Quarry marble "Ruskeala". Mountain park "Ruskeala". Marble quarry, Karelia. Ruskeala marble quarry

Breaking into the air is useful at any time of the year, and it is not necessary to take a vacation for this. In relative proximity to the city, there are enough places where you can spend a weekend: relax in nature, visit the local arboretum and go down into the adit of an old marble quarry, the stones of which are almost two billion years old. Or take a short trip on the water to the island of Valaam, when the weather permits. The Village continues the "Weekend Route" section - we choose one direction, the end point on it and interesting stops along the way.

The natural park "Ruskeala" seemed to have been created for a relaxing holiday and walks along steep stone slopes, although it appeared as a result of the development of a valuable stone. Isaac's and Kazan's cathedrals, the Hermitage and the Mikhailovsky castle are decorated with local marble. If you have enough time, visit Priozersk and Sortavala, small towns in the bays of Lake Ladoga. Very close is the Russian-Finnish border, from which you can continue the journey to the lake part of Suomi. In recent years, many of our compatriots have appeared here, who add Ruskeala to the trip to Valaam.

How to get there

By bus from the bus station to Sortavala
(they go twice a day, 500 rubles), by minibus - about a thousand rubles.

By train- from Finland Station. From Sortavala on a ride or taxi to Ruskeala (37 kilometers, about 20–30 minutes).

By car along the Priozersky highway (A129
to Priozersk, then Sortavala and up (A130)
to Ruskeala. The journey will take 4-5 hours.

Ruskeala park and surroundings

1. Saint Petersburg 2. Priozersk 3. Sortavala 4. Ruskeala
5. Balaam 6. Finland

rubles- entrance to the park "Ruskeala"

kilometers- length of Tohmajoki waterfall

rubles- the cost of a set lunch
at the local Lutheran parish

years-approximate age of Ruskeala stones

meters- the length of the Ruskeala quarry

kilometers- distance from Ruskeala to the border
with Finland

Priozersk

A small settlement on Vuoksa and Lake Ladoga was first mentioned in chronicles in 1295. The city was called Kexholm for some time, and got its current name after World War II. If you are driving, then look into the ruins of the Korela fortress, see the Lutheran church (it was built by the Finnish architect Armas Lindgren) and walk to the monument to Mowgli - this is the only monument to the character of Rudyard Kipling in Russia.

Sortavala

Immediately after Priozersk, the quality of the coating deteriorates sharply. The track, which runs through the forest, winds, and outwardly looks like a washboard. Motorists, get ready to drive at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour and remember the domestic road services with a kind word. By the way, the new highway Petersburg - Sortavala is under construction, it will be ready by 2016. The question of what will help her not turn into the same washboard remains open.

The city of Sortavala, like most of the border settlements, has a difficult fate. Built at the beginning of the century by leading Finnish architects (Uno Werner Ulberg, Gottlieb Eliel Saarinen, Johan Jakob Arenberg), the center of Sortavala has survived to this day, despite the bombings in 1939-1940. At that time, almost all the indigenous Finnish population of the city left these lands, and after the war, the Soviet authorities decided to resettle evacuated people from the Vologda region here.

Clockwise: embankment of Sortavala, Korela fortress, embankment in Priozersk

In addition to northern modern architecture, the city has the Museum of the Northern Ladoga Region, where thousands of household items of the indigenous population of Karelia are collected. Eight kilometers from the city there is a local arboretum and cottage village "Dacha Winter". Renting a six-bed house in the off-season costs from 5,900 to 10,000 rubles.

It is worth staying in Sortavala if there is enough time and there is no hurry. If hot dogs and chocolates at gas stations took too many minutes of the trip, immediately go to Ruskeala.

Ruskeala

The road from Sortavala to Ruskeala takes 15-30 minutes, you can get there by one of the inexpensive taxis (the numbers are pasted on trees and lampposts). Or catch a car for 200-300 rubles. The bus to Ruskeala runs twice a day, its final stop is the town of Vyartsilya.

