Top 20 Attractions in Petrozavodsk

The magnificent northern beauties of Karelia, the clean mirror-like surface of Lake Onega, unusual sculptures on the embankment brought from different countries, home-made wooden ships that have been in dozens of seas - all this can be seen in Petrozavodsk. This city, without exaggeration, can be called unique. Where else can you watch a theatrical performance in Karelian or take a ride on a hydrofoil?

In addition to city sights, you are waiting for the incomparable Kizhi, the stormy Kivach waterfall and countless rivers and lakes, as if entangling the surroundings with a net. People come here from all over Russia for magnificent views, beautiful sunsets and harsh northern romance.

What to see and where to go in Petrozavodsk?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Onega embankment

The territory along Lake Onega, equipped and ennobled in 2003 in the style of the 19th century: paving stones, forged lanterns, rotunda arbors and flower beds. Today this place is the real pride of Petrozavodsk, and all tourists first of all go here for a walk. The embankment is perfect for romantic dates, friendly meetings, reflections in solitude and calm contemplation of the water surface.

Monument "Fishermen"

"Fishermen" is a modern urban sculpture installed on Onega embankment in 1991 as a gift to Petrozavodsk from the American sister city of Duluth. The original art object was made by the sculptor R. Consuegra, thereby laying the foundation for a whole gallery of monuments. This was followed by: "Wave of Friendship" from Finland, "Tübingen Panel" from Germany, "Wishing Tree" from Sweden, "Sleeping Beauty" from France, "Meeting Place" from Norway and other sculptures.

Monument to Peter I

The monument was designed by I. N. Schroeder and installed in the city in 1873. It is located in Petrovsky Square. The bronze sculpture depicts the first Russian emperor standing in a resolute pose and pointing his hand somewhere into the distance. The sovereign is dressed in a military ceremonial uniform. The pedestal is made in the classical traditions of the Baroque. The composition is in the center of a fenced flower bed.

Maritime Museum "Polar Odysseus"

Museum and cultural center founded in 1978. The first exhibit was a wooden boat-boat "Polar Odyssey", on which members of the historical club sailed from Petrozavodsk to Kronstadt and returned back. Today, the collection includes more than 30 ships made of wood that have been on expeditions in many seas and three oceans. Some of them took part in international competitions.

National Museum of the Republic of Karelia

The largest museum in Petrozavodsk, which has extensive collections of various kinds - from natural science to ethnographic. They tell about nature, rich history, traditions of the peoples inhabiting Karelia since ancient times, and other historical aspects. The exposition was founded in 1871 on the initiative of GG Grigoriev, the governor of the Olonets province, the center of which was Petrozavodsk.

Museum of Fine Arts of Karelia

The city art gallery is geographically located in the center of Petrozavodsk in an 18th-century mansion, which has the status of an architectural monument. The museum was founded over 200 years ago. Today, his collection includes paintings of the 18th–19th centuries, handicrafts of artisans, ancient Russian art, and works by Western European masters. The funds were replenished, among other things, at the expense of the Tretyakov Gallery and the Hermitage.

Museum of Industrial History of Petrozavodsk

For the first time, an exposition dedicated to the development of industry in the region appeared in Petrozavodsk in 1838. At first, it was located on the territory of the Alexander Cannon and Foundry Plant, then moved to the Onega Tractor Plant. The museum worked until the 1990s, but was closed due to lack of funds. In 2003, they decided to revive it, placing it at the same OTZ only in a different room.

Art Gallery "House of Dolls"

Private museum, which started operating in 1999. Its exposition is a collection of dolls by Tatyana Kalinina, an artist and Honored Art Worker of Karelia, who has been collecting samples for a long time. In addition to toys, here you can see tapestries, sculptures, graphic drawings, paintings. But the basis of the exhibition, nevertheless, is made up of numerous dolls.

National Theater of Karelia

The only dramatic stage in the world where performances are performed in Finnish, Russian, Karelian and even Vepsian (with simultaneous translation, of course). Performances are held on small and large stages, designed for 50 and 300 seats, respectively. Throughout its history, the theater has changed its name five times. The stage was founded by Finnish communists who moved to the Soviet Union in 1921.

