⛪ Kizhi, Kizhi, Kizhi ... Excursion to the museum-reserve. Kizhi Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve: Interesting Facts, Attractions and Photos Kizhi Island Interesting Facts

Kizhi Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve- a place that should be visited by people interested in history, lovers of Russian architecture and just those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle big city... On the island of Kizhi you can see the architecture of the 18th-19th centuries, as well as get acquainted with the life of the inhabitants of Karelia of those times. A boat trip along Lake Onega and its picturesque shores will also be pleasant.

Location: contact information

How best to get to Petrozavodsk

by plane- 1 hour 40 minutes by direct flight;
by train- 12 hours (minimum travel time);
by car- 1050 km through or about 1000 km through.

by plane- 4 hours 15 minutes;
by train- 7-8 hours;
by car- 435-526 km.

Before can be reached by bus. Travel time will be the fastest of all possible modes of transport, but you will be able to admire the picturesque surroundings.
From Petrozavodsk hydrofoil boats run to Kizhi Island in summer, and hovercraft in winter. You will also be offered options such as a pneumatic ATV, a snowmobile, and even skis and dog sleds.

Visiting the Kizhi nature reserve: opening hours, ticket prices, promotions and discounts

Working hours:

May-August: 08.00-20.00;
September-October: 09.00-16.00;

November-February: 10.00-16.00;
March-April: 09.00-17.00.

Without days off and lunch break.

Visit prices:

Excursion prices (per person):

group up to 5 people- 1000 rubles (in a foreign language - 2500 rubles);
group of 5 people- 100 rubles (in a foreign language - 500 rubles).

There is also a mass of additional excursions and programs, theater performances and audio guides are provided. Choose the one you like additional service can be on the site of the reserve , by phone or at the excursion center.

On which lake is the Kizhi Museum-Reserve

The island of Kizhi, on which the reserve is located, is located in the northern part Lake Onega... At the end of the 18th century, the island was a separate Kizhi volost, which included 9 villages. In addition to traditional crafts, the inhabitants of the island were engaged in fishing and agriculture, which was facilitated by the fish-rich waters of Lake Onega and the fertile soil of the island.

Sights of the Kizhi reserve

Historical reserve, founded in 1966 with the aim of preserving the architecture of Karelia in the 18th - early 20th centuries, it includes more than 70 objects, such as churches, bell towers, huts, barns, baths, mills and smithies. Among the most interesting architectural objects are the following:

Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This is undoubtedly the main attraction of the reserve. The 37-meter temple was erected in 1714. This is one of the brightest representatives of the eightfold churches. The architectural composition is based on an octahedral log house, four two-stage cuts of which are located on the cardinal points. The roofs of octagons and prirubes are crowned with domes. 22 domes are arranged in such a way that the overall composition has a pyramidal shape. The basis of the interior of the temple is the majestic iconostasis of 102 icons arranged in four tiers. In 1949-1959, a large-scale restoration of the church was carried out, mainly affecting the interior and the iconostasis. V this moment the reconstruction of the temple building itself is underway with the replacement of dilapidated logs with new ones.
Church of the Intercession of the Virgin. This is one of the few multi-domed churches that have survived to this day. It was erected in 1694 and rebuilt 70 years later. Tourists are attracted here not only by the front part, but also by the interior with a rich iconostasis, part of which, unfortunately, was irretrievably lost.
The bell tower of the Kizhi Pogost. The 30-meter bell tower was erected in 1862. The bell tower offers a picturesque view of the island and Lake Onega.
Windmill in the village of Volkostrov. 10-meter windmill-pillar, built in 1928.

Interesting facts about the Kizhi Museum-Reserve

During the restoration of the Transfiguration Church in 2014 year, when it was necessary to replace about 30% of the logs, the structure was lifted with vag- levers used 400 years ago.
4 architectural objects of the Kizhi reserve included in the list UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Photo of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve

Church of the Transfiguration- the main attraction of the historical reserve.

Most of original icons in the iconostasis of the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin has survived to this day.

Winter landscapes in the Kizhi nature reserve are no less picturesque.

Mill in the village Volkostrov has a height of about 10 meters.

The Kizhi nature reserve displays traditional life of the inhabitants of Karelia.