It is worth starting the tour from the waterfalls, which are located four kilometers from Ruskeala. At the Ahvenkoski waterfall, which can be seen from the road even in the cold season, shots from the movie “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” were filmed. It is now impossible to get to the dilapidated Finnish hydroelectric power station, it is being repaired, but walking through a snow-covered pine forest is always a pleasure for a city dweller who opens Facebook and mail 45 times a day.

Moving higher, on the left side of the road you will get to the center of Ruskeala village. Here is the most popular recreation center of the same name (2,500 rubles for two guests, 5,600 for eight). However, in Ruskeala you can rent a house and not at the camp site, as all the surfaces in the city say.

One of the local attractions, the Lutheran parish, looks very deplorable. The building was built in 1834, but it was allegedly burned down in 1940, and is now being restored with donations from the Finns. The latter have long chosen these places for retrotourism, almost all prices are indicated both in euros and in rubles. In Sortaval and Ruskeala there are many inscriptions and signs in Finnish, the local population is mostly fluent in two languages.

Recreation center "Ruskeala"

2 500 rubles for two guests 5 600 rubles for eight

Clockwise: Ruskeala quarry in winter, illumination of the quarry, quarry in autumn, exposition "Marble through time"

Pilgrims stop at the arrival, but the rooms are quite cozy and concise - apart from two beds and a bedside table, there is nothing there. If you're lucky, you'll get a ten-inch three-channel TV. But guests can use the sauna, the room rate (one thousand rubles) includes breakfast. If you want to cook yourself, then use the barbecue in the backyard or the local kitchen, the entrance to which is also open to guests. One thing - the place is intended for families, so making noise after 22 pm is strictly prohibited.

Even if there is no desire to stay in the parish, anyone can have lunch or dinner in the fireplace room. For 100 rubles you get tea and coffee according to the free refill system, assorted buns. And for 300 rubles they offer a real buffet. Soup, second course, appetizers, fruit drink, kvass and hot drinks are included. You can arrange a stay in the Ruskeala Church in advance by calling (814) 30-33-268 and 8 (921) 467-63-20.

After lunch, go to see the marble quarry. This is an artificial lake surrounded by sheer stone walls. Marble production began here under Catherine II. When the Finns left here for the last time, they cunningly connected the quarry with the Tohmajoki River, and its impressive area was flooded.

In winter, right at the entrance to the park, you can ride a husky sled for a thousand rubles, 2.5 kilometers to Lake Svetloe and back. Dogs are very sociable, and no one forbids petting them. In the summer it is allowed to swim in the lake itself and put up a tent on the shore. So it's up to you - go down, rent a boat, look at the quarry from the water and swim into one of several caves. Souvenirs are also sold at the entrance to Ruskeala, where you can find a couple of pretty ones out of hundreds of magnets with brownies, Russian women and birches. The entrance to the park formally costs 150 rubles, but no one checks this. But at the reception they give a map where two routes are indicated: a short one for 1.5 kilometers and a long one for 2.5 kilometers.

Lutheran church parish

1000 rubles from a person. Barbecue in the backyard and the ability to use the kitchen.

100 rubles- tea
and free refill coffee, assorted buns.

300 rubles- a real buffet.

Along the quarry there are about ten viewing platforms with benches - this is a great place for a picnic, so stock up on food. By the way, from six o'clock in the evening on Saturdays and Sundays, Ruskeala employees turn on artificial lighting around the perimeter of the quarry, so it makes sense to walk until the evening.

If you are moving along a long route, you will definitely stumble upon a cave-failure, where in winter you can go down and go skating for the same thousand rubles (they are rented on the spot). In the evening, the artificial grotto is illuminated with candles.

Finally, the last point in the long route along Ruskeala is the exhibition "Stone through Time", where blocks of marble stone under two billion years old are conveniently located for inspection.

