Kizhi facts. Kizhi - amazing facts about the fabulous island. Church of the Transfiguration

Perhaps the most famous attraction of Karelia is the island of Kizhi with a unique architectural ensemble. This island is located in the northern part Lake Onega. Its length is 7 km, width in various places from 0.5 to 1.5 km. In 1966, the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum was founded here. Now he is known throughout the world. Tourists not only from Russia, but also from other countries of the world come here to admire the masterpieces of wooden architecture. Excursions from Petrozavodsk and St. Petersburg are regularly organized. In 1990, the museum on the island of Kizhi entered the List World Heritage UNESCO, and in 1993 - to the State Code of Especially Valuable Objects of the Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of Russia. In 2011, the Kizhi Museum received the title the best museum Russia. So we can say with confidence that it is the “pearl” of not only Karelia, but the entire country. The Kizhi Museum regularly hosts various folk festivals and other events.

Interesting fact, when pronouncing the word “Kizhi”, the emphasis is placed on both the first and second syllables. Moreover, in Karelia the first option is often used, and the generally accepted option in other regions of Russia is with emphasis on the second syllable.

The name of the island of Kizhi comes from the Karelian word “kizhat”, which can be translated as “games”. In the 10th century settlers from Novgorod began to develop the harsh northern lands; they began cultivating the land, fishing, and raising livestock. It is the Novgorodians who are the ancestors of modern Kizhans. In the 15th century, Novgorod was annexed to the Moscow state, and along with it the Kizhi lands were annexed. The first documentary mentions of the Kizhi Pogost date back to around that time. Here the word “pogost” means several villages interconnected. The administrative and religious center was located on the island of Kizhi.

Already in those days there were places of worship. Peasant unrest is known from history. The fact is that in the 17th century. Iron smelting plants were built on Lake Onega, and many Karelian peasants were assigned to these enterprises. But the freedom-loving northerners, accustomed to minding their own business, rebelled. There are two widely known riots in history, both of which were brutally suppressed. In 1697, a fire broke out from a lightning strike during a severe thunderstorm. Many buildings were destroyed. After some time, their restoration began.

So, why does the Kizhi Museum so attract tourists from all over the world? What objects does it include? Here is a unique architectural ensemble- a wonderful example of wooden architecture. First of all, there are two wooden churches and the bell tower of the 18th–19th centuries, which were originally located here. By the time they were built, the art of carpentry had reached its peak. It is clear that gradually wooden buildings are giving way to stone ones. The churches in Kizhi are a magnificent example of traditional wooden architecture in the north of Russia. In addition, after the formation of the museum, a number of other buildings from different regions Karelia. It should also be noted picturesque nature, which surrounds all this splendor.

Another building on Kizhi Island is the Church of the Intercession (or Church of the Intercession of the Virgin). This is the so-called “winter” (i.e. heated) temple. It was built in 1764. Its creators faced a difficult task - after all, nearby was the magnificent Church of the Transfiguration, with which the newly built temple should be in harmony. And it was perfectly implemented. The Intercession Church does not claim the greatness of the Transfiguration Church, but only complements it. Its roof is crowned with nine domes - one central, which is surrounded by eight more.

The third object, which was originally located on the island and was not moved here during the formation of the museum, is the tented bell tower. It was built in 1863 on the site of an old dilapidated bell tower. It consists of two log houses: the lower part is a tetrahedral frame, with a smaller octagonal one installed on it. There is a belfry on top, and a tent above it. The tented bell tower perfectly complements the churches described above.

Also on the island of Kizhi there are several buildings that were transported here already in the 20th century. several years before the opening of the museum. Firstly, the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus. This is the oldest surviving structure in Karelia. According to legend, many centuries ago the Venerable Monk Lazar east coast Lake Onega founded the Murom Monastery. He also built the church, which was the first building of the monastery. It is named after the biblical character - Lazarus of Bethany, his miraculous resurrection is described by John in the New Testament. This church was the main relic of the monastery; it was believed that it relieves serious illnesses. During the years of Soviet power, an agricultural commune was organized on the site of the Murom Monastery. In 1959, the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus was dismantled and transported to Kizhi. In 1960 it was restored. The iconostasis of 17 icons from the 16th–18th centuries has been preserved.

