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North-Western region: Trends & Plans
Komi Republic
Komi is a wonderful, picturesque and distinctive land. Unshowy northern nature, customs, crafts and arts of the Republic’s peoples give it a special charm, attracting tourists' interest.
Komi is a land of virgin forests, mountains and caves, unique Manpupuner rock formations, clear rivers inhabited by salmon. Thanks to special protection of natural territories, large virgin forest areas remain here. That’s why Komi is considered a gem of eco tourism and is a good place for full-fledged recreation and exciting the journeys. The Komi Republic is where one of the Wonders of Russia – rock formations on the Manpupuner plateau – is located.
The Republic’s travel agencies invite to meet the northern village exotism in the Izhemsky and the Ust-Tzilemsky Districts. Such programs as “Dinner in Tent (of skins)”, “Feeding Reindeer”, “Visiting Elk Farm”, “Chasing Aurora Borealis” will be very interesting for a city dweller. In the region of the Polar Urals and in the Yugyd Va National Park tourists are offered two-week pedestrian and rafting trips. Among them – a rafting down the Podcherem River, climbing the Sablya (Saber) peak, a hike along Vangyrsky highway and rafting down the rivers Vangyr and Kosyu, climbing Narodnaya (People’s) (the highest peak of the Urals) and Karpinskogo (the highest peak of Komi) peaks and rafting down the river Kozhim. New routes are developed every year.
In 2012 a new route will be put into operation, which is called “Virgin Heart of Ural” and implies a 5-day trip to the mountains Narodnaya, Manaraga, the famous shaman peak Erkusey and rafting down mountain rivers. For tourists’ convenience a new comfortable hotel “Eruskey” was built and put into operation.
Construction of an economic class hotel in Zhelannoye (Desired) village is a great step in developing tourism and hospitality in the Komi Republic. Moreover, a specially elaborated route will introduce the region’s main sites, its nature and recreation facilities to the guests.
Komi is a land plenty for hunt and fishing. Such companies as “Tureb”, “Koin” and “Potseluy Medveditsy” (Female Bear Kiss) offer hunt and fishing tours for travelers. They include not only a hunt and fishing, but also guided tours to villages, reindeer farms, a visit to the Ethnographic museum and a workshop of making national souvenirs. To the service of tourists are such fishing and hunting bases as “Pechora”, “Alekhino”, “Beloye Ozero” (White Lake), “Kadam”, “Perekat”, “Shishkin Les” and others. The World Wildlife Fund runs a project in the Komi Republic called “Forest Village”, within the framework of which tourists will be able to forget about the civilization. The center of pilgrimage is an ancient village, Turya, in the Ust-Vymsky District, which is also called “Komi Kizhi”. Travelers are offered to raft down northern rivers, fish, hunt, live in a village, ancient buildings of which are in perfect condition, and to get acquainted with local customs. The new ecological route has been very popular among Finnish tourists. Seven more Komi villages, besides Turya, participate in the “Forest Village” project, all of them with plentiful forests and rivers, the richest history, natural and artificial monuments.
Travelers are also welcome to a distinctive village Yb, known since 1586. This is the most ancient settlement on the territory of Russia, the name of which in Cyrillic alphabet starts with the letter “Ы” which is not normally used at the beginning of words in Russian. Here there are: a stone Church of the Ascension of the XIX century, a museum of history and ethnography and 13 baptismal founts, each of which has its own legend.
On August 22, 2011 the Finno-Ugric ethno-cultural park was opened in Yb village. The opening of the park was timed to the Republic’s 90th anniversary. It became the main tourism center of Komi. By August the first stage development was completed: a hotel, a restaurant of Finno-Ugric cuisine, a souvenir shop and the biggest conference hall in Komi were ready. The second stage of development implies the creation of a hotel and leisure center in the form of an ensemble of buildings, including pavilions, cottages, a zone for snow tubing, ski tracks, a lake that will transform into a skating-rink in winter, and playgrounds for children. The hotel complex will include a hotel with 200 rooms, restaurants, a bar, a water park of 6 000 sq.m., a SPA center, a hot tub complex, a gym and a mini skating-rink with artificial ice. Besides that, it is planned to construct a night club. The capital spending sights are about 1,2 billion rouble (approx. $40 mln). On the area of more than 100 hectares there will be also an ethnic village, a sculpture garden, a national toy museum, a summer theatre and an interactive archaeological museum – “Legends of Chud”.
In the capital of the Republic, Syktyvkar, a city with a 220-year history, there are also modern hotels, restaurants, cultural and entertainment centers. Here you can see the remaining corners of the Old Town, including a borough Paris which got its name in 1812 when captive French soldiers were exiled here, and visit the National Museum and the National Gallery of the Komi Republic.
