Open the left menu of the nightingale. Botanical garden in Makaryevskaya desert. Big Zayatsky Island

Solovki is a fabulous corner at the end of the world, striking with the grandeur of nature and the beauty of monuments ancient Russian architecture. If you visit one day Solovetsky Islands, You will never forget them. This northern world accepts tourists mainly from June to September. Such a short period of hospitality of the Solovetsky Islands is explained by the severity of the northern climate. Spring comes here only in the second half of May, and the snow in the ravines begins to melt only in July. The best time to travel to Solovki is June - July. During these months, the Solovetsky Islands are dominated by white nights.

Solovki is located in the White Sea, near the entrance to Onega Bay. They are more than 60 kilometers away from the mainland. The Solovetsky archipelago includes 6 major islands: Bolshoy Solovetsky Island (about 250 sq. km), Anzersky Island (about 127.5 sq. km), Bolshaya Muksalma and Malaya Muksalma, Bolshoi Zayatsky Island and Maly Zayatsky Island - plus countless small islands (Pes'i, Sennye, etc. .d.). total area Solovkov is about 800 sq. km.

The nature of the Solovetsky Islands is surprisingly rich. Despite the proximity of the Arctic Circle, centuries-old pines, spruces, cedars, birches, maples, hazels, cherries, viburnums, mountain ash, wild roses grow here. In summer, the forests of Solovki abound with berries: blueberries, blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries and raspberries.

Big Solovetsky Island

Bolshoy Solovetsky Island is dotted with lakes (there are about 500 of them) and cut up by bays and bays along the coast. The sketes are mainly concentrated in the northwestern part of the island. To the left is the sea. To the right are a number of lakes. Around them - dense coniferous forest. And mossy boulders are scattered throughout the territory. The highest point of the Big Solovetsky Island is Sekirnaya Hill, which is 85 meters above sea level. On the top of Sekirnaya Gora in 1860-1861, a large white single-dome church of the Savior-Voznesensky Skete was erected. At the end of the 19th century, this church served as a lighthouse, the light of which was visible for dozens of miles.

Of particular interest is the shipping lake system Big Solovetsky Island. This shipping route, 12 km long, was created in the late XIX - early XX centuries. It consists of 5 canals connecting the lakes: Bolshoy Peter, Krasnoe Orlovo, Shchuchye, Valdai, Maloye Krasnoe and Krasnoe.

Anzersky island

Anzersky Island is not as strict and majestic as Bolshoi Solovetsky. Even its nature is softer: low birches, stunted pines, continuous thickets of heather, strawberries, willow-herb, flowers everywhere: datura, forest geranium, calendula.

Anzer also has architectural structures. The Anzer Skete was founded in 1620. It is located on the isthmus between Troitskaya Bay and the lake. Here stands the Trinity Church with a bell tower. It is with the Anzer Skete that the history of the beginning of monasticism is connected.

Speaking about the heroes of our article, it is difficult to single out any sights - because all the Solovetsky Islands are one big, unique sight. The Solovetsky Islands are listed world heritage UNESCO. In addition to numerous funds and complexes of Russian origin. ( 25 photos)

The Solovetsky Islands are located in,. Consist of 6 main islands and more than 100 smaller ones. But what kind of islands these are, it is difficult to convey the combination of atmosphere with the beauty reigning here.

This is a place that since the 5th century BC. was chosen by people, and since then echoes of their presence have reached us. The Islands are full of attractions. different people and nationalities.

For example, you can find incomprehensible labyrinths made of stone, in the form of a circle. Archaeologists suggest that these were the centers of pagan temples, built around the 3rd century.

Morning on the Solovetsky Islands photo.

But the main attraction of the islands are the unique Orthodox monasteries. The most popular and largest is the Stauropegial Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery built in 1429. The monastery is included in the UNESCO list, as well as in the Russian collection of especially valuable objects.

It's just amazing that like this, in the middle of the street, you can stumble upon a huge watchtower. Solovetsky Islands - attractions and photo.

In Soviet times, the monastery was used as a special prison for a long time. Monastic services have resumed since 1990.

There are enough buildings on the islands that are less significant, but also very ancient, such as office buildings.

On one of the Solovetsky Islands there is a large defensive fortress built in the 15th century, made of huge boulders with the use of mortar, which allowed it to survive to this day almost unchanged.