The Chapel of Michael the Archangel, including a hipped bell tower, was transported to the island of Kizhi in 1961. Previously, it was located in the village of Lelikozero.

Also on Kizhi Island you can see a windmill built in 1928. In 1976 it was reconstructed. The mill is still in operation today. The body is mounted on a vertical shaft, so it can be rotated in the direction of the wind. Eight wings are mounted on a horizontal shaft.

Kizhi is beautiful island, located in Lake Onega, in Karelia.

Open and inhabited since ancient times, the island of Kizhi is a huge museum of architecture.

From time immemorial, Kizhi was famous for its craft. Once upon a time, artists and poets lived here, passing on their skills through generations. It was here that the epics about Ilya Muromets and Vladimir the Red Sun were created...

Having taken the first step on the island and breathed in the first breath of air, you begin to feel the spirit of bright antiquity and boundless freedom.

Once there were 14 villages on the island, but only two have survived - Yamka and Vasilyevo. One is located on the eastern shore of Lake Onega, the other is on its western shore.

The villages consist of several houses, but this does not stop tourists from all over the country from coming here all year round to admire amazing landscapes and unusually beautiful architectural monuments.

Excursions to Kizhi take place on Meteora from Petrozavodsk and as part of river cruises.

But you don’t have much time on the island, much less than when visiting the island of Valaam.

Therefore, you need to set your own priorities: What is interesting, what to see, what attractions to visit and see.

Perhaps the most important attraction is Church of the Transfiguration(1714). The church was built without a single nail and has twenty-two gilded domes, a bird's-eye view of which separates the temple from other architectural monuments of the island. The temple is designed in such a way that, together with the cuts on the four cardinal points, it forms a cross.

The altar faces west, and east side there is a refectory with a huge porch, the view from which is more than beautiful. Villages, straits, settlements are open to view.

The interior decoration of the temple creates an indelible feeling of peace. Inside there is an altar made in four tiers and lined with 102 icons, and the entire space is filled with calm and pure light.

Another beautiful temple – Church of the Intercession(1764). The temple is made of wood and has nine domes, the unusual shape of which gives the temple some lightness and airiness. The outside of the temple is decorated with wooden pillars.

Of course, the Church of the Intercession is inferior to the Church of the Transfiguration and is rather a complement to it.

The interior decoration is very modest.

The first iconostasis was lost in the course of history. The current iconostasis was made in 1950 during the restoration of the temple.

The third attraction that immediately attracts attention is Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus.

Tradition says that this temple was built by the monk Lazar himself, who died in 1391.

They also say that it was built thanks to the appearance of St. Basil the Reverend, Bishop of Novgorod, to Lazarus.

This temple later became the first building of the Murom Monastery.

The construction of the monastery is dedicated to the biblical event of the resurrection of Lazarus from Bethany, thereby strengthening people's faith in Jesus Christ.

Among local population There are rumors that the temple has healing powers for ailments. The Monk Lazarus was declared a saint, and his temple became a place of pilgrimage for believers from all countries.

The Chapel was once a landmark of the village of Lelikozero, but in 1961 it was moved to the island of Kizhi.

The Chapel looks very picturesque.

It consists of three parts and is presented in the form of a rectangle stretching from west to east.

A vestibule is attached to the chapel on the north side, and a window faces west.

In some places near the chapel you can see a double roof, when one roof seems to emerge from the other, surprising viewers with the skill and virtuosity of the architect. Above the entryway one can see a wonderful bell tower, which ends at the top with a lush tent.

The outside of the chapel is decorated with towels carved with diamonds and circles. The roofing board is red and ends in the form of a peak.

Inside the chapel there is a “sky”.

In the center of it is the icon of Christ the Temperant, and in the perimeter are the forefathers. In the four corners there are images of the evangelists.

While exploring the island, your gaze will certainly fall on Tent bell tower, built in 1863 on the site of the old bell tower.

In 1874, the bell tower was rebuilt, since it was not possible to complete the octagon.

The bell tower looks like a quadrangle on an octagon. Above the octagon rises a belfry and nine columns that support a tent ending with a dome with a cross. The quadrangle from north to south is cut through by a passage with large arches.

