Do you want to see the most ancient settlement Leningrad region, walk along the oldest Russian street, visit monasteries and reserves? Plan your trip to Staraya Ladoga is a small village in the Volkhovsky district. Here, according to the chronicles, is the grave of Prince Oleg, was the first place of the reign of Prince Rurik. Today, in Staraya Ladoga, you can find a lot of interesting things - both for history buffs and for those who are in love with places of worship, architectural monuments, or who prefer outdoor recreation.
What to see in Staraya Ladoga
Although today Staraya Ladoga- this is a small village, earlier it was a city called Ladoga. Centuries-old history left a tangible mark here: literally at the entrance you seem to be transported into the past. Naturally, a significant part of the Old Ladoga sights is connected precisely with history.
architectural landmarks
- Acquaintance with Staraya Ladoga and its sights should start with a tour Old Ladoga fortress, fortunately, every resident of the village will tell you how to get to it. Initially, the fortress was built here at the beginning of the 12th century, but today you can admire the monumental building of the 15th century. Naturally, time has left its mark on the fortress - it is gradually being reconstructed, but part of the structure still resembles either ruins after the battle, or rocks (the thickness of the walls, by the way, in some places reached 5 m). Previously, the fortress had five towers, but only two were restored - Klimentovskaya and Vorotnaya. You can visit here for a nominal fee - tickets are more than affordable.
- On the territory of the fortress is St. George's Church, which is also worth a visit and admire the frescoes of the XII century, which are still preserved on the walls. Actually, it is worth talking about this temple separately, so I will pay more attention to it below.
- Manor "Uspenskoye"- Another place that should definitely be included in the itinerary. It was erected by lieutenant-general Roman Tomilov in the 1780s, but after three decades his son changed the appearance of the estate, adding the so-called "Schwartz House" (stone outbuilding), where a luxurious collection of drawings and paintings, including Rembrandt's brushes, was kept. . Today the estate is part of the Staraya Ladoga Museum. Here are the funds of graphics, painting, frescoes, archaeological and historical household.
- deserves attention and merchant Kalyazin's house a majestic stone structure, which now houses an archaeological exposition. There is something to see here, because the excavations are nearby Staraya Ladoga have been going on since the middle of the century before last. Of course, not all finds are presented in the exposition, but in three halls there are interesting things related to different eras - from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages.
Did you know? If you decide to visit the fortress, St. George's Church, expositions, remember that they all belong to the historical, architectural and archaeological museum-reserve, so you can buy a single ticket.
Religious buildings of Staraya Ladoga
Their list may take several sheets, but if you go to Staraya Ladoga for a day or two, it is worth visiting at least the main attractions, photos with descriptions of which are found on many travel sites.
- Since we started our acquaintance with the city from the fortress, the first thing we visited St. George's Church, which has already been mentioned. In addition to frescoes, it is also remarkable for the richness of decorations. According to legend, it was here that Alexander Nevsky consecrated his sword.
- Holy Assumption Monastery And Dormition Church. The monastery was originally male, but later it was given to nuns (by the way, it was here that Evdokia Lopukhina, the wife of Peter the Great, Evdokia Gannibal, lived; relatives of the Decembrists were also exiled here). Majestic architecture, dramatic history - this is what attracts tourists to the monastery.
- Nikolsky monastery - it is believed that it was founded during the victory of Alexander Nevsky over the Swedes. Of the sights of the monastery, it is worth highlighting the bell tower and the Holy Gates made by Tikhvin masters. Parts of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker are kept in the monastery.
- - today it is assigned to the Nikopol Monastery, but remains the main cathedral for the believers of Staraya Ladoga. The temple is located on Malysheva Hill, so relatively recently it had to be saved: there are many voids and underground passages in the mountain, so the church began to sag. It is believed that the temple was erected on the spot where St. Andrew the First-Called once placed his cross. Initially, the temple was wooden, but in the 17th century a stone structure was erected on this site.
St. George's Church
Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist
Museums of Staraya Ladoga
First of all, it is worth highlighting historical and architectural museum reserve, which was already mentioned above: this is a fortress, merchants' estates, St. George's Church.
There are in Staraya Ladoga and local history museum, which is located in the Church of Demetrius of Thessalonica - a small wooden temple, which was erected at the beginning of the 17th century. Of course, today's church was built later, but it is a complete copy of its predecessor.
Natural monuments of Staraya Ladoga
- Situated near the village natural monument "Staroladozhsky", total area which exceeds 200 ha. Here are three artificial caves: Tanechkina (bats winter here), Staroladoga and Malyshka.
