Staraya Ladoga how to get there. Districts. Where is the best place to live. Entertainment, excursions and sights of Staraya Ladoga

By plane. From the airports "Domodedovo", "Sheremetyevo" and "Vnukovo" flights "Moscow - St. Petersburg". Then by bus "St. Petersburg - Staraya Ladoga". Travel time - 4.2 0 h.

By bus. From Kazansky railway station by bus "Kazan - St. Petersburg". Then by bus "St. Petersburg - Staraya Ladoga". Travel time - 12.30 h.

From the bus station "Krasnogvardeyskaya" by bus "Moscow - St. Petersburg". Then by bus "St. Petersburg - Staraya Ladoga". Travel time - 13.10 h.

From the bus station "Novoyasenevskaya" by bus "Moscow - St. Petersburg". Then by bus "St. Petersburg - Staraya Ladoga". Travel time - 13.50 h.

From the metro station "Planernaya" by bus "Moscow - St. Petersburg". Then by bus "St. Petersburg - Staraya Ladoga". Travel time - 12.40 h.

On a long distance train. From the Leningradsky railway station by trains "Moscow - St. Petersburg", "Moscow - Murmansk" and "Moscow - Helsinki". Then by bus "St. Petersburg - Staraya Ladoga". Travel time - 12.10 hours.

By car. On the highways M-10 "Russia" and A-121. Travel time - 13.40 h.

Walk along Staraya Ladoga

You need to start your walk along Staraya Ladoga with a visit Old Ladoga fortress. Currently, the fortress is being actively restored, and some of its fragments are being rebuilt almost anew. Two beautiful cathedrals have been preserved on its territory, and a museum of the Ladoga land functions in the fortress tower.

Old Ladoga fortress

Then you have to get to George's Cathedral, which is located on the territory of the fortress. It was built in the 13th century to commemorate the victory over the Swedes.

Of interest to architecture lovers is Nicholas Monastery. According to legend, it was founded in 1240 by Prince Alexander Nevsky in memory of the victory over the Swedes on the Neva.

Nikolsky Monastery

Can't miss a visit museum of historical life, where things are presented from the beginning of the XII century to the present day.

Popular with tourists Church of Alexy the Man of God. This is one of the most striking sights Staraya Ladoga built in the ancient Russian style.

Church of Alexy the Man of God

The rich collection of archaeological museum, where more than one and a half thousand exhibits are collected. Well, to complete the walk along Staraya Ladoga, you need to visit Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. It was built in the first half of the 14th century and has been rebuilt several times since then. Now the temple is under restoration.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Attractions near Staraya Ladoga

Those who come with an excursion to Staraya Ladoga always visit barrows. These are hills near the Church of John the Baptist. The burial mounds, in one of which, according to legend, Prophetic Oleg was buried, attract the increased attention of tourists and just passing by.

Staraya Ladoga is an unusual place, now it is just a village, and many centuries ago, according to legend, here was the first capital of the Russian state. This place is located at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, since before the vast Russian lands were covered with impenetrable forests and swamps, it was possible to travel only along rivers, lakes and seas. Already in the VIII century, a trade route was formed called from the "Varangians to the Arabs", which led from Baltic Sea to the Caspian. A little later, ships began to sail past Staraya Ladoga along the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

The fastest in those days the climate was milder, because Ladoga lake took large area, which means that the level of the world's oceans was higher, this suggests that many glaciers that exist in our time did not exist then. But the Volkhov, on which Staraya Ladoga stands, before the construction of the dam of the Volkhovskaya hydroelectric power station, was a river with rapids and it was impossible to sail on ships with low draft along the river, it was in Staraya Ladoga that goods were transshipped to river boats for further navigation on the rivers of Rus'.

This is confirmed by numerous archaeological finds, here they find Central Asian beads, Scandinavian clasps, and Finnish pendants, and Slavic temporal rings, and oriental rock crystal, and Baltic amber. This place was indeed the crossroads of the trade routes of antiquity.

In Staraya Ladoga you will see the Old Fortress, standing on the banks of the Volkhov and Ladoga rivers and the archaeological museum in the fortress, two ancient churches of St. George and St. Dmitry of Thessalonica, the Nikolsky Monastery for men and the Assumption Monastery for women, the tomb of the Prophetic Oleg, the one about whom Pushkin wrote, the house of the merchant Kalyazin, now there is an archaeological museum and wonderful Russian landscapes. All these attractions are within walking distance of each other. You can enjoy the Russian spirit of these places in peace and quiet, there are few tourists, no crowds, everything is quiet, comfortable and unhurried.

The road by car runs through federal highway"Cola", popularly referred to as the Murmansk highway. The route is overloaded with traffic, turn on traffic jams in your navigator, in the summer on Friday evening and Saturday morning, traffic jams will be absolutely accurate, at other times there are no guarantees against traffic jams either.

On the Murmansk highway towards Staraya Ladoga there is a dangerous turn, where the four-lane highway ends and the two-lane begins. The dangerous turn is indicated by numerous warning signs, but the fence is not changed in time, many do not believe the signs.

Further, after the exit from the Murmansk highway, according to the map, you find yourself on a rural road, the quality of which can be indicated by the words “there is asphalt in some places”, if you drive to the next exit, in front of the Volkhov River itself, then there will be a road with a normal surface.