In summer, 2011 tourist train hotel “Siyanie Severa” (Aurora of the North) was launched in the Komi Republic. In two wagons there are comfortable compartments with all the facilities, and the third is a dining car. “Siyanie Severa” train runs among regular trains on the route Syktyvkar-Vorkuta, as well as along the “side” branches to Udora and Troitsko-Pechorsk. Tourists will be able to visit Syktyvkar, an ancient village of Ust-Vym, Ukhta, Inta, Yugyd Va National Park and Pechoro-Ilychsky preserve, Vorkuta, to fish and hunt in Udora and even go to the Manpupuner plateau. Programs also include visiting reindeer breeders nomad camps and reindeer sledding, tasting the local cuisine, descent into a mine, visiting the museum created on the territory of Vorkuta’s GULAG. In the nearest future the project “Museum and Memorial Complex “GULAG” will be launched in Vorkuta. The remaining parts of buildings and structures of the Separate camp point along the electric power transmission line Vorkuta-Kharbey will be supplemented by new buildings – copies of similar camp structures of the GULAG epoch.
Recreation tourism is also developing in the Republic. In 90 km to the north from Syktyvkar in the Knyazhpogostsky District on the left bank of the Vym river in front of the village Seregovo a resort complex is being constructed, with a full range of treatments and recreation services and a good infrastructure.
Tourism is acknowledged one of the priorities of social and economic development and is perceived by the republican Government as a significant resource for development of territories. The Komi Republic with its unique nature and resources, as well as a great cultural and historic legacy, will become one of the centers of tourism development on the North-West of Russia.
Veliky Novgorod. To the origins of Russian Statehood
“What strikes the most about Novgorod is the feeling of its hugeness, which one gets when approaches the bank of fast and full-flowing Volkhov. From the centre of the city, from the foot of the ancient Kremlin one can see the boundless plain, magnificent parade of snow-white churches and monasteries, glittering Lake Ilmen fading into the high sky. Just like sea, its opposite bank is not seen. The sky seems to be particularly vast, clouds are floating across the sky– they sink and vanish in the blue of it. Wind in Novgorod seems to be particularly piercing, cutting and…marine.
…Sending you many kind regards from Lord Veliky Novgorod, where we luckily happened to be. We live a fairytale of the Novgorod churches, discover mysticism of ancient orthodoxy, which definitely exists in Novgorod, light candles in front of novgorodian miracle-workers under the cloak of the St. Sophia The Wisdom Of God Cathedral… We roam around local monasteries and in the evenings we take a boat to the serene St. George Monastery…”
That is how academician Dmitry Likhachev described Novgorod.
The oldest city of Russia, the cradle of Russian democracy, medieval centre of trade and crafts, boundless field of research for historians, architects and archaeologists – it is all about Veliky Novgorod. It is here where the first books in Russia were written and the first birch bark letters were found, where Oleg of Novgorod and Alexander Nevsky performed their feats of valour, where Vladimir the Great and Yaroslav the Wise governed.
Veliky Novgorod was the first city in Russia to experience republican rule and its historic example was always attractive for supporters of democratic development of our country.
One of the must-see places is the ancient Rurik’s hill fort – this place, considered to be the most beautiful in the world by Dmitry Likhachov, is straightly connected with the origins of Russian statehood. In IX century here was the residence of Rurik the Prince, who, according to the Primary Chronicle, was summoned to govern by Novgorodians in 862. Rurik founded the dynasty of Rurikids, which had been the ruling dynasty of Russia for more than 700 years.
Since XII century novgorodians felt free to choose their princes. If a prince did not meet the requirements he could be banished from Novgorod. Even Alexander Nevsky suffered the same fate. However, he was appointed back when Novgorod got threatened by the Teutonic knights.
The legend about Rurik being summoned to govern in Novgorod became an official reason to celebrate a thousand year anniversary of Russia. In honour of this date in 1862 on the initiative of Emperor Alexander the Second the magnificent Monument to the Millennium of Russian Statehood was placed in the centre of the Novgorod Kremlin. The monument is still here to remind that Novgorod is by right the Father of Russian Cities.
In autumn 2012 Veliky Novgorod will host the celebration of the 1150 year anniversary of the origin of Russian Statehood. On 21 September beside the Monument to the Millennium of Russian Statehood the spectacular performance “The History of Russian Statehood” will take place. On the same day the monument “Prince’s stone” will be opened on Rurik’s hill fort.
There will also be such events as Regional Festival of Chime “Bell tunes”, Arts and Crafts Fair “Novgorod market”, Historic Reconstruction Festival “Lord Veliky Novgorod”, Parade of historic ships, Art Festival “The Five Kremlins Festival” and the vivid laser show on the banks of the Volkhov river. The history of Novgorod will be told through laser images in the night sky.