- The complex also has geological outcrops(near Volkhov), which are of value, paleontological fossils. But most an interesting place is the Sopki tract where ancient burial mounds have been preserved. Under one of them, according to legend, Prophetic Oleg is buried.
- Naturally, burial mounds riddled with passages and catacombs, but tourists have no chance to get inside, since there are no entrances to them. Fans of the biofield theory have found that there are some fields in the Sopki that have a healing effect. However, even if this is not the case, it is worth visiting the mounds to admire beautiful landscapes to the Volkhov and Staraya Ladoga itself.
- Finally, the list of natural points of interest would be incomplete without Gorchakovshchinsky waterfall which is located near the village. You can get here with a guide from among the locals or on your own. Quiet streams of water and picturesque greenery around will allow you to relax and enjoy being close to nature.
Gorchakovsky waterfall
Staraya Ladoga - what to see in winter
- If you decide to come here to new year holidays, visit Sopki unlikely to succeed - most likely, they will be covered with snow.
- But to get acquainted with the expositions of the museum in merchant Kalyazin's house, in the estate "Uspenskoe", wander around the fortress and temples - it is quite possible.
- Do not forget about Gorchakovsky waterfall: in winter, its frozen waters are a truly delightful sight.
A story about the history of Staraya Ladoga - in the past - a city in Novgorod Russia, now - a village. About the Old Ladoga fortress, about the old monasteries and mounds located on this one.
Staraya Ladoga - what to see with children
- It is worth noting that, in principle, it is better not to drag kids under five years old here with you - they will be frankly bored. But older kids will love it in the fortress.
- With schoolchildren it is quite possible to go to tour of the Sopki, but it's better to do it with a guide - his stories will surely come in handy in history lessons, and vivid impressions will stick in your memory for a long time.
- If you decide to go to Staraya Ladoga, it is most convenient to do this by car, and stop for the night - in.
Sopki
Two days were enough for us to explore the main sights of the village, but if you want to relax and rest longer (for example, in nature), allocate one more day.
Have you been to Staraya Ladoga? What sights of the village impressed you the most? Share your impressions in the comments.
Let's tell you what interesting places look in ancient capital Russia. Let's talk about the fortress, monasteries and local infrastructure. Read before your trip.
For many years, historians cannot come to a consensus about where the first capital was located. Ancient Russia. However, most sources, including The Tale of Bygone Years, claim that Ladoga was the center of the ancient Russian state.
For more than a thousand years of history, the settlement has constantly attracted attention - first of researchers and scientists, and then of tourists. The village, which became a protected area at the end of the last century, keeps hundreds of monuments of archeology and architecture and attracts both lovers of Russian history and travelers who are bored with majestic palaces and the aesthetics of imperial possessions.
Legends of Staraya Ladoga
Several legends are connected with the capital of Ancient Russia. Here are the main ones:
- In these places there was a stone castle of Rurik. Only a fragment of the protective wall remained from it, and scientists have not yet agreed on it. The dating coincides, but whether Rurik himself was involved in it is a big question.
- Under the ruins of the fortress there is a chain of secret tunnels in case of a siege. They are mentioned by various, including very serious, sources. Most of them date back to the last century. Unfortunately, a large-scale expedition led by N.E. Brandenburg did not find any secret passages.
- Alexander Nevsky consecrated his sword in the fortress church before the battle on Lake Peipus. Like, this is what brought him victory.
- Guides and locals We are sure that the same prophetic Oleg was buried in one of the mounds near the fortress. This is not known for certain.
The main attractions of Staraya Ladoga
Before you go to the village of Staraya Ladoga, you should take care of the accommodation. The best option is to stay at any hotel in St. Petersburg or its environs. road from northern capital not the easiest.
In order to have time to go “galloping across Europe” in a day and get acquainted with the main sights, you need to take an electric train from the Ladoga railway station to the Volkhovstroy-1 station at half past six in the morning. In Volkhov, we transfer to bus number 23, which will take you to the desired bus stop "Staraya Ladoga" in 15 minutes. The cost of the trip in this case will be about 700 rubles. You can go back by bus directly to St. Petersburg, it leaves at 19:00, the ticket costs 250 rubles.
Old Ladoga fortress
Perhaps the main attraction of Ladoga. It is located in the center of the village, on the banks of the Volkhov River. The first buildings appeared here under the Prophetic Oleg and subsequently grew and were supplemented. The buildings of the 15th century are best preserved, the older ones are in a dilapidated state, but their appearance is maintained unchanged. In the seventies of the XX century, reconstruction was carried out, and a museum was opened on the territory of the architectural complex.