There are no problems with parking in Staraya Ladoga.

The current fortress was built in the 16th century, but archaeologists have discovered two of its stone predecessors, record-breaking in their age. The first one was probably built by the legendary prince Oleg, the second one was erected in 1114.

Old Ladoga fortress, gate tower

Half a century after its construction, the fortress withstood the siege of two thousand Swedish troops. With the help of the Novgorodians, the Ladoga residents drove back and defeated the enemy. There was never a Tatar-Mongol yoke in Staraya Ladoga and its environs, they always fought with the Swedes here.

On the wall of the Old Ladoga fortress

In the photo above, a part of the fortress wall restored in 1960-1970, and in the photo below, the ruins of an ancient fortress.

Trading gate ruins

Previously, these were trade gates, they face Volkhov and through them goods were dragged into the fortress in ancient times.

Part of the fortress wall, Volkhov

Archaeological Museum in the Old Ladoga Fortress

This is how the fortress looked before, now only the stone walls on the right have been preserved.

The first time I visited this fortress was in 1989, when I was working on the restoration of the Nikolsky Monastery as part of the Ariel construction team, since then nothing has changed in the fortress. The Gate Tower still houses the Archaeological Museum.

The exposition of the museum is small, but gives an idea of the finds in the fortress, excavations have been going on for many years. In addition, local residents often find ancient artifacts in their gardens.

People settled in these places long before the construction of a fortress here. The photo below is just designed to confirm this idea.

Church of St. George the Victorious

This unique temple has come down to us, although it has undergone numerous reconstructions during its existence. Now it has been restored, as far as possible in its original form, and in the summer from mid-May to mid-September you can visit it, this is a museum and church services are not held here. Unique ancient frescoes are afraid of dampness and in rainy weather the temple may be closed.

This church is one of the best examples of ancient Russian architecture of the pre-Mongolian period and the main pearl of Staraya Ladoga. The locals call this small temple “Ladoga Bride”.

Frescoes of the 12th century have been preserved in the church, earlier all the inner surfaces of the walls were covered with frescoes, now fragments have been preserved only on a fifth of the walls.

The unique world-famous fresco "George's Miracle about the Serpent" attracts the greatest attention. It is forbidden to take pictures in the church, this photo is taken from the site. There you can also find a detailed description of all the frescoes of the temple.

fresco "Miracle of George about the serpent".

This image of St. George is considered the oldest in Russian iconography. But the most important thing is that the plot of the fresco is non-standard. Usually they depict how St. George strikes the snake with a spear or sword, but here George saves the princess, does not kill, but tames the snake, similar to a large lizard in the interpretation of the ancient painter, and the freed princess leads him away on a leash, like a dog.

According to local legend, in this church, in front of the fresco "The Miracle of George about the Serpent", Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich, the future Alexander Nevsky, prayed, leaving for the decisive battle with the Swedes. Although last year we saw a commemorative plaque on the wall of one of the buildings of the Novgorod Kremlin that it was there.

I really like to visit various interesting places located in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, where I live. Each trip adds an additional glass to the overall mosaic of life experiences. I think that I can rightfully consider Staraya Ladoga even a whole fragment of this constantly transforming picture of wanderings.

This settlement, which, according to scientists, is the first capital Northern Rus', once had great importance. It was the most important strategic and trading center on the path “from the Varangians to the Greeks”, familiar to all of us from the lessons of history, and steadfastly survived all the ups and downs of past centuries.

And suddenly, in 1704, at the behest of I, he not only loses his city status, but does not even have the right to his own coat of arms. All "regalia" go to the city of Novaya Ladoga.

Perhaps there were good reasons for that ... But today, in our days, I, who often visit "both Ladoga", for some reason cannot get used to the idea that the magnificent, breathing heroic legends, imbued with historical tragedy and carrying its existence from the depths centuries, Staraya Ladoga is not a city, but just a village. But it is not for us, as they say, to create history. Although it was joyful for the people of Ladoga, when in November 2007, by the decision of local deputies, their coat of arms was again approved here, on the purple field of which a diving falcon is depicted.

Once again, the old epics about Prince Rurik, and the brave Finist, the bright falcon, beloved since ancient times in Rus', blew.

I want to assure you that for all travelers, young and old, it is here that there are plenty of opportunities to replenish your travel book with new fascinating pages, which I propose to turn over with me.

How to get there

Staraya Ladoga is an ancient village located in the Volkhovsky district Leningrad region 128 km from our northern capital, St. Petersburg, and 712 km from Her Majesty Moscow. There is no airport, train or bus station. But getting here is not at all difficult.

And, believe me, visiting Staraya Ladoga is worth it!

By plane

By train

Since people somehow didn’t want to lay a railway track past the old Ladoga, you won’t get here directly by train or electric train. But, nevertheless, they can be a good intermediate help along the way.

So, from St. Petersburg from the Moscow and Ladoga railway stations go trains-swallows to the station Volkhovstroy-I (Volkhov).

All details of the schedule On the road you have to stay for about 2 hours. With the capabilities of modern gadgets, you will certainly find how to pass them, but I like to just look out the window and think.