The celebration of the anniversary will last till the end of December 2012.
Welcome to the birthplace of Russia- Veliky Novgorod!
MUST SEE, MUST DO in Veliky Novgorod
1. To check out the tourists offerings on Veliky Novgorod on the web-portal visitnovgorod.com before coming to the Birthplace of Russia.
2. To get free advice on staying in Veliky Novgorod along with a map and a city guide at the Tourist Information Centre «Red Izba».
3. To take a walk around the Novgorod Kremlin. To enjoy the view of the sun light reflecting in the golden dome of St Sophia. To ‘study the Russian history in bronze’, i.e. the sculptures of the Monument to the Millennium of Russia. To climb the tallest tower in the Kremlin, the Kokuy observation tower built by Dutch architects, and to admire the beautiful bird’s eye view of the city.
4. To feel great awe for the icons of the world’s largest exposition of Russian medieval icon-painting in the main building of the Novgorod State United Museum. To take notice of the unusual colour combination used by the Novgorod school of icon-painting, i.e. bright red and gold.
5. To visit St Sophia Cathedral and light up a candle by the icon of The Sign of Our Lady.
6. To read some of the thousand-year-old birch-bark scrolls exhibited at the historical exposition and to imagine that you are a recipient of those ancient messages. As you leave the former Administrative Offices building, don’t forget to pat on the tail one of the bronze lions guarding the entrance and make a wish. It really does work.
7. To cross the foot bridge to the side of Torg, the ancient marketplace. To throw a coin into the Hanseatic Fountain for luck. To go for a stroll around the Yaroslav’s Courtyard. If you hold your breath and listen carefully, you might hear the deep booming sound of the vechevoy (assembly) bell coming with the wind through the centuries.
8. To visit St Nicholas Cathedral and look at the amazing collection of decorative tiles. Don’t forget to go down to the ground level and see a very rare fresco of the biblical ‘Job on the dunghill’ (12th c.).
9. To drive to the country and experience the unhurried pace of village life in Vitoslavlitsy. To walk a bit further and come out to the small Perynsky Skit (Monastery). Legend has it that the formidable idol of Perun, an ancient god worshiped by the pageant Novgorod, stood there once and was thrown by Dobrynya into the Ilmen Lake.
10. To make a trip aboard a cruise ship to Rurikovo Gorodische (Settlement, 9th c.) to the upper reaches of the Volkhov. To find the origins of Russian land, to get to know where the Russian democracy was established.
…To fall deep in love with the ancient city and to promise yourself to come back here again.
Attractions of the Vologda oblast
The Vologda land is the gate of the Russian North. Its unique nature and history, ethnographic preserves and distinctive traditions, masterpieces of the Ancient Russian architecture and Dionysius frescoes attract numbers of tourists.
First of all, Vologda Oblast is famous for its inhabitants and saints. The time here seems to have stopped its flight. It has conserved many monuments of church construction almost untouched. Thus, in Troitse-Gledensky Monastery in Veliky Ustyug you can still admire one of the most beautiful woodcarving iconostases in Europe; massive walls and sublime churches of Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery erected at the end of the XIV century are towering above Kirillov; and in Ferapontov Monastery the frescoes of great Dionesius have been kept for five hundred years already. Sage old men lived on the land, among which were Dmitry Prilutsky, Kirill Belozersky, Ferapont, Ignatius Bryanchaninov, Pavel Obnorsky. Orthodox writer Andrei Muravyev had a good reason to call it Northern Thebaid.
The history of the Vologda land is rich with well-known names. Great explorers Osip Nepeya, Semyon Dezhnyov, Ivan Kuskov, who opened the way for Russia to Siberia and North America, were born here. Konstantin Batyushkov, Bladimir Gilyarovsky, Igor Severyanin and Nikolay Rubtsov created their wroks in Vologda.
The Russian North has always been famous for artistic woodcarving and metal working, ceramics and embroidery. The best-known folk handicrafts of Vologda land are: silver blackening, Shemogodskaya birch bark carving, cloisonne and painted enamels (Vologda finift). And the Russian art simply can’t be imagined without Vologda lace. This trademark of the region is the whole country’s pride.
There’s a good reason to call Volodga Oblast an open air museum. Dozens of the most beautiful wood and stone churches, monasteries, fortifications have been keeping their secrets for three hundred years in Vologda, Kirillov, Ferapontov, Veliky Ustyug, Totma and Ustyuzhna. Tourist routes to these places are the most popular ones.
