Sights of Staraya Ladoga - the first capital of Rus'. The best attractions of old Ladoga with photos and descriptions. The main monuments on the territory of Ladoga

Modern Staraya Ladoga- a small village 12 km above the mouth of the Volkhov River, but once it was large urban settlement, the first capital of Rus'. This place with more than a thousand years of history has always attracted researchers. The first excavations in Ladoga began in 1708. At different times, 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 layout of the 10th-13th centuries, rare 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 19th – early 20th centuries and the cultural layer of the Middle Ages.

Old Ladoga.

The exact time of the appearance of Ladoga is unknown, but research carried out by archaeologists allows us to say with certainty that it happened no later than 753. Perhaps much earlier. The date evokes respect, because at that time there were no ancient Russian cities known to us.

Archaeological excavations in Staraya Ladoga are carried out everywhere and constantly.

The appearance of Ladoga was not accidental. It was built at the intersection of trade routes and was founded by representatives of 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 connections with countries Western Europe, West Slavic Pomerania and others.

A thousand years ago Ladoga was a prosperous city, an international port, a large craft center and a reliable bank even for European countries.

Falcon is the symbol of Rurik.

It is no coincidence that Ladoga became in 862 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 Kyiv, but Ladoga was still the first.

Until 1703, Ladoga retained the status of a city, later it became a village and was renamed Staraya Ladoga, because at the mouth of the Volkhov, on the shore Lake Ladoga, New Ladoga arose.

The village is famous throughout the world for many unique attractions:

Staraya Ladoga Fortress

Counts " business 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 fragment of it with two towers – Vorotnaya and Klimentovskaya – has been completely restored. But restoration work continues.

On the territory of the fortress, two unique ancient temples have been preserved: the Church of St. George of the 12th century and the Church of Dmitry of Thessalonica of the 18th century.

The ancient fortress is the main attraction of Staraya Ladoga.

Museum in the fortress.

St. George's Church.

Ramparts of the “earthen city” of Staraya Ladoga.

Archaeological Museum

Since its founding, the museum has become a place for storing materials collected by the Staraya Ladoga archaeological expedition. The basis of its exhibition is made up of objects collected from cultural layers and funerary monuments of various eras. In total, the museum's collection contains more than 132,000 exhibits. The collections of sculpture, painting and graphics, archeology, photographs and documents, building materials and frescoes, icon painting and church utensils are presented here.

Archaeological Museum.

Exposition of the archaeological museum.

Monasteries

Once upon a time there were six monasteries in Ladoga; only two of them have survived to this day. These are the St. Nicholas Monastery and the Holy Dormition Convent. Nikolsky Monastery is one of the oldest in the territory Leningrad region. According to one legend, it was founded by Alexander Nevsky after the defeat of the Swedes in the Battle of Neva. The shrine of the monastery is a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The Staraya Ladoga Holy Dormition nunnery 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 Hannibal, 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 operating again and continues to be restored.

Mounds of Staraya Ladoga

Three famous mounds are located in the Sopki tract. Of particular interest is one of them, called Olegova Mogila, which is located on the banks of the Volkhov River. Scientists believe that Prince Oleg, the conqueror of the Khazar Kaganate, is buried under the mound. However, this place is interesting not only from a historical point of view. Many believe in the special magical power of this mound, which is confirmed by some scientists. In addition, the mound is connected by an underground passage to the catacomb system. It is not yet clear where these passages lead.

These attractions of Staraya Ladoga are located on the northern outskirts of the village, not far from the road to Novaya Ladoga.

Trains do not go to Staraya Ladoga, there are none here railway. The nearest station is located in the city of Volkhov, from where regular buses leave every 50 minutes to Staraya Ladoga. You can get to Volkhov by train or train.

Staraya Ladoga and its attractions on the map.

1. Staraya Ladoga Fortress;
2. Nikolsky Monastery;
3. Assumption Monastery;
4. Archaeological Museum;
5. Mounds;
6. Hotel "Staraya Ladoga".

9 kilometers from Staraya Ladoga, on the P-21 highway, there is the Abyrvalg motel, which can be safely recommended to road 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. It’s 40 kilometers from Staraya Ladoga, but it’s worth it.

