Republic of Karelia: Petroglyphs, Wooden Architecture and Kivach Waterfall

Kivach Waterfall lies on the Suna River in the central part of Karelia. It has a drop of 10.7 metres and, after the Rhine Falls, is Europe’s second-largest lowland waterfall. In Kivach Nature Reserve, an overview excursion combines an outdoor walk to the waterfall with a visit to the dendrological collection and the nature museum. This gives the nature experience several distinct facets: the waterfall, plants and museum are all part of the programme.

A 1,000-metre circular trail runs through a wooded area on the banks of the Suna, near the excursion zone. The excursion lasts one to one and a half hours, providing a specific time frame for this activity. The nature reserve publishes excursion information; check the conditions and booking arrangements with the operator in advance.

Wooden Architecture and Crafts on Kizhi

The Kizhi Museum Reserve displays 89 monuments of traditional wooden architecture in the open air. These include old chapels and houses, as well as mills, granaries, threshing barns and drying racks. The collection therefore features a variety of building types, each of which can be viewed as a distinct example during a walk around the site.

Visitors can see the interior of the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God and traditional farmhouses. Traditional peasant crafts are demonstrated inside the houses. Kizhi thus combines viewing the buildings outdoors with glimpses inside selected buildings and craft demonstrations. The Kizhi Pogost is an architectural ensemble featuring the world’s only multi-domed wooden Church of the Transfiguration. Anyone interested in traditional wooden architecture will find several specific points of interest here, from building types to crafts.

Petroglyphs: Motifs, Numbers and Locations

The UNESCO World Heritage site of the Onega and White Sea Petroglyphs comprises 4,500 Neolithic rock carvings in the Republic of Karelia. The Onega Petroglyphs include more than 1,200 figures in Pudozhsky District. Most are located on the three central capes of Pery Nos, Besov Nos and Kladovets.

The White Sea Petroglyphs mainly depict hunting and sailing scenes, along with related equipment. There are also animal and human footprints. These motifs are therefore not limited to individual figures: scenes and tracks are also part of the recorded imagery.

The Belomorsk Petroglyphs provide a specific location. They lie in the lower reaches of the Vyg, near its mouth at the White Sea, six to eight kilometres from Belomorsk, and comprise more than 2,000 different carvings. The numbers and motifs offer different ways to explore the rock art; the location details distinguish the Belomorsk group.

Forests, Hiking Trails and Other Nature Highlights

Kalevala National Park was established to protect a large area of natural forest in the Republic of Karelia. Vodlozersky National Park extends across the Republic of Karelia and Arkhangelsk Oblast and is one of the largest wilderness reserves in the world. The national park has hiking trails of varying difficulty.

Paanajärvi National Park lies in northwestern Karelia, in Louhi District. Its landscapes, rich variety of plant and animal life, unspoiled tranquillity and excellent fishing opportunities attract visitors. These offer different reasons to consider including the park in your travel plans: landscapes, wildlife viewing and fishing each provide a distinct focus.

Another landscape attraction is found at Ruskeala Mountain Park: the Marble Canyon is its centrepiece. Along with forest and park landscapes and cultural sites, this place represents another of the travel interests found in Karelia. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, your priorities can help guide your choice: wooden architecture, petroglyphs, a visit to a waterfall or experiences in nature each highlight a different side of the destination.

Discover more destinations: Velikaya Guba, Prionezhskiy rayon, Uzheselga, Sofporog, Kindasovo, Kotkozero, Ustye Tuloksy, Lososinnoye, Ruskeala, Pedaselga, Yalguba, Tiurula, Lakhkolampi, Pudosch, Mikli, Petrosawodsk, Suojarwi, Belomorsk, Uya, Kondopoga, Yashëzero, Medweschjegorsk, Prionezhsky Rajon, Suoyarvsky Rajon, Belomorsky Rajon, Kondopozhsky Rajon, Medvezhyegorsky Rajon, Gorod Sortavala, Pitkyarantsky District, Sortavala, Salmi, Spasskaya Guba, Shuyskaya Chupa, Lumivaara, Essoyla, Vilga, Wjartsilja, Yushkozero, Pitkjaranta, Konchezero, Kem, Tungozero, Kostomukscha, Yanishpole, Veshkelitsa, Otrakkala, Pryazha, Chalna, Kurkiyeki, Shyoltozero, Lachdenpochja, Pryazhinskiy rayon, Meyeri, Derevyannoye, Matrosy, Belomorskiy rayon, Medvezhyegorskiy rayon, Pudozhskiy rayon, Loukhskiy rayon, Kondopozhskiy rayon, Segezhsky District, Loukhsky District, gorod Sortavala, Olonetskiy rayon, Pitkyarantskiy rayon, Kuzaranda, Kalewala

For the main travel overview: Russia.