GORGEOUS KARELIA With
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GORGEOUS KARELIA with 1 The tours presented in this brochure aim to country had been for centuries populated by the introduce customers to the unique beauty and Russian speaking Pomors – proud independent folk culture of the area stretching between the southern that were at the frontier of the survival of the settled coast of the White Sea and the Ladoga Lake. civilization against the harshness of the nature and Karelia is an ancient land that received her name paid allegiance only to God and their ancestors. from Karelians – Finno-Ugric people that settled in that area since prehistoric times. Throughout the For its sheer territory size (half of that of Germany) history the area was disputed between the Novgorod Karelia is quite sparsely populated, making it in fact Republic (later incorporated into Russian Empire) the biggest natural reserve in Europe. The and Kingdom of Sweden. In spite of being Orthodox environment of this part of Russia is very green and Christians the Karelians preserved unique feel of lavish in the summer and rather stern in the winter, Finno-Ugric culture, somehow similar to their but even in the cold time of the year it has its own Finnish cousins across the border. East of the unique kind of beauty. Fresh water lakes and rivers numbered in tens of thousands interlace with the dense taiga pine forest and rocky outcrops. Wherever you are in Karelia you never too far from a river or lake. Large deposits of granite and other building stones give the shores of Karelian lakes a uniquely romantic appearance. Many monasteries and churches, some of them on the UNESCO World heritage list, as well as other relics of the past, attract tourists. Evergreen pine and fur forests, covered with white blanket of snow in the winter, amazing darkless “white” nights in summer, plenty of lakes and rivers, and the relatively flat northern landscape are among the main distinctions of the land historically 2 inhabited by courageous people of strong personal abilities: fishermen, hunters and woodcutters, carpenters and poets. The local character was formed during centuries of living on the frontier of the Russian civilization in the harsh environment and personal freedom. Unlike the most of the population of Rus’ (the name of the medieval Russia) the ancestors of the present inhabitants witnessed neither the three-hundred years of Tatar yoke, nor serfdom. Among those who settled in Karelia were many Old Believers who sought here refuge after the schism of the th Russian Orthodox Church (17 century). The their modestly colored icon paintings. obstinate dissenters struggled desperately against severe persecutions by both the Tsar and the Among numerous churches and monasteries of Church for over two centuries but were never Karelia two ancient monasteries on two islands defeated for. All these factors influenced the especially stand out. It is Valaam Monastery on forming the local freedom-loving character and the Ladoga Lake and Solovetski Monastery on White peculiar local culture, which is distinctly original as Sea. Throughout the centuries these two centres of compared to that of central Russia, either it the Orthodox faith and religious studies were among the most important pilgrimage sites of the Eastern Christianity in the North of Russia. It is said therefore that God has lit three candles of faith on the tree islands in the Northern Russia: Kizhi, Valaam and Solovki. All that makes Karelia one of the most attractive holiday destinations of the European part of Russia. The abundance of rapid streams, rivers and off road terrain, also make Karelia very popular for the extreme sports and active tourism. In addition to concerns architecture, language, or the way of life. visiting the highlights of the region, the customers Among the main tourist attractions of the region are will have a good opportunity to get acquainted the unique monuments of the wooden with the way of life, traditions and historical architecture, be it the world renowned background of the local people, which helps to architectural ensemble on Kizhi island in Onega understand the sources of the fascinating Lake or the nameless chapels in the forests, with craftsmen’s mastership. 3 SOLOVKI GRAND TOUR The history of Solovetsky Monastery and Solovki Archipelago in the White Sea is as complex and diverse as the history of Russia herself. The Monastery once was one of the most glorious and richest monasteries of Rus- sia. In the Soviet time the first GULAG prison camp was opened there in 1923. Nowadays the monastery is functioning again and nature of the islands are as peaceful and beautiful as ever, though the grim chilling past is still hov- ering over it. Apart of the impressive looking monastery's citadel visitors can see the prehis- toric stone labyrinths believed to be built by ancient Saami people. The program of the tour: 5 Days/ 4 Nights Day 1 Arrival to St.Petersburg. City tour, transfer to the train station, taking train to Kem. Day 2 Arrival at Kem. Meeting with the guide. Transfer to the railway station. 