At the same time, tickets will cost you (when traveling from the Moscow railway station)

adult: 318 rubles;
children, school and student: 159 rubles.
preferential for pensioners: 47 rubles.

When departing from Ladoga railway station:

adult: 287 rubles;
children, school and student: 143 rubles.
preferential for pensioners: 43 rubles.

There are no direct trains from Moscow to this station. Therefore, you can get by train to St. Petersburg (from the Leningradsky railway station in Moscow), and then proceed as described above.

From Volkhov to Staraya Ladoga, the journey will have to be continued by bus, as detailed in the section below.

By bus

I quite like bus journeys, however, if only they are not particularly long. Without the help of this type of transport, when traveling to Staraya Ladoga, you simply cannot do. Of course, I do not take into account the trip in my car, which is discussed in the section below.

You can get to Staraya Ladoga (2) from Volkhov (1) by buses No. 23 and 23 A, following to the city of Novaya Ladoga (3).

The journey will take about 20 minutes.

There are no direct flights from St. Petersburg (1) to Staraya Ladoga (3) from the bus station (Obvodny Canal Embankment, 36). But there is an opportunity to get with transfers again through the Volkhov (2).

The actual schedule, taking into account the transfer you need, can be found on Yandex.

Of course, you will have to be on the road in any case (train + bus or bus + bus) for at least, or even more than 3 hours. And it is not so easy if you are traveling with children or elderly companions. Therefore, I advise you to use the services of some travel agency for your first visit to Staraya Ladoga.

By car

This is my favorite type of travel! Today, in the age of such a wonderful tool as a navigator, it is not difficult to determine the path, although we prefer the good old road maps.

From St. Petersburg you need to move along the Murmansk highway, which also has the names M18, E-105 or "Kola highway".

It is, fortunately, not very congested, although due to road works that often take place in late summer and autumn, unforeseen traffic jams can occur. Therefore, before the trip, take an interest in its condition in advance. After 120 km, you will turn right onto the A 115 highway near the village of Yushkovo, from where you need to drive about another 7 km to Staraya Ladoga.

From Moscow you will take the M10 (E18) highway in the direction of St. Petersburg. At Zuevo - turn onto the A115 (on) and through the Volkhov you get to Staraya Ladoga.

The road in this case is much more distant than from St. Petersburg. Therefore, if you decide on such a trip, take care of the rest in advance at the end of the journey in Staraya Ladoga. I’ll tell you about possible options for stopping in the section “Regions. Where is the best place to live?

Clue:

Staraya Ladoga - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 0

Kazan 0

Samara 1

Yekaterinburg 2

Novosibirsk 4

Vladivostok 7

When is the season. When is the best time to go

We are going to Staraya Ladoga mainly to plunge into the historical era of Russia's past. The ancient fortress, museums, temples and monasteries, in my opinion, are worth visiting at any time of the year.

Moreover, if you do not like to be in some place during the tourist invasions, then the off-season is quite suitable for such a trip. I often had to admire the paintings of St. Petersburg artists depicting Staraya Ladoga. Winter landscapes on their canvases are in no way inferior to warm summer-spring ones.

But I still prefer to be here in the summer on fine sunny days.

Staraya Ladoga in summer

It's not only mine favorite time year, but also the preferred time for travel. As for Staraya Ladoga, choosing the summer to visit this historical place, you get the opportunity to visit festivals and holidays that are already traditionally held here and hospitably gather everything large quantity tourists.

In addition, the climatic regime allows swimming in the rivers and the opportunity to sunbathe, as well as take long walks around the village itself and its picturesque surroundings, where nature is pleasing to the eye and uplifting. There are no sudden temperature changes here. Basically, the thermometer will indicate from + 18 to +23. That is, painful acclimatization and sunstroke will not follow.

It is during the summer period that there is an opportunity to visit some temples and museums, which are closed during the cold season.

Staraya Ladoga in autumn

The charming Indian summer, when autumn is just coming into its own, is amazing in Staraya Ladoga!

And the fall leaves in early October will also delight your soul. November is already pulling winter with it, the temperature rarely rises above 0 °C. If you are ready for such circumstances, with the goal of visiting magnificent monasteries and an ancient fortress, and sad pre-winter pictures of nature do not depress you, then the weather will not interfere with your trip.

Staraya Ladoga in spring

In the spring, you especially feel the awakening of life! It seems to me that a trip to Staraya Ladoga at this time of the year can become quite unusual and even symbolic, if we consider it as a touch on the old days, on the revival of the pages ancient history after a long winter sleep.

March is still rainy and snowy, not having time to “reanimate” after the winter. April gets warmer. average temperature rises to 8 °C. By the way, it is in this month that you can usually witness an amazing spectacle - ice drift on the Volkhov - which artists are trying so hard to catch. May is getting ready for summer. The soil dries up in the surrounding forests, the first flowers of the Russian north-west appear.

Staraya Ladoga in winter

An acquaintance from Staraya Ladoga told me that on the first day of December, the inhabitants of this village are especially attentive to the weather. Indeed, according to popular beliefs, what it is, such is winter itself. Warm in the morning - to be warm in the beginning of winter. A blizzard at noon - it will also blow in January. If a blizzard swirls in the evening, then winter will certainly not want to give up its rights to spring for a long time.

