Pechengsky District: Nature, History, and Border Towns

In Pechengsky District, visitor attractions range from the Pasvik Nature Reserve on the Norwegian border to Yuri Gagarin’s history in Korzunovo. Other options include library walks and nature and history excursions in and around Nikel, museums, and the route of the Friendship Ski Race. The sites and activities have different visiting requirements: a permit is required for the protected area, while library walks must be booked in advance.

Pasvik Nature Reserve and Nature Nearby

Pasvik Nature Reserve is located in Pechengsky District on the border with Norway and is considered a protected area of special ecological interest. A permit is required to visit the reserve because it is located in a border zone. Check the current procedures with the reserve before your trip.

The reserve’s visitor center is outside the border zone. It houses a permanent exhibition on the history and nature of the protected area. To visit the center, arrange an appointment by calling +7 815 54 50 700.

A waterfall on the Shuoni River is located near Nikel. The Pechenga Library Organization also offers excursions to natural landmarks in the surrounding area, including a cedar grove and a waterfall on the Shuoniyoki River. These excursions require a bus and must be booked in advance.

Walks and Excursions Around Nikel

The central library offers walks through Nikel accompanied by a librarian. They must be booked in advance. This allows a walk around town to be planned as a separate offering, rather than confused with nature excursions farther afield.

The central children’s library offers nature and history excursions along the streets of Nikel, both in person and online. These nature- and history-focused experiences complement the guided walks around town. If you want to fit a particular offering into your travel dates, check with the library and book in advance.

Gagarin, Museums, and Regional History

In the late 1950s, Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin, the first human in space, served in the town of Korzunovo. The Gagarin Museum in Korzunovo displays the cosmonaut’s personal belongings and “space gifts” from Star City. The museum focuses both on Gagarin’s time in the town and on the items on display. Check the current visiting arrangements before your visit.

The local history museum in Nikel presents the history of the Sámi, Vikings, and Russian Pomors in the region. Its themes therefore differ from those of the Gagarin Museum: here the focus is on several historical communities of the region, while the other museum focuses on the cosmonaut’s belongings. Check the current visiting arrangements in advance for both museums.

The Church of Saints Boris and Gleb stands near the town of Borisoglebsky, on the border with Norway. It was built in 1565 on the left bank of the Paz River. If you would like to visit the church, check access arrangements in advance.

Another historical context is the Petsamo–Kirkenes Front: the fighting ended in October 1944 with the liberation of the Pechenga area and the eastern parts of Norway’s Finnmark province.

Cross-Border Route and Notable Records

The Friendship Ski Race is a landmark event in Pechengsky District. Its route crosses the borders of three countries. If you want to include the race in your travel plans, check in advance whether its date fits your travel dates.

Another notable record associated with the district is the Kola Superdeep Borehole: it is located in Pechengsky District, is 12,262 meters deep, and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s deepest borehole.

Discover more destinations: Nikel, Tersky District, Murmansk, Severomorsk, Monchegorsk, Tersky District, Kolsky District, Olenegorsk.

For the regional travel overview: Murmansk Oblast.