Is it nice, clear weather out there? It's time to leave the big city and go in search of adventure! We have come up with a great itinerary that will give you the opportunity to remember the history of these places, see the interweaving of different cultures in the incredible scenery of local nature and bring home the most valuable things that beauty Karelia has to offer. The route is developed with the support of [Volkswagen Amarok](https://www.volkswagen-commercial.ru/ru/model-overview/amarok.html?utm_source=Amarok&utm_medium=cpm&utm_content=Amarok&utm_campaign=LCV_Road_Travel&tc=oa-LCV_Road_Travel-Amarok-cpm-Keyword_Amarok-banner).
We will spend the first day of the trip actively. We plan a walk along the fortress of Oreshek, a hearty lunch in the ancient city of Russia, a tour of the ancient monastery on the banks of the river Oyat and horseback riding. And at the end of the day it is planned to visit a real Russian bath.
Oreshek Fortress was built in the XIV century at the source of the Neva River from Lake Ladoga. The fortress got its name thanks to the Nut Island, where it appeared. During the Great Patriotic War, the fortress was seriously damaged: a memorial complex opened in 1985 is dedicated to the heroic defenders of the fortress. You can get to the island only by water: [three motor ships](https://xn-----6kcabjtaga9c5apecoci7m.xn--p1ai/) depart from the pier every 10-15 minutes. On weekdays the ship goes from 10:00 to 18:00 (on weekends and holidays - until 19:00). In October the schedule is reduced by one hour. The cost of round-trip crossing is 300 rubles (there are discounts for children, students and pensioners). Entrance to [museum](https://www.spbmuseum.ru/themuseum/museum_complex/oreshek_fortress/) is paid separately and costs 250 rubles.
Lunch at the café ["Ancient Ladoga"](https://vk.com/drevnyayaladoga). This is a cozy place with a Russian stove and moderate prices. The name of cafe has received in honor of a city with the same name which, by estimations of scientists, is the most ancient city of Russia.
Look in Vvedeno-Ojatsky female [monastery](http://oyatsky.ru/posetitelyam.html) where relics of parents of orthodox saint Alexander Svirsky rest. The monastery is not so large, as other known temples, but here it is rather small and very pleasant to have a rest with soul. You can visit the monastery with a tour, which should be coordinated at least a week with the administration.
Tonight, let's look at the base ["Old Sloboda"](http://stsloboda.ru/). This place is a real gift for lovers of nature, silence and home comfort. Russian bath with birch and juniper brooms will help to forget all sorrows and relax tense muscles while walking. On the territory of the complex there is an equestrian club, which offers walks in the fields, riding in the crew and individual riding lessons (you need to register in advance anyway). If not horses, then bikes, board games and billiards. You can also have dinner here: at the base there is a beautiful restaurant that serves Russian and European cuisine, as well as authorial treats from the chef for real gourmets.
Our morning today will begin with a small excursion in one of the most significant and interesting museums of Karelia. Then we will go to the capital of the republic and in the afternoon we will walk its streets. Wonderful city on the shore of Lake Onega always leaves a lot of positive impressions in the minds and hearts of tourists.
Olonets National Museum of Karelian Livviks is probably one of the best places where you can learn all the details of cultural, spiritual and everyday life of one of the largest Karelian subethnoses - Livviks. Its collection includes several thousand ethnographic monuments and exhibits that reveal the peculiarities of a very different culture of this people.
The road to Petrozavodsk is quite long, so we can make a small stop for a walk and get some fresh air among the coniferous forest near one of the picturesque Karelian lakes.
For lunch we will stay in one of the cozy cafes in the southern part of town. A variety of European and traditional national dishes are prepared here, there is a play area for children, as well as parking right in front of the building. The café's visiting card is its cocktail menu.
Turn on Student Boulevard. You'll immediately see the Molecula Fountain here. - one of the symbols of the city. Across the street is the main Karelian university - Petrozavodsk State University, so students always rest on benches around the unusual sculpture. The boulevard leads to the Park on the 50th anniversary of the Pioneer Organization, which locals call "Yamka". They call it this way because it is located in a lowland, in the floodplain of a river (by the way, there is another park with such a popular name in the city - about it a little later). There are a lot of trees in the park, fat ducks live in the Neglinka River, lovers are photographed on openwork bridges. The park is small and can be accessed in half an hour: beautiful sculptures and historical memorials stand along the paths.
On Krasnaya Street, flowing into Eremeeva Street, we will reach the embankment. It is considered the main sight of Petrozavodsk. In the white nights the quay does not sleep all day long: residents and tourists walk here, musicians perform and artists create. The embankment is famous for unusual sculptures presented to Petrozavodsk by twin cities in different years. It turned out to be a kind of open-air museum. If you stand facing the lake, on the left side of the Rotunda you will find a quarter of historic buildings. You can walk there and look at pretty wooden houses, although the area is clearly in need of reconstruction.