Snow here lasts the entire winter season, and, unlike the metropolitan "50 shades of gray" due to city smoke and soot, here it is really white. The temperature rarely drops below -23°C, mostly on January days it is around -12 - -16°C. In Staraya Ladoga, it is also wonderful to be at solemn Christmas services in monasteries, and on Epiphany to plunge into a real consecrated ice hole - the Jordan!

Districts. Where is the best place to live

Staraya Ladoga is a small village. It has only 22 streets. All the sights that my story will be about below are, in general, within walking distance from each other. If you use the booking services through, then in the village itself on this site only “Vacation Home, Barsky, 11” (Holiday Home Barskiy 11) is presented (1) , there are also recreation centers and hotels in nearby settlements, such as the village of Chernavino ( 2 ), the village of Yushkovo ( 3-4 ) and the city of Volkhov ( 5 ).

In addition to these options, there are hotels in Staraya Ladoga and its environs that are not booked through Booking.com. For example, on the map below - the hotel "Staraya Ladoga" on the street. Sovetskaya d. 6 (1) , and the recreation center "Staroladozhskaya Dacha", located 2 km in the village of Seltso-Gorka (2).

Due to the lack of hotel competition, the prices here are quite high for the province (starting from 2000 rubles per room). Many positive reviews about the Metallurg Hotel in Volkhov, in a city located from Staraya Ladoga, a 20-minute drive regular bus.

But my advice is this: if you decide to stay in these places for more than a day, then it’s quite suitable option- just rent an apartment in Volkhov or Novaya Ladoga (from 1,000 rubles/day). You can find it through search engines from the series “I will rent housing for daily rent” on the Internet.

If you are traveling with a company, and even in the warm summer, then the option with tents is not excluded. True, there are no special campsites here. Despite its uniqueness, this village is not included in the category of long tourist stops. Travelers and pilgrims (there are 2 monasteries in Staraya Ladoga) usually drop in here only for a day.

Main attractions. What to see

For me, acquaintance with Staraya Ladoga began with a meeting with an old mound, which is believed to be the grave of Prophetic Oleg himself.

This attraction is located at the entrance to the village by car from St. Petersburg. When you rise to its ten-meter height, it opens before you beautiful view to the powerful Volkhov and Staraya Ladoga itself. And you, like an enchanted wanderer, somehow immediately fall in love with this land forever. There are many pagan tales about the mound, supposedly it is a kind of mystical "place of power". I don’t attach any importance to such “writing”, but when you stand on top and see the picture that opens, then forces simply cannot but appear in a soul inspired by beauty.

In total, there are three such mounds near the village, originally from the 8th-10th centuries.

Of course, I strongly advise you to immediately visit the heart of Staraya Ladoga - its fortress, the 900th anniversary of which was widely celebrated in 2016. You can learn more about it from my

July 15, 1971 in Staraya Ladoga opened local history museum. In 1984, it received the status of a historical, architectural and archaeological museum-reserve of federal significance, among the sights of which is the Staroladoga fortress I mentioned above.

In addition to it, I advise you to visit other places located on the territory of the museum. For example, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (XII century) in the Old Ladoga Holy Dormition Monastery, which is rightly called the "Pearl of the North-West of Rus'."

The monastery itself, one of the oldest in the Tikhvin diocese, also deserves attention. You can also see the architectural ensemble of Nikolsky monastery attracting Orthodox pilgrims to these places. Visit the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist on Malysheva Hill, which, after restoration in 1991 by craftsmen and artists from St. Petersburg, was the first of all the churches of Staraya Ladoga to be returned to believers.

By the way, if you go around this temple and go down to the Volkhov, then you will find yourself in front of the Holy Spring of St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. Walking along the Varyazhskaya street, you should definitely go into the two-story houses (stone and wooden - of the XIX century) of the merchant P.V. And this is not a complete list of interesting places worthy of the attention of travelers!

Thus, in this small village according to modern concepts, there is a real storehouse of artistic, spiritual and historical treasures.

Top 5

Each traveler has his own preferences among the attractions of the places they visit. I'll give you my top five.

Beaches. Which is better

This historic village does not belong to the category of places where beach holidays are cultivated. But I want to suggest that on fine days you may well swim in the Volkhov. True, keep in mind that it has a fairly strong current. If you are traveling by car, then you can arrange spontaneous parking somewhere on its shore.

I’ll suggest another place, directly in Staraya Ladoga itself, where we ourselves once swam. If you go around the St. Nicholas Monastery on the right, you will see a parking lot for cars and buses. Opposite it, there will be a descent to the water. I marked this place with an arrow.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

The village of Staraya Ladoga is rich not only in facts military history but also in their spirituality. It is always amazing to me how firmly the cities of Russia are connected by the imperishable thread of times!

Judge for yourself. The daughter of the Swedish king Olaf Schötkonung, Princess Ingegerda (baptized Irina), marries the great Novgorod prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1019. Her dowry also includes the city of Aldeigaborg (now Staraya Ladoga). The territory adjacent to it has since been called Ingermanland, which means "the land of Ingegerda." Having been widowed, Irina took the tonsure with the name Anna and became the first Russian princess-nun.

