| Sortavala Сортавала | ||
.jpg/250px-Центр_города_Сортавала_(Center_of_Sortavala).jpg) | ||
Coat of arms .png/48px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Sortavala_(Karelia).png){kind=small} | ||
| State | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Territory | Republic of Karelia | |
| Altitude | 5 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 15 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 18.831 (census 2020) | |
| Prefix tel | 7 81430 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 186790 | |
| Time zone | UTC 3 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Sortavala (Сортавала, in FinnishSortavala) it's a city Russian in Republic of Karelia, located along the northern banks of the Ladoga lake. It is a popular starting point for those heading to the Karelian wilderness.
To know
Sortavala is the second tourist center of the Republic of Karelia after Petrozavodsk. An important role in this is played by its role as the starting point of the aquatic tourist routes for Valaam: "Raketa"(hydrofoils) at high speed and small motor ships, carrying up to 20% of the total number of pilgrims and tourists who wish to visit this island.
A large flow of foreign tourists is provided by the so-called nostalgic tourism of the former residents of the Ladoga lake, who now live in Finland, as well as the participation of the city in the international tourist route "Blue Road", which extends from the coast of the Norway through the Sweden and Finland to the Karelian city of Pudož.
Geographical notes
The city is located on the northern bank of the Ladoga lake, 270 km from St.Pietroburgo and 240 km from Petrozavodsk. The relief of the city is associated with the geological processes of formation of the Baltic crystalline shield which is rough, abundant rocky outcrops, composed of granite. The central part of the city is located like an amphitheater on a huge stone ridge. Within the confines of urban development, the rocks form a series of heights, from one of which (the Kuhavuori Mountains in the city park) a beautiful view of Sortavala opens up. Due to the special microclimate, the city is known as a climatic resort for patients with heart and lung diseases (in particular, pulmonary tuberculosis), spa treatments are developed.
When to go
| Climate | gen | Feb | mar | apr | mag | down | Jul | needle | set | Oct | nov | dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum (° C) | -5,3 | -4,6 | 0,6 | 7,0 | 14,2 | 18,8 | 21,9 | 19,6 | 13,9 | 7,2 | 1,1 | -2,4 |
| Minimum (° C) | -11,5 | -11,6 | -7,4 | -1,7 | 3,7 | 9,0 | 12,5 | 10,9 | 6,5 | 2,0 | -3,3 | -8,1 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 47,2 | 35,9 | 34,6 | 31,7 | 42,9 | 61,8 | 58.0 | 84,8 | 63,5 | 68,9 | 65,9 | 62,4 |
Due to the influence of Ladoga, the climate of Sortavala is quite mild: the summer is moderately hot (the average temperature of the summer months is 15 ° C), the winter is moderately mild (the average temperature in February is - 8.6 ° C), however in some years temperatures of up to 30 ° C in summer and up to -40 ° C in winter can be recorded; rainfall up to 600 mm per year.
Background
Stolbovo belonged to the Sweden from 1617 to 1721 and became a city on paper in 1632. It was devastated during the war at the beginning of the 18th century, it was ceded to the Russia and lost its importance. It was united with the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812 and thus became part of independent Finland in 1917. From the end of the 19th century Sortavala developed as a cultural center of Ladogana Karelia. It was the seat of the Orthodox archbishop since 1925. It also had significant industry for such a small city.
The area was evacuated and ceded to the Soviet Union after the 1940 winter war and again after the 1944 continuation war. Ladoga southwest of Sortavala it had been one of the very few relatively densely populated areas north of the Karelian isthmus of Karelia.
How to orient yourself
Sortavala: full screen map.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Helyulya Airport (Хелюля, or Khelyulya), ul. factory (Bus number 1 from the train station). Near the city is the airport of Helyulya, from which in winter (from frost to ice drift) regular helicopter flights are carried out on the Helyulya route.Valaam. The rest of the air traffic (with other cities and towns of the Karelia) was abolished in the 1990s, along with local airports.