An acquaintance with this land is best started from its heart – Vologda. This surprisingly beautiful and cosy city was founded in 1147. The ancient Vologda was a large center of trade and crafts, an outpost in the struggle against foreign invaders. Tzar Ivan the Terrible even wanted to transform the city into his northern residence – the capital of oprichnina. For that purpose a grandiose Kremlin was built and an imposing St. Sofia Cathedral was laid (1568–1571), which is still extant. Ancient ensembles of stone and wood buildings dated back to the end of XVII – the beginning of XX century remain in the city center. Wonderful delicate woodcarving transforms fences and roofs into wood lace. Religious architecture of Vologda also presents certain interest: many of its masterpieces still decorate the city.
From Vologda we’d recommend to take a tour round the Oblast’s towns. The most ancient of them is Belozersk that was first mentioned in the Russian Primary Chronicle in 862. Here a 30-metres-high earthfill fortress remains, that was erected in the XV century upon the order of Prince’s Ivan III. Today Belozersk is a cosy and quiet small town, noiseless and unhurried. Many houses are still heated by stoves and local people are very well-wishing. It is a real Russia idyll.
But perhaps the best-known worldwide olace of Vologda Oblast is Veliky Ustyug – the birthplace of the Russian Ded Moroz. His magic house is in a picturesque pine forest on a steep bank of the northern beauty, the Sukhona River. In his private domain in the atmosphere of kindness and cordiality the winter magician directs miracles and receives guests from all over our immense planet all year round.
The is everything need for a good rest of the territory of Ded Moroz’s domain: a hotel and comfortable wood cottages, a cafe, shops, “Twelve Months” entertainment park with a zoo and Ded Moroz’s apiary. Here you can ride a horse, drive a sledge, sing and dance in a ring, as well as participate in various contests.
In the very town of Veliky Ustyug the “Post Office of Ded Moroz” was opened, receiving and sending the numerous his mail. 200 thousand letters come to the address of the winter magician every year from all over Russia and abroad.
On November 18 every year celebrating the Birthday of Ded Moroz forms a large festivity culminating with turning on the lights on Russia’s first Christmas tree in Veliky Ustyug by the magician itself, which symbolizes the beginning of the New Years season. Ded Moroz celebrates his birthday among his friends speaking different languages of the globe: Santa Claus (Finland), Tomte (Sweden), Weihnachtsmann (Germany), Mikula (Slovakia), Dzied Maroz (Belarus), Saint Nicholas (Ukraine), Chyskhaan (Sakha (Yakutia) Republic), Pakkaine (Karelia), Snegovik / Snowman (Arkhangelsk), Yamal Pri (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug), Snegurochka / Snow Maiden (Kostroma) and others.
After all the festivity delights Ded Moroz starts his own New Year journey round Russian cities and towns, as well as foreign counties. He has already been to almost everywhere in thhe world, including Antarctica. And during the coming year he’s planning to go to the North Pole.
The natural richness and diversity, numerous lakes and rivers, calm and measured recreation in cosy guest houses in among rural quietness, clean air, eco products, Russian bath with bunches of green birch twigs, fishing and horse riding – all there attract lovers of village tourism to the Vologda land.
For fans of snowboarding, mountain and cross-country skiing “Freestyle” ski resort (22 km from Vologda), “Karpovo” center of skiing sport and recreation center (40 km from Cherepovets), “Parus” (Sail) hotel and tourism complex are equipped in the Oblast. The latter is located in one of picturesque corners of the Oblast on the shore of the Shekninskoye reservoir. In summer exciting ferry, catamaran and kayak trips are organized in the Vologda land, as well as cycling rides and even off-road vehicle races, such as “Vologodskiye Prostory” (Vologda Spaciousness). But this land is the most loved by inveterate hunters and fishermen, because this land promises not only rich bags and catches, but also an excellent recreation in the middle of the most beautiful nature of the Russian North.
Welcome to the hospitable Vologda land!
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast is always glad to have visitors and every guest will find here something exciting, useful and unforgettable: historic and cultural monuments, picturesque scenery, unique ethnographic heritage. Great recreation potential of the region lets develop all kinds of tourism.
The advantages of spending holidays in Leningrad Oblast are well-known in Russia, as well as abroad. Every year nearly 1,9 mln people visit the Oblast, 370 thousand of them are foreigners. The region is regularly presented on the largest tourism exhibitions, including international ones.
Event, cultural and educational, village and water tourism are among priorities, but the novelty of the recent season considers industrial tourism. The program of a new tour was made on the base of Volkhovsky District and implies visiting the Volkhov aluminum factory and hydro power station, the house museum of Genrich Graftio (the author of the project of the Volkhovskaya hydroplant), and the rose farming complex “Novaya Gollandiya” (New Holland) in the town of Syasstroy. As for event tourism, a successful conduction of the annual project “Leningrad Summer” can be called the culmination of the season. This program included one-day bus trips around the Oblast to festivities, festivals and historical reconstructions. The fillability of buses was almost 100%. Guided tours were made to Vsevolozhsk, Podporozhye and Shlisselburg. Historical reconstructions took place as well, among them: “On Approaches to Leningrad” dedicated to the Great Patriotic War in Volosovsky District and “Great Age. Rome” in Ivangorod. And the latter was not inside the Ivangorod fortress as it usually is, but in Parusinka District, where another event center of the city is planned to be created.
