City of Petrozavodsk, the capital of Republic of Karelia, was founded in 1703 according to Peter I order when cannon-moulting plant was built on the shore of the Lake Onega during the Great Northern War (1700-1721) of European states coalition against Sweden. Petrozavodsk is not too large city and 2 hours is quite enough time to visit all local places of interest: the monument to the founder of city Peter the Great built in 1872 for the 200th anniversary of Russian Emperor, the picturesque embankment of the Lake Onega with an open air museum of contemporary European art — sculptures presented to Petrozavodsk by its twin towns (sister cities) from USA, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, Finland, Latvia. You will see the classical style ensemble of administrative buildings at the Round Square (XVIII c.), the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral built in the Empire style (1832) which is the main Orthodox church of Petrozavodsk.
Kizhi is one of the first open-air museums and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Russia. The famous historical, architectural and ethnographic museum reserve Kizhi included to the UNESCO World Heritage List is situated on the island at the Onega Lake. Magnificent samples of Russian Northern wooden architecture are collected there representing the culture and mode of life of the Karels, Vepses and Russians. In Kizhi you can see buildings considered to be the masterpieces of wooden architecture: 22-domed Transfiguration Church (1714) according to legend originally built without nails and pegs, winter the Intercession Church (1764), bell-tower (1863) and reconstructed in the 1950s fence of XVII c., 300-meter-long log structure surrounding the two churches and the belfry built in the 17th century as a protective measure against Swedish and Polish incursions. Peasants’ houses brought in origin from different places of Russian North to the territory of museum reserve represent culture of the peoples of Karelia. Several times a day transfer by hydrofoil is operated from Petrozavodsk to Kizhi and back.
The Valaam Saviour Transfiguration Monastery founded in the XIV c. (church historians consider the year of 960 as the date of monastery establishment) is located on the scarrys Islands of Valaam of the Lake Ladoga. Numerous churches, chapels, monk’s cells were built here, roads were constructed. The islands were jointed by bridges. Canals and draining system were installed, trees were planted, gardens and vegetables lots were grown. There was practically no natural soil on Valaam but people enriched it of soil brought from the continent and sometimes the soil layer amounts to 2 m. Full day tours with very early departure and very late return back are arranged to Valaam from Petrozavodsk. Tourists are transfered by vehicle to Sortavala town located on the Lake Ladoga shore and then they are brought to the Valaam by motor boat.
The Solovetsky Archipelago at the White Sea is famous for its Solovetsky Monastery founded there in first half of the XV c. by monks-settlers from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery Zosimus and Sabbatius and also for its tragic history in period of Stalin’s Gulag. In the middle of the XVI c. Novgorod architects built magnificent cathedrals in stone. In the XVII-XIX cc. the Monastery was a real advanced post of the Russian state in the North. Russian Tsars gave the monastery donations of not bells and icons but of gunpowder and arms. The unique system of canals made the largest islands of Archipelago navigable. Monks built railway, saltern and created a rich botanical garden on the islands. In 1920-1930s a Gulag system concentration camp for political prisoners was set up on the largest island. This is necessary to stay several days at the Solovetsky Islands to be acquainted with local places of interest and with history of this area. Here you will listen to the history of the legendary Solovetsky Monastery that once was one of the richest monasteries of Russia, visit its functioning church and go along its thick fortress walls that no enemy could overcome. You will visit the Hill Sekirnaya, the highest point of the Big Solovetsky Island the fantastic panorama view over the largest island of archipelago. On the top of the hill one of the strictest skits of the island with a unique lighthouse church is situated. During the Gulag time the skit was one of the cruelest of all the detention places for the inmates of the concentration camp. Today it is a living skit again. Motor boat excursion to the Island Zayatsky will acquaint you with stone labyrinths, rare and valuable archaeological monuments. You will have a chance to observe the impressive monuments of the past and admire a special beauty of this small island.
Waterfall Kivach on the Suna River (60 km from Petrozavodsk) is the most astonishing and picturesque waterfall of European plains, the fourth largest plain waterfall in Europe (after the Rhine Falls in Switzerland, the Big Yaniskengas Waterfall in the Murmansk Region of Russia and the Kumi Waterfall at the Voinitsa River in North Karelia, Russia) located at the Kivach Nature Reserve which was created as an example of middle taiga in the European part of Russia. The relict trees are growing there including well-known Karel birch (kind of warty birch with a patterned cross-grained wood texture). During the tour you will visit small museum of the Kivach Nature Reserve.