In the Republic of Karelia, the most picturesque and unique park complex "Ruskeala" is located. Its main feature is an extensive quarry with numerous dissected complexes of white marble. This unusual mineral was actively used in the decoration of the most famous architectural buildings of the city on the Neva. Even in the St. Petersburg metro you can find this rare and unusual stone. Many underground mines of the quarry were flooded after the Great Patriotic War, but today it has been completely restored and is the main attraction of Karelian nature. You can see it in the photo in the article.

In the meridional direction, the quarry extends for more than 480 meters, representing a closed horizontal surface. During perestroika, marble of different colors and shades was mined here. Underwater cliffs, slightly peeking out, create an original rainbow pattern to this place. An interesting place to visit in Karelia.

Many of the visitors during a boat tour at the base of the marble quarry witness unusual color overflows, creating the impression of a fairy tale. The lower part of the quarry is dotted with grottoes, where you can enjoy the mother-of-pearl pattern of vaulted arched ceilings. Boat trips are one of the most popular excursions for arriving tourists. But not only water adventures may interest the traveler.

Hiking in the forest

A walk through the southern taiga forest will saturate you with magical aromas and bright colors of northern nature. The most beautiful places are equipped with viewing platforms. It is worth noting that staying inside adits is a dangerous occupation. But an experienced guide will help you understand the unusual web of underground passages.

A remarkable feature of these places is the temperature air gradient - the internal cold does not allow outside air to penetrate here. The main grotto of the inner lake is called "musical" due to its "extraordinary" abilities. The winter park resembles a fabulous medieval ice castle. Of particular importance are the waterfalls of the mountain park. The total length of the hydrographic network of the water area is more than 40 kilometers. They meet a large number of thresholds of different steepness.

How to get there

You can come to Ruskeala by train from St. Petersburg. You can also use a private car or a regular bus. Believe me - the ancient Karelian marble quarry with numerous underground passages will not leave anyone indifferent! Enjoy your holiday and unforgettable feelings.

I have always associated Karelia with unusually beautiful wildlife and mysterious silence, but only in the summer of 2015 I decided to open the veil and finally see it with my own eyes. Of course, I did not set a goal to travel around all the wonders of the Republic, but set quite feasible tasks. So, a weekend in Karelia with a visit to the Ruskeala waterfalls and the Marble Canyon promised to be memorable…

Holidays in Karelia in the summer on your own:

We decided to celebrate the Day of Russia over a fragrant barbecue in the vastness of the Karelian Republic, but it’s better to start my story from the beginning. To travel to the Marble Canyon, it is becoming popular to use the services of travel agencies, but in fact, intermediaries are not needed to visit these marvelous places. There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is that by setting off on your own, you yourself will set the pace of your journey, and not adapt to the schedule imposed by limited time and the chosen route. In less than a full day, we saw the maximum and not only saw it, but more on that later. Numerous photos cannot truly convey the beauty of these places, so read carefully, look at the photos, enjoy the video and be sure to start planning your trip to the expanses of Karelia!

Rest in Karelia in summer:

By two cars we set off from St. Petersburg at 10 am.

We drove for about five and a half hours, as it was impossible to overcome the ring road without traffic jams ...

Sosnovo, Losevo, Priozersk and Karelian Sortavala lay on our route.

Ruskeala on the map of Karelia:

Ruskeala is located to the north of Sortavala and almost parallel to Petrozavodsk.

To Karelia by car reviews:

What can I say about the trip itself. Ring Road - get ready for traffic jams and visit the toilet in advance. Even before Priozersk, you need to refuel your car, since Karelia, of course, has gas stations, but they are already very far away, as far as in Sortaval ... The road behind Priozersk, or rather behind the fork with the village of Kuznechnoye, presents unexpected surprises: a section of the road that is not covered with asphalt begins with a very uneven surface. At times it resembles a washboard, at times races in the desert on dunes, as the car in front raises such clouds of dust that it is simply impossible to drive. A thick curtain of dust like dense fog reduces visibility to a few meters. There will be several such sections of the road to Sortavala, or rather three, and it will not be possible to drive quickly on each of them. Although there are lovers to drive and even on sections of the road where the limit of 40 km / h overtake you by eighty and absolutely deprive you of all visibility in front of you. Sharp frequent turns are very reminiscent of the serpentine in the Krasnodar Territory, the only plus is the absence of cliffs along the edges of the road.

