Culture of Karelia and walks in Petrozavodsk

The Olonets National Museum of Karelian Livviks is probably one of the best places to learn all the details of cultural, spiritual and everyday life of one of the largest Karelian subethnoses - Livviks. Its collection numbers several thousands of ethnographic monuments and exhibits that reveal the peculiarities of a very different culture of this people. Opening hours of the museum:Friday: Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. Monday - Friday: 10:00 - 17:00 Sunday: 11:00 - 15:00 Saturday: not working

The road to Petrozavodsk is quite long, so we can make a small stop to have a walk and enjoy the 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.

Onega Tractor Plant Park is another "Pit" and one of the coziest places in the town. A long staircase leads to the park in the floodplain of the Lososinka river - you can hardly hear street noise below: only the murmuring river, giant trees and lots of ducks.
From here the history of Petrozavodsk begins. In the depth of the park hides a building of Onega tractor plant. It was built on the site of the very same armory, for which the city was founded.
Inside the former plant is now located a gallery of industrial history of Petrozavodsk. It is possible to touch exhibits here with hands - cannons and cannonballs of 18-19 centuries cost nothing! The entrance is free of charge. Museum is open every day except Mondays from 11:00 to 17:00.

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.

If you missed the Industrial History Gallery or have time left, hurry to the National Museum of Karelia. Museum is large: three floors with 22 halls tell the history of the region from primitive times and the Middle Ages to the era of the Tsar's factory and miners.
Visitors are especially impressed by the hall dedicated to Russian bylinas and the epic Kalevala, as well as the hall with national musical instruments (among them a kantele, reminiscent of Russian psaltery).
The second Sunday of each month is a day of free admission, and every Saturday there is free admission for families with many children.
Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm; 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 restaurant.

If after the rafting, walking around the city and a hearty dinner you still have strength, we recommend you to study the poster of Petrozavodsk events. The city is small, so make a discount - there is something interesting anyway! If you want to have a rest, then hurry up to pick up the car from the station and go to the hotel.