Staraya Ladoga is a modest village in the Leningrad region. Several centuries ago it was a prosperous city where Russian statehood was born, but now it is a famous landmark of the Leningrad region.

What to see in one day

To get a complete impression of the sights, you should visit the Staraya Ladoga fortress and ancient Orthodox shrines. Walking along Varyazhskaya Street, you can see new sculptures and a monument, and also go on an excursion to Kalyazin’s house. A must-visit is the grave of Prophetic Oleg.

The main street of Ladoga, there is something to see here

If you are likely to stay a couple of days, you can include in your itinerary:

• Vasilyevsky Pogost with its churches;
• Caves;

What attractions can you visit in the area?

Traveling around the area, you have the opportunity to see: Lyubshanskoe Settlement; Gorchakovshchinsky waterfall; Volkhov hydroelectric power station is an old hydroelectric power station located 15 minutes drive in the city of Volkhov.

How to get to Staraya Ladoga

From St. Petersburg, the nearest large city realistically reachable in 2-4 hours:

1. By train from Ladozhsky or Moskovsky railway stations in St. Petersburg to the city of Volkhov, then by bus.
2. By bus from Bus Station No. 2 on the route St. Petersburg - Novaya Ladoga.
3. By car on the E105 road.

ladogamuseum.ru


On an area of ​​160 hectares there are monuments dating back to the 8th – 19th centuries. The oldest of them are more than 12 centuries old. The sights of the museum-reserve are represented by fortifications, hills, monasteries, and temples.
The museum-reserve has been operating since 1971, it is developing dynamically, and its collections are being replenished. “Ladoga” comes from the name of the Ladozhka River, which flows here into the Volkhov River. Over time, this name spread to the lake.




In Staraya Ladoga they cherish the memories of the heroes. In 1985, as part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Victory over fascism, a Park with a memorial inscription was founded in the village.




The waterfall is notable for being considered the highest waterfall in the Leningrad region. Its height of 4.5 m is rare for a flat waterfall.
The landscape looks as if water is flowing into a large red bowl. This effect is created by red sandstone deposits.



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  The church is still active today

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  Previously, there was a famous theater cafe here

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  The Itinerant artist V.M. is buried in the graveyard. Maksimov

On the opposite bank of the river. Volkhov in the village of Chernavino (formerly Vasilyevskoye) there is an abandoned graveyard with cemetery churches. The Church of Basil of Caesarea was built in the 13th century in the traditions of Novgorod. Over time, it became dilapidated and collapsed. In its place, a small temple was erected with a gable roof ending in domes.
The second temple, made of red stone with a bell tower, is the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. It has an abandoned appearance, although it belongs to the architectural monuments of regional significance. At this place there was a wooden church of Valaam monks. In the middle of the 19th century, it was moved to Valaam in memory of their wanderings.




The single-domed church, in the style of late classicism, was erected in 1833 in the cemetery near the Assumption Monastery. It was neglected for a long time. Since 2000, the church has been restored and welcomes parishioners.

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  The height of the walls is approximately the same everywhere - 1.2 m

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  Now these places are available for intrepid travelers

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  There is underground lake, and the population lives bats

Two caves, Staroladozhskaya and Tanechkina, in the 19th century. used to mine white quartz sandstone. The caves contain lakes, streams, incipient stalactites and stalagmites.
Tanechkina Cave stretches for more than 7 km. It begins under Malysheva Mountain. The hole into the Staraya Ladoga Cave can be found not far from the Church of John the Baptist.






On the northern edge of the village stands a white-stone, five-domed Orthodox shrine, erected at the end of the 17th century. Boris Godunov treated her favorably. Two bells were cast, the inscription on one of them read: “Ladoga is the stronghold of my state.” Below the temple there flows a holy spring known since the 9th century. It is the oldest in the Leningrad region.




One of the hills was explored by the famous Russian archaeologist and military historian N.E. Brandenburg (1839-1903). It was a structure poured into several layers, which accumulated as new burials took place.
Tract is a popular name for any place that differs from the surrounding area; it can be, for example, a field, forest, swamp or hill. A mound is an earthen mound above a burial pit among many ancient peoples.