Kondopoga is the second largest and the second most populous city of Karelia famous for its Dormition Church built in 1774 with the iconostasis in the Baroque style and iconic sky ceiling. Sky ceiling at the Kondopoga Dormition Church is the only example of the Divine Liturgy composition at the church. The church was burnt down by a teenager in 2018. The local authorities aim to reconstruct the church.
The Martsialnye Waters (50 km from Petrozavodsk) is the first Russian spa resort opened in 1719 under Peter I order and then several times visited by him for improving of the health. The Church of the Apostle Peter (1721) built to the Emperor’s personal designs is the reminder of his visits here. The spa is situated not far from the picturesque small Lake Gabozero. There is no mineral water in the world such high content of iron (maximum content is 100 mg per 1 liter). Usually the Martsialnye Waters resort is visited during full day tour to the Kivach Waterfall from Petrozavodsk.
Rubchoila Village (about 100 km from Petrozavodsk) is a unique monument of folk wooden architecture of the XIX c. in Karelia. Peasant wooden houses, Chapel of John the Baptist are kept here. You will find a familiarity with folk tradition of the Lake Syamozero area, rural folk group performance. The friendly hostess will treat you to a meal of the national Karelian cuisine dishes. Usually Rubchoila is included to the programmes of multi-day summer and winter active tours on base of the Alyokka tourist center (or with with stopover there) located on the shore of the picturesque Lake Syamozero but this is possible to reach Rubchoila from Perozavodsk for half day tour too (about 1 hour by vehicle).
The White Sea – Baltic Canal (BBK) was an ambitious project of Stalin and the first project of the Soviet Union constructed using forced labor. The BBK became a symbol of Stalin’s Gulag. The best place to observe BBK construction is Povenets settlement located not far from Medvezhyegorsk town (186 km from Petrozavodsk). Stepped trail of BBK locked channel rises for 12 km from the Lake Onega here. It is the so-called Povenchanskaya Staircase consisting of 7 locks with dams, dikes and floodgates. At the northern end of Povenets settlement you can see the Povenchanskaysa Staircase in the center part of the 2nd lock and the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas built in 2003 in honor of the Gulag prisoners lost during the construction of the BBK. The bell tower over the porch of the church symbolizes the Gulag camp lookout tower. In the town of Medvezhyegorsk you can still see gloomy buildings of 1930s: the former BBK Administration and the former BBK Hostel (Local History Museum with exposition devoted to the BBK is located there). Usually tourists stop in Medvezhyegorsk and observe the Povenchanskaysa Staircase en route from Petrozavodsk to Kem during their Solovetsky Islands tour or to Belomorsk but full day tour from Petrozavodsk (about 3 hours one way) is also possible.
You can see fantastic virgin nature of the Russian North, acquaint with mode of life of Pomors (Russian settlers of the White Sea shore; descendants of the first Russian colonists from Novgorod Republic) and to taste their cuisine spending several days at the comfortable guest house on the shore of the White Sea (about 80 km from Belomorsk). All rooms are with WC and shower. You will visit Virma Village which is a cozy ancient settlement on the shore of the White Sea. The gem of the village is a wooden Peter and Paul Church built in the XVII c.. At Kolezhma Village you will see how local wooden boats (karbazes) are constructed. Boats of the White Sea known since the XVI c. are famous for their durability and unique characteristics in navigation. Even today craftsmen of Kolezhma Village construct boats not only for residents of the White Sea shore but also for fishermen from Moscow and St. Petersburg. On the way from Belomorsk to your guest house you will see petroglyphs (the Stone Age images carved on the rocks). During your motor boat tours you will watch representatives of the White Sea fauna: white whale (belukha), seals, gulls and ducks).