Despite the fact that all the Solovetsky Islands is one big exhibit, you can visit such a museum, with small but ancient objects.

IN Botanical Garden leads a road that passes under the canopy of beautiful larches growing on both sides of the alley, and on the side of the road one can see massive light green leaves of bergenia. On a low hill there is a garden strawberry plantation, and at its foot there is a magnificent beautiful cedar grove. The air here is incredibly clean.

Passing further, visitors to the Garden find themselves on a plot with well-groomed beds and greenhouses, and along its edges an apple and cherry orchard, and behind them - dense thickets of lilacs. During the flowering of the lilac, its scent is interrupted by thousands of large crimson roses that cover the clearing along the road. This plant looks like a wild rose, but in fact, it is a rather rare species - the Himalayan wrinkled rose. There is a legend that the Dalai Lama himself sent the seeds of this plant as a gift to the abbots of the Solovetsky monastery from distant Tibet ...

Botanical Garden Solovki - absolutely unique place with over 500 plant species. Apple trees that are over 100 years old still bear fruit here. Since 1989, the employees of the Solovetsky Museum-Reserve have been working on the restoration historical appearance garden.

Solovetsky Monastery

In the White Sea on the Solovetsky Islands is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery. It appeared in the 15th century.

Under Soviet rule, there was the first special purpose camp in the country, the buildings of the monastery fell into decay ...

In 1990, monastic life resumed here. Now it is a functioning monastery, it has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

What sights of the Solovetsky Islands did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Big Zayatsky Island

Big Zayatsky Island is clearly visible from southwest coast the largest island Solovetsky archipelago. Since ancient times, the path of seafarers to the Solovetsky Islands and further to the White Sea passed through the Zayatsky Islands. In a narrow strait between the islands, sailors could take refuge from strong White Sea storms.

The island has both natural and architectural and historical sights. The main monument of the Big Zayatsky Island is St. Andrew's Church. This is a whole architectural ensemble, consisting of several stone buildings. Once the complex belonged to the monastery Andreevskaya Hermitage. The construction of the temple is associated with a visit to Solovki by Peter I, which took place in 1702. It was then that the emperor ordered to build a wooden church in honor of St. Andrew the First-Called on the shore of the local harbor. There is a version that it was during the construction of the church that Tsar Peter invented and approved the St. Andrew's banner, which became a symbol of the Russian Navy.

Another attraction of the Big Zayatsky Island is the ancient stone labyrinths. Historians date them to the 1st-2nd century BC. Such man-made stone structures About 500 are known along the shores of the Barents, White and Baltic Seas. The inhabitants of the islands call these labyrinths "Babylons". The history of their origin remains a mystery to this day, but most likely they were used for religious ceremonies.

Mount Sekirnaya is a high hill (73.5 m) on the Big Solovetsky Island. The mountain is the most high point on the archipelago. According to legend, a woman was whipped by angels on this mountain because she wanted to settle on the island.

At the top of the mountain is the Ascension Skete, built in 1860 by the architect Shakhlarev. The temple is completed by a bell tower, above which, under the dome, a lighthouse was located from the very beginning of its existence. The skete has survived to our times.

In Soviet times, a punishment cell operated on the mountain, the 4th department of the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp (SLON).

From Sekirnaya Gora opens beautiful view on Savvatiyevo - the place where the founders of the Solovetsky Monastery, St. Savvaty and Herman, originally settled in 1429. The mountain is located 11 km from the monastery. At its foot there are several worship crosses.

Makaryevskaya Hermitage

In the depths of the largest island of the Solovetsky archipelago, right in the middle of the forest, there is a beautiful oasis - the Botanical Garden of Gorka Farm, which is also known as Makaryevskaya Pustyn. It was founded in 1822, when Archimandrite Macarius set up cells for monks seeking solitude. Over time, deserts were named after him. Famous for his deeds for the benefit of the monastery, Macarius often himself retired to his desert in order to find peace and tranquility there. Under Archimandrite Porfiry, greenhouses with underground soil heating were built in the desert, thanks to which it became possible to grow watermelons, melons and even peaches here.

In Soviet times, when a camp was located on the Solovetsky Islands, the residence of the deputy head of the camps was arranged in the garden on the Gorka farm. Visitors to the former "cottage" of the archimandrite, who happened to go inside, noted the rich decoration with beautiful tapestries, Persian carpets and stylish furniture. Botanical experiments were not stopped, and the plant collection almost doubled. In 1933, an alley of larch trees was planted here.

