| Kiži Island | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | Russia |
|---|---|
| Surface | 5 km² |
| Institutional website | |
Kiži Island (Кижи) it's an island Russian of the Republic of Karelia located in Onega lake.
To know
Kiži Island is characterized by a set of wooden churches, chapels and houses. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, as well as one of the World Heritage Sites in Russia.
To all intents and purposes, Kiži Island is one of the largest open-air museums in Russia. It is a unique historical, cultural and natural complex inserted in the Code of the most significant cultural heritage sites of the peoples of the Russian Federation. The basis of the museum's collection is the architectural ensemble of Kiži Pogost. The museum has been researching, preserving and disseminating the culture of the native peoples of Karelia for over 40 years.
Geographical notes
The island is about 7 kilometers long and a half wide. It is surrounded by 5,000 other islands, many of which are extremely small, some as small as 2 meters by 2, others as long as 35 kilometers. Kizhi Pogost, the name by which it is known in Russian, is an ancient settlement that brings together more than 100 villages of the sixteenth century.
Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Republic of Karelia, is 68 km away.
When to go
The average temperature in winter is -10 ° С, in summer 16 ° С. Annual precipitation averages 650 mm.
When visiting the museum, even in summer, it is advisable to have at least a light cloak. The island is always open to cold winds. When the sky is cloudy, an umbrella is needed. The necessary clothes and accessories must be brought with you during the excursion.
The water of Lake Onega warms up slightly in summer, already at a depth of half a meter its temperature is about 5 ° C. In some places the temperature is even slightly higher, but always unsuitable for swimming.
Background
In 1920, the whole obtained the official status of a historical and cultural monument. On 11 August 1920, the certificate of protection was signed. In 1945, the Kiži Pogost territory was declared a state reserve. From 1949 to 1959, the restoration of the monuments in the Kiži churchyard was carried out and the formation of the architectural and ethnographic exhibition of the museum began. In 1990 Kiži Pogost was included in the delìi list World Heritage Sites in Russia. In 1993 the museum was included in the Code of Particularly Valuable Objects of the Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of the Russian Federation. In 2001 the museum was given the status of a federal state cultural institute.
Territories and tourist destinations
How to get
There entrance fee for Russian citizens it is: 500 RUB for adults, 300 RUB for pensioners and 200 RUB for students (2017). Foreigners have higher rates. The amount is payable in cash only on arrival. The fee is not included in the ticket price for the boat or hydrofoil from Petrozavodsk. Additional services are paid for separately.
In the summer (from the end of May), the boats connect Petrozavodsk in Kiži. A return ticket costs 2,300 RUB (June 2013). The journey takes 1 hour and 15 minutes.Kareliaflot is one of the companies offering such connections.
How to get around
The movements on the island are carried out on foot. It is necessary to adhere to the marked traffic routes, walk on roads or wooden bridges.
What see
The island was declared World Heritage Site for the particular architectural structures present. The most striking feature of these structures is the fact that they were built without nails or other joining metals, so all the connections are made of wood.
- 1 Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior. The architectural jewel of the island from 1714, 37 m high, with its 22 domes and iconostasis in Baroque style.
- 2 Church of the Intercession of Santa Maria. With nine domes, it was built in 1764, with a bell tower added in 1874. The Church of the Intercession of Santa Maria and the nearby bell tower emphasize the harmony and magnificence of the main church.
- Russian architecture museum. The museum was opened in Kizhi by the Soviet authorities in 1960. Minor wooden structures were transported here from various parts of Karelia, probably the church of St. Lazarus was taken in the fourteenth century by the Muromsky monastery, one of the oldest wooden churches in the Russia. Other important examples of this architecture can be found in Kondopoga it's at Kem '.
What to do
In addition to the normal visits, from May to October, it is possible to shop in the gift shop. The most popular products include beads, woven belts and in handmade canvas bags.
At the table
There are some snack bars and a small supermarket near the landing stage for hydrofoils and cruise ships. You are allowed to bring your own packed lunch, but be sure to use the bins or take your own waste off the island with you.
Tourist infrastructure
Unauthorized overnight stays on the island are prohibited. On the island of Kizhi itself, due to its protected status, there are no hotels and guesthouses. But not far from the island there are many pensions, the owners of which are always happy to help tourists combine visits to the unique monuments of wooden architecture, with outdoor activities, excursions to protected islands and forests, ethnographic villages and archaeological sites.
Safety
The island is quite safe. In order to avoid conflicts, it should be remembered that the duties of security and police on the island are to prevent access and unauthorized actions of visitors. The main focus is fire prevention. Camp fires and other sources of open flame are prohibited. Smoking is only permitted in designated and permitted locations. A sad example is the loss following a fire close to Vytegra in 1963 of a unique wooden church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Vytegorsky cemetery (the only analogue of the Church of the Transfiguration). It is also obvious that tourists must respect the museum's objects and exhibits.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Kiži Island
Commons contains images or other files on Kiži Island