The Ruskeala Mountain Park formed round an ancient marble quarry filled in unconfined ground water is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Karelia. Originally the marble quarry here was arranged in the Swedish period in the XVII c. but its real development began since the reign of the Russian Empress Catherine II. This gigantic man-made cup in a solid mass of marble carved with a system of mines, shafts and drifts is the unique in Europe natural and engineering monument. Marble from the Ruskeala was used for decoration of well-known building of St. Petersburg: lining of St. Isaac’s Cathedral, tiling of the Kazan Cathedral floor, framing of the Marble Palace windows and the Mikhailovsky Castle facade, making of the Hermitage sills. The Ruskeala Park is located quite far from Petrozavodsk (277 km) so this is not possible to arrange a day tour there and this is necessary to overnight in Sortavala town (247 km from Petrozavodsk, 30 km to the Ruskeala) if you want to visit this place. The Ruskeala is also included into the programme of numerous multi-day active and excursion tours.
Girvas settlement located to the north from Petrozavodsk (102 km) is famous for a nearly located unique geological object — the most ancient in Karelia (about 2 billion years) volcanic crater. You can see old bed of the Suna River (flow of this river was allotted to the Palyeozerskaya Hydro Power Plant built in 1954) and drained the Girvas Waterfall whose original size surpassed the size of the Kivach Waterfall. Near the settlement you can see also the former military airfield which was used until 1958. In the nearest forest you can find another former military object: airfield of the strategic bombers with the length of the runway of about 2.5 km built in 1940. Airfield existed here until 1990. Currently it used as a platform for learning driving. Girvas is included into the programme of numerous active and excursion multi-day tours. A day tour from Petrozavodsk is also possible.
Today Arkhangelsk is a big industrial, scientific and cultural center very attractive for tourists with its architecture of the old town, beautiful quay and unforgettable White Nights. The city was founded in 1584 when accordingly to the decree of Ivan IV (the Terrible) Guest Inns for merchants (Gostinny Dvor), fortress and sea wharf were built at the Northern Dvina River mouth where the Monastery of Archangel Michael (XII c.) was located. In the XVI-XVII cc. Arkhangelsk was the only sea trading port of Russia. Peter I (the Great) visited the city several times. Here he built the first Russian trading vessel and introduced Russian national flag specially designed for trading fleet. During allied intervention in the Russian Civil War Arkhangelsk was occupied with British, USA and French troops (1918-1919). You can see original monument devoted for that events – British tank Mk.V called in jest a Monument to Churchill. During Arkhangelsk city tour you can visit the Gostinny Dvor, the courtyard of the Solovetsky Monastery (1898), St. Nicholas Church (1904) built in honour of heavenly patron of all navigators, monuments to Peter the Great and Michael Lomonosov (prominent Russian scientist and poet, founder of the Moscow University, the first in Russia), and a name card of the city – the Red Wharf.
The Northern Maritime Museum in Arkhangelsk located at the Northern Dvina River Embankment presents the history of Arkhangelsk port and exhibits a lot of maps that allow learning about discoverers of Arctic sea routes, Northern ships models, coast-dwellers clothes and utensils.
The Antonievo-Siysky Monastery founded in 1520 is located in very picturesque place on a narrow peninsular 160 km from Arkhangelsk, 30 km from Kholmogory. The Siya River connects lakes a great number of which is spread there. The flourishing age of the monastery was in the XVII c. when the monastery became on the most important spiritual centers of the Russian North. By the late XVIII c. the monastery failed. That’s why there were no new constructions here and pre-Petrine image of the monastery was kept practically unchanged. The main architectural monuments are: the five-domed Trinity Cathedral, the Church of the Annunciation with the refectory and chambers of Obedientiaries, the Holy Gate with the Church of St. Sergius and two-storey cells. Closed by Bolsheviks in 1920s nowadays it is functioning monastery.
The Art Museum in Arkhangelsk presents a rich collection of paintings and old Russian icons (including samples dated of the XIV and XV cc.) decorated with gold and silver, pearls. Women’s clothes and headdresses of the previous century are also very expressive. There you can also find the exhibition of paintings of the XIX-XX cc..
Visiting village Khlomogory (90 km from Arkhangelsk) you can learn a lot about bone engraving which has been here since XVII c.. You will have bright impressions after you visit local engraving school and bone engraving factory where you will have a chance to observe the process of carving and to buy unique and original souvenirs.
The village of Lomonosovo (4 km from Kholmogory) is motherland of the eminent Russian scientist and poet Michail Lomonosov. Here you will visit the memorial museum devoted to the life of the founder of Moscow University.