Surviving a period of desolation and subsequent restoration, Makaryevskaya Pustyn became the most wonderful place on the Big Solovetsky Island. Plants bloom here almost all year round, and the forest surrounding the monastery protects it from bad weather. This is real paradise on the archipelago.

Sekirnaya mountain

Mount Sekirnaya, being the highest point of the archipelago, is perfectly visible from the sea. In ancient times, this place was deserted, completely covered with dense dense forest. Tradition says that it was here, at the foot of the Sekirnaya, that the monks Herman and Savvaty entered the Solovki shore. And in 1429 they erected a cross and built a small cell and spent time in prayer.

Before the appearance of St. Herman and Savvaty, there were no permanent residents on the island - only occasionally fishing boats came here. There is a legend that once on the top of the mountain two angels carved the wife of a fisherman they had caught. It was a sign from above that the island belonged undividedly to the monks, and no one disturbed them in seclusion from the bustle of the world. It is with this case that the origin of the name of the mountain is associated.

On the top of Sekirnaya Mountain, the only temple-lighthouse in the world, the central temple of the Sekiro-Voznesensky Skete, was built. Day and night it illuminated the way for ships for 40 miles.

In Soviet times, a punishment cell of a special purpose camp for delinquent prisoners was set up here. But these gloomy pages of history have long been turned over, and the spiritual life on the island is being revived.

Solovetsky Kremlin

The Solovetsky Kremlin, a real pearl of the Russian north, is a majestic, bright and uncommon building. Its walls are made of granite boulders, polished as a result of many years of work of the glacier and sea ​​water. Due to its natural properties, this building material not only has excellent structural and shockproof characteristics, but also gives the monument an absolutely unique and unrepeatable appearance. And the cobblestones of different sizes, shapes and shades give a special impressiveness to the architecture of the Kremlin. The silhouettes of the walls and towers are made so skillfully that they do not disturb the surrounding landscape at all, harmoniously complementing it. One can rightfully say about the Solovetsky Kremlin - a real miracle of fortification architecture.

On the territory of the Kremlin there are numerous architectural monuments having the most important historical and artistic meaning. Thanks to the strong ties of the Solovetsky monastery with Novgorod and Moscow, the churches were decorated by the best craftsmen who painted the walls and created wonderful works of arts and crafts. formed at that time cultural tradition had a serious impact on the subsequent development of the monastery complex, becoming the standard for subsequent generations of masters.

Built at the beginning of the 17th century, the stone fortress survived greatest events in history Russian state. She remembers the events of the times of the "Solovki Sitting" under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and the events of the Crimean War. From time immemorial, unwanted and criminals were sent to prison here, and in the 1920s and 30s a special purpose camp was located here. All these events seem to be imprinted forever in the harsh and majestic walls of the Solovetsky Kremlin.

Are you curious to know how well you know the sights of the Solovetsky Islands? .

Solovetsky Maritime Museum

Private museum dedicated to Pomeranian seafaring traditions. It is located on the shore of the Bay of Prosperity in the former monastery barn for rowing boats - a large log building, standing literally by the water.

A rare case: the museum is free.

The exposition is very interesting, chosen by the organizers - Solovki enthusiasts - with great love. These people are still systematically studying maritime history Russia in the region White Sea, organize ethnographic expeditions, collecting materials and objects in them, which then replenish the museum's collection.

The central exhibit of Solovetsky maritime museum- the yacht "Saint Peter", a reconstruction of an old Dutch-style vessel, on which Peter the Great arrived in Solovki in 1693.

The most popular attractions on the Solovetsky Islands with descriptions and photos for every taste. choose best places for visiting famous places Solovetsky Islands on our website.

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More sights of the Solovetsky Islands

The Solovetsky Islands are an archipelago in the White Sea at the entrance to the Onega Bay. The area is 347 km². This is the largest archipelago of the White Sea basin. The Solovetsky Islands consist of six large islands: Solovetsky (Big Solovetsky) Island, Anzersky Island, or Anzer, Bolshaya Muksalma, Malaya Muksalma, Bolshoi Zayatsky Island, Maly Zayatsky Island. The archipelago also includes more than 100 small islands.