The most famous burial mounds of Ladoga are located behind the Church of John the Baptist. The mound, 10 m high, is considered the grave where Prophetic Oleg is buried. There is no clear confirmation of this version. Scientists first became interested in researching Oleg’s grave in 1820.





2 km from Staraya Ladoga on the opposite bank of the river. Volkhov there are the ruins of the ancient Lyubsha fortress. This is a stone cape with a diameter of approximately 50 m, surrounded by a wide rampart. The fortress ruins were discovered in 1997.
It is assumed that a Finno-Ugric settlement arose here in the 3rd century. Then the Slavs ousted the local residents and built their own fortress, blocking the path deep into the Slavic lands. The fortress existed until the 9th-10th centuries. The events of those times are reflected in the Tale of Bygone Years.




The “Earth City” was built at the end of the 16th century. as a bastion system of fortifications of the Staraya Ladoga fortress. These were wooden and earthen ramparts built on the southern side of the fortress.
Using the method of dendrochronological analysis, it was established that one of the trees used in the construction of the city was cut down in 753. This is how the founding date of Staraya Ladoga was determined and its 1250th anniversary was celebrated in 2003.




This is the oldest and most famous street in Russia. It runs along the opposite bank of the Ladozhka (Elena) River from the fortress. Varyazhskaya Street was first mentioned in documents of the 15th century. But the discovered artifacts from the 9th – 10th centuries. allow us to conclude that it occurred earlier.






An inconspicuous red stone chapel on the most famous street of Staraya Ladoga was erected in 1913 with the support of the Russian Geographical Society. It was here until the 16th century. the main temple of the Spassky district of Ladoga. The chapel is not active, but well maintained.




The bronze sculpture realistically reflects a bird taking flight. It has symbolic meaning for this area. “Falcon” is an interpretation of the name of Rurik, who was called to reign here. During the excavations, a clay mold from the 9th century was found, which was used to cast seals with the image of a falcon.




The monument is located in a cozy park where people gather excursion groups and tourists take pictures. Behind the square there is a convenient descent to the Volkhov River and opens beautiful view on fortress towers and walls.
Rurik’s first princely residence was in Ladoga, and thanks to Oleg the Prophet, a stone fortress arose here. When Rurik died, Oleg, being the guardian of his son, began to rule in Novgorod. After the conquest of Kyiv, he moved the capital of the Old Russian state there.






Two estates on Varyazhskaya Street were owned by the Kalyazin brothers, Novoladozhsk merchants of the second guild. In a red wooden house that belonged to A.V. Kalyazin, there is an exhibition of household items of merchants and peasants of the 19th - early 20th centuries.
The Archaeological Museum is located in the white stone estate of Peter Kalyazin. It contains more than a thousand exhibits from various periods: from the Neolithic and Middle Ages to modern times.




According to legend, the shrine was founded in 1240 by order of Alexander Nevsky after the Battle of Neva. Architecturally, the monastery is represented by two churches.
The Church of St. John Chrysostom resembles a Romanesque basilica using elements of Russian architecture. During Soviet rule, the monastery existed until 1937 as a fishing cooperative, then it was used as a hangar, school and dormitory. Since 2002, monastic life has been revived here.

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  The monastery shop sells gingerbread and honey.

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  Restoration work is underway here, but the monastery is available for visiting

There are various buildings on the territory of the monastery. The Assumption Cathedral is of interest. This white-stone, single-domed temple with pre-Mongol architecture, built in the 12th century, is now completely preserved.
The place is famous for the fact that Evdokia Lopukhina, the disgraced wife of Peter I, was held captive here. As a monk she was named Elena. In memory of her, the Ladozhka River began to be called Elena.

The Church of St. George is one of the oldest stone shrines in Russia. Its masonry alternates limestone slabs with thin rectangular bricks. The facades were covered with a solution that created the effect of shining marble on the white walls. Inside the walls are decorated with frescoes from the 12th century. The most famous fresco is “The Miracle of George on the Serpent.”
In this temple services were held in summer time. In winter, parishioners prayed in the nearby wooden church of Demetrius of Thessalonica.

