The Russian land is rich in unique monuments of history and architecture. But perhaps a very special place is occupied by a wonderful island located in the heart of the Russian North. The Kizhi Museum-Reserve of Russian Wooden Architecture is the largest open-air complex. Its center is the architectural ensemble that adorns the Kizhi Pogost.
Where is the Kizhi Museum Reserve?
This question is probably of interest to lovers of ancient wooden architecture. The historical and architectural museum-reserve "Kizhi" is located on the island of the same name seventy kilometers from Petrozavodsk - the capital of Karelia. This is one of the largest open-air museums in our country. Its area is more than ten thousand hectares. In Karelia it is one of the most visited places. Every year there are one hundred eighty thousand Russian and foreign tourists.
Nature
Nature lovers also come to these picturesque places. The island has surprisingly preserved a unique ecological complex, where a huge number of rare species of birds live. Today, an interesting ecological route has been developed here, the length of which is more than three kilometers. On its territory several platforms are equipped from which you can admire the amazing nature of Karelia. During the excursion, tourists can examine the traces of the glacier that descended here more than eleven thousand years ago, see the nesting places of marsh birds, and enjoy the low-key beauty of northern nature.
Museum of Wooden Architecture "Kizhi"
We are sure that people who have never been to Karelia will be amazed at the beauty and originality of these places. But first, let's clarify on which lake the Kizhi Museum is located. Onega is the second largest in Europe, second only to Ladoga. There are more than 1300 small islands, but among them a special place is the island of Kizhi. The building is located on it. Kizhi is a museum that has been formed for more than two and a half centuries. In terms of concentration of historical heritage sites, it is a unique territory that has no equal in the European north of our country.
The collection of architectural monuments collected here has 76 buildings. It consists of 82 historical monuments: there are 68 on the Kizhi island, 8 in its environs, and 6 in Petrozavodsk. The creation of the world-famous Kizhi museum reserve, whose photo can be seen in all advertising booklets of major travel agencies, began in 1966 from the Kizhi graveyard. By the way, today it is included in the UNESCO List. Over time, valuable exhibits appeared in the complex, which were collected in the villages of Karelia.
Museum Features
All the wooden buildings in Russia in ancient times were constructed using only one tool - an ax. However, to date, it should be recognized that there are practically no such buildings, since the masters use nails and other construction equipment during the restoration.
In fact, the whole island is a unique museum. The architectural monuments that the Kizhi Museum has are divided into three independent sectors. Their tourists visit more often than others. Magnificent monuments are located in historical villages and in the north of the island. Kizhi (museum) pays special attention to educational and enlightenment work. On the territory of the complex there is a lecture hall where you can learn a lot of interesting things from the history of the building.
Church of the Transfiguration
This is the object that everyone who comes to Kizhi Island is the first to see. The museum (or rather, its employees) is very proud of the stunning wooden structure - the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This amazing structure is a log house (octagonal) with four logs. Each of them is strictly oriented to the cardinal points. On the lower frame there are two more, much smaller in size.
The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord is the most famous exhibit of the complex. Historians believe that it was erected at the end of the XVI century. However, a severe fire almost destroyed her. The magnificent structure that we can see today was built in 1714. Its height is 37 meters. The church is crowned by 22 chapters of an original form, which give the structure a fabulous appearance.
The main element of the interior of the church is the iconostasis (four-tier), which consists of 102 icons.
Church of the Intercession
Another famous church that can be seen in all the photos of the Kizhi museum. This is the Church of the Protection of the Virgin. It was built at the end of the XVII century, but after some time (1764) it was rebuilt. The central part of the structure is an octagonal log cabin. Its roof is decorated with nine domes. The iconostasis of the church was restored during the restoration - in the fifties of the last century, since some of the original icons were lost.
Pokrovskaya church harmoniously echoes the Preobrazhenskaya architecture, complementing with its original view the panorama of the island. In the canopy there is a high porch, which is characteristic of most Russian northern churches. From here there is the opportunity to go to the temple building. In the Church of the Intercession you can attend a service, listen to the amazing songs of the monks and hear the unearthly chime of bells. Of particular interest are not only tourists but also experts. Basically, they were written by local residents. The domes of magnificent churches impress with their delicate work. Each of them consists of small parts - plowshares, cut manually from pine.
Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus
The Kizhi Museum-Reserve (photo you can see below) has more modest structures on its territory than, for example, the Transfiguration Church. At the Kizhi churchyard there is a modest ancient church of the Resurrection of Lazarus. This miniature structure as if symbolizes that grandiose path that cult architecture of Russia has overcome from its origins to unique works of wooden architecture dating back to the 17th-18th centuries.
Historians have studied the condition of wood and structural parts. They concluded that the building dates back to the 16th century. This is a fairly simple construction of the cage type. Such buildings have a four-walled frame: the so-called crate and a gable roof, which brings them together externally with a group of peasant buildings - from the bathhouse and barn to the hut. In 1961, the monument was reconstructed according to the project of architect A.V. Opolovnikov. The measurements made by Academician L.V. Dahl, preserved since 1876, were examined and used in detail. This allowed the restoration of the church with great accuracy.
Other buildings
"Kizhi" is a museum on the territory of which more than twenty peasant houses, several chapels, farm buildings: barns, baths, and rigs were transported. The interiors of the houses are equipped with tools, utensils, furniture, which were used in antiquity. More than five hundred icons stored here emphasize the originality of the northern tradition of icon painting.
Priceless collections
The Kizhi Museum is not only architectural monuments, but also the most valuable stock collections. This is a collection of various ethnographic subjects, handwritten and early printed books, paintings, photographs and drawings. A variety of funds allows the museum to have both a main exhibition and temporary exhibitions.
Funds are divided into several departments:
- Orthodox iconography. This is a collection of icons that are stored in chapels and temples, images that adorned the "red corners" in the homes of peasants.
- Decorative and applied area. Here are rich collections of weaving, murals, embroidery, wood carvings.
- Archival documents. Here are collected drawings of the architect Opoolnikov, who carried out restoration work.
The collections of this museum have preserved old postcards, united by Kizhi themes. A separate, no less valuable part of the fund is composed of photographs of local residents that were taken before 1940.
Restoration work
Since 1980, restoration work has been carried out on the territory of a unique complex under the scrutiny of UNESCO. The question before the experts was: “How was the wooden structure watered by rains and blown by northerly winds preserved since 1714?” Around the world, searches were made for technologies for processing and preserving wood without using chemical compounds. Unfortunately, nothing of the kind has been found in the world. Therefore, restorers had to turn to the experience of the ancestors who created these works of art. Today, the great-grandchildren of northern architects, carpenters and woodworkers in more than one generation work here.
The uniqueness of the work is also due to the fact that the pines from which the churches were built were cut down in winter in severe frosts and only with axes. Experts believe that in this case there is a natural conservation of resin. This allowed the wood to survive for several centuries. Such trunks withstood eight years, only after that they could be used in construction.
It is believed that the period from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century became in these regions a “ice age”. And the year 1714 was the peak of the cold, so tree trunks have an amazingly high density of rings.
Mode of operation
The Kizhi Museum can be visited at any time of the year. In winter, visitors are welcome here from 10.00 to 16.00, in the summer - from 8.00 to 20.00. The island can be reached at any time from the capital of Karelia, Petrozavodsk. The second path can be started in the village of Velikaya Guba (Medvezhyegorsk district). A visit to the island is often included in the program of excursions that depart from St. Petersburg.
During shipping, regular flights depart from the Petrozavodsk Water Station. The journey takes one hour and fifteen minutes. Private carriers can take you from the Great Lip to the island. Fans of extreme sports in winter can get here by skiing or dog sledding. In summer, tourists can be delivered by helicopter. There are no hotels on the island. And the neighboring ones have the opportunity to settle in guest houses for several days. You can book places in advance.
Travel Tips
Everyone who wants to see the unique Kizhi complex - the museum - should know that certain rules must be observed here. Firstly, the inspection of the monument is accompanied by an employee of the excursion department. Secondly, visiting the museum with pets is not allowed. Thirdly, tourist parking can be equipped at designated places. And the parking of any transport is agreed with the administration.