The Solovetsky archipelago, as well as the five-kilometer water area of ​​the White Sea, are included in the specially protected area - the Federal State Institution "Solovki State Historical, Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve". On the Big Solovetsky Island there is a zone of strict conservation. Visiting this area is prohibited.

The first settlements on the Solovetsky archipelago arose in the III millennium BC. e. These were the sites of ancient fishermen and hunters on about. Anzer, possibly belonging to representatives of the archaeological culture of Komsa.

In the II and I millennium BC. e. on the Solovetsky Islands by the Saami tribes who inhabited the southern and West Coast White Sea, pagan temples were built, as well as some megalithic buildings. In the XII and XIII centuries. Slavic colonists first came to Solovki, and in the 15th century. Solovki became part of the fishing grounds of Khovra Toivutova, a representative of the Korelian family. The presence of the Saami on Solovki is reminiscent of seids, for example, on Hare Island.

In the 1430s, the monk Savvaty came to Solovki, where he met the Monk Herman. The date of foundation of the monastic settlement is considered to be 1436, the time of the appearance of the Monk Zosima on Solovki. In the 1460s, three wooden churches(Preobrazhenskaya, Nikolskaya and Uspenskaya), as well as a refectory. A letter of commendation was received from the Lord of Veliky Novgorod, which was confirmed in 1479 by Ivan III.

The territory of the monastery is surrounded by massive walls (height - from 8 to 11 meters, thickness - from 4 to 6 meters) with 7 gates and 8 towers, built in 1584-1594 under the guidance of the architect Tryphon. The walls are built of huge stones up to 5 meters in size. On the territory of the monastery there are religious buildings connected by covered passages, surrounded by residential and utility rooms.

The Solovetsky Monastery ceased to function as religious building with the advent of Soviet power and a special purpose camp on Solovki (in 1920), however, on October 25, 1990, it resumed its activities.

The first prisoner on Solovki (whose imprisonment was officially documented) was hegumen Artemy, who opposed the church nobility and church land ownership. The abbot was condemned by the Church Assembly in 1553 and exiled to the Solovetsky Monastery with an order "to stay inside the monastery with a great fortress, in a silent cell."

Special prison cells were organized in one of the towers of the Solovetsky Monastery. These were small and dark rooms with small openings instead of a door through which the prisoners entered. In the 19th century locals they talked about the harsh regime in this prison - the prisoners were smoked, walled up, tortured. The monastery prison was constantly expanding. In 1798, a building built earlier was adapted for the prison, and in 1842 a special three-story building and special barracks for prison guards were built for prisoners. In the new prison, in the semi-underground lower floor, there were small closets, without benches and windows, where especially important criminals were placed.

In 1835, a gendarme audit of the Solovetsky prison was carried out, the audit recognized that the prisoners of the Solovetsky prison were punished, significantly exceeding their guilt. As a result of the check, several of the prisoners were released, and some were transferred to ordinary monastic cells. After the revision, a decree was issued, which was designed to prohibit putting people in monastic prisons without special permission from the emperor. The last prisoners of the Solovetsky monastic prison were taken out in 1883, but guard soldiers were kept at it until 1886.

In the 1920s, the Solovki state farm and a forced labor camp were organized on the site of the monastery. Since 1923, one of the first concentration camps for opponents of Soviet power, the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp (SLON), was located on Solovki.

In 1937, the SLON was reorganized into a prison. In 1939, the prison on Solovki was liquidated, the archipelago was transferred to the Northern Fleet, and a training detachment of the Northern Fleet was organized on the islands.

In 1942-1945, a Jung school functioned on the islands. In 1944, an island council was organized, which in 1971 was renamed the village council.

In 1987, a district council was created on Solovki, and locality on the archipelago received the official name "Solovki settlement". In 1990, religious activity was resumed on the Solovetsky Islands.

In 1992, the Solovetsky Historical and Cultural Complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 1995 - in the State Code of Especially Valuable Objects. cultural heritage peoples of the Russian Federation.

Most great importance(as an archaeological monument) have Solovetsky labyrinths. In general, about 40 labyrinths were found on the shores of the White Sea, of which more than 30 are on the Solovetsky Islands Arkhangelsk region, on Novaya Zemlya, several monuments in Murmansk region at the mouth of the Ponoi River, near the city of Kandalaksha and the village of Umba. Three labyrinths were found on the territory of Karelia, one in the Chupinsky Bay and two on the Kuzov archipelago.

