| Valaam Archipelago | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | Russia |
|---|---|
| Surface | 36 km² |
| Inhabitants | 600 (1999 estimate) |
| Tourism site | |
Valaam Archipelago (Валаамский архипелаг) is an archipelago Russian located in the northern part of Ladoga lake, with a special nature and famous for the 14th century monastery.
To know
Valaam is the name of the largest island. The name of the island derives from the Finno-Ugric word valamo, which means high, mountain, earth.
The island is permanently inhabited by monks and families. There is a kindergarten, an arts and sports center, a school, a small museum and a medical center. The community on Valaam has no official administrative status.
Geographical notes
Valaam is made up of 50 islands. The landscape is mostly rugged, but there are also gardens tended by the monks. More than 480 plant species grow on the island, many of which have been grown by them. The island is covered with coniferous forests, of which about 65% are pines. Ten species of mammals and more than 120 avian species have the archipelago as their home.
When to go
The climate is influenced by the vast surrounding Ladoga. Spring begins at the end of March and a typical summer in Valaam consists of 30/35 days of sunshine, more than on land. The average temperature in July is 17 ° C. Winter and snow come in early December. The average temperature in February is -8 ° C.
Background
In the 12th century, the archipelago was part of the Republic of Novgorod, later merged with the Russia. In the 17th century it was conquered by the Sweden, but re-annexed a century later.
When the Grand Duchy of Finland it was established in the early 19th century as an autonomous part of the Russian Empire, Alexander I of Russia made Valaam part of the Grand Duchy and then, in 1917, part of the newly independent Finland. There were some schisms between the government, the Finnish Orthodox Church and the monastery, with many non-citizen Finnish monks, the monastery not changing the Gregorian calendar, and other issues. The monastery, however, became an important pilgrimage and tourism destination, and a center of spiritual encounters, with peaks of about 30,000 annual visitors.
The monastery was gradually evacuated during the Winter War. The monastery was repeatedly bombed, but the books in the library, built to withstand the fire, and the main church remained unharmed. When the area was annexed to the Soviet Union after the Winter War, the monastery was relocated to Heinävesi in the Finnish lake region as "New Valamo".
Some of the things left in the monastery were destroyed while it was in Soviet hands. It was used in another way until the fall of the Soviet Union, when it was returned to the church and allowed to continue with its functions. Much of the damage caused by the war and the Soviet period has been repaired.
The islands have been visited by famous people, including members of the Russian imperial family and the composer Tchaikovsky. Putin has a dacha on one of the islands.
Territories and tourist destinations
Other destinations
The archipelago is made up of over 50 largely uninhabited islands that are about 22 km from the coast.
- Bajevye Islands (Байевые острова) - Group of islands east of Valaam. Bajonnoj (Байонной) is the largest of the Bajevye.
- Krestovye Islands (Крестовые острова) - A group of islets in the easternmost part
- Skitsky (Скитский) - The second largest.
- Svyatoj (Святой)
- Valaam (Валаам) - The major island.
How to get
There is a ferry from Sortavala in Valaam. During the summer, there are also tourist boats from St.Pietroburgo, which depart at night and arrive the following morning, and from Moscow, as well as ferries from Lachdenpoch'ja is Pitkjaranta. It is also possible to arrive by helicopter from Petrozavodsk. In winter there is a 42km icy road from Sortavala to the islands.
The boat trip from Sortavala costs 750 RUB one way and takes 40 minutes departing at 9:00 am. A guided tour, departing at 9:30 am, costs RUB 1,500 and includes visits to other islets. There is a maršrutka to Valaam, which charges 70 RUB for the 6 km between the Monastirskaya and Nikolovskaya landing. The walks on Valaam, the visit of the islets and the crossing of the bridges are pleasant. There is a small fjord north of the Nikolovskaya landing.
How to get around
What see
- 1 Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, ☎ 7 812902 86 11, @[email protected]. Monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church.
- 2 Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral. The cathedral was built in 1887-1896. In 1971 the cathedral was included in the list of historical and cultural monuments and taken under state protection.
- 3 Monument to the Holy Apostle Andrew the First Called. Opened on 10 July 2014. The author is the sculptor Andrey Klykov. Located at the entrance to the Valaam Monastery.
- 4 Pokrovskaya chapel. It stands on the rocky coast of Monastyrskaya Bay. The chapel is clearly visible from ships approaching the island. The chapel stands on the place where, according to legend, in 1180 the relics of St. Sergius and the German. The chapel was restored in 1985 (the previous one was burned down).
- 5 Znamenskaya Chapel (Tsar chapel). The chapel was erected in 1862 in honor of the visit to the monastery of Emperor Alexander II. Inside - the icon of the sign of the Mother of God. On the wall there is an icon of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky.
- 6 Chapel of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of all who suffer". Built in 1896.
- 7 Skete of Ognissanti (White Skete). The first and largest skete of the monastery. Alexander Svirsky is believed to have lived here in the 15th century. In the 18th century, a skete was founded on this place, so that the place where the saint lived was not lost. The lower church was consecrated in the name of All Saints in 1849.
- 8 Skete of the resurrection (Red Skete). The temple stands on a mountain. It was built in 1906. Built in red brick, made on the island, it became known as "Red". The upper temple is the temple of Christ's resurrection. The lower temple is the temple of the apostle Andrew the first called. In the eastern part of the temple there is a Kuvuklia, proportional to the Cuvuklia in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
- 9 Skete of Grand Duke Vladimir del Santo Equal to the Apostles (Residence of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and a museum).