The main place that attracts tourists in Staraya Ladoga is the fortress stronghold. Rurik reigned here, the fortress was called “Rurik Castle”. Under the Prophetic Oleg it was strengthened, it guarded the waterway from Baltic Sea to Russian lands. The fortress lost its military purpose after the end of the Northern War (1770-1721). Over time it collapsed.
Now the fortress walls and towers have been partially reconstructed. This makes it possible to inspect them safely. The Gate Tower displays exhibits telling about the rituals of the population, major historical events, and the structure of the medieval city.

We'll tell you what interesting places to see in the ancient capital of Rus'. Let's talk about the fortress, monasteries and local infrastructure. Read before your trip.

Historians have been unable to come to a conclusion for many years. unanimous opinion about where the first capital was located Ancient Rus'. However, most sources, including The Tale of Bygone Years, claim that the center of the ancient Russian state was Ladoga.

For more than a thousand years of history, the settlement has constantly attracted attention - first from researchers and scientists, and then from tourists. The village, which became a protected area at the end of the last century, preserves hundreds of archeological and architectural monuments and attracts both lovers of Russian history and travelers who are bored with the majestic palaces and aesthetics of the imperial estates.

Legends of Staraya Ladoga

Several legends are associated with the capital of Ancient Rus'. Here are the main ones:

• In these places there was a stone castle of Rurik. All that was left of it was a fragment of the protective wall, and scientists have not yet agreed on it. The dating coincides, but whether Rurik himself was involved in it is a big question.
• There is a chain under the ruins of the fortress secret tunnels in case of a siege. They are mentioned by various, including very serious, sources. Most of them date back to the century before last. Unfortunately, a large-scale expedition led by N.E. Brandenburg did not find any secret passages.
• Alexander Nevsky blessed his sword in the fortress church before the battle on Lake Peipsi. Like, this is what brought him victory.
• Guides and local residents We are sure that the same prophetic Oleg is buried in one of the mounds near the fortress. This is not known for certain.

The main attractions of Staraya Ladoga

Before heading to the village of Staraya Ladoga, you should take care of accommodation. The best option– stay at any hotel in St. Petersburg or its environs. Road from northern capital not the easiest.

In order to have time to “gallop across Europe” in a day and get acquainted with the main attractions, you need to go by train from the Ladozhsky station to the Volkhovstroy-1 station at half past six in the morning. In Volkhov we change to bus No. 23, which will take you to your destination in 15 minutes bus stop"Old Ladoga". 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.

Staraya 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 on the territory architectural complex the museum opened.

In addition to defensive structures and fortress walls, the fortress complex includes several historical monuments. The Church of St. George the Victorious was built long before the beginning of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, in the 12th century. It is there that the first known image of St. George is located, making the architectural monument a museum of a single 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 local history museum, and behind its wall lies the Zemlyanoye settlement.

Varyazhskaya street

After a walk 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 lies an inconspicuous rural landscape: a narrow country road, small houses. But after a few minutes the trail 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 thing is archaeological finds, which scientists date back to the 9th century: they prove that already at that time the banks of Ladozhka were completely developed. From the monument you can go down to the river and admire the view of the fortress for a few minutes. The restored Switch Tower is especially clearly visible.

Museums

Let's return to the square. In its northeastern part, in the very corner, there are two houses, a stone one and a wooden one. In the 19th century they belonged to the merchants Kalyazin. The stone one now houses the Museum of Archeology of Ladoga; until recently, the wooden one housed 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 chronicles date back to the 15th century, the date of its foundation is generally 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 Peter the Great’s first wife Evdokia Lopukhina, Evdokia Hannibal and the wives of the Decembrists.

On the territory of the monastery there is a cathedral of the same name, which deserves special attention from tourists. The Assumption Cathedral was built in the 12th century and became the standard of Novgorod architecture. Since its foundation, it has been preserved in its original form, and more than 13 thousand fragments of wall painting dating back to the same 12th century were found on its walls. The Assumption Church is one of the most important pilgrimage places in Staraya Ladoga, along with the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, where the relics of saints are kept. Both churches are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Another important shrine of Staraya Ladoga is the Nikolsky 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 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: a devastating attack by the Swedes in 1611, re-construction, and several restorations. The monastery was closed in 1927, but in 2002 everything returned to normal. Today, the shrine houses the relics of the founders of the Valaam Monastery - Sergius and Herman. In addition, the churches of St. John Chrysostom and Nikolskaya with its majestic bell tower are interesting.