The beginning of the study of the labyrinths of the North was laid by the prisoner of the SLON N. N. Vinogradov back in the 1920s. The first description of the Solovetsky labyrinths is found in the description of the monastery, compiled by Archimandrite Dositheus:

On Zayatsky Island, near which the Russian fleet was stationed, the Sovereign (Peter I) ordered to build a wooden church in the name of St. Andrew the Apostle. Also, not far from this church, a Babylon, or labyrinth, was laid out on the ground in two rows of cobblestones, which is still visible.

Other sources claim that Peter I had nothing to do with the construction of labyrinths.

exact destination stone labyrinths, which are found everywhere in the North (most in Scandinavia), is not known. However, most archaeologists associate labyrinths with the cult of the dead. This is confirmed by some facts, including the fact that on the Big Zayatsky Island, archaeologists found burnt human bones and stone tools under stone heaps. Mariusz Wilk, in his book Wolf's Notebook, claims that the Sami believed in the relocation of souls after death to neighboring islands - the islands of the Kuzova archipelago. According to Vilk, labyrinths are needed so that the soul cannot return from the heavenly afterlife to the world of the living - with such a return, the soul must get lost in the labyrinth and return back to Kuzov.

The exact time of the construction of labyrinths on the Solovetsky Islands is still unknown, but most scientists attribute them to the 1st-2nd centuries BC. BC e. Today, labyrinths like the ancient ones have been built. These labyrinths are located in the southern part of the Big Solovetsky Island on the coast of the White Sea.

The Solovetsky Islands are a unique place. On a small archipelago in a unique natural, historical and cultural complex which has no analogues in the world. The largest and richest in sights is Solovetsky Island, on which the famous Solovetsky Monastery has been operating for more than one century.

Nature

The islands arose 9000 years ago at one of the stages in the formation of the White Sea, when, after melting large glacier compensatory uplift occurred. 2/3 of the entire area of ​​the archipelago is occupied by Bolshoi Solovetsky Island.

The archipelago is located in the taiga zone. The landscapes of the islands are unusually picturesque and varied: high hills are replaced by lakes, flowering meadows - vast swamps. 70% of the area is covered with forests, mainly spruce and pine. About 5% of the area is occupied by tundra complexes. Dry crowberry tundras are characteristic of coastal zone, where they are followed by a strip of crooked birch forests (winding birch). In the central part of the islands, birch and aspen forests appear at the site of clearings and fires. Meadows on the coast and in the center of the islands occupy 0.1-0.2% of the total area and are characterized by a rich species composition of meadow vegetation. About 15% of the territory of the islands are swamps with a predominance of riding and transitional varieties. Such a wide range of landscapes, presented on an area of ​​only about 300 km², is one of the amazing natural features of the Solovetsky archipelago.

There are over 550 lakes on the islands. They differ in size, shape, origin, color of water, but all of them are very picturesque.

Where are the Solovetsky Islands

The Solovetsky archipelago, consisting of six large islands and over a hundred small ones, is located in the western part of the White Sea, 290 kilometers northwest of the city of Arkhangelsk, the center of the Arkhangelsk region. The total area of ​​the islands is 300 km². They include such islands as:

• Solovetsky (Big Solovetsky) - 218.72 km²;
• Anzersky - 47.11 km²;
• Big Muksalma - 18.96 km²;
• Malaya Muksalma - 1.2 km²;
• Big 3ayatsky - 1.25 km²;
• Small Zayatsky - 1.1 km².

Story

The history of the Solovetsky Islands begins with their development by man in the Late Mesolithic. In the III millennium BC. sea ​​hunters and fishermen discovered the Solovetsky Islands and began their development, which continued until the Middle Ages. Numerous traces of their economic and utilitarian and religious activities have been found on Solovki: more than 20 settlements, sites and workshops, four sanctuaries in combination with ancient sites, many single stone labyrinths, thousands of artifacts.

The primitive inhabitants of Solovki were engaged in specific hunting for sea animals and island lake-forest game, fishing, coastal gathering, and the manufacture of stone tools. Collections of arrows, darts, hunting anchors, ceramics, a unique cult drilled ax and many other items were found at their sites. The ancient inhabitants of the archipelago were engaged in the construction of stone labyrinths in which they built sanctuaries.

