sortavala, whose attractions are known far beyond the boundaries of the Republic of Karelia, has been considered for several years one of the most famous tourist centers in the north-west of our country.

general information

The Sortavala occupies an area of 10 square kilometers. Km and is located on the shores of Ladoga Lake, 240 km from the capital of Karelia. Its population is about 19 thousand people, among whom the Orthodox Russians predominate. Also in Sortavala live Karelians, Byelorussians, Ukrainians and Finns. Due to a special microclimate, the Sortavala district is considered a climatic health resort for people suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and heart diseases. And those who are more interested in "sightseeing" Sortavala (sights), photos of architectural monuments of the city and natural wonders located in its vicinity, can preview on the Internet.

How to get there

The easiest way to get to the city is by bus or car from Petrozavodsk or from St. Petersburg. In the latter case, tourists will have to travel a distance of 256 km. On odd dates, you can also use the services of the railway. In particular, at 18:25 from Ladoga station of St. Petersburg the train departs to Kostomuksha, stopping at the Sortavala station.

A bit of history

Before you figure out what to see in Sortavala, it is worth looking deep into the centuries and learning about who inhabited this region in antiquity. Judging by the artifacts found in the territory of Sortavala district, settlements existed in the Stone Age already, and the first written mention of the name Sortavala is found in the letter of 1468. At the same time, the document of the beginning of the 16th century, where a record is made, confirms the existence of the Russian churchyard in these lands. After the end of the Northern War in 1617, the territory of the modern Sortavala passed under the rule of Sweden and was returned to Russia only in 1721 under the Treaty of Nystadt. By the end of the 19th century several educational institutions operated in the city and railway and steamship communication with St. Petersburg was carried out. In 1918, the territory of the modern Sortavala district became part of Finland. Therefore, in the course of the Soviet-Finnish armed conflict in 1940, along with other Finnish settlements, the Sortavala was subjected to bitter bombing by Soviet military aircraft. The sights of the city were affected quite strongly. For example, the old Lutheran church, which was at that time the highest and most significant architectural structure in Sortavala, was destroyed. The city finally entered the USSR in 1944. At the same time, despite the great damage inflicted by Sortavala during the Second World War, its historical center was preserved almost in its original form and is of great interest for tourists.

The city's attractions

In the architectural plan of Sortavala, whose attractions are located mainly in the northern part of the city, it is a real gem, as there you can see completely unique buildings in the style of national Finnish Romanticism. And the special beauty of these structures is given by the decoration of a special Serdobol granite. Altogether, 56 monuments of stone and 165 wooden architecture were preserved in Sortavala. Among them, the Church of St. John the Baptist deserves special mention, making up a single complex with the former building of the administration of Orthodox affairs of Finland, the Branch of the Bank of the Nordic countries, the church of Peter and Paul, and others.

The list under the name "Karelia, Sortavala: Sights" will be incomplete, if you do not mention about one of the symbols of the city - "Monument to the Rune". This sculptural composition was installed in the park on Väinämainen Street in 1935, in honor of the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the first edition of the famous Karelian-Finnish epos Kalevala. Tourists will also see the picturesque bay of Ljapäjärvi, which divides the city into two parts, connected by a new Karelian bridge.

Sights of Karelia: Sortavala

A lot of interesting travelers are waiting in the Sortavala district. In particular, near the town of Sortavala, in the village of Hiytola, you can see a 20-meter steep Hiytol rock. Another attraction of these places is the wooden Orthodox church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of the 18th century located on the island of Riekkalansari, which is located to the south of the city. In addition, in summer, tourists, especially diving enthusiasts, should definitely visit the "Ruskeala Mountain Park", where there is a huge 15-meter marble canyon filled with clear water. Just 17 km from the city on the Tohmajoki River, travelers will also be able to see the Ruskeal waterfalls and explore the rapids on the Janisjoki River.

Museums of the city

What else is interesting Sortavala? Attractions there can be found literally at every step. For example, the attention of tourists deserve not only architectural monuments of the city, but also the famous for all Russia Museum of People's Artist Kronid Gogolev, where unique carved wooden panels depicting Karelian landscapes are exhibited. The peculiarity of these works is that they are made of a single piece of wood, and when they were made, the master used a unique technique of selecting the shade of wood. In addition, in Sortavala operates the Museum of the Northern Ladoga, which occupies a historic building, built in the early 20th century. There, guests of the city will see everyday objects, which the inhabitants of Karelia used in the old days, learn about the flora and fauna of Lake Ladoga and hear a story about the tragic history of the region.

Excursions Sortavala-Valaam

The city is located only 40 km from the main Orthodox shrine of the North-West region of Russia - the Valaam Monastery. Therefore, most pilgrimage tours and excursions to Valaam usually start from the Sortavala berths. And even the way to the islands of the archipelago is an interesting excursion, during which tourists have the opportunity to admire the beauties of Ladoga nature.

And on the very Valaam of travelers is waiting for a visit to the Transfiguration Monastery, founded, according to legend, by the monks Herman and Sergius around the 11th century. The most significant architectural structure of the monastery is a magnificent cathedral in the Byzantine-Russian style, where the relics of the monastic founding fathers of the monastery are kept. Also on Valaam, pilgrims and tourists will visit the monastery, of which the White Skete is considered the most famous, and they will see a miracle - the face of the elder Nazarian, which appeared on the trunk of an oak on the Igumen cemetery.