The Malye Korely open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture (25 km from Arkhangelsk) exhibits more than 100 samples of wooden architecture of the XVII-XVIII cc. located on the territory of 4 hectares: churches, bell-towers, mills, peasant’s houses. There you will listen to the chimes, drink tea brewed with local herbs in original izba (traditional Russian wooden hut). In winter period you have chance to drive in a sledge harnessed with Russian trotters.
The Nenets is aboriginal people of Samoyedic group (together with Finno-Ugric peoples Samoyeds form the Uralic family) populating the Arctic Ocean shore from the Kanin Peninsula in the west till the Taymyr Peninsula in the east. Reindeer breeding and fishing is their traditional style of living. Visiting Nenets nomad camp you will have an opportunity to learn organization of their nomad life as well to taste dishes of their national cuisine cooked of venison and fish. You will see races in reindeer harness, throwing of arcan-tyndey (local kind of lasso) and traditional competitions of reindeer-breeders in jumps across sledges.
Murmansk is the largest trans-polar city in the world and important industrial and scientific center of the Russian North. City is located on the Kola Gulf coast at 50 km from the exit to the Barents Sea. The city was founded in October 1916 as future base of Russian Arctic Navy and base for searching of the Northeast Passage from the European part of Russia to the Russian Far East. Original name of the city was Romanov-on-Murman to honour of the Romanov’s dynasty (the word “Murman” is ancient Russian name of these lands which came from ancient name of Scandinavians — ”Normans”) but in 1917 the Romanovs were overthrown and city was renamed into Murmansk. There is an excellent panoramic view of Murmansk from the highest point of city. Murmansk is the only in Russia regional center where all Orthodox churches were built in post-Soviet period. Among them is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Myra in Licya (1986-1989), the main Orthodox church of the city built to the honour of patron saint of all navigators, the most worshiped saint in Northern Russia. In Murmansk you will see two sculptural monuments directly related with Bulgaria. The first one is monument to the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic (1974), one of the biggest monuments in Russia. Popular name of the monument is Alyosha. This unofficial name is associated with the gigantic statue of Soviet soldier-liberator Alyosha (1957), symbol of Plovdiv city in Bulgaria. The second monument is also associated with Bulgaria. Since 1986 thanks to efforts of local intelligentsia Saints Cyril and Methodius Day is celebrated in Murmansk on May 24 to the honour of two Byzantine theologians and Christian missioners, creators of the modern Slavonic ABC (Cyrillic script). In 1991 the Slavonic Culture and Script Day became a state memorable day in Russia. After that Bulgaria where this day is celebrated since X c. presents Murmansk city and its citizens the monument to Cyril and Methodius as a sign of gratitude. This sculpture situated in front of the Murmansk Regional Library is exact copy of the monument located in front of the National Library of Bulgaria in Sofia.
The legendary ice-breaker Lenin built in 1956-1957 in St. Petersburg (Leningrad) and specially designed for the Northeast Passage became the first world’s nuclear-power ice-breaker. It was one of few Soviet ice-beakers working in the Arctic seas the whole year round. Since 1989 the Lenin ice-breaker is a museum.
The Local Lore Museum in Murmansk represents the history of the city from the time of its foundation till nowadays. One of the Museum departments is devoted to the history, culture and life style of the Lapps (Sami) — Finno-Ugric aboriginal people populating the Kola Peninsula, their traditions, holidays, folk music.
The Navy Museum in Murmansk opened just after the end of WW II presents the history of the navigation in the Arctic seas since the late XVII c. and history of Russian Northern Fleet since it establishing in 1916: weapons, models of ships, military trophies.
The Oceanarium (Aquarium) of Murmansk is located on the Lake Semyonovskoye where you can see Arctic seals and watch their performance.
The Polar Alpine Botanic Garden is situated in town of Kirovsk at the foot of the Khibiny Mountains (about 160 km from Murmansk). It is one of three botanic gardens in the world (together with such gardens in Tromso and Reykjavík) located beyond the polar circle. The unique collection of plants presents first of all local flora (trees, shrubs, prostrate plants, mosses, lichens, species growing at sea coast, tundra and swamps) and also plants from different continents including representatives of deserts, semi-deserts, subtropical and tropical zones.