Today we know her as Saint Anna of Novgorod. Like flowers woven into a beautiful wreath, Orthodox monasteries begin to be created on the lands of St. Anna. I will tell you a little about them.

Museums. Which are worth a visit

The village of Staraya Ladoga, in my opinion, is a single big museum under open sky. I want to highlight it in particular. ancient fortress- Rurik castle. You can visit it all year round. But still, I strongly advise you to choose warm summer days.

Once I happened to read on some Internet forum the sad response of tourists that they were not able to properly examine the exposition in the fortress tower due to the fact that the frost that covered the glass over the mock-ups interfered. I myself did not visit Staraya Ladoga in winter, but, as they say, there is no smoke without fire.

Attention: the church of St. George with its unique frescoes pre-Mongolian period on the territory of the fortress can be visited only with warm weather from May to October.

Entrance to the territory of the fortress is paid: adults: 80 rubles; preschoolers, schoolchildren, pensioners: 10 rubles; full-time students of Russian universities: free of charge.

single ticket to view the exposition in the Gate Tower, the Church of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica and the exposition "Archaeology of Ladoga": 150 rubles for adults; preschoolers: 10 rubles; schoolchildren and pensioners 80 rubles.

Temple of George the Victorious: adults: 80 rubles; preschoolers: free; schoolchildren, pensioners: 50 rubles.

About visiting other sights on the territory of the Staraya Ladoga Museum-Reserve ( brief digression, time and cost of visiting) is detailed on the museum website

parks

There are no significant parks for recreation in Staraya Ladoga. But, nevertheless, I will note a well-groomed square where you can look.

It is located near the Assumption Monastery. Here you can see the stele erected in 2003 in memory of the 1250th anniversary of Staraya Ladoga. There is also a square on Varyazhskaya Street, where in 2015 a monument was erected to the famous Russian princes Rurik and Prophetic Oleg.

The sculptor of this monument is Oleg Shorov.

tourist streets

I'll tell you about one wonderful street in Staraya Ladoga with the characteristic name for this place "Varangian". It runs along the banks of the Ladozhka River to the fence of the Assumption Monastery and is the oldest street in Russia. Its length is only about 200 meters.

Therefore, I believe that you simply need to go through it! The first mention of Varyazhskaya Street dates back to the 15th century, and it gained its fame after household items dating back to the 9th-10th centuries were found here during archaeological work. This allows us to assume with confidence that in those days the left bank of the Ladozhka River was already thoroughly populated. The street was built up especially actively in the 18th century, when merchants began to settle here. In two house-museums of one of them - Kolyazin, I just invited you.

In 2003, in connection with the celebration of the anniversary of Staraya Ladoga, several similar merchant houses were demolished on Varyazhskaya Street, requiring restoration. It is a pity, of course, that today you can see only the three remaining of them, and even the house for the clergy of the Assumption Monastery and seven wooden houses of the post-war period. In 1913, a stone chapel appeared here, built according to the assumptions of historians on the site of the ancient Church of the Resurrection of the XIII century.

At the beginning of Varyazhskaya Street you will be met by a bronze falcon. I already wrote that this is a symbol of the coat of arms of Staraya Ladoga. Somehow, in my opinion, tourists act somewhat absurdly, leaving coins in the beak and on the wings of this proud bird “for good luck”.

Either they are trying to bribe the falcon, or something else. Only now Finist the Clear Falcon and the "bribe-handout" somehow do not fit into a single logical chain for me. Also on this street in a small square in 2015, a monument to Rurik and Prophetic Oleg was erected.

What to see in 1 day

Let's imagine that you have safely arrived in the Russian village of Staraya Ladoga, and you have a whole day left. I will offer one of the options for its implementation.

To begin with, at 10.00 in the morning we will have a bite to eat at the Ancient Ladoga cafe. And then we will move according to the attached map.
10.30 - heading for a review of Rurik's castle (1) (Old Ladoga fortress) (expositions of its Klimentovskaya tower and the church of Dmitry Solunsky).
If the weather allows (and only in summer) - we also go to the Church of St. George the Victorious.
12.00 - we will certainly take a walk along Varyazhskaya street (2) , the oldest in Russia. We survey the monument to Rurik and Prophetic Oleg, admire the bronze falcon.
If desired, we go to museums - archeology and the life of merchants, located in the surviving and restored houses of the merchant Kolyazin.
13.00 - visit the Holy Dormition maiden monastery (3) . By the way, thanks to the labors of the inhabitants, an amazing internal park was created here, in the flowerbeds of which funny little animals hid among the flowers.
The main shrines of the monastery are located in Church of the Exaltation of the Cross at the Hospital building: particles of the relics of saints: Great Martyr Barbara, Rev. Seraphim of Sarov and the Holy Wives of Diveyevo, Prepp. Arseny Konevsky and Antipas of Valaam, Martyr Mary of Gatchina.
About architectural ensemble and other attractions can be read
14.00 - Lunch at the restaurant "Prince Rurik". (6)
15.00 - Let's go to the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist (4), examine its interior, look into the church shop. Now let's go around the temple and go down to the Holy Spring of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa (5). Only daredevils dip here, and we can just drink water and wash ourselves.
16.00 - leisurely walk in reverse direction to the ancient Nikolsky Monastery. (When visiting monasteries and temples, do not forget that appearance must comply with the rules for visiting Orthodox monasteries).
Shrines: In 2002, an ark with a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was brought here from Bari; also in the monastery there are relics of other great saints. The revered icon here is the copy of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Chernigov-Gethsemane” handed over to the monastery in 2004.
The image suffered during the persecution: a crack from an ax and three bullet wounds. The monastery is open for pilgrims from 9.00 to 18.00, and on the days of evening services until 19.00 daily. All the details about the monastery and the schedule of services
17.00 - I hope that our trip takes place on a fine summer day. Now, if you did not stay for the evening service, then you can plunge into the waves of the Volkhov warmed by the sun. There is a descent to it just behind this monastery.
Just remember - the current is strong! You can just sit on the beach and relax.