The interior of the bell tower is illuminated by four windows made in the form of arches and a large window in the octagonal wall.

No matter how you describe it on paper, you just have to see it to understand it.

Kizhi... they are like that.

A copy of the fence was recreated in 1959, in the likeness of the surviving fortifications.

In addition to ancient temples, there are others on Kizhi island, no less interesting places.

These are all kinds of mills, ancient huts and barns.

They are collected from all over the region and brought to the island museum to be recreated.

Among similar buildings, the most notable Oshevnev's house.

It was brought from the village of Oshevnevo and has the appearance of Karelian houses before the revolution. This is a large, two-story building, decorated with various platbands and carvings.

An example of an outbuilding - barn, brought from the village of Kokkoyla.

Svetelka, brought to the island from the village of Oshevnevo, will tell us about the life of local peasants.

Do you think simple life not interesting? You're wrong... :)

And here it is wooden windmill, brought from Volkostrov to the island of Kizhi. There are no such mills in Karelia anymore.

But Kizhi is famous not only for its monuments.

The nature of the island is so stunning that it is simply impossible to take your eyes off such splendor.

Already approaching the island, you can see the fabulous outlines of the island’s topography, a strip of sparse forest stretches along the shores, meadows can be seen in the distance, the glare of the sun plays on the waves of the lake.

With the organization of dams on the Svir and the White Sea-Baltic Canal, many villages went under water. To preserve the unique heritage of Karelia, the Kizhi Museum-Reserve was created.

The museum has about 50 thousand various objects telling about the life of the indigenous peoples of the region.

On the island, tourists can see how in the old days they wove pearl earrings, women embroidered warriors, made toys and much more.

For half a century now, the island of Kizhi has been a unique museum, striving to preserve all the historical and architectural monuments of Karelia.

Kizhi is constantly evolving.

Not only are new exhibitions opening, but the emphasis is shifting towards interactivity: craft shops and workshops, where you can hold a master class and make an interesting Karelian toy yourself.

Take part in performances (but if you’re lucky, they are organized “on occasion”, for some holidays.

Be that as it may, you need to cherish every minute in Kizhi. There are no hotels here and you cannot go with accommodation for 2 or 3 days.

Of course, you can buy a simple tour to Karelia - stay in a hotel on the mainland, and visit Kizhi every day.

But this doesn’t make much sense: there are other interesting places in Karelia that are worth seeing: the same Marcial Waters, Ruskeala. Kivach waterfall and even a trip to Solovki (it’s not as far from Kizhi as it seems).

The excursion schedule should be built evenly to make the trip rich and interesting.

Why Kizhi?

Why did Kizhi become the place where they began to bring monuments from all over Karelia?

Kizhi Pogost was a rich administrative center back in Tsarist Russia. Life here was in full swing even before Peter the Great.

Rich copper factories could provide money for the construction of the most unique churches. They sent ore to the weapons factories of Olonets and Petrozavodsk.

Industrialization bled Karelian villages, people moved to cities.

However, the trail of History passed through the Kizhi Pogost so strongly that there was simply no other similar place on the route of river cruises.

Kizhi is a beautiful island located in Lake Onega, in Karelia.

Open and inhabited since ancient times, the island of Kizhi is a huge museum of architecture.

From time immemorial, Kizhi was famous for its craft. Once upon a time, artists and poets lived here, passing on their skills through generations. It was here that the epics about Ilya Muromets and Vladimir the Red Sun were created...

Having taken the first step on the island and breathed in the first breath of air, you begin to feel the spirit of bright antiquity and boundless freedom.

Once there were 14 villages on the island, but only two have survived - Yamka and Vasilyevo. One is located on the eastern shore of Lake Onega, the other is on its western shore.

The villages consist of several houses, but this does not stop tourists from all over the country from coming here all year round to admire the amazing landscapes and unusually beautiful architectural monuments.

Excursions to Kizhi take place on Meteora from Petrozavodsk and as part of river cruises.

But you don’t have much time on the island, much less than when visiting the island of Valaam.

Therefore, you need to set your own priorities: What is interesting, what to see, what attractions to visit and see.