In addition to defensive structures and fortress walls, the complex of the fortress includes several historical monuments. The Church of St. George the Victorious was built long before the start of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, in the 12th century. It is there that the first known image of St. George is located, which made the architectural monument a museum of the only fresco. Nearby is another temple, the wooden church of Demetrius of Thessalonica. It was built in 1901 on the site of a 17th century chapel. Also in one of the towers of the fortress there is a museum of local lore, and behind its wall there is an Earthen settlement.
Church of John the Baptist on Malysheva Hill. Photo: S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky. 1909 Varyazhskaya street
After walking around the fortress, it is worth walking along Varyazhskaya Street, which is on the opposite bank of the Ladozhka River. At its very beginning, a modest monument was erected - a bronze falcon on a stone, a symbol of Staraya Ladoga. Ahead is an inconspicuous rural landscape: a narrow country road, small houses. But after a few minutes the path leads to a large square with a square and a monument to the founders of the Russian State Rurik and Oleg. It is Varyazhskaya Street that is considered the first street in Russia. The point is the archaeological finds, which scientists date back to the 9th century: they prove that already at that time the shores of Ladozhka were fully developed. From the monument you can go down to the river and admire the view of the fortress for a few minutes. The restored Arrow Tower is especially well seen.
Museums
Let's go back to the square. In its northeastern part, in the very corner, there are two houses, stone and wooden. In the 19th century they belonged to the merchants Kalyazin. In the stone one there is now the Ladoga Archeology Museum, in the wooden one until recently there was a museum of merchant life. Over time, the building fell into disrepair, and the second museum had to be closed. However, the house is not demolished: moreover, its “face” is regularly updated so that Ladoga does not lose an important cultural monument.
Monasteries
Varyazhskaya street leads to the Assumption Convent. Despite the fact that the first mentions in the annals date back to the 15th century, the date of its foundation is considered to be 1156. For a long time the monastery had a bad reputation: it was the place of imprisonment of many famous women. Among his "hostages" are the first wife of Peter the Great Evdokia Lopukhina, Evdokia Gannibal and the wives of the Decembrists.
On the territory of the monastery there is a cathedral of the same name, which deserves special attention of tourists. The Assumption Cathedral was built in the 12th century and became the standard of Novgorod architecture. From the moment of its foundation, it has been preserved in its original form, and more than 13 thousand fragments of wall paintings dating back to the same XII century were found on its walls. The Assumption Church is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Staraya Ladoga, along with the Holy Cross Church, where the relics of saints are kept. Both churches are open from 9 am to 7 pm.
Another important shrine of Staraya Ladoga is the St. Nicholas Monastery. This is one of the most significant monuments of Russian history. The monastery was founded in 1240, immediately after the victory in the Battle of the Neva, personally by Alexander Nevsky. The prince dedicated it to Nicholas the Wonderworker, the patron saint of travelers, sailors and fishermen. In less than eight centuries, the monastery has experienced a lot: the devastating attack of the Swedes in 1611, re-erection, several restorations. In 1927 the monastery was closed, but in 2002 everything returned to normal. Today, the relics of the founders of the Valaam Monastery, Sergius and Herman, are kept in the shrine. In addition, the churches of St. John Chrysostom and Nikolskaya with its majestic bell tower are of interest.
mounds
The sights of Staraya Ladoga do not end with its topographical boundaries. On the northern outskirts of the village, on the high bank of the Volkhva, there is a group of burial mounds. The highest of them is usually called Olegov. Despite the fact that Pushkin in The Song of the Prophetic Oleg and Nestor in The Tale of Bygone Years call Kiev the place of the prince's death, the Novgorod chronicles indicate that Oleg was buried in Ladoga. Of course, today there is no evidence of a particular theory that can be trusted unquestioningly. However, it is worth going to the mounds if only for the sake of a panoramic view of Staraya Ladoga and the measured flow of the waters of the Magus.
Tanechkina cave
One kilometer from the grave of the Prophetic Oleg lies another place that extreme travelers have chosen - Tanechkina Cave. A man-made grotto with many labyrinths and passages appeared in the 19th century. Part of the passages is littered, the walls are fascinating layers of rocks. Here, in the cave, winters the largest colony of bats in the northwest. Going to explore the cave, of course, is not worth it without an experienced guide.