Foundation of the stauropegial male Solovetsky monastery

Solovetsky Island became the place of foundation monastery in the 30s of the 15th century by immigrants from Kirillo-Belozersky and monks Savvaty, Herman and Zosima as the monastery of the Savior and Wonderworker Nicholas. During the XV-XVI centuries. the monastery gradually grew, acquiring large islands of the archipelago in its possession.

By the end of the 15th century, the monks erected three wooden churches: Assumption, Nikolskaya and Preobrazhenskaya, numerous wooden cells and outbuildings, surrounded by a wooden fence.

Spiritual stronghold of the Russian North

In the middle of the 16th century, the monastery entered a period of serious economic transformations associated with the name of hegumen Philip (Kolychev), a reformer, architect, energetic and talented business executive. Roads were built here in the 1550s-1560s, but a “milk yard” with deer and cattle was founded on the island of B. Muksalma. To provide the population of the monastery with running water, 52 lakes of the Solovetsky Island were connected by drinking canals. For defense in 1582-1594. a stone fortress wall with towers and gates was erected. Annunciation (Gate) Church was built in 1596-1600.

Throughout the 17th century, the Solovetsky Monastery continued to take shape as an administrative, economic, spiritual, military-political and Cultural Center White Sea. In the XVIII-XX centuries. it was one of the places of exile and imprisonment of state criminals.

After the revolution of 1917 began to take shape new Russia. The Solovetsky Islands ceased to be a spiritual center, and the monastery was abolished. In April 1920, the Arkhangelsk provincial commission began the nationalization of the monastery property. The Administration of the Solovetsky Islands was organized and at the same time the Solovki state farm was organized, which existed until 1923. The establishment of the state farm did not mean the elimination of monasticism. About 200 monks were civilian workers, a religious community was organized, the activities of which were controlled by the Administration of the Solovetsky Islands.

Gulag Archipelago

From 1923 to 1939, the territory of the islands and all the buildings of the former Solovetsky Monastery were occupied by the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camps of the OGPU-NKVD (SLON). Organized on the basis of Kholmogorsk, Pertominsk and Arkhangelsk, the Solovetsky camps were among the largest in Russia. The composition of the prisoners in the SLON changed at different times. Among them were representatives of the Russian aristocracy, the church, the intelligentsia, all pre-revolutionary political parties, criminal elements convicted under household affairs, representatives of national parties and many others.

Among those exiled to the SLON were scientists and cultural figures, writers, poets, religious figures of Russia: professor, art historian A.E. Anisimov, historian I.D. Antsiferov, inventor B.A. Artemiev, Professor S.A. Askoldov, historian B.B. Bakhtin, artist I.E. Braz, a descendant of the Decembrists A.B. Bobrischev-Dushkin, poet M.N. Voronoi, ethnographer N.N. Vinogradov, writer 0.B. Bolkov, historian G.O. Gordon, poet A.K. Gorsky, academician priest, scientist-encyclopedist D.A. Florensky and others.

Sights of the historical and cultural complex

The historical and cultural complex of the Solovetsky Islands is the only one of its kind, unique in the integrity and completeness of the ensembles and complexes preserved in it, religious, residential, defensive, economic, hydraulic structures, a network of roads and irrigation systems of the Middle Ages, as well as archaeological complexes, monuments reflecting ancient and medieval pre-monastic island culture. They are concentrated in different parts of the large islands of the archipelago, but, geographically and historically interconnected, they form a single, inseparable whole. Its various components represent all periods of the history of the archipelago and of the Russian North as a whole.

The components of the historical and cultural complex of the Solovetsky archipelago are:

• Monastery-fortress of the 15th-20th centuries, a former monastic settlement of the 16th-20th centuries, hermitages and deserts of the 16th-20th centuries;
• Fishing huts, island hydrotechnical and irrigation systems;
• Complexes "sanctuary-parking" III-I millennia BC on Bolshaya Zayatsky and Anzersky islands;
• Groups of memorial buildings of the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp 1923-1939. on the territory of the village and on the site of a brick factory;
• natural landscapes.

The center of the historical and cultural complex of the archipelago is the Solovetsky Monastery - an integral unique architectural ensemble. Its buildings are distinguished by their rare monumentality, the bright individual appearance of many structures and, at the same time, the integrity of all its parts.