Kurgans

The attractions of Staraya Ladoga do not end with its topographic boundaries. On the northern outskirts of the village, on the high bank of the Volkhv, there is a group of mounds. The tallest 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” name the place of death of Prince Kyiv, the Novgorod chronicles indicate that Oleg was buried in Ladoga. Of course, today there is no evidence of this or that theory that can be believed unquestioningly. However, it is worth going to the mounds at least for the sake of panoramic view to Staraya Ladoga and the measured flow of the Volkhv waters.

Tanechkina cave

A kilometer from the grave of Prophetic Oleg lies another place favored by extreme travelers - Tanechkina Cave. A man-made grotto with many labyrinths and passages appeared in the 19th century. Some of the passages are blocked, the walls are mesmerizing layers of rock. Here, in the cave, the largest colony of bats in the northwest hibernates. Of course, you shouldn’t go exploring the cave without an experienced guide.

What else to see

The festival “Staraya Ladoga – the first capital of Rus'” is rightfully considered the largest event in Staraya Ladoga. 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 pass by them. These include a theatrical performance about the first centuries of Ladoga’s existence, a historical costume competition, folk 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 cost half as much.

Staraya Ladoga is one of the oldest villages in Russia, “the first capital of Rus'”. Today it is a fairly large village, located 120 kilometers from St. Petersburg. However, in terms of the number of historical and architectural monuments it surpasses many cities in the country.

In our article we will tell you about the history and main attractions of Staraya and Novaya Ladoga.

Staraya Ladoga - a village with a thousand-year history

Nowadays, Staraya Ladoga is just a village on the banks of the Volkhov River with a population of 2,000 people. But it was once an important outpost city of Russia, which held back the ferocious attacks of ill-wishers. The main reason to visit Staraya Ladoga is its numerous natural, historical, cultural and architectural monuments dating back to the 9th-19th centuries.

Almost all the sights of the village of Staraya Ladoga are interesting and unique in their own way. And there are incredibly many of them! But tourists come here not only for the monuments, but also to feel the spirit of antiquity and enjoy the incredibly picturesque landscapes.

To further captivate the reader with Staraya Ladoga, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the ten most interesting historical facts about this village:

• Staraya Ladoga is one of the oldest settlements in Russia (the first mention of it dates back to 862);
• until 1703, Staraya Ladoga had the status of a city and was simply called Ladoga;
• the city was one of the most important points on the trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”;
• according to one version, the ancient Russian prince Oleg was buried in Ladoga;
• Ladoga became the first city in Northern Europe, all the walls of which were built exclusively of stone;
• already in the 8th century, Ladoga residents traded with the help of money (glass beads played their role);
• in the 10th century you could buy a slave for just one Ladoga bead;
• the architecture of the Staraya Ladoga fortress is unique for Russian architecture; there is no other similar monument in the whole of Russia;
• The Staraya Ladoga stronghold is included in the hundred most beautiful places in the country;
• A real treasure of silver Arab coins was found on the territory of the village (the find was dated by historians to the 8th century).

Novaya Ladoga and its history

If you go upstream from Staraya Ladoga, then after 15 kilometers you will reach Novaya Ladoga. This small town was founded in 1704 by decree of Peter the Great to service the shipyard created two years earlier. Many Old Lada residents were ordered to move to new town. During the Second World War, Novaya Ladoga played a significant role in providing besieged Leningrad along the so-called Road of Life.

It would be a shame not to stop by this small town if you are heading to Staraya Ladoga. There are also plenty of attractions here. Novaya Ladoga is a beautifully planned city, ancient buildings and magnificent views of the Volkhov River and Lake Ladoga.

The main monuments and interesting places in Novaya Ladoga:

• Nikolo-Medvedsky Monastery.
• Gostiny Dvor.
• Staraya Ladoga Canal.
• St. Nicholas Cathedral.
• Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin.
• Temple of Clement of Rome (dilapidated).
• St. George's Church.
• Novoladozhsky Museum of Local Lore.
• Memorial complex "Road of Life".