View of the Church of St. George. Photo: S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky. 1909 What else to see
The largest event in Staraya Ladoga is considered to be the festival "Staraya Ladoga - the first capital of Russia". Traditionally, it takes place in the summer, the program lasts two days. The main part of the holiday is reconstructed military competitions, but a lot of events take place along with them. Among them are a theatrical performance about the first centuries of Ladoga's existence, a competition of historical costumes, folklore music concerts, demonstration performances by participants and interactive platforms for adults and children. The festival takes place in the Staraya Ladoga fortress, a ticket for an adult will cost 300 rubles, a ticket for children will be half the price.
Modern Staraya Ladoga is a small village 12 km above the mouth of the Volkhov River, but once it was a large one. urban settlement, the first capital of Russia. This place with more than a thousand years of history has always attracted researchers. The first excavations in Ladoga began in 1708. IN different time eminent scientists worked here: N. I. Repnikov, V. I. Ravdonikas, N. E. Barandenburg, O. I. Davidan and many others. Over the years, more than 160 historical monuments. The ancient settlement planning of the 10th-13th centuries, the rarest works of fortification and architecture, and much more have been preserved here.
At the end of the last century, an archaeological museum-reserve was opened on the territory of Staraya Ladoga. An area of 190 hectares has been taken under protection, where architectural monuments, buildings of the XIX - early XX centuries and the cultural layer of the Middle Ages.
Old Ladoga.
The exact time of the appearance of Ladoga is unknown, but the research conducted by archaeologists allows us to say with accuracy that this happened no later than 753. Perhaps much earlier. The date inspires respect, because at that time there was not a single old Russian city known to us.
Archaeological excavations in Staraya Ladoga are carried out everywhere and constantly.
The appearance of Ladoga was not accidental. It was erected at the intersection of trade routes and was founded by representatives of the Slavic tribes. Eight centuries before St. Petersburg, Ladoga became a key port on the great Eurasian transcontinental trade routes and provided the Slavs with free ties with the countries Western Europe, West Slavic Pomorye and others.
A thousand years ago, Ladoga was a prosperous city, international port, a large craft center and a reliable bank even for European countries.
The falcon is a symbol of Rurik.
It is no coincidence that in 862 Ladoga became the residence and capital city of Rurik, the founder of the Rurik dynasty, who was called to the principality. Later, the prince moved his capital to Novgorod, and then, probably, to Kiev, but the first was still Ladoga.
Until 1703, Ladoga retained the status of a city, later became a village and was renamed Staraya Ladoga, since at the mouth of the Volkhov, on the shore Lake Ladoga, Novaya Ladoga arose.
The village is famous all over the world for many unique sights:
Old Ladoga fortress
Counts " calling card and the main attraction of Staraya Ladoga. The fortress has not survived to this day in its original form. Its current appearance dates back to the 15th century. Part of the fortress wall lies in ruins. So far, only one of its fragments with two towers - Gate and Klimentovskaya - has been completely restored. But restoration work continues.
On the territory of the fortress, two unique ancient temples have been preserved: St. George's Church of the 12th century and the Church of Dmitry Solunsky of the 18th century.
The ancient fortress is the main attraction of Staraya Ladoga.
Museum in the fortress.
George Church.
Shafts " earthen city» Staraya Ladoga.
Archaeological Museum
Since its foundation, the museum has become a place to store materials collected by the Staraya Ladoga archaeological expedition. The basis of its exposition is made up of objects collected in cultural layers and funerary monuments of various eras. In total, the museum's collection contains more than 132,000 exhibits. Here are the funds of sculpture, painting and graphics, archeology, photographic documents and documents, building materials and frescoes, iconography and church utensils.
Archaeological Museum.
Exposition of the archaeological museum.
Monasteries
Once there were six monasteries in Ladoga, only two of them have survived to this day. These are Nikolsky male and Holy Dormition maiden monasteries. Nikolsky Monastery is one of the oldest in the Leningrad region. According to one of the legends, it was founded by Alexander Nevsky after the defeat of the Swedes in the Battle of the Neva. The shrine of the monastery is a particle of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker.
The Old Ladoga Holy Assumption Monastery is several hundred years old. The exact date of its foundation is unknown. At various times, Evdokia Lopukhina, the first wife of Peter I, Evdokia Gannibal, the wife of Pushkin's ancestor, relatives of the Decembrists, Elizaveta Shakhova, a famous poetess, lived here. After the revolution, the monastery was closed. Today the monastery is functioning again and continues to be restored.