Museum reserve Kizhi - video

In this video, there are even more interesting facts about the Kizhi Museum Reserve. Happy viewing!

Visiting the historical reserve Kizhi often included in the visit program... Tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world have visited this unique cultural and historical site under open air and discovered the traditional architecture and the peculiarities of the life of the peoples. The popularity of the reserve among tourists is evidenced by at least the fact that tourist services are carried out here on eight foreign languages.

Therefore, we too should pay more attention to our history and cultural heritage... Moreover, there are really interesting excursions and tasting of Karelian dishes prepared according to ancient folk recipes. Yes and water travel on Lake Onega will not leave anyone indifferent.

Interesting articles

In Karelia, on the wonderful Onega Lake, there is an incredibly beautiful, fabulous island called Kizhi. The island is considered an invaluable museum of architecture, the scale of which is simply amazing. Kizhi is an unusual place that has been famous for its craft for many centuries, because many artists and poets lived and worked here. If someone remembers the famous epics about Ilya Muromets or Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko, then it should be said that they were created on the territory of this wonderful island.

Having visited the island for the first time, just stepping on its amazing territory, you can feel a significant surge of energy, touch something light and beautiful, breathe in clean air on your full chest and find out what real freedom is.

If you move into the recent past and study a little the history of the island, you can find out that there were as many as 14 villages here. Unfortunately, only two have survived to this day, which bear the names Vasilyevo and Yamka. One of the surviving villages, conveniently located on east coast the famous Onega Lake. The second village is located on the western bank of this wonderful reservoir. There are only a couple of houses in each of the villages, but this did not become an obstacle for curious adventurers, so there are always a lot of tourists in this place. Here all year round tourists come from all over the globe, because such landscapes as on this island are not common. In addition, this place is full of interesting monuments and the rest here seems to be simply divine.

Excursions are regularly held in the city of Kizhi to acquaint tourists with this interesting and unusual place... River cruises on Meteora run from Petrozavodsk, but they do not have enough time to fully explore unique nature of this place. To fully explore the island, see all the interesting natural places and attractions, you need to plan the travel route yourself.

The most popular sights of Kizhi

Among the main attractions of Kizhi, it is worth noting the Transfiguration Church. It was erected back in 1714, and not a single nail was used for its construction. The church has as many as 22 domes, which, with their gilding, complement the brightness of the sun sowing. From a bird's eye view, the view of this temple will make it possible to distinguish it from others, because this unique monument has no analogues. The temple is made so interesting and original that if you take into account the cuttings, the appearance of a cross is formed on all four sides. The altar of this majestic temple faces the west side, but the refectory with a porch is conveniently located on the east side. The view from this porch is simply amazing and mesmerizes tourists. Visiting this architectural monument, you can enjoy not only its beauty, but also fully embrace the settlements, villages and straits.

Inside, the temple radiates unearthly beauty. Everyone who gets here will feel complete peace. The altar in this majestic temple has 4 tiers, it is covered with a huge number of icons, the exact number of which is 102 pieces. The space inside is evenly flooded with calm and pacifying light.

Such an architectural monument as the Intercession Church also deserves special attention. The temple was built in 1764, it is wooden and has 9 chapters, the shape of which is rather unusual, making the construction lighter and more original. Outside, the structure is decorated with wooden pillars, but inside the temple looks very modest. If you compare it with the previous version. Unfortunately, in the course of history, the very first iconostasis of this building has not survived, and the current one was completed during the restoration of the church, in 1950.

The top three attractions of the island include the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus. History suggests that this landmark was built back in 1391. Overeating suggests that the church began to be built after Vasily the Monk appeared to Lazarus. It is this temple that is considered the first building belonging to the Murom monastery. The construction of this monastery was dedicated precisely to the Biblical story, which says about the resurrection of Lazarus. Locals say that the temple has the power to heal from various ailments and precisely because of this this place became a great center of pilgrimage.