Losevo village in Priozersky district became an acknowledged rafting center of Leningrad Oblast thanks to the rapids on the Vuoksi River. Every year the festivals and competitions are getting more and more spectacular and the number of participants is growing steadily too. In 2011 was the 20th anniversary on the “Vuoksi” water tourism festival. Adult and children rafting competitions were held there. The recent season a new tourist project was launched in association with “Kiviniemi” sports base and “Prichal” (Moorage) cafe – “Game on Stations in Losevo”. Its participants are students of the 5-11th grades who are divided into teams and compete with each other. Four stations are a crossbow shooting range, a climbing wall, rafting and a guided tour on the issue “History of Losevo-Kiviniemi and Natural Disaster – Formation of Losevsky Rapids”. In autumn the information and tourism center of Leningrad Oblast competed with its rivals from 12 subjects of the Russian Federation in the nomination “For active promotion of tourist resources of the regions of Russia” and upon the jury’s decision was granted the title of the winner of the National Tourism Prize Named after Yuri Senkevich. Moreover, the “Shelter of Snow-White” in Shadyritsy village in Volosovsky District was awarded with a special jury’s diploma “For creative approach in developing children and youth tourism”. New recreational places appear in Leningrad oblast. Today 9 ski resorts are functioning in the Oblast and according to experts’ opinion, their number can grow 1,5 times. Such resorts as “Igora”, “Zolotaya Dolina”, “Tuutari Park” are already enjoying international popularity. A network of village guest houses is developing – it is the Russian analog to the country-style tourism, which is popular in Europe. In perspective is the creation of new tourist and recreation complexes, launching new interesting projects. And it means that tourism in Leningrad Oblast – cultural, educational, pilgrim, ethnographic, recreation, military and patriotic – will get even more popular.
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Today’s Arkhangelsk is a city of festivals and festivities. A new year in Arkhangelsk begins with International festival “Rozhdestvensky Blagovest” (Christmas Church Bells), the main event of which is the opening of the Archangel’s Ice House, the Nativity scene and the bell tower. The VIII edition of the festival “Khrustal’nye Zvony” (Crystal Ringing), the only winter festival of campanology (the art of bell ringing) in Russia will be held in the ancient town of Kargopol. “Zvony Severnye” (Winter Bell Ringing) are heard as well in “Malye Korely” – the first open air museum in Russia. More than 100 of cult and dwelling buildings, as well as utility structures dated by XVII-XX centuries are located on a picturesque bank of the Northern Dvina River in 25 km from Arkhangelsk. The gem of the museum’s collection is bells. A thousand hundred people visit “Malye Korely” every year. In 2011 architectural monuments of the museum appeared before public in “a new light” – on December, 1 a solemn ceremony of turning on the system of artistic lighting, which will make it possible to admire ancient monuments at nighttime as well.
Kenozersky national park is a protected corner of the Russian North. Annual summer festival attracts not only tourist; architects, artists, sculptors and carpenters from Russia, Check Republic, Germany, Belgium, Estonia, Belarus and Ukraine meet in ancient village Maselga.
Solvychegodsk (rus. – salt on Vychega River) town-museum is interesting by its monuments of Russian limestone construction of the XVI–XVII centuries and the museum where unique icons, silver items and gold thread embroidery are kept. It is also known as a spa. The location of the modern Solvychegodsk is a birthplace of literary character Kozma Prutkov, in whose honor a humor festival takes place here every July.
Solovetsky Islands – an archipelago near the Arctic Circle – are called “Fairytale of the North”. The islands’ pride is an enormous ensemble of military and defensive installations, as well as hydraulic facilities and cult structures. Here you can make an eco-tor “Along the Blue and Green Paths of Slovki” or to the Botanic garden, as well as a marine trip to the Beluzhy Mys (White Whale Cape). In the nearest future Solovetsky settlement will pass through big changes – its general development plan includes construction of several hotels, a stadium and other objects. Besides these, transport network will be improved – boats of a bigger tonnage will be able to enter the harbor, and the airport will provide up to 20 flights per day.
