FROM PETER THE GREAT TO THE MODERN DAYS

Festival of traditional shipbuilding and navigation “Kizhskaya regata”

What is the first thing each student coming to learn Russian in Petrozavodsk hears? Right! The fact that the capital city of Karelia was founded by Peter the Great. In 1703 the Emperor ordered to construct the arms factory on Lososinka river and later on it served as an important fortification against the Swedes. Peter’s “sea passion” and  geographical position of Karelia have destined its future as closely bounded to naval expeditions and marine life. Since 18 century Karelian people have been honoring the gifts mother-nature brought and organized numerous holidays and festivals and the upcoming great festival is going to take place in July and August 2018.

The place for which Karelia is known by the whole world

Every summer about 170 000 tourists come to Karelia to visit the unique place included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. Somewhere in the Lake Onego famous Kizhi Pogost is situated. The impressive construction includes 2 wooden churches and a bell-tower that were built without a single nail in 17 century.  According to the legend, the builder threw into the lake the axe he was constructing the church with and said that nowhere in the world would man find something alike. Really and truly no one could reproduce the phenomenal buildings.

Spice up your Russian summer – greatest naval Festival in July and August

If you are currently choosing the right time to visit Karelian cultural and historical gem  think about coming to Russia in summer. More than 30 crews from Russia, Sweeden, Finland and Norway are to take part in annual traditional shipbuilding and navigation “Kizhskaya regata” from 30th of July to 5 of August. Some say the event is even more bright than famous Historical Regatta in Venice.  It is the first Russian competition in which sportsmen should use traditional wooden boats. Kids and adults come to the festival in order to:

• Try themselves in all sorts of marine professions from boat builders to the keepers of Kizhi museums;
• To choose the best boat constructed by Russian and foreign artists and learn more about Onego shipping traditions;
• To taste famous Karelian fish soup;
• To make their own wooden souvenirs, listen to folk bands and get driven away by locals’ performances.
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