Free. Established in 2006. Construction and arrangement was completed in 2008. On the territory of the Vladimirskaya stone tent-roofed church, in it side chapels: All the saints who shone in the land of Russia and the martyr Lyudmila of the Czech Republic. On the territory there is a baptism, a cell, an icon painting workshop and a museum with an exhibition of the church-archaeological reserve and natural museum of Valaam. Architects: Anisimov A.A. and Efimova T.I. - 10 Skete Nikolsky (Nikolsky Island). In 1853 the Nikolskaya Church was built. Architect - academic of architecture A.M. Gornostaev. In Soviet times, the decoration of the temple was practically destroyed. Restored in the 90s of the twentieth century, rededicated in 1999.
- 11 Skete Svyatoostrovsky (Skete by Alexander Svirsky) (Holy Island). Formerly called old Valaam (in the 18th century) It is believed that the founders of the monastery lived on this island. A cross with the date "1759" has survived. and is the oldest monument in Valaam. In the middle of the 19th century, a skit and a church appeared in the name of the monk Alexander Svirsky. The interior decoration is almost completely lost.
- 12 Skete Smolensk (It is located on the Bobylek Peninsula). It was built in 1914-1917 on the initiative of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich the Younger, grandson of Emperor Nikolai I. The skete is dedicated to the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God. A temple-monument to the soldiers and officers who died in the First World War. Architect - Grand Duke Pyotr Nikolaevich, brother of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich Jr. In Soviet times, the temple fell into disrepair, it was almost completely destroyed. Now restored.
- 13 Skete Predtechenskiy. Currently inaccessible to visitors, even to pilgrims. The monks who live there do not communicate with the outside world. It is only possible to reach the hermitage by water, so only those arriving in Valaam with their own boat will be able to see the hermitage. The first chapel was erected in 1855. The Wooden Church of the Transfiguration was brought here from the Vasilievsky Monastery, located in the village of Chernavino, opposite the Staroladozhskaya fortress. Valaam monks lived in this monastery in the first quarter of the 17th century. after the devastation of the monastery by the Swedes. Since 2001, the restoration of the buildings of the skete has been underway.
- 14 Skete Sergievsky. Church of St. Sergius of Valaam, architect V.I.Barankeev. At the end of the 1940s it was closed and completely destroyed. Returned to the monastery, now under restoration. Visit only with the blessing of the abbot of the monastery.
- 15 Skete Gethsemane (Skete yellow). Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God.
- 16 Skete Konevsky (Skete abbey). Founded in 1870. Consecrated in the name of the Konevskaya icon of the Mother of God. Destroyed in the mid-1950s. Restored in 2004. Nearby are the most beautiful Konevsky or Igumensky lakes.
- 17 Defensive structures of the Mannerheim line. Preserved: underground casemates, gun emplacements, a secret descent into the rock-cut Ladoga, as well as a guide tower. There is a nice view from the guide tower.
- 18 Finnish coastal battery. He covered the Mannerheim line from the Ladoga side.
Free. Established in 2006. Construction and arrangement was completed in 2008. On the territory of the Vladimirskaya stone tent-roofed church, in it side chapels: All the saints who shone in the land of Russia and the martyr Lyudmila of the Czech Republic. On the territory there is a baptism, a cell, an icon painting workshop and a museum with an exhibition of the church-archaeological reserve and natural museum of Valaam. Architects: Anisimov A.A. and Efimova T.I.What to do
Believers who come as pilgrims will undoubtedly take an active part in the ecclesial life of the monastery. Workers and volunteers are initially sent to work for the benefit of the monastery and their life is initially detailed.
Tourists arriving on boats and meteors usually book excursions and other services in advance.
Tourists who come from organized groups can use the services of the "Valaam Archipelago" natural park, which offers excursions throughout the island:
- boat excursions (on inland lakes, to the Defense Islands)
- walking tours around the island
- excursions to the Natural Museum of Valaam
In addition, you can take advantage of other services provided by the park:
- rental of tourist equipment (tents, carpets, bowling)
- Bike rent
- rowing boat rental
- transport services (on the territory of the archipelago)
You can just walk around the islands on your own.
Taking into account the particularity of Valaam as a territory of a monastery, no shows and other "noisy" events are held. There are no entertainment establishments on the island.
From 26 to 28 July 2015, the first St. Vladimir Valaam "Illuminating" Orthodox singing festival was held at the Valaam Monastery, dedicated to the memory of Prince Vladimir, the Baptist and Illuminator of Russia, Holy Equal to the Apostles. The festival should become regular, at least that's what Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all of Russia thinks.
It is possible to hear spiritual songs at other times, the representatives of the festive choir of the Savior-Transfiguration Valaam Monastery perform spiritual works for pilgrims and tourists several times a day.
At the table
Summer outdoor cafes work at the moorings of Monastyrskaya and Nikonovskaya bays.
Groups of tourists and pilgrims are fed in the monastery refectory.
In hotels, guests can order breakfast or dinner at a cafe.
Safety
On the island there are ticks, it is necessary to have adequate clothing and it is advisable to be vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. There is only one doctor's office on the island, which can provide first aid to the victims. In the second half of summer, lovers of forest walks are also annoyed by deer bloodsuckers (elk lice). In addition to the unpleasant sensations, they are also carriers of borreliosis.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Valaam Archipelago
Commons contains images or other files on Valaam Archipelago