In 2011 Arkhangelsk Oblast, which was positioning itself as the “land of Northern Fairytale” for the last 5 years, has switched the touristic brand to “Pomorye”, as this is the best word to reflect the region’s touristic attractiveness. The idea of the new brand belongs to the coast-dwellers association and got the support of the governor Ilya Mikhalchuk. The “Pomorye” brand presents Arkhangelsk Oblast as a land of the unique culture of the coast-dwellers and the birthplace of the famous coast-dweller Mikhail Lomonosov whose 300th anniversary was celebrated as an important occasion in 2011. Within the framework of a new touristic strategy the year 2011 was proclaimed a year of the Coast-dwellers’ culture in Arkhangelsk Oblast. Special attention of the guests was drawn to the festival of the cuisine of the coast-dwellers which took place in the land’s capital on May 25-28.
Arkhangelsk Oblast is planning to promote arctic tourism actively as it has already found its fans. Thus, Svalbard in 2010 was visited by 77 thousand tourists. The Oblast has also all the opportunities to develop this kind of tourism – guests can be taken to the arctic zones by any means: by icebreaker, by submarine or by plane.
Now Arkhangels enjoys the support of the federal authorities in promotion of the brands “Northern Circle” and “Touristic Circle Euroregion”. These programs include visits both to Arkhangelsk Oblast and Finland. Pomorye is also ready to show the tourists some of the “closed objects” as well – namely marine and space objects. This idea is supported by the World Tourism Organization.
Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast is the westernmost corner of Russia. Nature endowed lavishly the Amber land. Boundless marina space, magnificent beaches with soft golden sand, coniferous and broad-leaved forests, mineral water and therapeutic mud make Kaliningrad Oblast an ideal place for holidays. It is easy to get here: by plane, train, bus or ferry. And since 2012 it will be even easier for dwellers of Kaliningrad Oblast and Poland to visit each other: on December 14, 2011 the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Poland have sing an agreement in Moscow on small frontier visa-free movement between Kaliningrad Oblast and neighboring Pomeranian and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeships, including the cities of Gdansk and Olsztyn.
In 2011 the first regional touristic information centers were opened in the Oblast – one in Kaliningrad and anther in Svetlogorsk. Here travelers can receive all the range of information services – free of charge they are helped to book a room in a hotel, choose the routes, organize a business meeting and receive a visa. They can also use an interpreter, Internet access, car rent and much more. Besides that, in Kaliningrad the signs to the main sights are both in Cyrillic and Latin alphabet.
In 2012 information kiosks will be opened in Kaliningrad, where volunteers will help tourists to orientate themselves in the city and choose a guided tour. By that time 30 information terminals will have already started working. With their help a tourist will get acquainted with the map of Kaliningrad Oblast and the neighboring territories of Lithuania and Poland and plan all the route.
Besides guided tours in Kaliningrad, travelers are offered five routes in the Oblast. Among those are tours round fortifications, museums, castles of East Prussia, a trip to Vistula spit and “a guided tour round the historical places of the Soviet period”. A gastronomic tour and a weekend tour round farmsteads in the countryside. And the Currants museum will appear soon in Polessky District of Kaliningrad Oblast. There, unusual receipts of currants plates will be presented, and the staff will explain the technological process of processing the berry.
At present, more than 60 farmsteads are already open for visitors. The support to agritouristic initiatives is given within the framework of the task program “Development of Kaliningrad Oblast as a Touristic Center in 2007-2014”, thanks to which the farmsteads’ owners can receive state support from 100 to 200 thousand rouble ($3300-6600) for creating new tourist routes and infrastructure required for green tourism, as well as event organization. In 2010 the number of visitors to the village coaching inns was 18 thousand people. The number of farmsteads in Kaliningrad Oblast is predicted to grow by 25% by the year 2016. Great expectations in the touristic field in the region are connected with the coming FIFA World Cup in 2018 which means construction of new hotels, as well as sport objects. Today the total capacity of the Oblast’s hotels is no more than 45 thousand people and is planned to be increased up to 1 million.
Today a highway is under construction that will girdle the route Kaliningrad-Svetlogorsk-Baltiysk-Kaliningrad. Svetlogorsk and Pionersky resorts will be connected by a promenade. And for fans of cycling a route will be laid along all the coast of Kaliningrad Oblast, which is 140 km from the border with Lithuania to Poland, where such cycling tracks already exists. Water tourism will be developed as well, new ferry and yacht marinas will be constructed. All in all, realization of the complex tourism development program in Kaliningrad Oblast will let receive up to 5 million tourists every year already by 2018.
Murmansk Oblast
Murmansk Oblast – “the northern gates of Russia” – is located on the north-west of the European part of Russia, on the Kola Peninsula, is washed by the Barents and the White Sea and borders with Norway and Finland on the west.
All kinds of tourism are possible on the Murman Coast, except beach holidays: sport fishing, hunt, water and mountain tourism, rock climbing, mountain skiing, kiting, pedestrian, ski and cycling tours. Here, it is possible to have a rest in the wild corners of taiga and tundra and on clear river banks.