By car
From St.Pietroburgo the A129 motorway along the west coast of Ladoga leads to the city through the cities of Priozersk is Lachdenpoch'ja.
The A130 Sortavala motorway-Olonec ends in the city. In Olonec, the exit on this road can be made from the federal highway M18 "Kola", then 200 kilometers to the city.
- 2 Pier, st. Lenin, 1. During the navigation period, there is regular communication on the Sortavala-Valaam on ships of the "Meteor" type belonging to the monastery: 1 hour journey and 900 rubles (2015). The time must be known by calling the monastery's pilgrimage service or from the travel agencies of the city; on weekdays there is at least one departure on the island in the morning and return in the evening, on weekends much more often. There is also a link developed by private ships.
On the train
- 3 Sortavala railway station. A branch of the Oktyabrskaya railway (Kuznečnoe-Suojarvi) crosses the city. Sortavala is also on the railway between St.Pietroburgo is Kostomukša. Train # 350 leaves from St. Petersburg on Mondays and Fridays and from Kostomukša on Wednesdays and Fridays. On other days, the Kuznečnoe-Sortavala suburban train runs on a special schedule.
By bus
- 4 Bus Station, st. Kirov, 1. Small waiting room and cash desk. The building was built in 1935 to a design by Uno Ulberg. A bus of the route Petrozavodsk-Lachdenpoch'ja crosses the city every day, there is also a daily bus service with St.Pietroburgo and the border point of Russian-Finnish of Vyartsilya.
How to get around
By public transport
There are 7 bus lines in the city.
By taxi
There are inexpensive taxis.
What see
- 1 Church of San Nicola. Orthodox cathedral of 1873.
- 2 Gogolev K.A. Cultural and Exhibition Center, st. Komsomolskaya, 6, ☎ 7 81430 45-6-75, 7 81430 47-8-08.
Full: 200 rubles, reduced: 100 rubles, children under 7 years: free, guide service: 150 rubles / group (5 or more people). Exhibition of works by the local artist Kronid Gogolev, whose works are made with the technique of wood carving. Most of the works are dedicated to local life, to the architecture of Ladogana Karelia and in particular a Valaam, there are several religious subjects. For a fee, there's an exhibit on the top floor dedicated to the artist himself and how he made his way into art. In addition to the permanent exhibition of the famous carver, thematic and author exhibitions are held. - 3 Popular poetry singer statue (Рунопевец). By Alpo Sailo, erected in 1935 on the occasion of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the national epic Finnish Kalevala. The statue is modeled after popular poetry singer Petri Shemeikka (1821-1915), whom Sailo had met earlier, making sketches and taking pictures.
- 4 Northern Ladoga Regional Museum, Naberezhnaya Ladozhskoy Flotilii, 5, ☎ 7 81430 4-61-58, 7 964 317-51-24.
In summer: Tue-Fri 9: 00-17: 00, Sat-Sun 10: 00-17: 00, in the rest of the year: Mon-Fri 9: 00-17: 00, Sat 10: 00-17: 00. Along with the main exhibition dedicated to the history of the region, cultural and scientific events often take place. The museum also organizes two-hour city tours.
Full: 200 rubles, reduced: 100 rubles, children under 7 years: free, guide service: 150 rubles / group (5 or more people). Exhibition of works by the local artist Kronid Gogolev, whose works are made with the technique of wood carving. Most of the works are dedicated to local life, to the architecture of 
In summer: Tue-Fri 9: 00-17: 00, Sat-Sun 10: 00-17: 00, in the rest of the year: Mon-Fri 9: 00-17: 00, Sat 10: 00-17: 00. Along with the main exhibition dedicated to the history of the region, cultural and scientific events often take place. The museum also organizes two-hour city tours.Events and parties
What to do
- 1 Cultural and exhibition center. Gogoleva K.A. (Культурно-Выставочный центр им. Гоголева К.А.), st. Komsomolskaya, 6, ☎ 7 81430 45-6-75, 7 81430 47-8-08. Full: 200 RUB, reduced: 100 RUB, children under 7: free, group excursions (5 or more people): 150 RUB. Summer 10: 00-20: 00; rest of the year 10 am-5pm. Exhibition of works by the local artist Kronid Gogolev, who executed most of his works with the technique of wood carving. Mostly the works are dedicated to local life, Karelian Ladoga architecture and in particular to Valaam, there are several religious subjects. For a fee, there's an exhibit on the top floor dedicated to the artist himself and how he made his way into art.