List of attractions of Staraya Ladoga

However, let's return to the settlement where our story began - Staraya Ladoga. As a rule, an inspection of the monuments of this village begins with the fortress. This is the main and most valuable attraction of Staraya Ladoga, which is under UNESCO protection. Inside the fortress there is an ancient church from the 12th century, which is perfectly preserved.

Complete list of historical monuments and interesting places The must-sees in this unique village are as follows:

• Staraya Ladoga fortress.
• Assumption Monastery.
• Varyazhskaya street.
• Oleg's grave.
• St. Nicholas Orthodox Monastery.
• Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist.
• House of merchant Kalyazin.
• Estate "Uspenskoe".
• Tanechkina and Staroladoga caves.
• Gorchakovshchinsky waterfall.

A schematic map of the attractions of Staraya Ladoga will help you navigate locality(see photo below).

Staraya Ladoga Fortress

The main attraction of Staraya Ladoga is the fortress, founded at the end of the 9th century. What we can see today was built almost from scratch in the 2000s.

The fortress is located on a narrow cape, in the place where the Ladozhka River flows into the Volkhov. Initially it was wooden. During the reign of Prince Oleg, a powerful stone stronghold was erected here. For a long time, the fortress defended the northern borders of Ancient Rus', then Russia. It lost its defensive significance only at the beginning of the 18th century.

Assumption Monastery

To the north of the fortress there is another important monument village - Staroladoga Holy Dormition Monastery. It was founded in the middle of the 12th century.

Behind the walls of the monastery hides the northernmost of the ancient Russian temples of the pre-Mongol period - the Cathedral of the Assumption Holy Mother of God. It has been here since 1156! The temple is quite miniature: its width is 14 meters and its height is 19 meters, however, it can accommodate several dozen people. The walls of the Assumption Church were lavishly painted, but the painting has practically not survived to this day.

It is known that from 1718 to 1725, it was in this monastery that the first wife of Peter the Great, Evdokia Lopukhina, stayed and became a nun.

Varyazhskaya street

It is unacceptable to visit Staraya Ladoga and not take a walk along Varyazhskaya Street. After all, according to historians, this is the most old street in Russia! The earliest mentions of it date back to the 15th century.

Today on Varyazhskaya Street you can see ancient one-story wooden houses that once belonged to local merchants. It's quiet and very cozy here. At the beginning of the ancient street there is a bronze sculpture of a falcon. This bird is considered the symbol of Staraya Ladoga. All tourists make a wish near this sculpture and leave coins in the beak of the bronze falcon.

Gorchakovshchinsky waterfall

Very few people know about the Gorchakovshchinsky waterfall, but in vain, because this is the most high waterfall in the Leningrad region. This is an amazing natural corner where you can calmly relax your thoughts and enjoy nature. It is located in the village of Gorchakovshchina, on the opposite bank of the river from Staraya Ladoga.

The height of the waterfall is only four meters. It is located in a river canyon and falls into a shallow bowl with sandstone walls. The walk to the waterfall does not take long; a forest path leads to it directly from the village.

Tanechkina Cave

In the past, Tanechkina Cave was a place where white quartz was mined. It stretches seven kilometers in length. The cave has many passages and labyrinths, and in its central gallery there is a shallow lake.

Hundreds of bats live inside. This is the largest, but also the most dangerous cave in Staraya Ladoga. Landslides and flooding often occur here, although this rarely stops speleologists.

How to get to the sights of Staraya Ladoga?

The village is located in the Volkhov district of the Leningrad region, ten kilometers from the city of Volkhov and 120 km from St. Petersburg. How can I get to the sights of Staraya Ladoga? It will be easiest to do this by car. But you can also get there by public transport.

By car you need to travel from St. Petersburg along the Murmansk highway (M18). Immediately after the village of Kiselnya you need to turn right off the highway (signpost to Volkhov). After another two kilometers you should turn left. This road will lead to an intersection on the banks of the Volkhov River. Here you need to turn left again and drive another four kilometers to Staraya Ladoga.