Perhaps the most important attraction is Church of the Transfiguration(1714). The church was built without a single nail and has twenty-two gilded domes, a bird's-eye view of which separates the temple from other architectural monuments of the island. The temple is designed in such a way that, together with the cuts on the four cardinal points, it forms a cross.

The altar faces west, and on the east side there is a refectory with a huge porch, the view from which is more than beautiful. Villages, straits, settlements are open to view.

The interior decoration of the temple creates an indelible feeling of peace. Inside there is an altar made in four tiers and lined with 102 icons, and the entire space is filled with calm and pure light.

Another beautiful temple - Church of the Intercession(1764). The temple is made of wood and has nine domes, the unusual shape of which gives the temple some lightness and airiness. The outside of the temple is decorated with wooden pillars.

Of course, the Church of the Intercession is inferior to the Church of the Transfiguration and is rather a complement to it.

The interior decoration is very modest.

The first iconostasis was lost in the course of history. The current iconostasis was made in 1950 during the restoration of the temple.

The third attraction that immediately attracts attention is Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus.

Tradition says that this temple was built by the monk Lazar himself, who died in 1391.

They also say that it was built thanks to the appearance of St. Basil the Reverend, Bishop of Novgorod, to Lazarus.

This temple later became the first building of the Murom Monastery.

The construction of the monastery is dedicated to the biblical event of the resurrection of Lazarus from Bethany, thereby strengthening people's faith in Jesus Christ.

There are rumors among the local population that the temple has healing powers. The Monk Lazarus was declared a saint, and his temple became a place of pilgrimage for believers from all countries.

The Chapel was once a landmark of the village of Lelikozero, but in 1961 it was moved to the island of Kizhi.

The Chapel looks very picturesque.

It consists of three parts and is presented in the form of a rectangle stretching from west to east.

A vestibule is attached to the chapel on the north side, and a window faces west.

In some places near the chapel you can see a double roof, when one roof seems to emerge from the other, surprising viewers with the skill and virtuosity of the architect. Above the entryway one can see a wonderful bell tower, which ends at the top with a lush tent.

The outside of the chapel is decorated with towels carved with diamonds and circles. The roofing board is red and ends in the form of a peak.

Inside the chapel there is a “sky”.

In the center of it is the icon of Christ the Temperant, and in the perimeter are the forefathers. In the four corners there are images of the evangelists.

While exploring the island, your gaze will certainly fall on Tent bell tower, built in 1863 on the site of the old bell tower.

In 1874, the bell tower was rebuilt, since it was not possible to complete the octagon.

The bell tower looks like a quadrangle on an octagon. Above the octagon rises a belfry and nine columns that support a tent ending with a dome with a cross. The quadrangle from north to south is cut through by a passage with large arches.

The interior of the bell tower is illuminated by four windows made in the form of arches and a large window in the octagonal wall.

No matter how you describe it on paper, you just have to see it to understand it.

Kizhi... they are like that.

A copy of the fence was recreated in 1959, in the likeness of the surviving fortifications.

In addition to ancient temples, there are other equally interesting places on Kizhi Island.

These are all kinds of mills, ancient huts and barns.

They are collected from all over the region and brought to the island museum to be recreated.

Among similar buildings, the most notable Oshevnev's house.

It was brought from the village of Oshevnevo and has the appearance of Karelian houses before the revolution. This is a large, two-story building, decorated with various platbands and carvings.

An example of an outbuilding - barn, brought from the village of Kokkoyla.

Svetelka, brought to the island from the village of Oshevnevo, will tell us about the life of local peasants.

Do you think a simple life is not interesting? You're wrong... :)

And here it is wooden windmill, brought from Volkostrov to the island of Kizhi. There are no such mills in Karelia anymore.

But Kizhi is famous not only for its monuments.

The nature of the island is so stunning that it is simply impossible to take your eyes off such splendor.

Already approaching the island, you can see the fabulous outlines of the island’s topography, a strip of sparse forest stretches along the shores, meadows can be seen in the distance, the glare of the sun plays on the waves of the lake.

With the organization of dams on the Svir and the White Sea-Baltic Canal, many villages went under water. To preserve the unique heritage of Karelia, the Kizhi Museum-Reserve was created.

The museum has about 50 thousand various objects telling about the life of the indigenous peoples of the region.