- 2 Vakkosalmi Cultural and Recreational Park (Парк культуры и отдыха Ваккосалми). The main street of the park rests on steps that lead to the top of a 63-meter mountain, from where there is a suggestive view of the city and the surrounding lakes.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- 1 Culinary, st. Kirov 12, ☎ 7 902 773-05-65. Mon-Thu 9: 00-17: 00, Fri 9: 00-16: 00. A ready-made shop with a very large assortment and low prices. Among other things, semi-finished products are on sale. There are no places to eat (and in general the room is extremely cramped). Popular with locals, so you usually have to queue up to 3-5 people.
- 2 Riviera café-dining room, Komsomolskaya st. 8, ☎ 7 953 534-22-53. 09:00-19:00. Decent dining room geared towards tourists, so prices are slightly higher than they should be in a canteen.
Average prices
- 3 Cafe Relax (Релакс), via Karelskaya, 29, ☎ 7 814 304-77-78. Main dishes 200-400 rubles. Sun-Thu 10: 00-21: 00, Fri-Sat 10: 00-23: 00. Classic restaurant where you cook quickly, tasty dishes. Cheese-based soups are especially good. There are no particularly exclusive dishes, but the menu is impressive in size. Pleasant environment. The place is sometimes recommended by locals as the best restaurant in town.
- 4 Serdobol restaurant (Serdobol Youth Center) (On the embankment, near the pier, from which the boats leave for Valaam).
High prices
- 5 Gustav Winter Restaurant (In Tarulinna, 7 km from the city). Local and European cuisine performed by the chef of Dacha Winter is Cape Taruniemi's main gastronomic attraction. The menu is impressive: from the gates of Karelia to the trout caught here.
Where stay
The city is developing its own tourist infrastructure, there are several hotels of various classes (Sortavala, Ladoga, Kaunis, Piipun Piha, etc.). There are 11 hotels in the city.
Average prices
- 1 Kaunis hotels, st. Lenin, 3, ☎ 7 81430 4-50-27, 7 921 467-34-15.
- 2 Seurahuone hotels, via Karelskaya, 22 (It is located in the building of the former Finnish hotel of the same name, later home to the officers.), ☎ 7 81430 4-57-41, 7 81430 4-79-56. Rebuilt in 1939.
- 3 Ladoga hotel, via Karelskaya, 12, ☎ 7 921 019-38-67, 7 81430 4-52-44. Operating since 1939.
- 4 Volna hotels, via Karelskaya, 18, ☎ 7 81430 4-52-49.
- 5 Dacha Wintera (Дача Винтера) (8 km south), ☎ 7 921 012-90-46. Newly built resort along the shore of the Ladoga lake, just south of the city.
Safety
There are 2 hospitals in the city: the Central Regional Hospital of the Sortavala Municipal District and the Sortavala branch of the Republican Hospital, polyclinic at the Sortavala station.
How to keep in touch
Telephony
Fixed telephone communication is provided by the services of Rostelecom.
The mobile phone has excellent reception and coverage thanks to the four operators: Megafon, Beeline, MTS and Tele-2.
Internet
There are several Internet providers operating in the city, some of them also broadcast television in the city through a cable connection.
Around
- 5 Lagoda Skerries National Park National park of 1,220 km² on the banks of the Ladoga.
- L'archipelago of Valaam with the monastery of Valamo.