We made a stop in the city of Sortavala, bought some Karelian balsam and set off on an adventure.

Karelia Ruskeala Marble quarry and waterfalls

The famous waterfalls of Ruskeala were the first object for inspection on our way. They are famous especially thanks to the filming of the film "The Dawns Here Are Quiet". The action of the film takes place several times near these same waterfalls, the bathing scene in front of the Germans Zhenya Komelkova is especially famous.

Since then, of course, a lot has changed, but not the beauty of nature and not the stream of cold water descending in stormy streams. Pulling off the road, you find a small parking lot ahead, honey merchants on the right, and gazebos for lunch on the left. It smells of barbecue and it is here that you begin to realize that you have come to relax and enjoy the beauty of Karelia.

We were also tired from the long journey and decided to have a bite to eat before the start of the tour. There were no more places left in the gazebos, so we took wooden benches near a flat stone resembling a table.

So, the food is over and we finally moved to the waterfall. ..

From the side of the road, the view is not impressive, therefore, in order to find yourself in the thick of things, you should go to the opposite side and look at the waterfall up close. In May 2015, the territory near the Ruskeala waterfall was ennobled by building bizarre bridges and decorating funny stumps in fairy-tale characters, in the photos below you will see for yourself. What is most interesting, the entrance to the territory, despite the attractiveness for tourists, is still free. Although, I will tell a funny story related to this fact. In early May 2015, the construction of bizarre objects was coming to an end, and when a beautiful booth was built on the territory (pictured below), resembling a cash register, the builders were not at a loss and did not hesitate to charge an entrance fee of 100 rubles from law-abiding persons as part of bus tours. It was very Russian))) Of course, not everyone paid, on the contrary, few people, but the experiment was a success anyway.

So the entrance

Although, a little more of your attention. As you can see in the photo to the right of the entrance there is a wooden building, so this is a souvenir shop where you can buy wooden souvenirs (spoons, hot coasters, other kitchen utensils) and many magnets and other handicrafts that can be useful in everyday life or hang on the wall as a souvenir. The cost of the magnet is from 150 rubles.

We enter the territory:

Coins are put in the hollow to Baba Yaga and make a wish:

Ruskeala waterfalls photo:

Children really like the walk, because looking under almost any bush or behind a stone you find amazing fairy-tale scenery there:

Bunnies collect cones:

Under the bridge, a stump is sad, to which no one is in a hurry to approach, since it is dirty and wet in the lowland (

Another intricately colored stump:

Ruskeala waterfalls Marble Canyon:

The tree is already desperate to acquire a bark, as everyone hugs it and deprives it of the latter.

And here is a photo of the beach on which Zhenya Komelkova in the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” swam in cold water, driving German soldiers away from their positions:

It took us about 40 minutes to inspect the waterfalls, with lunch we got an hour. If you want to take a longer walk or eat more, then count your time, because the most interesting is yet to come ...

Ruskeala marble canyon how to get there

Still by car, we go further and ahead of us is the most interesting.

The parking lot at the Marble Canyon is large, so after choosing a place, we go along the souvenir rows to the ticket offices.

Ruskeala mountain park prices

The entrance costs 150 rubles, and as confirmation that it is paid for, you get an orange paper bracelet that you can stick on your hand and on your bag, so long as the guard at the entrance determines that you have it.

ADVICE: you can ride a boat in the company of up to four people for an hour for 400 rubles, but there are only 9 boats, you can’t book them on time, and there are a lot of people who want to, therefore, in order not to stand in line for 2-3 hours, we recommend that you first take a queue and then go for a walk in the park!