What architectural monuments of Kizhi are still worth seeing

There is also the Chapel of the Archangel Michael on the island, which is characterized as follows:

was transported to Kizhi from Lelikozero in 1961;

has a very scenic appearance;

consists of 3 parts, which together form a rectangle;

the walls are built on the north side, and the window faces west;

the bell tower from above is successfully completed with a magnificent tent;

outside the architectural monument is decorated with towels with circles and rhombuses;

inside, in the center of the ceiling, there is a large icon of Christ, and the evangelists are depicted in the corners.

In addition to this monument, there is also a Tent Bell Tower on the island. It was built back in 1863, but was completed in 1874. The belfry tent is supported by 9 columns and ends with a dome with a cross. In sum, the structure looks very interesting and harmonious. To illuminate the inner space of the bell tower, there are 4 windows, which are made in the form of beautiful arches.

Continuing to travel around the island, tourists will be able to see a tall wooden palisade. Its original has not survived, but the reconstruction was able to accurately convey it. A copy was made already in 1959, in addition to these sights, you can see old mills and barns on the island. All of these attractions are collected throughout the region and delivered to the island, which has turned into a huge museum.

Oshevnev's house can also be considered a popular place among tourists. It looks like Karelian houses that were built before the revolution. The building has two floors and is richly decorated with carvings. There is also an ancient windmill on the island, which cannot be found anymore.

What else is new and interesting on the island

Monuments and churches are, of course, good, but we must not forget about the amazing nature of this place. The island has a wonderful relief, a rare forest stretches near the coast, meadows and the sun reflecting its glare in the lake can still be seen from afar. Many villages of the island have gone under water, but thanks to this, they managed to create a unique museum, which collected more than 50 thousand original, interesting and fascinating objects. All these items accurately tell about the life of the indigenous inhabitants of the region and it is thanks to them that you can study the history. On the island, you can get to know more about the following subjects:

antique women's jewelry;

original embroidery;

handmade toys;

household items and tools.

But the interesting aspects of Kizhi do not end there, because rare, original and interesting things are still being brought here. New expositions are constantly developing, tourists are invited to become participants in master classes that introduce old crafts. Visitors to the island who come here for the holidays can watch interesting performances and become active participants in them. You can get here for a few days, without any problems choosing an accommodation option.

There are no hotels on the island, but it is quite convenient to stay with local residents. Kizhi is unique place, which is worth visiting and you need to stay here for a few days. To see all the monuments and enjoy the unforgettable nature, you can get here with the whole family, getting an incredible boost of energy and cheerfulness. In general, tourists who want to visit Kizhi will definitely not regret it, this is just a wonderful place where you should definitely visit. The island bewitches and attracts attention, allows you to completely disconnect from everyday life in the city, delve into history, look at beautiful monuments and just have a great time. It is for great impressions and positive emotions that you should go here.

Kizhi is beautiful island located in Lake Onega, Karelia.

Open and inhabited since ancient times, Kizhi Island is a huge museum of architecture.

From time immemorial, Kizhi was famous for its craft. Once upon a time, artists and poets lived here, passing on their skills through generations. It was here that the epics about Ilya Muromets and Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko were created ...

Having taken the first step on the island and inhaling the first breath of air, you begin to feel the spirit of light antiquity and boundless freedom.

Once there were 14 villages on the island, but only two survived - Yamka and Vasilyevo. One is located on the eastern shore of Lake Onega, the other - on its western shore.

The villages consist of several houses, but this does not prevent tourists from all over the country from coming here all year round to admire the amazing landscapes and unusually beautiful architectural monuments.

Excursions to Kizhi take place on Meteora from Petrozavodsk and within river cruises.

But the time on the island turns out to be a little, much less than when visiting the island of Valaam.

Therefore, you need to independently prioritize: What is interesting, what to see, what sights to visit and see.

Perhaps the most important attraction is Transfiguration Church(1714). The church was built without a single nail and has twenty-two gilded domes, a bird's-eye view of which separates the temple from other monuments of the island's architecture. The temple is made in such a way that, together with the prirubas from the four cardinal directions, it forms a cross.

The altar is facing the west, and on the east side there is a refectory with a huge porch, the view from which is more than beautiful. Villages, straits, settlements are open to the eye.

The interior decoration of the temple produces an indelible sense of peace. Inside there is an altar, made in four tiers and lined with 102 icons, and the whole space is flooded with calm and pure light.