The second way to get to the village is public transport. You can get to the city of Volkhov by electric train (from Moskovsky or Ladozhsky railway stations). In Volkhov you can change to regular bus to Staraya Ladoga. In about 20 minutes he will bring you to the ancient village.

I couldn’t even imagine how many attractions there are in the east of the Leningrad region, where we will live and travel during our trip to the North-West. The plans included: 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 Tanechkina and Staroladozhskaya caves, the Gorchakovsky waterfall, the Lyubsha fortress, the village of Isaad, the canyon of the Lava River... As you can see, there are plenty of natural attractions here, and there are many of them not only in Karelia.

But our goals and objectives were initially different. But you won’t be able to see all the local attractions in just a day or two. So much the better, there will be a reason to return. The most important thing is that we visited everything planned. Today in my post I’ll briefly show you some of what I saw:

• Staraya Ladoga Nikolsky Monastery,
• Staraya Ladoga Holy Dormition Convent,
• Staraya Ladoga fortress,
• museum-reserve Staraya Ladoga,
• a bird on a stone - a sculpture of a falcon, the symbol of Ladoga,
• cafe "Prince Rurik" in Staraya Ladoga,
• Sopki tract - burial place of Prophetic Oleg,
• the city of Novaya Ladoga, its architecture,
• sights of Volkhov.

Why can you only show everything briefly? Yes, because each (each) of the cities and places visited is a whole Universe, worthy of a separate conversation.
However, even fluently I can’t get up to speed. The brief report about the trip stretches 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 wanted to do the trip to Karelia like that, in one post. Nooo, that's impossible. :) So be patient, the conversation will be long, the report will be multi-article.

Day IV. Staraya Ladoga, New Ladoga, Volkhov

After having breakfast “on our own” in the hotel room, we moved towards Staraya Ladoga.

Staraya Ladoga

From the small, fairly young town of Volkhov to the small but very ancient village of Staraya Ladoga , just 10 minutes drive. And a whole chasm in time - the year of Volkhov’s founding - 1918, the year of the founding of Staraya Ladoga - no later753 According to most historians Staraya Ladoga is the most ancient city Russia.
So, just 17 kilometers and we are there. Yes, settling 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” on the main street - Volkhovsky Prospekt. You won't get lost.
The very first sign to the right (from Volkhov, of course) “sends” us to Staraya Ladoga Nikolsky Monastery. We drive up to the northeastern tower, leave the car there and go on foot to get acquainted with the monastery. First outside, and then inside.

The weather is a miracle surrounding nature all around - amazing, ancient place, which still remembers its founder - Alexander Nevsky... What else is needed for the happiness of a traveler?
Nikolsky Monastery stands on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The rivers in the Leningrad region are incredibly beautiful - blue water and fluffy, velvet-like greenery of their banks.

We enter the gates of the monastery.

We look around a small area, Church of John Chrysostom(1860–1873).

The interiors are awe-inspiring - very good.

It's located next to the church St. Nicholas Cathedral(Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker). It is he who is the main mystery of the St. Nicholas Monastery. Built in 1160, rebuilt in the 17th century (after partial destruction in 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.

Hello travelers! ;)

After visiting the St. Nicholas 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 - the symbol of Staraya Ladoga.

Well, we’re going to see perhaps the most famous landmark of the city - Staraya Ladoga fortress. The car was parked in a small parking lot near the road (just opposite the fortress). Before us, in full view, is a powerful historical artifact.

The Klimentovskaya watchtower immediately catches your eye with its impressive size.

The Staraya Ladoga fortress was built during the time of the Prophetic Oleg at the turn of the 9th-10th centuries. Rare historical, architectural and archaeological monuments of the 13th - 19th centuries have survived to our times. It costs a lot beautiful place, the place where the Ladozhka River flows into the Volkhov.
Entrance to the fortress and two exhibitions is paid. We buy single tickets(80 rubles - adult) and through the Gate Tower we enter the territory of the museum-reserve.

The thickness of the tower walls is impressive.

The first exhibition of the museum is located in the Gate Tower, so we immediately go there.

On the first floor of the exhibition...

admire the territory of the fortress and stunning views of the surrounding area. 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. Moreover, it is closed both from the inside and from the outside.

