In Lakhkolampi, the Mound of Glory (Kurhan slavy), bearing the names of heroes of the Great Patriotic War, commemorates the liberation of Karelia. This dedication makes the memorial site a clearly defined cultural point of reference for planning a trip. When considering which themes you would like to shape your stay, you can begin here with the history of Karelia and then explore other regional highlights.
Cultural Destinations in the Republic of Karelia
In the wider destination of the Republic of Karelia, the Kizhi Open-Air Museum displays 89 monuments of traditional wooden architecture. These include old chapels and houses, mills, granaries, threshing barns and drying racks. You can visit the interior of the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God and peasant houses; traditional peasant crafts are demonstrated in the houses. Another architectural highlight in the Republic of Karelia is the Kizhi Pogost: the ensemble includes the world’s only multi-domed wooden Church of the Transfiguration. Different ways of experiencing culture and architecture are thus presented side by side—from the building types in an open-air museum to a particularly striking church ensemble.
The Onega and White Sea petroglyphs offer a different perspective. This World Heritage site comprises 4,500 Neolithic rock carvings in the Republic of Karelia. The Onega petroglyphs include more than 1,200 figures in Pudozhsky District; most are located on the three central capes of Pery Nos, Besov Nos and Kladovets. The White Sea petroglyphs mainly depict hunting and sailing scenes, along with related equipment, as well as animal and human footprints. The Belomorsk petroglyphs lie along the lower reaches of the Vyg, near its mouth at the White Sea and 6–8 km from Belomorsk; they comprise more than 2,000 drawings. Those wishing to place the rock art in context can compare the motifs mentioned for the White Sea petroglyphs with the regional collections of figures and their distribution.
Landscapes and Excursions in the Republic of Karelia
At Kivach Nature Reserve, a general excursion includes an outdoor walk to Kivach Waterfall, as well as a visit to the arboretum and the nature museum. The waterfall is on the Suna River in the central part of Karelia and has a drop of 10.7 m; after the Rhine Falls, it is Europe’s second-largest lowland waterfall. Near the excursion area, a 1,000 m circular trail runs through a forested area along the banks of the Suna. The excursion is listed as taking 1 to 1.5 hours. The nature reserve publishes excursion information; check the conditions and booking arrangements with the operator in advance.
Other natural areas have their own distinctive appeal. Kalevalsky National Park was established to protect a large area of natural forest in the Republic of Karelia. Vodlozersky National Park extends across the Republic of Karelia and Arkhangelsk Oblast and is one of the largest wilderness reserves in the world. Paanajärvi National Park lies in northwestern Karelia, in Louhi District. Its attractions include landscapes, a diverse range of plant and animal life, pristine tranquillity and abundant fishing opportunities. These examples differ markedly from the waterfall and museum program at Kivach: they represent forest conservation, wilderness and experiencing nature.
When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide on your preferred focus: would you like the memorial site in Lakhkolampi to provide a cultural connection, or are you mainly interested in wooden architecture, rock art or natural areas in the wider destination of the Republic of Karelia?
Discover more destinations: Sofporog, Kurkiyeki, Yushkozero, Pudozh, Medvezhyegorsk, Uya, Kem, Konchezero
For the overview of the wider destination: Republic of Karelia.