Another beautiful temple - Church of the Intercession(1764). The temple is made of wood and has nine chapters, the unusual shape of which gives the temple some lightness and airiness. Outside, the temple is decorated with wooden pillars.

Of course, the Church of the Intercession is inferior to the Church of the Transfiguration and is rather a supplement to it.

The interior decoration is very modest.

The first iconostasis was lost in the course of history. The current iconostasis was made in 1950 during the restoration of the temple.

The third attraction that immediately attracts attention is Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus.

Tradition says that this temple was built by the Monk Lazarus himself, who died in 1391.

They also say that it was built thanks to the apparition of Lazar Basil the Monk, Bishop of Novgorod.

This temple later became the first construction of the Murom monastery.

The construction of the monastery is dedicated to the biblical event of the resurrection of Lazarus from Bethany, in order to thereby strengthen people's faith in Jesus Christ.

There are rumors among the local population that the temple has healing powers for ailments. The Monk Lazarus was declared a saint, and his temple became a place of pilgrimage for believers from all countries.

Once the Chapel was a landmark of the village of Lelikozero, but in 1961 it was transported to the island of Kizhi.

The Chapel looks very picturesque.

Consists of three parts and is presented in the form of a rectangle stretching from west to east.

On the north side, a canopy is attached to the chapel, and a window is turned to the west.

In some places near the chapel you can see a double roof, when one roof seems to emerge from the other, surprising the audience with the skill and virtuosity of the architect. Above the vestibule you can see a wonderful bell tower, which ends from above with a magnificent tent.

The outside of the chapel is adorned with towels carved with diamonds and circles. The roof is red and ends in a peak.

The "sky" is located inside the chapel.

In the center of it is the icon of Christ the Abstainer, and in the perimeter - the forefathers. In the four corners there are images of the evangelists.

Exploring the island, your gaze will certainly fall on Hipped bell tower, built in 1863 on the site of the old bell tower.

In 1874, the bell tower was rebuilt, since it was not possible to complete the octagon.

The bell tower looks like a four on an octagon. Above the octagon there is a belfry and nine columns that support a tent, ending in a dome with a cross. The quadruple from north to south is cut through by a passage with large arches.

The inner space of the bell tower is illuminated by four windows made in the form of arches and a large window in the wall with an octagon.

No matter how you describe it on paper, in order to understand, you just need to see it.

Kizhi ... they are.

A copy of the fence was recreated in 1959, in the likeness of the preserved fortifications.

In addition to ancient temples, there are others on the Kizhi island, no less interesting places.

These are all kinds of mills, old huts and barns.

They are collected from all over the region and taken to the island museum to be recreated anew.

Among such buildings, it stands out especially Oshevnev's house.

It was brought from the village of Oshevnevo and looks like Karelian houses before the revolution. It is a large, two-story building, decorated with various trims and carvings.

An example of an outbuilding - barn brought from the village of Kokkoila.

The lamp, delivered to the island from the village of Oshevnevo, will tell us about the life of local peasants.

Do you think simple life not interesting? You are wrong ... :)

And here it is wooden windmill, brought from Volkostrov to the island of Kizhi. There are no such mills in Karelia anymore.

But Kizhi is famous not only for its monuments.

The nature of the island is so amazing that it is simply impossible to take your eyes off such splendor.

Already approaching the island, you can see the fabulous outlines of the island's relief, a strip of rare forest stretches along the coast, meadows are visible in the distance, the glare of the sun plays on the waves of the lake.

With the organization of dams on the Svir and the White Sea-Baltic Canal, many villages went under water. in order to preserve the unique heritage of Karelia, the Kizhi Museum-Reserve was created.

The museum has at its disposal about 50 thousand various items that tell about the life of the indigenous peoples of the region.

On the island, tourists can see how in the old days pearl earrings were woven, women warriors were embroidered, toys were made and much more.

For half a century, the island of Kizhi has been a unique museum that seeks to preserve all historical and architectural monuments Karelia.

Kizhi is constantly evolving.

Not only new expositions are opening, but the emphasis is shifting towards interactivity: craft shops, workshops, where you can hold a master class and make an interesting Karelian toy on your own.

Participate in performances (but if you're lucky - they are arranged "on the occasion", for some holidays.