Murmansk is located beyond the polar circle, just at the tundra zone so your tundra tour will take 3-4 hours. The tundra is greeting its visitors by gradually decreasing height of trees, appearance of moss and lichen. Nature spreads the fluffiest carpet in the world before its guests. This carpet is made by deer’s moss. The best season to visit tundra is June – period of flowering. Visiting tundra in this period you will be deeply impressed!
Full day to Lovozero village will acquaint you with life of Lapps (Sami) — Finno-Ugric aboriginal people populating the Kola Peninsula. Reindeer breeding, hunting and fishing is their traditional style of living. Their folk music is charming and impress with its peculiarity. The Museum of Culture and Lifestyle of the Northern Peoples located on this village presents original articles describing the lifestyle of three big peoples populating the North: Lapps (Sami), Nenets and Komi. Lovozero is place where you can purchase original and authentic handmade souvenir.
The Murmansk Region of Russia is very good place for watching of the northern lights (Aurora Borealis). For searching of the northern lights we recommend you to book car with guide and leave the city (50-55 km to the country). We kindly remind you the the northern lights is natural phenomenon and nobody can guarantee that visiting Murmansk for several days you would watch it. The best period is September — October and February – April. Usually December is the worst period for northern lights watching but this is not immutable decree of nature. For example in 2013 December was the best period!
In Dikson settlement located at the Taimyr Peninsula you can see monument to Russian explorer of the Taimyr Peninsula Nikifor Begichev, monument to Norwegian sailor Peter Tessem, participant of Roald Amundsen’s Northeast Passage expedition (1918-1920) lost not far from Dikson when the Maud ship was trapped by ice, the WW II monument erected in memory of the heroic Dikson defence and traditional for all ports of the Russian North St. Nicholas Church (2010) built in honor of patron saint of all seafarers. At the local school museum you will acquaint with unique items collected by Dikson locals during the whole period since the settlement foundation in 1915 and see documentary about Dikson defence in August 1942 when German cruiser Admiral Scheer tried to destroy port, radio station and hydrometeorological station at the Dikson Island but small Red Army garrison successfully repulsed an attack. At the pier you can watch seals at the Kara Sea and experienced fishermen hold sea fishing master class for you. Local art gallery established in 1986 is the most northern in Russia national art gallery, a gift of Russian artists for Dixon residents. During your tours by cross-country vehicle you will have opportunity to visit polar geophysical station (and to take part in terrestrial magnetism monitoring), the coast of the Kara Sea, the Willem Barentsz Biostation established accordingly to the Dutch Government program for the development of international scientific research in the Arctic area at the territory of the Great Arctic State Nature Reserve. At the Dikson Island you will visit battlefield of the top eastern WW II battle at the Soviet-German front and other WW II memorials, hydrometeorological station arranged here in 1915-1916 and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Arctic Ocean.
Today Vologda is large industrial center where a lot of monuments of different epochs are preserved. In 1820s walls and towers of the Vologda Kremlin built in 1560s-1570s accordingly to personal decree of Ivan IV (the Terrible) who planed to remove his residence to Vologda were dismantled but we still can see some buildings of the former Kremlin in the city center. Among them are St. Sophia Cathedral and the Hierarchal Court which was a small citadel within former Kremlin. In the city you can also see first brick constructions (late XVIII c.) and log dwelling houses of the late XIX-early XX cc..
During his trips to the North of Russia Peter I (the Great) several times visited Vologda which was large military base and shipbuilding center. The house of Dutch merchant where Peter I stayed is preserved. Museum of Peter the Great arranged in this house in 1885 exhibits handmade goods, samples of clothes and personal belongings of Russian Emperor.
The Museum-preserve located at the former Hierarchal Court presents collection of articles of church silverware from local monasteries, traditional for the Vologda Region works of applied arts and decoration (birch bark works, niello works of jewelers from Veliky Ustug, lace works). Ethnographic collection is also very interesting. For example, you can see original old-believers women’s clothing there.
The White Lake St. Cyril’s Monastery (130 km from Vologda) founded in the late XIV c. by monk Cyril was one of the largest and richest monasteries of Russia, one of the most important cultural and spiritual centers. Since the XV c. the monastery was a place of political exile for representatives of Russian noble families including Princes Rostovsky, Mstislavsky, Belsky. Now you can see great architectural monuments of the XV-XIX cc. there.