Puppet Theater of the Republic of Karelia

The puppet scene was founded in 1935 as one of the first in the Soviet Union. Today, her repertoire includes more than 30 performances for spectators of all ages, but, nevertheless, performances for children form the basis. Different plays use different types of puppets: finger puppets, reed puppets and tablet puppets, which add variety to the plot and attract additional audiences.

Musical Theater of the Republic of Karelia

Ballet and opera stage founded in the middle of the 20th century and housed in an imposing neoclassical building. In addition to classical musical forms, musicals, operettas and comedies are often staged here. The auditorium of the theater is designed for 600 people. Here you can listen to the works of D. Verdi, P. I. Tchaikovsky, G. Puccini, J. Bizet and other recognized classics.

Railway station building

The station in Petrozavodsk was opened in 1955 as a branch of the Oktyabrskaya Railway. The station building was erected according to the project of V.P. Tsipulin in the manner of late neoclassicism. Similar forms were used for railway stations in many Soviet cities, all of them are somewhat similar to each other. The central structure of the building is a round tower with a high spire resting on a rectangular foundation.

Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky

At present, it is the cathedral church of Petrozavodsk, built in 1832 as a factory church with donations from the workers of the Aleksandrovsky (Onega Tractor) Plant. The architect A. I. Postnikov worked on the project, and the engineer P. K. Maderni was in charge of the construction work. The building was built in a classical style with barely noticeable baroque elements.

Church of the Presentation of the Lord

An 18th-century Orthodox church located on the banks of the Logmozero Strait. The church was built with the money of the St. Petersburg merchant I. Ya. Kononov. Previously, this place was a male monastery. In 1790, there was a major fire here, as a result of which the building burned down completely. His recovery began four years later. In 1906 there was another fire and subsequent reconstruction.

Holy Cross Cathedral

The temple is located within the Zaretsky cemetery. It was erected in the middle of the 19th century on the site of an old building that had served parishioners since 1801. Money for the construction was donated by the townspeople, but, nevertheless, the main sponsor was the merchant and philanthropist MP Pimenov, who at that time was the city head. In the period 1930–80, the cathedral was one of two active religious institutions in Petrozavodsk, while the rest were liquidated.

Governor's Park

Landscape park next to Lenin Square, which is adjacent to the building of the National Museum of the Republic of Karelia. It was created on the basis of a private provincial garden of the middle of the 19th century and an old park of the 18th century. The merger of the two territories took place in 1917. The place is notable for the fact that the oldest trees in Petrozavodsk grow here - three 200-year-old larches.

Botanical Garden of PetrSU

The garden was founded in 1951. It was laid on the shores of Lake Onega in order to study and preserve the diversity of the plant world. Plantings are located in the natural zone of the middle taiga - the limiting territory for the survival of many species, so the area is perfect for plant acclimatization. You can walk around the garden like in a regular park and admire its natural diversity.

Waterfall Kivach

A water cascade on the Suna River, located about 80 km from Petrozavodsk and only 5 km away from the St. Petersburg - Murmansk highway. The height of the fall of the jets reaches 11 meters, which is quite a lot, given the landscape of the area. The natural attraction is included in the territory of the reserve of the same name, being one of its main objects. Near the waterfall there is an arboretum and the Museum of Nature.

Lake Onega

Lake Onega is the largest freshwater reservoir in Europe after Lake Ladoga. It is located on the territory of Karelia, Leningrad and Vologda regions. The lake is dressed in picturesque rocky shores, on which huge boulders are scattered, and is surrounded by impenetrable northern forests. Unique natural landscapes attract many tourists here - lovers of eco-recreation.

Architectural ensemble "Kizhi"

The ensemble is located on the island of the same name, standing in the middle of Lake Onega. It consists of two wooden churches and a bell tower dating back to the 18th-19th centuries. It also includes huts, chapels, and outbuildings of a later time. The complex is a valuable monument of wooden architecture, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can get to the object on a special boat "Meteor", which, as part of the excursion, takes tourists around the lake for an hour and a half.