Mounds of Staraya Ladoga
Three famous burial mounds are located in the Sopki tract. Of particular interest is one of them, called Oleg's Grave, which is located on the banks of the Volkhov River. Scientists believe that Prince Oleg, the conqueror of the Khazar Khaganate, was buried under the mound. However, this place is interesting not only in terms of history. Many believe in the special magical power of this mound, which is also confirmed by some scientists. In addition, the mound is connected underground passage with the catacomb system. Where these passages lead is not yet clear.
These sights of Staraya Ladoga are located on the northern outskirts of the village, not far from the road to Novaya Ladoga.
Trains to Staraya Ladoga do not run, there is no railway. The nearest station is located in the city of Volkhov, from where regular buses leave for Staraya Ladoga every 50 minutes. You can get to Volkhov by train or train.
Staraya Ladoga and its attractions on the map.
- Fortress Staraya Ladoga;
- Nikolsky monastery;
- Assumption Monastery;
- Archaeological Museum;
- mounds;
- Hotel "Staraya Ladoga".
9 kilometers from Staraya Ladoga, on the R-21 highway, there is the Abyrvalg motel, which can be safely recommended to car travelers.
If your trip is long and you want maximum comfort, then it is best to use the Kobona Hotel on the shores of Lake Ladoga. From Staraya Ladoga 40 kilometers, but they are worth it.
I could not even imagine how many sights there are in the east of the Leningrad region, where we will live and travel during our trip to the North-West. The plans were: Volkhov, Staraya Ladoga, Novaya Ladoga and Lodeynoye Pole, or rather the village of Staraya Sloboda, Lodeynopolsky district, where A lexandro-svirsky monastery. When, upon arrival, we "plunged into reality", we realized that we would like to see a lot more. For example, the caves - Tanechkina and Staroladozhskaya, Gorchakovsky waterfall, Lyubsha fortress, the village of Isaad, the canyon of the Lava River ... As you can see, there are enough natural attractions here, there are many of them not only in Karelia.
But our goals and objectives were originally different. And in a day or two you can’t see all the local attractions. So much the better, there will be a reason to return. The most important thing is that we visited everything planned. Today in a post I will show you some of what I saw briefly:
- Staraya Ladoga Nikolsky Monastery,
- Old Ladoga Holy Dormition Convent,
- fortress Staraya Ladoga,
- Museum-reserve Staraya Ladoga,
- a bird on a stone - a sculpture of a falcon, a symbol of Ladoga,
- cafe "Prince Rurik" in Staraya Ladoga,
- Sopki tract - the burial place of Prophetic Oleg,
- the city of Novaya Ladoga, its architecture,
- sights of Volkhov.
Why is it possible to show everything only briefly? Yes, because each (each) of the cities and places visited is a whole universe worthy of a separate discussion.
However, even fluently, I can’t “accelerate” in any way. A brief report on the trip is stretched into a "multi-volume book" ... Why? Yes, because this is not a trip, or when every day can be described with three to five photos ... I also wanted to do a trip to Karelia, after all, in one post. No, it's impossible. :) So be patient, the conversation will be long, the report will be multi-article.
Day IV. Staraya Ladoga, Novaya Ladoga, Volkhov
Having breakfast "on our own" in the hotel room, we moved towards Staraya Ladoga.
Staraya Ladoga
From a small, rather young city of Volkhov to a small, but very ancient village of Staraya Ladoga , just 10 minutes drive. And a whole gulf in time - the year of the foundation of Volkhov - 1918, the year of the foundation of Staraya Ladoga - no later than753 According to most historians Staraya Ladoga - the most ancient city Russia.
So, only 17 kilometers, and we are on the spot. Yes, staying in was the right decision. This is an ideal option for those who come to get acquainted with these places.
We got acquainted with the sights of Staraya Ladoga as we progressed. What is surprising and pleasant - for everything iconic places there are signs in the city, and all these places, like pearls on a string, are "strung" to the main street - Volkhovsky Prospekt. You won't get lost.
The very first pointer to the right (from the side of Volkhov, of course) "sends" us to Staraya Ladoga St. Nicholas Monastery. We drive up to the northeast tower, leave the car there and go on foot to get acquainted with the monastery. First outside, then inside.
The weather is a miracle, the surrounding nature around is a stunning, ancient place that still remembers its founder, Alexander Nevsky... What else is needed for a traveler to be happy?
Nikolsky Monastery stands on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The rivers in the Leningrad region are incredibly beautiful - blue water and fluffy, like velvet greenery of their banks.
We enter the gate of the monastery.
Looking at a small area Church of John Chrysostom(1860–1873).
The interiors are awe-inspiring - very good.
