RUSSIAN KARELIA from Archangel to St Petersburg 24 May to 7 June 2017 Russian Karelia
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
RUSSIAN KARELIA from Archangel to St Petersburg 24 May to 7 June 2017 Russian Karelia The history of this area which reaches up to the White Sea is intertwined with that of Finland, sharing a landscape, a mythical heritage and a language. It became part of Russia after WWII. The area has attracted monastic communities and builders of wooden churches. The petroglyphs indicate that the area has been occupied for a very long time, and there are enigmatic labyrinths which hint at something mysterious. Our journey takes us from the port of Archangel, where it sits on the banks of the Northern Dvina River, to the remarkable Solovetsky Islands. Their history describes in miniature some of the tribulations of the last century. Happily the monastic com- munity has returned and the islands have become once again a remarkable retreat. One of the notable features of this area is the use of wood for architecture. We plan to see some remarkable wooden churches at a number of places including at Kondopogo, and on Kizhi Island at the north- ern end of Onego Lake. We will also visit the monastery on Valaam Island on Lake Ladoga. Trav- elling at this time of year ensures that we experience ‘The White Nights’ of 24 hour daylight! The tour will use trains, boats and planes as well as minibuses to travel around, before we spend our last few days seeing something of the magnificent glories of St Petersburg. HIGHLIGHTS Archangel Open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture, Malye Korely The Solovetsky Islands, in the White Sea The wooden church at Kondopoga Petrozavodsk, capital of Russian Karelia Zizhi Island, Onego Lake Valaam Island, Ladago Lake St Petersburg Led by Rufus Reade JOURNEY DETAILS The Itinerary Location: Northwestern 24 May Your Russia flight flight to St Peters- Dates: 24 May to 7 June burg for an overnight. 2017 25 May Morning Duration: 15 nights flight to Archangel. Max: 14 travellers This port is on the Price: £3745 River Dvina just before Single room supplement: £430 it enters the White Sea. Deposit: £375 Its position as a major Tour Code: RR 05/17 port linking the north- ern seas with Moscow What’s included: Accom- has ensured that it has prospered. Outside modation in 3 star hotels and Archangel a large area of the archipelago is known best available guesthouses, all of woodland has been set as Large Hare Island (Bolshoy meals, two internal flights, all aside for a museum of wooden Zayatsky) on account of the land transport by train (sub- architecture at Malye Karely. difficult-to-spot animals! What ject to availablity), over water Overnight Archangel. we can see when we cross to and by road as described in the island are very many low the itinerary, entry to all the 26 May Archangel boasts stone and shrub labyrinths of sites mentioned, and all tips. a number of excellent muse- uncertain antiquity. Accom- The tour is escorted by Rufus ums including the Regional modation on the island is in a Museum on the Northern Dvi- Reade. comfortable guesthouse with na Embankment which has an simple food: bedrooms have excellent display of the history attached bathrooms. What’s not included: Your of the area. Afternoon flight to international flights, person- the Solovetsky Islands for 29 May Return to Kem, al travel insurance, drinks, three nights. on the shores of the White Sea, laundry, phonecalls, and your by ferry, where we will see the Russian visa. May 27-28 Despite a terrible fine wooden church, with its history as a gulag prison in tented-roof construction, and The tour is organised by Rufus the Soviet period, a monastic thence by bus to Belomorsk. Reade Tours, 40 Pilrig Street, community founded in medie- Overnight in Belomorsk. Edinburgh EH6 5AL val times once again flourishes on these islands, which them- [email protected] 30 May Just on the out- selves form an important natu- skirts of Belomorsk, we will Tel 0131 554 1078 ral reserve. One of the islands walk for about a mile to see very ancient petroglyphs. We village of 18th century wood- tion of what is available, but will stop at Medvezhyegorsk at en houses, near Pryazha, as we plan to visit the Hermitage, the beginning of the White Sea well as the small museum in one of the largest art muse- Canal which links Lake Onego Pryazha itself. Overnight in ums in the world, St Isaac’s with the White Sea. Later we’ll Sortavala. Cathedral, the Usopov Palace, continue south to the remark- and enjoy a boat ride along the able wooden church of the As- 3 June Catching the fer- waterways that snake through sumption at Kondopoga. Our ry we’ll cross over to Valaam the city. There will be time base for the next three nights Island on Lake Ladaga, where for walking and getting some is Petrozavodsk. a monastic community now sense of this wonderful city. thrives. Historically the mo- 31 May We will take nastic community was regard- 7 June Transfer to the the boat to Kizhi Island, at the ed as the northern outpost of airport for your flight to the north end of Onego Lake, to the Russian Orthodox Church, UK. see the magnificent Church of though at times it was under the Transfiguration, an 18th the Finnish Orthodox Church. century, 22 domed structure, The monastery of Valaam has along with some of the other a tradition of singing called 68 wooden building brought the Valaam chant. Return to here from all over Karelia, Sortavala for our second night. including the 14th century church dedicated to Lazarus. 4 June Travel by train Visitors are advised to keep to to St Petersburg (subject to a footpaths because of the risk timetable which has not yet of snake bites. Overnight in been published: if the train Petrozavodsk. proves incompatible with our schedule we will travel by 1 June City tour of bus). First of three nights in St Petrozavodsk, the city created Petersburg. by Peter the Great as an im- portant cannon foundry, and 5 & 6 June St Petersburg later to become the capital of was created by Peter the Great Karelia. It is now distinguished as the capital of Russia, and as by its neoclasical architectural a way of giving Russia a Eu- heritage. Overnight in Petroza- ropean face, with a Baltic sea vodsk. port. The ambitious plans for the city with its rivers gives 2 June Driving west we the place a lovely atmosphere. will visit the wooden church In two full days we will not be at Manga and the old Kinerma able to see more than a frac-.