Верхние Мандроги: Живописный уголок России

Verkhnie Mandrogi: A Picturesque Corner of Russia Verkhnie Mandrogi is a unique tourist complex situated on the banks of the Svir River, nestled between Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga. The village's main attraction is its restored 19th-century peasant houses, as well as museums and craft workshops. Located 270 kilometers from Saint Petersburg, Verkhnie Mandrogi can be reached by car. The journey begins on the Murmansk highway and then, after passing Lodeynoye Pole, turns onto the A-215 highway. After Svir'stroy, there's a turnoff onto a dirt road that leads directly to the village. However, the most convenient way to visit is by taking regular guided tour trips. The Svir River is navigable, and thus most tourists arrive on cruise ships. Founded in the 18th century, the indigenous Veps people, who were hunters, fishermen, and shipbuilders, initially inhabited the area. They also actively traded in furs. The Svir River, a part of a trade route, was fraught with shallows and rapids. Hence, the village's name "Mandrogi," which translates from the Veps language as "Rapids." During the reign of Peter I, ships for the Baltic Fleet were built here. The village developed rapidly, and by the beginning of World War II, the population exceeded half a million. From September 1941 to May 1944, the village was under Finnish occupation and was completely destroyed during the fighting. After the war, the village was not rebuilt. Today, Mandrogi Village is a museum that tells visitors about the rural life and traditions of our distant ancestors. Visitors can explore the village independently or join a guided tour. The heart of the tourist complex and its main attraction are the eight 19th-century peasant houses brought from remote villages in the Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions. One of the houses hosts the "Wedding House" museum, others contain craft workshops, and some even offer accommodations. Visitors can enter the workshops and participate in various craft masterclasses. In addition to the ancient Russian houses and courtyards, Mandrogi offers many other attractions: In the village center, protected by thick glass on a wooden platform, stands a Giant Valenok (felt boot), which entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2019. It took 500 kg of wool and 2.5 years to create. The Russian Vodka Museum not only offers insights into the history of distillation in Russia but also allows visitors to taste the exhibits. The museum's collection grows through exchanges with tourists, who can swap their bottle for another spirit from the museum's reserves. A windmill was built on the banks of the Svir River in the 2000s, based on old drawings and plans. Nearby, there's a bathhouse complex where tourists can experience a true Russian banya and birch twig whisk. By crossing the river by ferry, visitors can reach an island that houses a zoo and the "Lukomorye" museum, featuring wooden sculptures of characters from Pushkin's fairy tales, set amidst the forest. The ancient wooden Church of the Prophet Elisha, built in 1899 in the village of Sidozero, was dismantled and transported to Mandrogi in 2017. Various festivals and holidays, celebrating Russian folk traditions and customs, are held annually in Mandrogi. It's best to spend several days in the village, which offers a hotel and various guest houses, all built in the Old Russian style. There's also a restaurant on-site. For entertainment, visitors can enjoy horseback riding, carriage rides, fishing, and hunting. In winter, there are activities like tubing, ice skating, and skiing. In summer, guests can picnic outdoors or go mushroom and berry picking in the forest.