Standing next to the church Nikolsky Cathedral(Cathedral of Nicholas the Wonderworker). It is he main riddle Nikolsky Monastery. Built in 1160, rebuilt in the 17th century (after partial destruction during the Time of Troubles, when Ladoga was under the Swedes for seven years), unsuccessfully restored in 1958, it is on this moment preserved and closed.
Hi travelers! ;)
After visiting the Nikolsky Monastery, our acquaintance with Staraya Ladoga continued. Driving along Volkhovsky Prospekt, to the right of the road, we noticed a bird on a stone, or rather a falcon, spreading its wings wide. Falcon - a symbol of Staraya Ladoga.
Well, we are going to see the most, perhaps, the famous sight of the city - Fortress Staraya Ladoga. The car was parked in a small parking lot by the road (just opposite the fortress). Before us, as in the palm of your hand, a powerful historical artifact.
Klimentovskaya tower, sentinel, immediately catches the eye with its impressive size.
The Old Ladoga fortress was built during the time of the Prophetic Oleg at the turn of the 9th-10th centuries. Rare historical, architectural and archaeological sites XIII - XIX centuries. It costs very beautiful place, the place where the Ladozhka river flows into the Volkhov.
Entrance to the fortress and two expositions are paid. We buy single tickets (80 rubles - adult) and through the Gate Tower we go to the territory of the museum-reserve.
The thickness of the walls of the tower is impressive.
The first exposition of the museum is located in the Gate Tower, and we immediately go there.
On the first floor of the exhibition...
admire the territory of the fortress and stunning views of the surroundings. Yes, the fortress itself is small, but very picturesque.
Only one moment really upset me - St. George's Church, where I so wanted to go, turned out to be closed due to restoration. And it is closed both from the inside and outside.
Near the church of St. George stands wooden church of st. Dmitry Solunsky(beginning of the 17th century), which was also closed to the public.
In order to get to the second exposition of the museum, we left the fortress, went straight to the bridge, crossed the bridge (it is clearly visible in the photo below) ... And there is a stone's throw to
old mansion white color on Varyazhskaya Street, where the exposition "Archaeology of Ladoga" is located.
At the Museum of Archaeology.
Next to the museum lies Varyazhskaya street- the first street in Russia. Near the excavations on Varyazhskaya, fenced with a wooden fence, there is now a memorial stone, announcing that a monument to princes Rurik and Oleg, the creators of the Russian state (862 - 882).
We enter the monastery through the Holy Gates (XIX century).
I must note that both monasteries in Staraya Ladoga - both male and female - are very sincere and calm. Tourists and travelers are treated normally, women in trousers are not driven, people with cameras, too. There is an adequate understanding of their own historical significance and attractiveness for people. In general, it would be like that everywhere. I walked here with peace of mind and heart. Perhaps this is exactly what visiting monasteries should be like.
Assumption Monastery is much larger than Nikolsky. Large green area. Flowers, animal figurines everywhere. Caring female hands are visible in everything.
The exact date of the founding of the Assumption Monastery is not known. The time period when this possibly happened is determined by historians as follows: 1040-1116. Someone calls 1156.
This monastery is the second one I know (the first one is), where famous women of Russia, aristocrats, lived. The first wife of Peter I, Evdokia Lopukhina, was forcibly exiled here (moreover, she was originally in the Suzdal Intercession Monastery). Here she lived for a short time and died at the age of 23, forcibly married, but objectionable as a result to her husband, Evdokia Hannibal. Relatives of the Decembrists were also exiled here during the time of Nicholas I.
The main temple of the monastery and its main attraction - Assumption Church. It was built simultaneously with the Staraya Ladoga fortress in 1114-1116. Not far off is the round date - 1000 years!
The interior of the temple is rather modest.
In 2013, a cross was installed in the Assumption Monastery. On the cross is written:
This holy life-giving Cross of the Lord was built in memory of the cross of 1688 dated August 5, erected by the sovereign people Zheltukhins Vasily Simonovich and his son Mikhail Vasilyevich ...
Rector's Corps (1880).
The chapel above the well of St. Barbara (2008-2011, on the photo - on the right), the Hospital building with the house church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (1861-1862, on the photo - on the left). Between them - Cell building (1859).
After the Assumption Monastery, we went to see another attraction of Staraya Ladoga - church of st. John the Baptist on Malysheva Hill(1695). This is the only thing left of the Ivanovsky Monastery, founded on this site in 1276. If you go down the path, you can get to the source and the font.
But we didn't have time for that. We looked at the temple and went further - to Novaya Ladoga.