Kirov Square, which leads from Onega embankment, is considered the cultural heart of the city. There are three theaters - Musical, National and Puppet Theater, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts.
The park of Onega Tractor Plant is another "Yamka" and one of the coziest places in the city. A long staircase leads to the park in the floodplain of the Lososinka River - below you can hardly hear the noise of the street: only the murmuring river, giant trees and many ducks. This is where the history of Petrozavodsk begins. In the depths of the park there are buildings of Onega Tractor Plant hiding. It was erected on the place of that very gun factory, for which the city was founded. The Gallery of Petrozavodsk industrial history is now located inside the former plant. The exhibits can be touched with your hands - what are the cannons and cores of 18-19 centuries worth! Entrance is free. [Museum]( https://vk.com/techmuseum) is open every day except Monday, from 11:00 to 17:00.
If you missed the Gallery of Industrial History or have some time left, hurry to the National Museum of Karelia. [Museum](http://kgkm.karelia.ru/site/) Large: three floors with 22 halls tell the history of the region from primitive times and the Middle Ages to the era of the royal factory and the miners. The guests are particularly impressed by the hall dedicated to Russian Bylinas and the Kalevala era, as well as the hall with national musical instruments (among them a cantel reminiscent of Russian gusli). Entrance ticket costs 300 rubles. The second Sunday of each month is the day of free visits, and every Saturday - free entrance for large families. Work schedule: Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00; Wednesday, 10:00 to 8:00 p.m; Monday is a day off.
It's time for dinner. Not far from the museum and Lenin Square there is an excellent restaurant "Karelian Gornitsa" - according to the creators' assurances, the first and only restaurant of traditional Karelian cuisine in the world. What's not on the menu is moose soup, deer loin, bearberry with onions and rosemary. Desserts deserve a special mention: Karelian mannik and cloudberry with sugar should be on your table for sure! The place is popular, so the table needs to be booked in advance. Look for contacts [online](https://gornica.ru/) restaurant.
Today you have a long way home and a lot of interesting things to do on your way. We will visit the beautiful town of Lodeinoe Polje, visit two museums dedicated to the events of World War II, have lunch in an authentic farm restaurant. It's not even a shame to get up early for that!
The town with a population of 18 thousand people was founded back in 1702 by order of Peter the Great, who launched the construction of a shipyard on Sviri. You can walk along the embankment decorated with various monuments, visit local temples, as well as look into the Park of Svirskaya Victory, where there is a small museum of local history.
You can have lunch at the village restaurant "Farmer". Pavilions with benches in the open air, wood-dominated interiors - the place can be noted at least for the cozy atmosphere. The menu includes a lot of interesting dishes: dumplings and cutlets from bear meat, meatballs from moose, boar chop. The drinks include homemade compote and morses made of cowberry collected in the surrounding forests.
Located 90 km from St. Petersburg, the village of Kobona was the final stage of the Road of Life, which saved hundreds of thousands of Leningrad citizens. Visitors to [the museum](https://vk.com/kobona_museum) will learn about the construction and operation of the Road and those who provided the work of this most important object during the war. The excursion takes place as an audio spectacle: the spectators sit down on benches in the body of a truck that has become a symbol of the Road, audio installation sounds, lights are lit and the light in shop windows goes out. An important place that is worth visiting for everyone. Mode of operation: Wednesday - Sunday: 10:00-18:00; Monday to Tuesday: weekends.
Visit the museum-reserve "Breakthrough of the Siege of Leningrad". [It](https://vk.com/proryv_blokady_leningrada) was created in 1990 on the basis of the museum-diorama and memorial places of the Great Patriotic War in the Southern Ladoga region. The area of 200 hectares contains an exposition, which tells in detail about the blockade of Leningrad and the liberation of it from the German invaders. [Museum](http://lenoblmus.ru/museum/muzey_zapovednik_proryv_blokady_leningrada/) is built on the principle of protection zones with the memorials of the Nevsky Patch, Sinyavinskie Heights, etc. The museum is located on the territory of Leningrad. The diorama and panorama work from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00 (till 17.30). The weekend is Monday. Tours on the diorama: 10.00; 11.00; 12.00; 13.00; 14.00; 15.00; 16.00; 17.00. Excursions on the "Breakthrough" panorama start every half hour (entrance only with a guide).
You can have dinner in Shlisselburg at ["Noteburg"](https://vk.com/noteburg_restoran). The restaurant offers a wide range of European and Japanese delicacies, as well as dishes prepared on open fire. Homemade bread and homemade desserts can also be found on the menu. A variety of entertainment programmes and live music complete the atmosphere. The perfect end to a great trip!