On the island, tourists can see how in the old days they wove pearl earrings, women embroidered warriors, made toys and much more.

For half a century now, the island of Kizhi has been a unique museum, striving to preserve all the historical and architectural monuments of Karelia.

Kizhi is constantly evolving.

Not only are new exhibitions opening, but the emphasis is shifting towards interactivity: craft shops and workshops, where you can hold a master class and make an interesting Karelian toy yourself.

Take part in performances (but if you’re lucky, they are organized “on occasion”, for some holidays.

Be that as it may, you need to cherish every minute in Kizhi. There are no hotels here and you cannot go with accommodation for 2 or 3 days.

Of course, you can buy a simple tour to Karelia - stay in a hotel on the mainland, and visit Kizhi every day.

But this doesn’t make much sense: there are other interesting places in Karelia that are worth seeing: the same Marcial Waters, Ruskeala. Kivach waterfall and even a trip to Solovki (it’s not as far from Kizhi as it seems).

The excursion schedule should be built evenly to make the trip rich and interesting.

Why Kizhi?

Why did Kizhi become the place where they began to bring monuments from all over Karelia?

Kizhi Pogost was a rich administrative center back in Tsarist Russia. Life here was in full swing even before Peter the Great.

Rich copper factories could provide money for the construction of the most unique churches. They sent ore to the weapons factories of Olonets and Petrozavodsk.

Industrialization bled Karelian villages, people moved to cities.

However, the trail of History passed through the Kizhi Pogost so strongly that there was simply no other similar place on the route of river cruises.

What are the unique monuments and attractions of Russia and why do foreign tourists come to us with pleasure?

Because in Russia we have a rich cultural heritage, a lot of unique things, a lot of things to see and “cannot be measured by a common yardstick.” It is a sad fact that a huge number of historical and Orthodox monuments were destroyed and destroyed in the 20th century during times of wars and political troubles. And what was managed to be preserved and collected bit by bit evokes doubly fair admiration and respect, and is rightfully ranked among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And let's be patient and forgiving of the fact that most historical sites are hidden by restoration forests for many years.

One of such monuments is precisely Kizhi Museum-Reserve. Kizhi Island is located in the center of many large and small skerries of Lake Onega in Northern Russia. This is a lake, but its character is very northern, marine. During a storm, waves can reach 5 meters and in autumn, coastal fortifications can be destroyed. And the wind is not weak, from 10 meters per second or more.

Kizhi Island is located 68 km from Petrozavodsk. From May to September, during the navigation period, tickets for “comets” and “meteors” are sold at the city pier, which regularly make routes there. The journey takes from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. In winter, when Lake Onega is covered with a thick layer of ice, you can get there by hovercraft. For lovers active rest and extreme skiing trips are offered during this period.

The pleasure, it must be said, is not cheap. As, indeed, any trip to Russia. A round-trip boat ticket will cost 2,750 rubles + entrance ticket to the museum. So for a family of three, you can calculate for yourself how much it will cost, and you also have to pay for the excursion, and save for a souvenir.

The Kizhi Museum-Reserve is a unique man-made monument of wooden architecture and ethnography. People come here to look at wooden structures made without a single nail! And we will not debunk these beliefs.

Guests are greeted by the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord - the tallest and most monumental building on the island.

The main attractions of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve- Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary and the Bell Tower of the Kizhi Pogost.

And here you can admire real houses and ancient buildings of northern Russian villages of the late 19th century, which were carefully collected and preserved in this most beautiful place Russia, see and get acquainted with your own eyes everyday life, culture and traditional life, household items of our northern ancestors.

The main attractions of the Kizhi Museum, the center and business card islands - are Orthodox shrines - the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary and the Bell Tower of the Kizhi Pogost.

Much has been written about the history of the creation of this church, the information is the same and you can find it on other sites.