I won't talk much about the historical significance of this place and how many magnificent creations known to the whole world are built from the marble quarried from this quarry, I just suggest that you enjoy the photos, video and the story of the visit, and for a more in-depth study, hire guide or read a lot of interesting things about Marble Canyon on the Internet.

Ruskeala Marble Canyon photo:

Cables are stretched across the canyon, and extreme sportsmen rush along them, crossing it along almost completely through the air. We will definitely return to this issue and show you a high-quality video with magnificent landscapes filmed right on the move, but for now we are moving along the right side of the canyon:

In the 2000s, attention was paid to the forgotten and abandoned part of Karelia, and since 2005 excursions have been organized here, and now an amazing transformation has taken place and an unusual landscape has appeared before enthusiastic tourists:

Currently, only a small part of the marble quarry is used for marble extraction.

Three quarries were formed along the river, in which marble was actively mined in an open way.

The trails are multi-level

View from above:

Bottom view:

Active holidays in Karelia in summer:

Unreal views on extreme entertainment:

The bungee costs 1,000 rubles, and for an additional 500 rubles you will be equipped with a camera and a 2 GB micro SD card will be left as a keepsake with a recording of your flight:

Not everyone reaches the end, for example, the girl in the photo below had to be dragged to the end of the route, as she stopped 50 meters from the finish line.

And here is what the finish looks like:

The men stayed on the bungee, the women went to explore the second part of the route:

Ruskeala failure:

I heard that in the summer, ice skating is offered as an entertainment:

The booth presents interesting unusual pictures of the Ruskeala sinkhole:

Kupchino (district of St. Petersburg):

The first marble deposit in Ruskeala was discovered in 1766. The quarried marble was of different colors: white-gray-blue, ash gray, gray-green and white with gray veins. To develop a quarry not for building lime, but on a full scale began after the order of Empress Catherine II. St. Isaac's Cathedral became the crown of creation in the Northern Capital of Russia from Ruskeala marble. After its construction, the extraction of marble in these parts began to come to naught.

Italian Quarry:

Toward the end of the route - the most extreme:

And here is what the jump looks like in the video:

Without leaving the park, you can get souvenirs:

Prices are moderate, but not low, for example, a magnet or a souvenir for good luck will cost from 200 rubles.

Having finished with a walk and souvenirs, we went to the pier:

In the photo above, a raft is floating behind my back, which can be rented by a company for 4,000 rubles for an hour, but I do not advise you to do this, because then you will not be able to do it like we did.

We waited in a queue for the vacant boat already at seven o'clock in the evening, the guard gave us a ticket, according to which a check is issued at the box office after payment and you give it back to the guard. For skiing, you will definitely be given a life jacket, which has another important function - it warms. And on the water, as you know, it is always colder than on land.

The transparency of the water reaches 15 meters in good weather, and the color changes from green to gray depending on the light and time of day.

Nest of seagulls and cubs:

Walking along the top you will not be able to see such landscapes: an unreal view from the grotto!

So, we rent a boat for 400 rubles for an hour, sail to the grottoes and ... Watch to the end!! At the end the most interesting!

As you can see, we waited for our boat)

At the beginning of the seventh, with a feeling of complete satisfaction, we got into the car and went to the place of our overnight stay - the Usadba Hotel, located in a place called Lyaskelya.

Here we were offered a spacious room for four with a kitchen and a huge veranda for 4,300 rubles per day. On the ground floor there is an inexpensive cafe, where for 55 rubles you will be offered 100 g of ice cream, and for 75 rubles - a portion of pancakes with jam. There are other dishes to choose from and all for a reasonable price. But we didn’t go to eat pancakes, but kebabs, so we used the free barbecue from the hotel, which was located at the end of the building and cooked ourselves a delicious dinner.

After dinner we went to the celebration of Russia Day. In honor of the holiday, a stage was equipped 150 meters from the hotel and the artists sang their favorite songs live. They inflated a trampoline for the children, set up tents with popcorn and cotton candy, and set up a dance floor.

