On a narrow isthmus between Lakes Monastyrskoje and Yashëzero stands the Blagoveshchensky Iono-Yashezersky Monastery for Men, in the village of Yashëzero, on the western shore of Lake Yashëzero. The monastery is a listed monument of monumental church architecture. Its location between the lakes makes the landscape part of the impression created by the building.

The complex is in a state of severe disrepair. Do not assume that a visit will be possible, and check in advance whether access is permitted. If you are interested in monumental church architecture, distinguish between the site’s heritage value and the question of whether a visit may be possible when planning your trip.

Vepsian culture and architectural history in the wider Prionezhsky District

In the wider destination of Prionezhsky District, Sheltozero offers a broader perspective on Vepsian culture. The Sheltozero Vepsian Ethnographic Museum named after R. P. Lonin is the only museum in Russia that provides information about the material and spiritual culture of the Vepsians. A one-hour excursion offered by the Rurik Lonin Vepsian Ethnographic Museum is titled “Sheltozero – an old Vepsian village.”

Since 1991, the Rurik Lonin Vepsian Ethnographic Museum has been housed in the Melkin House in Sheltozero. The house was built in the second half of the 19th century for the large, prosperous Vepsian peasant family Melkin. A museum visit and the history of the house thus provide two distinct points of entry: an introduction to Vepsian culture and the history of a particular home.

The Church of the Apostle Matthew in Sheltozero is also part of the architectural history of the wider Prionezhsky District. The stone, single-nave church has one altar and was built in 1838 by St. Petersburg merchants Terenty Ulyanov and Mikhail Matveev. It was extended and renovated in the 1910s and reconsecrated on November 16, 1913. The building was later converted for use as a club.

Archaeological periods and regional history

Near Sheltozero, a group of prehistoric sites comprises 14 settlements and two burial grounds dating from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age (7th–2nd millennium BC). Another archaeological complex is the cultural heritage site “Sheltozero Shore,” which comprises 31 prehistoric settlements, three burial complexes and four individual graves from periods spanning the Mesolithic to the Middle Ages. The complex lies in the lower reaches of the Sheltozyorka and Sarbakhta rivers. The two examples represent different site counts and time spans, rather than a single archaeological site.

The history of the wider Prionezhsky District also includes quartzite quarrying at the Shoksha quarries. Since the late 18th century, raspberry-colored and red quartzite was extracted there for St. Petersburg and its suburbs; since the 20th century, it has also been quarried for Moscow and other cities. This adds a distinct strand of economic history to the history of churches and archaeology.

Natural environment in the wider Prionezhsky District

The “Onega Lake Shore” nature and recreation area covers 65.6 hectares; the entire area belongs to the forest fund. The area is intended to protect and restore natural landscapes and natural resources along Lake Onega, as well as to provide recreational opportunities. Its purposes also include health-promoting activities, ecological and nature tourism, and opportunities for tourism and leisure.

The thematic scope is therefore clear: Yashëzero focuses on the locally rooted monastery and its lakeside setting. Vepsian culture, the history of churches and houses, archaeological sites, and the nature and recreation area relate to the wider Prionezhsky District.

Discover more destinations: Spasskaya Guba, Yanishpole, Lakhkolampi, Pryazha, Essoyla, Sortavala, Derevyannoye, Kuzaranda

View the wider travel guide: Republic of Karelia.