The mysterious Russian North is the endless expanses of the harsh northern nature, where you can still find preserved ancient Russian cities, ancient customs and architectural monuments. In these places you can travel both independently and as part of an organized excursion group. Of course, one will hardly be able to see all the beauties of the region at once but it is worth it because those who have visited the northern regions feel moth-to-the-flame to return there again. Such places as Karelia, Vologda region, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk regions and the Komi Republic are the Russian North. To be precise, this is not even a geographical, but rather a historical and cultural concept. It is here that you can get acquainted with the real fabulous Russia.
The city of Arkhangelsk is located on the shores of the harsh White Sea. Descendants of northern fishermen and seafarers, the so-called pomors, live here. They are proud, independent people who for centuries have been accustomed to surviving in the harsh northern nature. The Arkhangelsk region is full of beautiful and mysterious places including many historical sights.One of the most interesting and attractive places for tourists is the Malye Korely Museum of Wooden Architecture. Here you can see wooden buildings typical for northern villages (wooden churches, izbas, household outbuildings). Totally, you can find about one hundred buildings date from the 16th to the 19th century. Folk festivals are often held in the museum.
In addition,a famous Solovki - the world known monastery complex - is located in the Arkhangelsk region. Pagan shrines such as stone labyrinths have been preserved on the islands. Everyone should take a look at the beauties of a harsh northern nature of the islands at least once. And lovers of rare plants, animals and unity with nature can visit the Kenozerie National Park, which has preserved ancient monuments, lakes, swamps and meadows, which are changed by areas of taiga.Another iconic and popular place is an old Russian town of Kargopol located on the banks of the Onega River. It has preserved ancient temples, wooden buildings, but this city is famous not only for its ancient architecture. In Kargopol old folk crafts are still cherished and passed on to new generations. These are the famous Kargopol clay toys, birch bark products, skillful wood carving and others.
In addition to natural beauty in the Republic of Karelia there are also man-made sights. The most famous is the Kizhi Museum of Wooden Architecture. Here you can see the famous wooden church built without a single nail as well as other wooden buildings of Russian peasants. In Karelia, you can visit the Valaam island which houses an old men's monastery. In addition, the island is truly beautiful for its unforgettable beautiful and pristine nature. So, the North of Russia is so unique and beautiful that one can talk about it endlessly. Everyone should personally see all its wonders and beauties in order to plunge into this mysterious and alluring world which is called the Russian North.
The Novodvinsk fortress was founded in 1701 by an order of Peter the Great to protect Arkhangelsk from possible attacks from the seaside.
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Kizhi Pogost is a historical site dating from the 17th century on Kizhi island. The island is located on Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia.
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In 1991, the decision was taken to create a National Park in the area. All historical monuments were transferred to the park administration, and some of them have been restored.
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The main attraction of the village is the historical and memorial Lomonosov museum, which was opened in 1940. The museum is standing on the place of the Lomonosovs' family house.
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It is not clear when Kargopol was founded, but, when first chronicled in 1146,located on both sides of the Onega River. in the southwestern corner of the region.
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The founder of the Siysky Monastery is Anthony. It is located in a picturesque place, among forests and lakes.
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It was founded in 1584 by the order of Ivan the Terrible, one of the greatest tsars in the history of Russia.In the 17th century, Arkhangelsk became a major canter of Russian trade with foreign countries, a big sea river port on the Northern Dvina.
Near to Arkhangelsk, at the village of Malye Karelie, the State Museum of Wooden Architecture is located between the hills of the Northern Dvina Region. More than 104 wooden buildings were brought here from the riverbanks of the northern rivers (Pinega, Mezen, Dvina and Onega). Technical and artistic methods of carpentry have been developed and perfected for centuries.
On the White Sea coast of the «Russian" part of the Arctic Ocean and near the Polar Circle lies the Solovetski Archipelago, consisting of a cluster of scenic islands, permeated by forests and countless lakes. Thanks to tireless labor of brethren, season workers and helpmates, Solovetski Monastery becomes an architectural ensemble, where every building is a unique masterpiece of architecture.
Veliky Ustyug has a great historical significance and was one of the major cities of the Russian North. Veliky Ustyug, in contrast to the majority of historical Russian towns, managed to preserve almost all of its architectural and cultural monuments.The town of Veliky Ustyug was first mentioned in a chronicle in 1207.
The year 1264 was the first mention of Vologda as a separate settlement. This year the full-fledged agreement with the Duke of Novgorod was concluded. Vologda was recorded as one of its suburbs. Later, it developed as independent lands, where the military matters and the treasury of money and grain stocks were concentrated. In 1481, the Principality of Vologda (“Vologodsky Uyezd”) passed to the Principality of Moscow (“Knyazhestvo Moskovskoye”). It had a significant impact on the further history of the land.
To the northeast of Vologda, on the picturesque left bank of the river of the same name in the place of a steep bend of its bed, there is a magnificent architectural ensemble of medieval Rus. This is the Spaso-Prilutsky Demetrius male Monastery, one of the largest monasteries of the Russian North.The architectural ensemble of Spaso-Prilutsky monastery is completely preserved to this day. The territory of the monastery is surrounded by defensive walls with towers built in the XVII-XVIII centuries.