10.00 - Departure for Solovky by river boat. 13.00 - Transfer to the hotel. Lunch. Accommodation. 15:00 - Excursion around the Monastery complex. Guided tour of the history of the legendary Solovetsky Monastery, visit to its functioning church, and go along its thick fortress walls that no enemy could over- come. 19:00 - Dinner at the hotel. Day 3 09.00 – Breakfast. 10.00 - Transfer to the boat station. Today you will go by boats along the canals of Big Solovetsky Island that form a huge system of water circulation on the island. Gliding over the calm water of these man-made waterways you will enjoy of the most picturesque landscapes on Solovky. 13:00 – Packed lunch after the end of the excursion. 14:00 - After having lunch you will visit the highest point of Big Solovetsky Island, Hill Sekirnaya. On the top of the hill is situated one of the strictest sketes of the island with a unique lighthouse church. During the GU- LAG time the skete was one of the cruelest of all the detention places for the inmates of the camp. Today it is a living skete again; a very tranquil place that offers a fantastic panorama view over the island. 17:00 - Return to the hotel. Free time. 19:00 - Dinner at the hotel. Day 4 09.00 – Breakfast. 10:00 - Boat excursion to Island Zayatsky. Stone labyrinths of Big Zayatsky Island are rare and valuable archaeological monuments. You will have a chance to observe the impressive monu- ments of the past and admire a special beauty of this small island. Climate here is so severe that the island is covered mostly with a variety of moss species and berries. 13:00 - Return to the island. Lunch. 16:00 - Transfer to Kem by slow boat. Day 5 Arrival to St. Petersburg. Transfer to the hotel or airport. Price includes: Accommodation based on Twin room sharing at Solovky Hotel, FB, transfers and excursions ac- cording to the program, English speaking tour leader to accompany the group from 6 persons, train tickets in 4 per- sons compartment. 4 THE PEARL OF THE LADOGA LAKE: VALAAM with forests (the soil for planting the trees on the rocky island was brought by the monks of the monastery by barges!) and known for its unique microclimate. Intense spiritual life and the austere beauty of services celebrated in the monastery made Valaam a pilgrimage place for both common believers, the members of the Royal family and prominent Russian art- ists, writers and composers. After the revolu- tion of 1917, when the former Finland Princi- pality of the Russian Empire got its independ- ence, the island became a part of the new state of Finland. Thanks to this fact the monastery, unlike the most monasteries closed by Bolshe- viks, kept on functioning until the Soviet- Finnish war of 1940. Closed after island’s A longer stay in St.Petersburg gives a good oppor- restitution to the Soviet Union in February of 1940, tunity to make a fascinating trip by boat to the the monastery resumed functioning in 1990. unique island in the Ladoga Lake. Rightly titled both “The pearl of the Russian North” and “The pearl of the Ladoga Lake”, Valaam (Finnish for “a high mountain”) is renowned as location of the Russia’s oldest monastery. As it is considered, Apostle Andrew visited the island while preaching among Scythians and Slavs as far back as the 1st century. He demol- ished the shrines of the pagans and raised a stone Cross on the cliff. The Valaam founders Sergius and Herman were the first monks “from the Eastern countries” who settled on the island when Rus (the name of the medieval Russia) was not yet baptized! Their prayers mark the beginning of the future Monastery of the Transfiguration. The island is wholly covered The program of the tour: 3 Days / 2 Nights Day 1 Transfer to the river-boat station to board a motor-ship. Check-in. Welcome cocktail and presentation of the crew. Departure (at around 21:00) Day 2 Arrival to Valaam island. Breakfast (aboard the ship). The guided walking tour of the island including visit to a skeet (Russian for a small secluded monastery built for one or several monks, sometimes near- by the main building of the monastery).Visit to the Transfiguration Monastery. Lunch (aboard the ship). An optional boat trip can be arranged in the afternoon to visit several more skits. Dinner (aboard the Day 3 Arrival to St.Petersburg (at around 7:00). Transfer to the hotel or airport. Recommended period for travel: late May through late September.