Founded in the late XIV c. The St. Therapontus Convent (20 km from the White Lake St. Cyril’s Monastery) is included to the UNESCO World Heritage List because of unique frescos created by famous icon painter Dionysus in 1502.
The Art Gallery in Vologda located at the building of Resurrection Cathedral (XVIII c.) on the grounds of the Hierarchal court and at the Shalamov’s House presents works of Russian and foreign painters of the XVIII-XX cc.. Among them are paintings and pictures of George Dawe, Victor Vasnetsov, Mikhal Vrubel, Mikhail Nesterov, Ilya Repin, Vassily Polenov, Arkhip Kuindzhi, Valentin Serov, Ivan Aivazovsky, Isaac Levitan, Natalia Nesterova, Tatiana Nazarenko, Zaven Arshakuni, Dimitry Zhilinsky.
The Russian North National Park (about 130 km from Vologda) was established in 1992 for protection of natural and cultural landscapes around The White Lake St. Cyril’s Monastery and St. Therapontus Convent. The main territory of the park is occupied with woods. Most of the area is essentially hilly landscapes of glacial origin. Some hills (Maura Hill, Sandyreva Hill, and Tsypina Hill) are protected as natural monuments. The Sokolsky Bor (the Sokolsky Pine Forest) located on the bank of the Sheksna Reservoir is an area covered with pine wood. The Shalgo-Bodunovsky Forest is an area where the remains of fir and pine virgin forest which is almost extinct in the Vologda Region.
The lace is one of the oldest handicrafts of the Vologda Region, the main symbol of Volodga. Visiting the Snowflake Factory in Volodga you have a chance to visit a workshop of lace makers who spin their handmade laces with ancient lace bobbins following the technology invented many centuries ago. Unique works of the Vologda lace masters is presented at local museum. The Snowflake Factory is place where you can purchase original and authentic handmade souvenir.
The exposition of the Museum of the Vologda Laces established in 2010 is dedicated to the founding and development of traditional arts and crafts of the Vologda Region and also to world trends of lace-making since the late XIX till the XXI cc.. The museum exposition presents unique samples of lace from the Vologda Museum-reserve collection, samples of clothes of the late XIX-early XX cc. specially designed and made for the museum, lace products made by leading lace-makers of Vologda and samples of products of foreign lace centers in France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Poland.
The Architectural and Ethnographic Museum located in Semyonkovo village (12 km from Vologda) provide you with possibility to see samples of wooden architecture and articles of daily peasant’s life collected there. The museum present the variety of Russian Northern architecture and acquaint you with lifestyle, crafts and trade of local peasants.
Since XV c. Vologda was a place of political exile. In the XIX – early XX cc. this city was visited by exiled representatives of practically all anti-tsarists movements: philosopher, one of the main theorists of narodism Pyotr Lavrov, Bolsheviks Josef Stalin, Vyacheslav Molotov, Maria Ulianova (Lenin’s sister), Anatoly Lunacharsky, Socialist Revolutionary Boris Savinkov, left-wing philosophers Nikolai Berdyaev and Alexander Bogdanov, writers Vladimir Korolenko and Alexei Remizov. Vologda was in jest called Near Siberia. In period since the beginning of Russian Revolution of 1905 till the February Revolution of 1917 about 10,000 people were exiled to Vologda. The museum arranged at the house where exiled Josef Stalin lived since December 1911 till February 1912 presents typical life of Russian political exile in early XX c..
Memorial museum of Varlam Shalamov was opened in 1991 in the house where author of the famous Kolyma Tales was born in 1907 at family of local priest and where he lived till his leaving for Moscow in 1924. Exposition of the Museum includes documents of the Shalamov’s epoch, Shalamov’s publications and his personal belongings — field bag and a watch presented for the museum by Irina Sirotinskaya, a close friend of the writer, a successor custodian and publisher of his legacy.
Veliky Ustyug is a little town located 450 km to the north-east from Vologda. The town was mentioned firstly in 1207. It had a great historical significance in the past. Veliky Ustyug preserves much of its architectural heritage and has one of the best preserved architectural ensembles in Russia among which are monasteries and churches and monuments of civil architecture. Veliky Ustyug is marketed in Russia as the residence of Ded Moroz, also known as Father Frost (Russian Santa Claus). The residence is located 16 km from the town and is the main tourist attraction, especially in winter period.