Other attractions

archaeological and historical places and almost all the Solovetsky Islands are famous for their amazing objects. Attractions worthy special attention are located on the following islands:

• Anzersky: Trinity Skete (XVII), Trinity Church (1880-1884), Golgotha-Crucifixion Skete (XIX).
• Big Zayatsky: Zayatsky (Andreevsky) Skete (XVI), boulder harbor, Stone Harbor (XVI), Church of St. Andrew the First-Called.
• Bolshaya Muksalma: Sergiev Skete (XVI), a boulder dam that connected Muksalma with the large Solovetsky Island (XIX).

Flora

The labyrinths of the Solovetsky Islands have become home to 500 plant species. Among the natural-territorial island complexes there are habitats for endangered and rare plant species. Scientists study, preserve and increase them. Arriving on the island, you must carefully treat local flora, because a plucked unusual flower can be a rare species. The following representatives of the flora need special protection: common wolfberry, two-leaved lyubka, spotted orchis, male shield, broad-leaved orchid, Siberian pine, northern girtwort, recumbent lauseleuria, sea arctic mustard and others.

The coastal waters of the White Sea are one of the richest in algal flora and the most productive region of the basin (there are 160 species of bottom algae).

Fauna

Animal world in force insular position Solovki and the northern location of the archipelago are not distinguished by a large variety of mammals. Two of their species appeared here thanks to man. These are the reindeer, brought to the islands in the 16th century, and the muskrat, which appeared here in the 1920s.

The avifauna of the islands is richer in terms of the number of species. Nearly 200 species of birds have been recorded on Solovki. Among them are the "Red Book": white-tailed eagle, osprey, shelduck, puffin. Of exceptional interest is one of the largest colonies of Arctic tern in Europe and the largest colony of black-backed gulls in Russia. Greatest variety species stands out the island of Solovetsky.

From marine mammals ringed seal, white whale, bearded seal and harp seal are common in coastal waters. On the coast of Anzer Island there are mass haul-outs of pinnipeds, and herds of beluga whales numbering up to several hundred individuals approach the western part of the Big Solovetsky Island.

Ecotourism

The archipelago presents big interest for people, nature lovers. Tourists come to the Solovetsky Islands not only to visit the famous monastery. Sights of nature are also worthy of attention. Surprisingly diverse landscapes will allow you to wander through the taiga in a compact area, enjoy the greenery of meadows and the beauty of lakes, and watch the wildlife.

The bays of the archipelago are unique. The most beautiful, with many small islands, Long Bay is a unique reservoir inhabited by relic arctic forms of invertebrates, representing a practically closed ecosystem. The Trinity Bay is beautiful, almost cutting Anzersky Island in two.

The nature of the Solovetsky Archipelago is of outstanding value, as it reflects the main periods of the post-glacial geological history of the North, the history of interaction with humans, contains amazingly beautiful landscapes and is a habitat for rare bird species and large bird colonies. People who are passionate about their native nature are strongly recommended to visit the Solovetsky Islands.

How to get to Solovki in winter

The direction of the route depends on the vagaries of the weather and seasons. In winter, movement is severely limited, get ordinary tourist The islands can only be reached by air from Arkhangelsk:

• From the airport "Talagi" on Tuesdays and Sundays, the plane of the airline "Nord Avia" (AN-24) flies. Flight time - 45 minutes.
• From the airport "Vaskovo" on Fridays, the company "2nd AOAO" (L-410) operates flights.

How to get to the islands in summer

As the weather improves, the number of possible options for visiting the Solovetsky Islands increases significantly. Let's take a closer look at how to get to the archipelago in the spring-autumn period. In addition to flights from Arkhangelsk, routes from Karelia also open at this time.

It is recommended to get to Arkhangelsk from the regions by plane or train. For vehicles, local roads will be a real test. As in winter, Solovki can be reached by air. Flights from Talagi Airport (NordAvia) operate on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. From "Vaskovo" (2nd JSC) - on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The most romantic way is to travel by boat to the Solovetsky Islands from the Karelian cities of Kem and Belomorsk. In directions from Moscow and St. Petersburg, these cities can be reached by the Murmansk train. From the pier Rabocheostrovsk (Kem), the motor ships Metel and Vasily Kosyakov sail daily to Solovki. From Belomorsk the ship "Sapphire" goes. The islands also run "river minibuses" - small boats delivering pilgrims and unorganized tourists. Airplanes and boats deliver passengers to main island- Solovetsky.