Be that as it may, on Kizhi you need to cherish every minute. There are no hotels here and you can't go with accommodation for 2 or 3 days.

Of course, you can buy a simple tour to Karelia - live in a hotel on the mainland, and visit Kizhi every day.

But there is no particular sense in this: there are other interesting places in Karelia that are worth seeing: the same Marcial waters, Ruskeala. Kivach waterfall and even a trip to Solovki (this is not so far from Kizhi as it seems).

The schedule of excursions should be built evenly to make the trip rich and interesting.

Why exactly Kizhi?

Why did Kizhi become the place where they began to bring monuments from all over Karelia?

Kizhi Pogost - it was rich administrative center back in tsarist Russia. Life here was in full swing even before Peter the Great.

Wealthy copper factories could afford to give money for the construction of the most unique churches. They sent ore to the arms factories of Olonets and Petrozavodsk.

Industrialization bled Karelian villages, people moved to cities.

However, the train of History passed through the Kizhi churchyard so hard that there was simply no other similar place on the way of river cruises.

The reserved island of Kizhi is real museum in the open air, located in Karelia on Lake Onega. Numerous attractions including wooden churches, built in the classic Russian style, attract thousands of tourists every year. A trip to Kizhi will allow you not only to see with your own eyes all the beauties of the architecture of the north, but also to admire untouched nature, which has been preserved here in its original form.

Description of the island

The convenient location of Kizhi in the northern part of Lake Onega, not far from the Zanevsky peninsula, makes it easy to organize excursions here in the warm season. The total area of the island is 5 square kilometers, therefore, you can literally take a walking tour and see all the local attractions within a few hours. This open-air museum is located 68 kilometers from Petrozavodsk, in summer time years from the regional center come here every day river ships with a travel time of 1 hour and 15 minutes.

In winter, Kizhi can be reached exclusively by helicopter or hovercraft, and excursions at this time of the year are difficult. Therefore, from October to March, the Great Guba of Kizhi, where this island is located, is inaccessible to tourists.

Extremely interesting thematic tours have been organized from Moscow, which include visits to various ancient cities of the Russian north. Tours around Karelia and Finland are popular, which allows you to see other countries and get to know more closely the culture of neighbors.

The history of this island dates back to the X-XI centuries. ekah, when small Finnish and Baltic settlements on Kizhi became part of the Novgorod principality. Orthodox Christians appeared here in the 15th century, and the first church buildings date back to the same period, which have survived in their original form to the present day.

In the 16th century, the creation of the Spassky Pogost began in Kizhi, which is considered one of the main attractions of the reserve and which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site... From time immemorial, artisans, poets and artists lived here, who passed on their skills, preserving the original old Russian style.

Today Kizhi Island is the largest open-air museum-reserve in Russia. There are 89 monuments of wooden traditional architecture, numerous ancient chapels, barns and houses of local residents. The Transfiguration Church and the Kizhi Pogost, built in the 16th-18th centuries, are real pearls. ekah in the style of Karelian architecture. Extremely interesting thematic excursions, which allow you to get acquainted with the traditional way of life of the Russian north.

Major attractions

Numerous wooden churches, chapels and churchyards in the Old Russian style have been preserved on Kizhi in their original form. Armed with various tourist brochures and guidebooks, you can either independently explore all the beauties of this island, or take advantage of the offer local guides, which immediately upon the arrival of tourists at River Station form small excursion groups. Organized tours allow you not only to get to know the many local sights better, but also to listen to fascinating stories from professionals about the history of these places and its inhabitants.

Church of the Transfiguration

The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord on the Kizhi island is clearly visible from any point on the island. The 11-storey building is built in the traditional Russian style of architecture with wooden domes. A feature of this building are 20 beautiful domes made of aspen and located at different heights. The frame of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord is made by hand, without iron nails, tow and moss.

This church is interesting:

unusual architecture;
interior decoration;
original construction technology.

Currently, the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord is a functioning temple, where a service is held every weekend. Inspection of the interior decoration, preserved in its original form, is possible only on certain days and hours, so tourists need to clarify when the church is open for visiting. The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord is business card Kizhi Islands and one of the most famous local attractions.

Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin

A small wooden church built in the original style with domes. Unlike the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the entrance to the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God is open all the time, in the hallway there is an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Kizhi parish and ancient Russian icon painting. The exposition of the exhibition contains ancient paintings painted by both local artists and famous Russian masters.

The Church of the Intercession was built as a winter church, so services were held here exclusively in severe frosts. The temple was made in the traditional northern culture architecture, with a winter road and a high bell tower. Construction was carried out for almost 50 years in the XVI-XVII centuries. ekah. Not so long ago, the reconstruction of the church was completed. When restoring the structure, ancient technologies were used, and the work was carried out by local craftsmen who preserved the ancient methods of felling a log house. The church was built without a single nail and in full accordance with its previous appearance.

Eight-winged windmill

The wooden eight-winged windmill is one of the few monuments of industrial architecture that have come down to us. Such buildings are characteristic exclusively for the north of Russia and Karelia. Due to their special shape, the air mills were efficient, allowing quick grinding of grain or other cereals. In the sixties and eighties of the last century, when a museum was created on the island of Kizhi, this wooden building was practically destroyed and was subsequently restored by local architects from a few drawings and photographs.

The structure of the mill is extremely interesting, the building of which is located on movable wooden piles. The inner frame is made axial, which makes it possible to cope with the significant wind loads that are typical for Kizhi in autumn and winter. The structure itself can be easily rotated, orienting its blades to the blowing breeze from the lake. To date, the mechanism is in good working order, so the mill is often used for its intended purpose.

The water mill, which was cut down in 1875, is also of great interest. She was brought to the island from the village of Beryozovaya Selga. It was used in antiquity local residents and worked on the basis of a completely wooden unique mechanism, which is serviceable to this day. The water mill is open to the public, and inside a small museum collection there are exhibits related to the rural life of the 18th-19th centuries. ekov.

Hipped bell tower

The tent-roofed bell tower is another iconic sight of the Kizhi island, built in the original style, with high arched windows, an elongated and narrow silhouette. The single dome creates a sense of lightness, reminiscent of the Gothic pickaxes of the Baltics. This is one of the youngest buildings on Kizhi, erected on the site of an old dilapidated bell tower.

Every year in Kizhi there are competitions of bell-ringers who come here from all over Russia. In the summer, numerous concerts of early music are held here, which is considered a great success for every lover of Russian folklore.

In total, there are 14 bells on the island, the heaviest of which was cast in St. Petersburg in the 19th century and weighs about 800 kilograms.

Wooden churchyard

The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost is the most famous and significant exposition site on the island. It includes the Churches of the Transfiguration and the Intercession, the Tent Bell Tower and the preserved old cemetery with a wooden palisade. The ensemble is located in the southern part of the island and is the center of the entire Kizhi Museum-Reserve. At the end of the 20th century, this landmark was included in the UNESCO List of Heritage and is now protected by the state.

A feature of this ensemble is the unique architectural style of Old Russian architecture, which has survived only in the far north in the Onega region. In the 50s of the last century, all three buildings were surrounded by a powerful wall, the base of which was huge stone boulders. Such a three-meter fence makes a strong impression, organically complementing the ensemble of three main attractions on the island of Kizhi.

Houses of peasants Oshevnev and Sergeev

The houses of the northerners who lived on the island in the 18th-19th centuries are of great interest to tourists. ekah. The most famous such attraction is the house of the peasant Oshevnev. This is a massive structure, built in the traditional style of Karelian architecture, skillfully decorated with carvings. The roof of the house covers both the main building and the outbuildings with a farmyard. Oshevnev could do business and take care of animals without leaving home.

Today, the house of the peasant Oshevnev has been turned into a small museum, the exhibits of which allow you to get acquainted with the traditional life of the Russian north in the 17th-18th centuries. ekah. The building itself is authentic, including carved columns, window frames and interior decor. The interior of the late 19th and early 20th centuries has been completely recreated. The exposition presents various cradles, kitchen utensils, household items and household items.

On Kizhi you can also see:

numerous ancient baths;
ancient pier;
old cemetery.