If you arrived here for a day from St. Petersburg, then remember that the return trip (bus + train) will take at least 3 hours. If you are staying in Staraya Ladoga or nearby, then the next day can be devoted to exploring the surroundings and the beautiful nature of the region. For example, see the Tanechkina cave (7) and go to the largest waterfall in the Leningrad region (8) (4.5 meters high).

What to see in the surroundings

I propose to visit several places worthy of the attention of travelers near Staraya Ladoga.

Gorchakovsky waterfall (1) . Located on the opposite bank of the Volkhov near the village. Gorchakovshchina.
You can't jump over the Volkhov on the map. Therefore, you will have to return to the E 105 highway, turn to Volkhov, from Issad turn to Gorchakovshchina. The path will take 12 km. This wonderful place is worth the search!
Water falls from a height of 4.5 m into a reddish bowl of soil (local soils are to blame). This is the highest of the waterfalls in the Leningrad region. From the waterfall you can go to Volkhov on a very picturesque coast. Here tourists like to put up tents and relax alone with nature.
Tanechkina cave (2). It is located 1 km from the burial mound of the Prophetic Oleg on protected area and is not available for visiting winter time. Entrance from Volkhov.
Labyrinths of passages lure lovers of risk and underground travel here. If you are one of them, take necessary equipment. Well, or at least rubber boots, a flashlight and a helmet. There is a shallow lake in the northeastern part of the cave.
It is surprising that the largest colony of bats in the north-west of Russia lives here. different types- about 400 individuals!
I don’t really like these mouse-animals, and climbing unknown caves, by the way, too. But I know many St. Petersburg residents who are happy to participate in such downright speleological adventures.
I also propose to visit the city of Novaya Ladoga, founded in 1704 by Peter I. At that time, Staraya Ladoga, standing from New 13 km, is losing its former urban status and is now simply called a village. You can get here by bus number 23 and 23 A, as well as by car. There are many sights, monuments and museums in Novaya Ladoga, interesting for curious tourists. We really liked the ancient Nikolo-Medvedtsky Monastery.
Nikolsky Cathedral struck him. Inside there is an amazing iconostasis, and outside, from its southeastern facade, you can climb the spiral iron staircase to the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, from where you can see beautiful view to the Volkhov.
The history of Novaya Ladoga is closely connected with the life of A. V. Suvorov, and therefore the bust of this great commander is, of course, present here.
I recommend visiting and Memorial Complex in honor of the sailors and rivermen who guarded the life-saving water route "Road of Life" during the siege of Leningrad. In itself, a visit to Novaya Ladoga deserves a separate day.
If you are interested in the spiritual page of life, then I suggest an interesting, still little known place - Abramovshchina. The famous abbess of the Old Ladoga Dormition Monastery, Abbess Eupraxia, once prayed here. It is located 2.5 km from the monastery (you have to ask for directions right at the monastery). You won’t get there by car, so get ready for a short hiking.
In 2004, the Holy Well of Mother Eupraxia was restored in the Abramov region, and a worship cross was again erected. And now, as before the revolution of 1917, here on the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (September 27) a traditional religious procession takes place. The place is beautiful, and I think it will be useful to visit the Holy Well.

In Staraya Ladoga, for obvious reasons, it is impossible for me to present you "TOPS" budget-medium-expensive food places. There are none of them here. But they are quite good for a snack.

Cafe "Ancient Ladoga" is waiting for visitors from 10.00 to 20.00. The atmosphere is stylized as rustic antiquity, there is a stove-fireplace.
Cafe "Lyubava" is open from 10.00 to 23.00, and on weekends until 00.00.
Restaurant "Prince Rurik" is open from 10.00 to 21.00, Friday and Saturday until 23.00. You can dine here without alcohol for the amount of 500-700 rubles.
Cafe "Rook" at the mini-hotel of the same name. In this cafe, sometimes locals hold themed discos, for example, a “hat party”.

Holidays

I really love the atmosphere of the holiday, when you are at the epicenter of universal joy. Therefore, timing your trip to some similar event in Staraya Ladoga means getting a wonderful emotional charge and bright impressions into the traveler's piggy bank!

Of course, in Staraya Ladoga, residents celebrate generally accepted public holidays, but, besides them, there are special days here when tourists flock to the walls of the ancient Rurik’s castle in a noisy river, break tent camps, the world around is changing, putting on the pictures of the Middle Ages.