We did not linger for a long time, but before going to bed we walked around the neighborhood of our place of stay:

The trip was wonderful and not expensive.

We were in no rush and got everything done.

Rest in Karelia in the summer of 2015 on our own, we recommend to everyone!

The mountain park "Ruskeala" has been functioning for almost ten years. It was opened for mass visits in 2005. Its creation was sponsored by the travel company "Kolmas Karelia". "Ruskeala" is very popular today. This place has become so famous for a reason. Tens of thousands of tourists visit it every year.

General information

The monument is called "Ruskeala Marble Breaks of the 17th - Early 20th Centuries". At present, the creation of such a complex is a positive and infrequent phenomenon in Russia. This example clearly demonstrates how a cultural heritage site can be revived with the help of private funds. The place itself is unique. Here, a rare symbiosis of the mining museum of the past centuries and the natural attractions that Karelia is famous for has been recreated. "Ruskeala" is a truly unique ensemble. Its natural beauty can be admired at any time of the year.

Special atmosphere

Three quarries were formed here as a result of marble mining. They are located next to the left bank of the Tohmajoki River. The quarries are interconnected by adits. Soon, work on the extraction of stone ceased. The quarries were abandoned. On the site of ancient quarries, picturesque Oni appeared - white marble thickets filled with clear blue-green water. At present, the inactive adits and mines resemble mysterious grottoes and caves.

Local Attractions

The marble quarry "Ruskeala" is the main attraction of the complex. This place is a monument of industrial culture of the XVIII-XX centuries. Ruskeala Park is officially included in the list of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. This monument is unique. There is no other such complex anywhere in Europe. This is a kind of man-made "bowl" from a solid marble array. It is pierced by systems of drifts, galleries and mines. Facing blocks for many architectural structures of the city of St. Petersburg were mined here. The majestic St. Isaac's Cathedral is also no exception. A variety of buildings were decorated with Ruskeala marble. It has a stunning color: white with greenish flashes. Some metro stations are still decorated with this marble.

Quarry marble "Ruskeala"

Its length is about four hundred and fifty meters. It's pretty deep. The quarry is currently flooded. Water rises to the upper underground horizon. The Finns did this before the war began in the 40s. Most of the adits that were formed in the first half of the last century are under water. Only one of them is located above this level. This adit was formed in the depths of mountain ranges in the 30s. A path was built inside it, along which trolleys with marble moved. It is connected to shaft No. 2. It was along it that the workers moved. The mine goes deep into the mountain at a distance of about two hundred meters. The embankment of the railway, along which the trolleys moved, is still preserved.

picturesque views

Outwardly, the marble quarry "Ruskeala" makes a tremendous impression. Gray-white rocks descend down to its heavily indented shores. Rocks go deep into a huge distance. There is a regular excursion to Ruskeala. The canyon has its own pier. Here guests can use the rental service and take a boat. While traveling on it, you can look at the canyon from the water. A certain part of the blocks hangs over this space at a negative angle. Travelers can also admire the views of the grottoes. They were formed in sheer cliffs. The play of light on the marble ceiling attracts the eyes of tourists for a long time. The grottoes really look very picturesque. White and vaults are reflected in the calm water surface.

Precautionary measures

There are also dry adits here. However, tourists are strictly forbidden to visit them. This requires the support of a geologist. The heat outside means that the marble adit is cold. You can feel the dankness as you go deeper into the layer. It's hard to imagine what it was like working here. The Quarry Board provided some data from that time. During peak periods, mining was carried out year-round. The drilling process did not stop day or night.

Fundamental differences

There is the main, most famous and visited quarry "Ruskeala". Around it were located several more abandoned ones. Currently, activities are underway to develop them. Most quarries are different from each other. This applies not only to the types of coasts. This also applies to the color of the water. For example, in one career it may be gray, and in another - blue. The main one is slightly different from the rest. The water in this quarry is bluish-green in color. Over time, the walls here have darkened and weathered. This happened during the time when there were no developments in the quarries. However, this does not prevent tourists from seeing their true color. It can be observed on freshly chipped marble pieces. They are quite common. The old "block" quarry is special in this respect. Here you can see the most striking manifestations of picturesque stone. It was in this quarry that marble was mined in large blocks.