The house of Sergeev, which was erected at the beginning of the 19th century, is also perfectly preserved. The building is in the shape of a square, richly decorated with carvings, and the facades are painted in the traditional northern style. Inside you can see a small exposition of the folklore of Zaonezhie and the applied arts of Karelia. Items for the exhibition were collected not only from the island of Kizhi, but also from the entire northern region of Russia.

In total, there are six chapels on the island that reveal the richness and originality of the northern school of architecture. The unique buildings that have been completely preserved to this day are distinguished by their modest size, similar to each other, but each is at the same time original and original.

The following chapels are located on the island:

Savior Not Made by Hands.
Peter and Paul from the village of Volkoostrov.
The signs of the Virgin.
Theotokos of all who Sorrow Joy.
Kirika and Ulita.
Bell tower of Varlaam Khutynsky.

Chapels are located not only on Kizhi, but also on nearby islands, so you can get to them by hiring a small boat with a guide. Such excursions are popular with tourists, as they allow you to enjoy the beauty of the local northern nature and see the original original buildings.

Today we will visit an amazing place in Karelia, picturesque island Kizhi, which is located in the northern part of Lake Onega in the Kizhi skerries, is a group of islands in the region of the Zaonezhsky peninsula. By the way, Lake Onega is considered the second largest water body in Europe. The first place, as we already know, is occupied by Lake Baikal. The island got its name from the word from the Karelian dialect "kizhat". The translation of this word means "games". According to historians, the island served the ancient peoples of Karelia as a place where pagan rituals were held. The area of the island is relatively small; a leisurely walk along the edge of the coast will take no more than an hour. But inspection of exhibitions can take a whole day. The reserve is open to tourists, but it is forbidden to put up tents and burn fires on the island. On the island there is a unique open-air museum-reserve, a museum of peasant culture of the Russian North. The museum includes 76 buildings. In addition to the museum buildings, there are three villages on Kizhi Island (Kizhi, Vasilyevo and Yamka). In the 18th century, there were nine villages on the island.

An interesting fact: on the territory of the reserve museum, the Bell Ringing Festival is regularly held, where the best bell ringers of Russia compete in their art.

Museum of Peasant Life

The founders of the ethnographic museum managed to restore the life and peasant life of the inhabitants of the North. Numerous tourists got the opportunity to touch the bygone era. On the island, masters of long-forgotten professions in national Karelian attire scurry about their craft. Craftsmen share with tourists the secrets of their skills with pleasure and interest, demonstrate the techniques of carpentry and weaving. Before your eyes, souvenirs are made, carved from wood, embroidered and woven from beads. All tourists can get the opportunity to get acquainted with household items, visit vegetable gardens, in general, plunge into peasant life to the fullest.

More than forty thousand household items of the 17-18 centuries are collected in the museum. More than 500 ancient icons have been collected in the churches of the Kizhi island. On the territory of the island, there are several species of rare plants listed in the Red Book. The trunk diameter of the ancient linden tree exceeds 1 meter. Traces of the Ice Age remain on the island, captured in the form of craters and heaps of boulders, which the glacier brought more than 9000 years ago during its movement across the mainland.

During its history, Kizhi Island has experienced earthquakes of more than 12 points (about 3000 years ago). The island is famous not only for its architecture, on its territory archaeologists have discovered the remains of over 50 settlements of ancient people. In 1993, the island of Kizhi was included in the list world heritage UNESCO. It takes 1 hour 15 minutes for a speedboat to cover the distance of 68 kilometers separating the island from the capital of Karelia - Petrozavodsk. The ticket price is 2500 rubles. The length of the island is about 7 kilometers, the width varies from 500 to 1500 meters. The Lazarevskaya church on the Kizhi island was actually not built on the island - it was transported from one corner of Karelia.

Kizhi Island Map

Chapel of Three Prelates of the 17th century
Pryazha sector
Yamka village
Chapel of the Savior Not Made by Hands, 18th century
Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin of the 18th century
Village Vasilkovo
Berth
Residential building of the 19th century
Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord 1714
Bell tower 1874
Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God 1764
Residential building 1876
Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus XIV century.
Windmill 1928
Residential house 1907
Chapel of Michael the Archangel of the 17th century
Residential house 1910
Forge Kizhi - Museum-Reserve