Novaya Ladoga
From Staraya Ladoga to Novaya Ladoga is within easy reach. Only 12 kilometers drive. Before they could blink, they were already there.
Novaya Ladoga is an old city, but not ancient. Founded in 1704 by decree of Peter I. The main attractions of Novaya Ladoga are numerous monuments and architecture. Actually, we went here to see them. Of course, we didn’t see everything, but we embraced the city as a whole, walked around it, felt the atmosphere of this small provincial town in the Leningrad Region.
The Nativity Cathedral is almost the same age as the city. It was built in 1702. The temple is active, and therefore is in fairly good condition. Unlike their neighbors.
Church of St. Clement and Peter (1741 - 1743), or rather its bell tower, is already overgrown with trees.
Side by side with the Church of St. Clement stands the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands. When I passed by it (1763 - 1767), examined and photographed, a woman with a child came up to me and said: "This church is unusual. Do you know about it?"
And she told me that above the entrance to the temple, in the portal, there is a drawing depicting a dove. So - many times this dove was painted over, erased, but it always reappeared.
The church as a whole is in a very poor condition. I found just such a photograph of the temple, taken in 1909 by S.M. Prokudin-Gorsky. There were times...
There are a lot of such wooden houses in Novaya Ladoga. However, in what Russian provincial town there are no such houses?
It is these houses and the red "lump" next to it that create a special, very familiar atmosphere and warmth ...
On the banks of the Volkhov River there is a large memorial Complex in honor of the sailors of the Ladoga Military Flotilla and the rivermen of the northwestern river shipping company, who guarded the waterway of the "Road of Life" and provided transport links between besieged Leningrad and the country.
There are two ships on the memorial - minesweeper "TShch-100"
and motor ship "Kharkov". Both children and even adults actively climb.
And around - grace!
Gostiny Dvor (Trading Rows). Above is the inscription "Manufactured goods" - a real artifact of almost half a century ago. A miracle preserved in the outback!
And how do you like the shop "Promtovary" built in 1956? Also a miracle! Here it is, Novaya Ladoga. Some kind of artifact.
Literally 3 kilometers from Novaya Ladoga (towards Staro Ladoga) there is the village of Yushkovo.
Right next to the road there is a shop "Fish". I knew about this tent. So we came here on purpose. We bought cold smoked bream - 125 rubles. fish and dried roach for 30 rubles. The bream was good! In general, the choice of delicacies here is impressive - several types of fresh and smoked fish (hot and cold smoked), caviar, etc. Do not pass by!
lovers old history can visit the first capital of Russia - Staraya Ladoga. It is a city of history with fortress walls, temples and barrows. It was here that the founder of the state Rurik was invited. Today, regular and festivals of reconstruction and thematic fairs are held here.
The main attractions of Staraya Ladoga are located along the left bank of the Volkhov in the territory divided into northern and southern halves by the Ladozhka River.
stone fortress
The historical center of the settlement is the Stone Fortress, built in the 15th century. In place of older walls. The fortress stands in a strategically important place on Cape Volkhov and Ladozhka and is surrounded by water. The surviving walls were built in the era of gunpowder and are built very thoroughly. Their thickness reaches 7 meters. Height - up to 12 meters. There are 5 well-preserved towers up to 19 meters high.
The ruins that stood here were nicknamed "Rurik's Castle". For a long time there were legends about secret doors, behind which a huge dungeon or even a passage under the Volkhov is hidden. There were talks of treasures and secret dungeons that hide the secrets of the past. However, upon detailed verification of archaeologists, it turned out that all these were just urban legends.
There were no underground passages in the fortress and towers. Although they searched carefully and dug them up to the very foundation. In the 1880s the fortress had a sad and abandoned appearance: “Everywhere around the seal of long-standing destruction: half-crumbled vaults, stone massifs threatening a momentary fall, crests of walls and towers gnawed for centuries, all this, among the general silence, breathes death, breathes something long obsolete; the impression is aggravated by the many graves crosses of the local St. George churchyard, occupying the interior of the fortress.
Save historical heritage began only in 1978 against the background of the then revival of interest in native history. According to the project of the restorer A. E. Ekk, two towers were rebuilt: the Klimentovskaya and the Gate towers with a spindle between them. During the work, archaeologists discovered two more fortresses of the 9th and 12th centuries. This made it possible to date the founding of Staraya Ladoga to at least 753.
The most striking event in the history of the fortress was the reign of Rurik here. However. He ruled here for a short time and soon moved to Veliky Novgorod - to the source of the river. The fortress remained an important trading outpost and reserve base for the Varangians. Here the duty was collected from merchants and enemy detachments met.
