Kizhi

Kizhi Island, which is located in Karelia, is famous for its ensemble of unique wooden cultural monuments. An open-air museum reserve was founded here in 1960, which is now known all over the world. This island is a territory on Lake Onega, 5.5 km long and 800 meters wide, where ancient objects are located.

The museum is included in the lists of particularly important cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. Kizhi Island also has its own rich history. According to one of the legends, the name Kizhi comes from "kizat" which means "games". In ancient times, a pagan sanctuary was located here, where sacrifices were held, which were accompanied by dances and songs corresponding to the ritual. Another legend tells us that Kizhi means "water moss", which is common in the swamps in the center of the island. It used to be a valuable product, as people used these mosses to insulate their homes.

The most important object of the Kizhi Museum is the Church of the Transfiguration, which, according to legend, was designed by Peter the Great himself. It has a very complex design, which is why it differs from other cultural memorabilia on this island. This twenty-two-domed church was built entirely from wood back in 1714. Near it is the winter church of the Intercession of the Virgin, which is nine-domed. In 1862, a tent-shaped bell tower was also erected here. Very interesting are the local peasant huts, which will be united by one roof with the economic part, as well as their interior. The most famous are the houses of Oshevnev and Elizarov. The oldest building on this territory is Lazarevskaya Church, which used to be located in the Murmansk monastery. No less famous is the Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel, which creates a wide variety of types of chimes. There are also household buildings, which include wind and water mills, a sauna, and a barn.

Walking through the museum, you can learn different types of crafts. Traditional work is carried out simply in front of tourists: agriculture (tillage, sowing, demonstrative harvesting, as well as threshing), crafts practiced by men (wood carving, birch bark weaving), women's activities (various types of embroidery, spinning, sewing). At the same time, all museum employees are dressed in peasant outfits and use exclusively antique tools.

A trip to Kizhi Island will bring you even more pleasure if it coincides with local celebrations, among which the Day of the Kizhi Parish is the main one. On this day, you can wholeheartedly enjoy the festive atmosphere, participate in various competitions, and witness various kinds of traditions.

You can only move around the island on foot, so it would be nice to have comfortable shoes. There are no hotels here, but you can stay in guest houses that are located near the Kizhi skerries.