I mean the festivals that are traditionally held here.

Festival "Staraya Ladoga - the first capital of Rus'"

A real theater-reconstruction in the open air awaits you. And as if time will turn back to the days of calling Rurik with his retinue to these lands.

The clash of swords is heard - there are duels of knights. It's great to measure the prowess of the heroic! And over Staraya Ladoga, old songs and harps are played again. You can also look into the forge, and learn about other ancient crafts. This is where the children are happy! I think that adults will find it all very interesting.

Usually on such days there is a fair where you can buy goods from merchants - various utensils and clothes with ornaments made in antique style, try yourself in archery and crossbow. You will plunge into the atmosphere of life and culture of the distant past of Rus', get acquainted with the mores and customs of the people.

By the way, in 2016 this festival was attended by more than 2,500 guests from all regions and cities.

You need to find out more about the time of the event.

I’ll note right away that, as you already understood, there are few hotels in Staraya Ladoga itself. You can use the nearby ones in Volkhov and Novaya Ladoga, as well as try to rent an apartment in advance. But for tourists who are not pampered with comfort, there is a simple way out - a tent.

Special campsites have not yet been provided, therefore the protection of your belongings here is completely under your own responsibility. But I think it's great to join the general fun and also break your little "house" against the backdrop of ancient mounds and fortress walls.

By the way, you can even transform yourself into the heroes of this festival for a while. – Linen dresses and shirts, wreaths and braided belts-bracelets will give you a feeling of freedom without the usual tie suits required by the dress code at work in everyday life. And long dresses and beautifully styled hair will help women feel “more beautiful and sweeter” without any spas that are fashionable today.

Festival "Sovereign Shield"

This festival is usually held in June. Its goal is to develop event tourism and reconstruction movement. Moreover, I think it is useful for all of us to remember the past times of our history, the period of the Time of Troubles of the 16th-17th centuries.

As for children, you will agree with me that it is much more interesting for them to learn history in this way than from school textbooks. You can also find out about whether there will be a repetition of such a festival and about everyone like it on the website of the Staraya Ladoga Museum. After all, wonderful Ladoga hosts can come up with something new for their dear guests. By the way, festivals of sacred music and various concerts are held in Staraya Ladoga.

hunter's day

For lovers of hunting, there is also an annual themed festival, which is usually held in early autumn. Here you will witness equestrian jigging, the work of hunting dogs (this is especially interesting for me, since one of the “hairy” members of my family is a spaniel).

And of course, since the business is carried out in an old Russian village, you can’t do without falconry, master classes in working with decoys, chasing, and blacksmithing!

You will see photo exhibitions, an exhibition of hunting trophies and an exhibition of children's drawings. Yes, and the concert of folk groups will certainly please the audience-tourists! For the male part of the guests, visiting such a holiday, I think, will be especially interesting!

Orthodox holidays

Since in small Staraya Ladoga today there are two ancient monasteries that carefully preserve their rich history, then, I think, everyone can visit here and some twelfth Orthodox holidays. Especially on the Holiday of Holidays - Easter, and at Christmas.

And on Epiphany, even despite the frosty time, “Jordan” is certainly consecrated here, and the most courageous can plunge!

Safety. What to watch out for

If you have become a participant in one of the large-scale holidays-festivals, then in the heat of fun, still remember that in the ranks of tourists clicking cameras and smiling at you in a friendly way, there may well be ordinary pickpockets. The figures of this craft just love to be in a crowd carried away by some kind of spectacle. This phenomenon seems to be ineradicable neither here nor in any other country in the world.

So let's be calm and just be vigilant.

If you visit the fortress in winter, then be careful - the steps can be slippery from ice. And in general, at this time of the year, a sudden meeting with the earth of our soft places is not excluded. Therefore, I strongly advise you to have comfortable shoes and not force on heels, which we will leave for city sidewalks.

Things to do

I love such trips to small towns and villages because they allow me to escape from the urban rush of days and at least briefly plunge into the measured rhythm of provincial life.

Therefore, in Staraya Ladoga, in addition to visiting the sights, just enjoy life, take a walk (go to the Varangian street), breathe fresh air, enjoy nature. If you are inclined towards some kind of artistic hobby, then this is the place for them. Arrange a spontaneous plein air.

Even if you are not a professional, drawing the surrounding landscapes will still bring you positive emotions. You can also show your creativity when photographing, writing poems and stories. If you are traveling with children, then your fairy tales about the mighty Russian heroes-warriors, told during walks, will please them very much. Remember the forgotten game "secrets" and bury your family secret somewhere (flowers on a gold leaf under a glass). Instead of glass, by the way, a transparent plastic lid from under a sour cream jar is also suitable.

At the same time, you can smile mysteriously, imagining how archaeologists will find it one day. Walking near the mounds, and along the banks of the Volkhov, weave a wreath of herbs and flowers for yourself (or your companions), or release it on fast jets of water, making a wish.

Also, for a similar purpose, it is possible to quickly build a raft, a boat from improvised means.

We forgot all these activities, sitting at computers or watching the blue screen of TVs. But it is precisely such family leisure and unite people, giving us the joy of live communication!