Underground research

The speleological commission of St. Petersburg was engaged in the development of a multi-year expeditionary project. It is called "Underground Karelia". Speleologists were engaged in the study in 2010. The mountain park "Ruskeala" and the Marble failure became the main objects of research. The latter is located very close to the place where the main excursion route runs through the complex.

Features of the complex

In winter, the marble quarry "Ruskeala" looks no less attractive. At this time of the year, the lake is covered with ice. Therefore, it is very easy to get to the mysterious grottoes and adits. One of these places is called musical for its unusual acoustic properties. In winter, "Ruskeala failure" strikes with its magnificence.

It becomes like an ice castle, the columns of which have the most bizarre shapes. There is art lighting here. It helps the majestic canyon to light up with bright colors after dark. Marble Quarry (Karelia) (a map of the area is given in the article) is a favorite place where divers love to conduct their training. As a rule, they do this in the most remote corners of the quarry, so they do not interfere with the bulk of visitors at all. Several quarries are flooded here. The adits connecting them also ended up in the water. The Ruskeala canyon (the map clearly demonstrates this) included only three functioning underground horizons that were used for mining. Diving enthusiasts will find this place a piece of paradise. Tempting labyrinths will not leave anyone indifferent. At the very bottom of the canyon, some equipment is still preserved. For example, motorcycles, cars and even a crane. All this attracts those who are engaged in techno diving. The water here is clear. Muti is practically non-existent. Aquatic vegetation is also absent. In autumn, however, leaves that drop birch trees can fly.

Local staff keep the marble quarry "Ruskeala" clean. Workers periodically make trips to the lake and clean it of debris. Everywhere there are traces of people: papers, plastic bottles and the like. However, visitors litter quite a bit. The guests must be mesmerized by the majestic beauty of the flooded quarry. Conscience does not allow to pollute the picturesque mountain lake. Not only the ancient ones have been preserved on the territory of the mountain park. Other historical objects are also located here. For example, the old administrative building. It is made in the style of classicism. The building is entirely made of Ruskeala marble. On the territory of the complex there are monuments of industrial architecture of the XIX century. They are kilns that were designed for burning lime. Their brick pipes are conical in shape. The existing quarry will also be of interest to tourists. You can watch the process of mining large marble blocks. Currently, these objects are not included in the mountain park. For this reason, they are poorly adapted for tourist excursions.

"Ruskeala" (recreation center). General information

Here guests will find a lot of positive emotions. The complex is located in the Sortavala region. This is the southern part of Karelia. From St. Petersburg to this place about three hundred kilometers. The Ruskeala complex, the photo of which is presented in the article, can receive guests all year round. The base is equipped with everything necessary for their comfortable stay. The rooms can accommodate from two to eight people. There are special rooms for honeymooners and families with children. Together with parents, a child, even an infant, can be accommodated here.

Entertainment

Guests can organize a picnic on site. Barbecue available. Guests can bake fish and cook kebabs. Wood burning sauna available for rent. It is located on the shore of the lake. On the basis of "Ruskeala" a rather extensive program for vacationers has been developed. For example, you can safely go fishing, visit Lake Valaam or see waterfalls and friendly and polite staff work at the camp site. Even if guests are not prepared for fishing, they can get bait, tackle and even professional fishing advice.

Where is the attraction located?

The features of the Ruskeala marble quarry are described above. How to get to this place? You can go through Priozersk from St. Petersburg by car. The path will run through Sortavala along the A-129 highway. In the city itself, you should go along the main road towards Petrozavodsk. From Sortavala, at the 10th km, there will be a turn to the A-130 highway. After Priozersk, a rather winding road begins. The total time that will have to be spent on the whole journey is 4-5 hours.