Near the Church of St. St. George's wooden stand Church of St. Dmitry Solunsky(early 17th century), which was also closed to the public.

In order to get to the second exhibition of the museum, we left the fortress, walked straight to the bridge, crossed the bridge (it is clearly visible in the photo below)... And there it’s a stone’s throw to

an old white mansion on Varyazhskaya Street, in which the exhibition “Archaeology of Ladoga” is located.

At the Museum of Archeology.

Next to the museum lies Varyazhskaya street- the first street in Rus'. Near the excavations on Varyazhskaya, enclosed by a wooden fence, there is now a memorial stone indicating that a monument to princes Rurik and Oleg, the creators of the Russian state (862 - 882).

We enter the monastery through the Holy Gate (XIX century).

I should note that both monasteries in Staraya Ladoga - both male and female - are very sincere and calm. They treat tourists and travelers normally, they don’t chase women in trousers, and neither do people with cameras. There is an adequate understanding of its own historical significance and attractiveness for people. In general, it would be like this everywhere. I walked here with a calm soul and heart. This is probably exactly what visiting monasteries should be like.
The Assumption Monastery is much larger than Nikolsky. Large green area. Flowers and animal figures are everywhere. Caring female hands are visible in everything.

The exact date of foundation of the Assumption Monastery is not known. The time period when this possibly happened is determined by historians as follows: 1040-1116. Someone says 1156
This monastery is the second one I know of (the first is) where famous Russian women and aristocrats lived. The first wife of Peter I, Evdokia Lopukhina, was forcibly exiled here (and initially she was in the Suzdal Intercession Monastery). She lived here for a short time and died at the age of 23, forced into marriage, but as a result disliked by 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 is Assumption Church. It was built simultaneously with the Staraya Ladoga fortress in 1114-1116. The round date of 1000 years is just around the corner!

The interior of the temple is quite modest.

In 2013, a cross was installed in the Assumption Monastery. On the cross it is written:

This holy life-giving Cross of the Lord was built in memory of the cross of 1688 on August 5, erected by the sovereign's people Zheltukhin Vasily Simonovich and his son Mikhail Vasilyevich...

Abbot's Corps (1880).

Chapel over the well of St. Barbara (2008-2011, pictured on the right), Hospital building with the house church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (1861-1862, pictured on the left). Between them is the cell building (1859).

After the Assumption Monastery, we went to see another attraction of Staraya Ladoga - Church of St. John the Baptist on Malysheva Mountain(1695). This is the only thing left of the Ivanovo Monastery, founded on this place in 1276. If you go down the path, you can get to the source and the font.

But we didn't have time for this. We looked at the temple and went further - to Novaya Ladoga.

Novaya Ladoga

From Staraya Ladoga to Novaya Ladoga it’s just a stone’s throw away. Only 12 kilometers drive. Before they had time to 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 came here to see them. We didn’t see everything, of course, but we took in the city as a whole, walked around it, and 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 operational, 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 Clement Church stands the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands. When I passed by it (1763 - 1767), looked at it and took photographs, a woman with a child came up to me and said: “This church is unusual. Do you know about this?”

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 appeared again.

The church as a whole is very poor condition. I found this 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 rivermen of the northwestern river shipping company, who guarded the water route of the “Road of Life” and provided transport links between besieged Leningrad and the country.

There are two vessels at the memorial - the minesweeper "TShch-100"

and the motor ship "Kharkov". Both are actively climbed by children and even adults.

And there is grace all around!!!

Gostiny Dvor ( Shopping arcades). At the top is the inscription “Manufactured Goods” - a real artifact of almost half a century ago. A miracle preserved in the outback!

What do you think of the Manufactured Goods store, built in 1956? Also a miracle! This is what it is, Novaya Ladoga. Some kind of solid artifact.

Literally 3 kilometers from Novaya Ladoga (towards Staro Ladoga) there is the village of Yushkovo.

There is a fish shop right next to the road. I knew about this tent. That's why we came here deliberately. We bought cold smoked bream - 125 rubles. fish and dried roach for 30 rubles. The bream was good! In general, the selection of delicacies here is impressive - several types of fresh and smoked fish (hot and cold smoked), caviar, etc. Don't pass by!