Modern walls appeared in the 16th century. It should be noted that at that time the fortress had no advanced military significance and was not a priority target. However, during the Time of Troubles, the Swedes nevertheless attacked it, destroying part of the walls. After the return of Staraya Ladoga, the city was going to be restored for a long time, so that it would not embarrass the merchants and ambassadors passing here with its ruined appearance, but it did not work out.
falcon sculpture
Near the entrance to the Staraya Ladoga Fortress, at the very beginning of Varyazhskaya Street, you can see the Falcon Sculpture - the symbol of Staraya Ladoga and Rurik's family coat of arms, depicted on the shields and banners of his warriors. Now the falcon is a symbol of the Staraya Ladoga settlement and the Volkhov region, as a tribute to the memory of history.
The statue is a bronze falcon on natural stone. The formidable bird, as it were, spread its wings and is preparing to take off. This is a favorite attraction of tourists who constantly take pictures with the statue and leave coins in its beak and claws as a keepsake.
A bronze bird appeared on this site in 2013 during the annual holiday - the Days of the Leningrad Region.
It is best to start your acquaintance with the sights of Staraya Ladoga on Varyazhskaya Street. This is the main street of the historical part of the settlement, the first mention of which dates back to 1500. We can say that this is the oldest surviving street in Russia.
Today it runs along the left bank of the Ladozhka River along the highway and looks more like a narrow village street. On both sides now and then there are old buildings, churches and mansions. The current appearance of the street took shape at the end of the 18th century, with the construction of several merchant houses here, which still stand today. Walking here it may seem that you have traveled several centuries ago and are walking along main street quiet provincial town. Everything here breathes history.
On Varyazhskaya Street you can see a very remarkable chapel built at the beginning of the last century on the site of a lost church of the pre-Mongolian period. The chapel was erected at the expense of the Imperial Geographical Society as a memory of the lost temple. From the old church, which was once the main temple of this end of Ladoga, only the foundation remained.
Ladoga burial hills
Ladoga burial mounds in the Sopka tract on the left bank of the Volkhov, behind the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, this is a whole burial complex of the 8th-10th centuries. The center of the complex is a large ten-meter burial mound, which some scientists consider to be the burial mound of the Prophetic Oleg. There is no exact information about the burial place of the second ruler of Russia, there are only sources that say that last trip it was done to Novgorod, and then to Ladoga.
There is a version that he was buried near Kiev on Mount Shchekovitsa, but given that the Scandinavian chronicles call Holmsgard (Novgorod) the main city of Gardariki, the northern version is recognized as more plausible. In 1820, excavations were carried out here, which did not find rich burials on Oleg's hill. However, the grave could have been looted earlier. According to the available finds, it is difficult to say anything definite about the burial, however, there is no refutation of the version of the prince's grave.
In any case, it's pretty interesting monument stories. Probably, the mounds are not only the burial places of the dead, but also a kind of commemoration complexes, where the relatives of the buried gathered in order to reunite with their ancestors and pay tribute to them, as well as to carry out other religious worship.
Manor "Uspenskoye"
Fans of the history of local lore should definitely visit the Uspenskoye estate. It is located on the banks of the Volkhov between the John the Baptist and the Assumption Monastery (hence the name).
The estate complex was built in 1780 by a local landowner, retired general R.N. Tomilov. Initially, it was just a wooden house by the river. In 1807, the estate was inherited by his son Alexei, who rebuilt the estate in 1817 according to his own design, adding a stone outbuilding to the original wooden structure. Later, the wooden house disappeared and only the main stone part remained, later somewhat expanded. In its current form, the appearance of the building is not particularly remarkable, and without knowing it, you can mistake it for a typical barrack of post-revolutionary construction. However, inside there is a museum with preserved interiors of the old times, as well as the remains of a once outstanding collection of paintings by the previous owners.
Alexey Tomilov personally knew many artists of his time. Architects G. Quarenghi, A.N. Voronikhin, painters A.O. Orlovsky, O.A. Kiprensky, I.K. Aivazovsky, A.G. Venetsianov, who often worked here. The owner has collected in the estate a large collection of drawings by domestic and European masters. In 1895 Uspenskoye was inherited by E.G. Schwartz (brother of a famous artist). The new owner continued to collect and expand the collection.
In 1918 the estate was confiscated, and most of the paintings were transferred to the Russian Museum. Only a shadow of its former glory remained in the building of the estate. Here you can see the exposition of the life of the XIX century, archaeological finds and a collection of paintings and drawings.
