Medgora: love and pigeons, dragon teeth and White Sea Canal

On the way from Petrozavodsk in an interesting and fascinating form with visual materials I will tell about the history of Karelia: from ancient volcanoes to the present day, reveal the secrets and highlights of our republic, answer any questions. You will learn about ancient volcanoes, glaciers and Sami, the first inhabitants of our lands.

We will move along the ideal highway of federal significance "Kola". The pearl of our trip will be the city of Medvezhyegorsk (160 km from Petrozavodsk) - the extreme northern point of Lake Onega.

Many Medvezhyegorsk is known as the location of the filming of the legendary Soviet film “Love and Pigeons”, filmed by Oscar-winning director Vladimir Menshov. First of all, we will examine the location of the filming of the famous lyrical comedy, shot in 1984. We will see the dovecote, veranda and wooden flooring, go into the hallway of the house and watch photos that will refresh our memories of the most vivid episodes of this film. Next we will walk along the banks of the river Kumsa and look at the dance floor.

Our next attraction: Museum "Karhumyaki Castle". "Karhumyaki Castle" (from the Finnish words karhu - bear and mäki - mountain) was created on the site of fortifications erected by Finnish troops on the orders of K. G. Mannerheim during the occupation of Medvezhyegorsk in 1941-1944. The Finnish commander-in-chief personally visited the occupied territories to check the process of building the defense line.

Today, the museum is a powerful complex of military buildings: You will see with your own eyes dots, zots, barracks carved into the rock, underground passages and stairs, as well as trenches. Catacombs and underground caves, which served as bunkers, cause genuine interest among all our guests, excite the imagination and tickle nerves. This walk will not leave anyone indifferent - neither children nor adults. The duration of the tour with a local guide is 1 hour.

Then we will drive around the city, you will see the building of an old wooden station built in 1916, learn the history of the station and the legend associated with the appearance of the name Bear Gora. I will talk about the stages of its development and transformation into the city of Medvezhyegorsk. We will also visit the anti-tank fortifications "Dragon Teeth", located in the pine forest.

In one of the cafes of Medvezhyegorsk, we will be able to have a tight lunch in the Karelian style: the menu has an ear in Karelian from perch, lohikeito, borscht, perch in Karelian, muffin fried with onions, kebab and dumplings. None of the guests will be hungry!

Next, we will be waiting for the road along the shore of Lake Onega to Povenets (23 km from Medgora). About this settlement, first mentioned in the annals of 1496, in the old days they said "Povenets - the white end of the light." In Peter’s times, the Osudarya Road was held here, and in 1931-33 the village was the center of construction of the White Sea-Baltic Canal. We will visit the 1st, 2nd and 3rd gateways of the White Sea Canal, and I will tell you about its history.

Nearby is the Church of Nicholas the Wonderworker, if you wish, we can look inside. The Church of St. Nicholas was built in memory of the prisoners of the Gulag who died during the construction of the White Sea-Baltic Canal in 2003. The temple is more like a defensive tower with small windows than a religious place. The architecture of the church is so unusual that it surprises all tourists who find themselves in these parts. There is no such temple in all of Karelia.

On the way back, I will tell you in more detail about Veps, Karelians and Finns, as well as about the modern features of Karelia. We will listen to Karelian music, watch Karelian films and guess Karelian mysteries.

Total length of the route: 380 km.

• Transfer on a comfortable car Volkswagen Polo 2019
• Author's excursion and travel information about Karelia
• Distribution and information materials
• Baby booster and child seat
• Mineral water "Karelian pearl"

Not included in the price:

• Entrance tickets to the "Karkhumyaki Castle" (adults - 500 rubles, schoolchildren, students, veterans - 100 rubles, children under 7 years, heroes of the Russian Federation and the USSR, museum staff - free).
• Entrance tickets to the courtyard of the shooting place “Love and Pigeons” (adults – 200 rubles)
• Meals along the route