Cities and towns also present certain interest for tourists: Murmansk – the Oblast’s administrative center, Monchegorsk – a beautiful modern town, Kirovsk – a center of metal mining industry, Kandalaksha – one of the most ancient settlements on the Murman Coast.
There are historic monuments and museums in Kola, Kirovsk and Pechenga. The geological museum in Apatity is also well-known. Ancient labyrinths and cave paintings were discovered on the Peninsula’s coasts. Saami domestic articles are collected in the Museum of local history of Lovozero village. Numerous sacred cult stones of Saami can be found in its surroundings.
Cultural monuments of the Russian coast-dwellers are located on the Tersky Coast of the White Sea. The best-known of them is a wooden Church of Dormition in Varzuga village, a broach roof church, typical for the northern Russian construction tradition. An ancient carved iconostasis remains there.
Water tourism is developed well in Murmansk Oblast. Rapid and long beautiful rivers are ideal for rafting and kayaking. Water tourism is very good for acquaintance with the nature of the land. There are places for stops even in tundra.
Arctic tourism in the region is developing with the support of Murmanks Sea Steamship Line. Cruises on nuclear ice-breakers are organized every summer to the region of the North Pole and to Franz Josef Land. Cruises of duration of about 2 weeks are very popular among lovers of exotic journeys from all over the world.
Murmansk Oblast is an expanse for fans of eco tourism and tourism in the nature. Another kind of tourism is mineralogical. Guided tours are conducted by well-known scientists to the most interesting deposits of the region. Geological tourism is developing, too. Specialists of the Geological Institute of Kolsky Scientific Center and those of the Geological Service of Finland are developing new tourist routes to the unique natural monuments, among which is a stone labyrinth in Kandalakshsky District, glacial drifts in the Khibins and ancient coastal swells of the White Sea.
By 2013 a big tourist complex “Russian Lapland” is planned to be constructed. Within the framework of the project the following buildings will be erected: mountain skiing complex “Alluaiv” in Revda village, a tourism and recreation complex in the region of the Gulf of Motka, ethnographic tourism and recreation complex “Saami Village”, year-round tourism complex on Krivoye Lake, tourism complex “Open Air Museum” and a hotel and recreation complex on the base of a resort. The overall capital spending on construction will be more than 530 mln rouble (approx. $17,5 mln).
The number of tourists having visited the Oblast in 2011 was 20% more than in 2010, when the tourist flow to the region was 260 thousand people, including 35 thousand of foreigners. In the next few years a growth of cruise tourist flow from abroad is expected to the region. This will happen because of the increase of the number of cruise ships from Great Britain, the USA, Germany and Finland entering the ports. Regular ferry connection with Norway is planned for the future. By 2016 the project called “Arctic Harbour” will be completed in Murmask Oblast and will include construction of a large port on the Oblast’s territory.
Pskov Oblast
Pskov – an ancient Russian сity on the Velikaya (Great) River bank, 700 km to the north-west from Moscow – was first mentioned in chronicles in 903 as the birthplace of Princess Olga. For centuries this city was serving as the outpost of Russia on its western borders. And today Pskov Oblast borders with three countries at once: Belarus, Latvia and Estonia.
Tourists come to the Pskov land to touch the great Russian history. Here you can find about 500 monuments of federal significance and about 3,5 thousand – of regional significance. 14 settlements have a status of historic settlements. Ancient Kremlin, the reconstruction of which is moving towards its successful completion, is the heart of Pskov. According to the program of protection of the historic and cultural heritage of Pskov Oblast works are conducted within the framework of two projects: “Museum Quarter in Pskov” and “Way of Peter the Great”.
Event tourism is being developed actively in Pskov Oblast and a lot of interesting events took place in 2011. Among those are “All-Russian Pancake Festival” in Pscov, “Battle of the Ice” on Lake Peipus, All-Russian Pushkin Poetry Festivity in Mikhailovskoye that took place for the 45th time already this June, Aeronautics festivity in Velikiye Luki, International festival of military and historical reconstruction and medieval culture “Iron Town” in Izborsk, International ethnic and cultural festival “Setomaa. Family Gatherings”, International musical festival “Crescendo”, Oblast’ small towns festival “Gardarika”, International landscape design competition and Honey festival.
In general the “honey” element in Pskov tourism is getting more and more significant. For example, in recent time “Medovy Khutorok” (Honey Homestead) in Pechorsky District, 5 km along Riga highway to the west from Stary Izborsk, became a popular tourist object. It belongs to a known bee keeper Gennadiy Glazov. In “Medovy Khutorok” are combined a successful beekeeping farm, an education center and Pskov village antiquity museum. A small, but rather original museum of everyday life of the Soviet epoch, located in the guest house “Domik v Derevne” (Village Small House) on Riga highway, is one of the “first shallows” of country tourism which is planned to be developed in Pskov Oblast.