Staraya Ladoga has a rich spiritual history. Go to the Holy spring of Paraskeva, and put candles in the temples and just be alone with yourself in their pacifying silence.

Let this trip be a holiday for the heart! After all, “places of power” are not mounds and graves (as various esotericists say), but such towns like Staraya Ladoga that preserve for you and me the voice of history about the great heritage of our ancestors.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Of the places I visit, I always take something with me as a memory of the trip. But this is not always a purchased souvenir or a thing made in those parts. For me, it can be a shell, an unusual pebble, a flower, which create a summer mood even in winter.

As for the directly old Ladoga gifts, in the village itself, next to the cash desks of the Rurik fortress, there is a souvenir kiosk.

As always, magnets, mugs, key chains, which may well play the role of a gift or a cute keepsake. Pay attention to metal products - brooches, pendants with the image of runes, men, animals, intricate patterns.

There are also bracelets with various chased ornaments.

Maybe something will suit your taste. There are also photographs and albums, as well as birch bark products with images of old Ladoga sights: fortresses, churches, nature. In the monasteries there are church shops where you can buy Cahors, gingerbread, Lenten products, teas, relevant literature and icons. During festivals and holidays, fairs are held in Staraya Ladoga, where the works of craftsmen are presented.

But your main gifts to yourself are a charge positive emotions, new discoveries, well, and photos, of course!

How to move around the city

The village is small, so to see its sights, just walk. When we come here, we leave our car in the parking lot, and then we slowly walk along Staraya Ladoga. The hustle and bustle only make it difficult to feel the measured rhythm of this ancient place. But to the mounds (if you don’t look at them before entering the village, and from their peaks to Staraya Ladoga itself), it’s better to really get there by car.

You will need a car, of course, even if you want to go to the waterfall, to the Tanechkina cave and to Novaya Ladoga, located 13 km away.

I think that it is unnecessary to remind me about the correct speed limit in the area of \u200b\u200bthe settlement, but I will touch on parking lots. When we arrive in Staraya Ladoga, we leave the car in the parking lot near one of the two monasteries. Parking there is good, free, designed for the entrance of sightseeing buses, that is, very roomy. And there is more security in this area. Opposite the fortress, you can park right on the side of the highway, since directly at the box office, parking spaces are intended only for museum employees.

Old Ladoga. Vacation with children

I am sure that going to Staraya Ladoga with children is the right decision! Especially if you can get on some summer festival. After all, for girls and boys, such spectacular events are very interesting!

But also in common days Here, of course, there is something to keep the kids busy. My advice: if your children are small, prepare in advance an interesting story that you can captivate them with while walking through the ancient fortress. As for schoolchildren, it is especially valuable for them to personally come into contact with the era of the Middle Ages, and not just study it from books. Then, at the history lesson, the children will be able to proudly show their friends a photo of the mound of the Prophetic Oleg and the Rurik Castle.

Wonderful nature, contemplation of the beauty of temple ensembles will also have a beneficial effect on the upbringing of a sense of beauty. And what to do with children between visits to museums, I already wrote in the "Things to do" section. Think ahead of time. After all, not every one of us, adults, likes to contemplate only museum expositions. Children especially need to switch from learning to play and have fun adventures.

And let it be joint entertainment or some kind of creative action. After all, taking an album, pencils, paints and, perhaps, even plasticine with you on a trip is not at all difficult!

Oh yes! You can also fly a kite, play a flying saucer and a ball.

After all, you got out of the city to the village, surrounded by wonderful nature!

Be sure to weave wreaths, run to the expanse near the mounds, listen to the tales that the waves of the gray-haired Volkhov will tell.

And yet, when my daughter was little, I often took her girlfriends with me on some short trip. It's great if you go with a large company, which includes several children.

Located 128 km from St. Petersburg, which is considered not just an ancient settlement, but the first capital of Northern Rus'.

There is an opportunity to visit Staraya Ladoga by purchasing an ordinary sightseeing tour.

Opening hours

The Church of St. George in warm, dry weather can be visited from May to October, but you can’t guess here.

Ticket prices

adults: 80 rubles;
preschoolers, schoolchildren, pensioners: 10 rubles;
full-time students of Russian universities: free of charge.

single ticket to view the exposition in the Gate Tower, the Church of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica and the exposition "Archaeology of Ladoga":

adults 150 rubles;
preschoolers: 10 rubles;
schoolchildren and pensioners 80 rubles.

Temple of George the Victorious:

adults: 80 rubles;
preschoolers: free;
schoolchildren, pensioners: 50 rubles.

There are also categories of benefits for some individuals, which you can read more about.
Be sure to read the rules for visiting the museum-reserve
For example, entry into the territory with pets is prohibited, it is also not allowed to smoke not only ordinary pipe cigarettes, but also electronic cigarettes, play on musical instruments etc.

Excursions

If you don't want to be limited to independent visiting the fortress and getting acquainted with its expositions located in the Gate Tower, in the recently restored and reopened small church of Dmitry Solunsky and in the church of St. George the Victorious (which can only be visited on fine days from May to October), then you should resort to the help of experienced guides, who conduct complex thematic excursions: "The Old Russian City of Ladoga" - 2.5 hours, "On the roads of medieval Ladoga" and others that you can learn about