Izborsk is preparing to the anniversary – in 2012 all the country will celebrate as a state holiday the 1150th anniversary of the town’s first mentioning in chronicles. Many guests are expected in Pskov Oblast – alongside with tourists, ministers of the Baltic countries will come here to work out together some investment projects aimed at improvement of transport and tourism infrastructure of the frontier zone.
Today in Stary Izborsk restoration and archaeological works are being conducted. Izborskaya Fortress and its surroundings are preparing to the anniversary. New souvenir shops, cafés and guests houses will appear, the construction of “Izborsk” hotel complex will be finished. This complex will be able to receive 80 tourists at once and provide them with a wide range of services – from sport equipment hire to business and corporate event organization. The first hotel of the new generation (for 70 people) has been opened in Pechory. In Pskov itself the construction has been announced of 10 hotel centers and in the next 5 years the room fund will grow by more than a thousand rooms.
In perspective a touristic town “Zapskovye” will appear in Pskov next to the Russian Fairytale Museum, Prince’s armed forces residence, souvenir shops and a café. In 2013, when the 1100th anniversary of the first mentioning of Pskov in chronicles will be celebrated, “Small Hanseatic Days” will take place in the city, and in 2033 Pskov will become the capital of the Hanseatic League.
Republic of Karelia
Karelia has been always associated with tourism. The Republiс is one of the best places for exciting holidays. The region of crystal-clear lakes, rapid rivers, virgin forests, severe rocks and magnificent monuments of architecture gives a wide range of opportunities for quiet recreation, as well as for adventure tourism.
Karelia has its own Book of Records. In includes: Europe’s biggest lake – Ladozhskoye, Europe’s highest plain waterfall – Kivach (nearly 11 m), Europe’s southernmost pagan Saami sanctuary (I millennium AD), the resort founded by Peter the Great – “Marcial Waters” (1718), the oldest marble quarries in Russia (XVIII century), the only quarry of crimson quartzite in the world (XVII century), Europe's biggest national park – “Vodlozersky”, the first recordings of bylinas (Russian heroic epics), the first runic recordings of “Kalevala” epic, Europe's biggest gathering of cave paintings – more than 3 000 images (IV century BC).
In 2011 new big investment tourism projects were launched in the Republic of Karelia. A yacht port is being constructed in Petrozavodsk and a ski resort “Yalguba” – in Prionezhsky District. This natural oasis, comfortably located in only 15 km from Petrozavodsk on the Onezhskoye Lake shore will include a hotel complex, ski tracks of 5 and 10 km, mountain ski tracks of different difficulty level; marinas and slipways for maintenance of cruising yachts participating in sailing regattas. Estimated capital spending is up to $4 mln. 30 thousand visitors will be able to come here for active recreation every year.
Big attention is paid to water tourism development. A new water route “Scandinavian Ring” connecting Scandinavian Peninsula and the European North of Russia will be offered to the fans of this kind of recreation.
The main investment offer of Karelia is the project “Spiritual Transformation of the Russian North”. Its overall value is 8 billion rouble (approx. $267 mln). The project is made up on the spiritual unity of the three Orthodox churches on Kizhi, Valaam and Solovki Islands. Additional infrastructure is planned to be created here, including wharfage, hotel complexes, cultural and business centers, Orthodox churches. The result of this will be the creation of a unique tourist route Kizhi-Valaam-Solovki. By the way, in June, 2011 on the XIII International Festival “InterMuseum” in Moscow “Kizhi” museum-preserve that has just celebrated its 45th anniversary got the grand prix and was acknowledged the best museum of Russia. Upon the results of IT development “Kizhi” museum will receive the international conference ADIT-2012.
New tours “Thousand-year-old Sortavala” and “Olonetskaya Fortress” were developed in Southern Karelia and the network of diving centers is widening on the north of the Republic, on the shore of the White Sea.
“Kostomukshsky Preserve” entered the list of “advance copy” preserves included in the federal program of infrastructure reconstruction and modernization. Financial support from the federal center can help not only to transform the existing routes (“Pedlar Path”, routes “In Magic Forest”, “Visit-Center”, where 2,5 thousand fans of active recreation in the secret places of the Karelian taiga pass through), build modern tourist halts and buy motor transport and motor boats for river crossing on difficult sections, but also to increase the tourist flow through development of new routes.
Spending holidays in Karelia will give you unforgettable impressions, an acquaintance with the unshowy but surprisingly kind northern nature, the comfort of modern hotels, cottages and guest houses.