But I would like to talk about the uniqueness of the restoration work, which has been ongoing since 1980 under the close attention of UNESCO. Initially, the question was, how could such a wooden building have survived since 1714, regularly watered by rain and blown north winds and how to restore it now?! They rushed all over the world to look for technologies for preserving and processing wood without using chemical compositions. But there are none, just as there are no specialists in this matter. We had to return to the experience of our ancestors, who created these structures and the great-grandchildren of local architects, hereditary carpenters and wood craftsmen work here. And the uniqueness is that the pines used in the creation of churches were cut down exclusively in winter, in severe cold, exclusively with axes. Scientists believe that in this embodiment, natural preservation with resin occurred, which allowed the tree to be preserved so well for many centuries in natural conditions. Such trunks were kept for 8 years and only then used in construction. There is also an opinion that in the period from the 14th to the 19th century there was an “ice age” and 1714 was the peak of cold weather, which is why the trunks have a very high density of rings. All this also makes the restoration process in modern conditions much more difficult.

You can visit and admire the interior decoration in the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary.

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the main buildings on the island

Here you can attend a service, listen to the ringing of bells and the chanting of the monks. Local icons are interesting, most of which were painted by local residents.

The domes of the churches amaze with their fine workmanship. Each dome consists of a small part - a ploughshare, naturally cut out by hand from aspen. Therefore, after restoration, the new domes will shine with a golden color.

We recommend booking a tour, because the story about the life and everyday life of the northern inhabitants is quite interesting. The houses that our ancestors built and presented in the museum are large and usually contained all possible amenities for life. Due to the cold climate, the ground floor housed a barnyard, a barn for hay and firewood, and a place for storing tools and equipment. The convenience of construction was that summer time It was easy to repair and replace logs and clean the room.

There was also a residential room on the ground floor. The families were large, about 20 people, all living in one room. Here they lit the stove “black”, cooked food, slept, worked, raised children, wove fishing nets, and led a normal life.

The stove in the living room was heated “black”, so the ceilings in the house were dark in color.

A story from the life of northerners

Interestingly, wealthy families also had a second floor. But his functions were purely “representative”. Here they received guests, kept luxury goods and, sometimes, allowed newlyweds to spend the night.

Second floor - “executive” room

Perhaps only the bathhouse was located separately for obvious reasons. The bathhouse is a sacred place not only for northerners, but also for any Russian residents. Here they washed, gave birth and buried their dead relatives in the bitter cold. The bathhouse is a sacred place and many superstitions and rituals are associated with it. The bathhouse was heated exclusively “black”.

In the Kizhi Museum-Reserve you will find many interesting objects that tell about traditions and life northern peoples. Therefore, stock up on comfortable shoes and clothes. The weather in Karelia is very changeable, and within 3 hours you can steam in the sun, get caught in the rain and freeze in the wind. But nothing can spoil the impression of the beauty of the landscapes, the tranquility of the Russian north and the spirit of antiquity that surrounds you. We have something to be proud of!

We wish you a pleasant trip!

Interesting articles

In Karelia, on the wonderful Lake Onega, there is an incredibly beautiful, fabulous island called Kizhi. The island is considered an invaluable museum of architecture, the scale of which is simply amazing. Kizhi is an unusual place, which has been famous for its craft for many centuries, because many artists, as well as poets, lived and worked here. If anyone remembers the famous epics about Ilya Muromets or Vladimir the Red Sun, then it is worth saying that they were created precisely on the territory of this wonderful island.

Having visited the island for the first time, just stepping onto its amazing territory, you can feel a significant surge of energy, touch something bright and beautiful, breathe in clean air deeply and find out what real freedom is.

If you move into the recent past and study a little the history of the island, you can find out that there were as many as 14 villages here. Unfortunately, only two have survived to this day, which bear the names Vasilyevo and Yamka. One of the surviving villages is conveniently located on the eastern shore of the famous Lake Onega. The second village is located on the western bank of this wonderful reservoir. Each village has only a couple of houses, but this did not become an obstacle for curious adventurers, so the indicated place is always full of tourists. Tourists from all over come here all year round. globe, because such landscapes as on this island are not often found. In addition, this place is full of interesting monuments, and relaxation here seems simply divine.

Excursions are regularly held in the city of Kizhi to introduce tourists to this interesting and unusual place. River cruises on Meteora they take place from Petrozavodsk, but their time is not enough to fully explore the unique nature of this place. To fully explore the island, see all the interesting natural places and attractions, you need to plan your travel route yourself.

The most popular attractions of Kizhi

Among the main attractions of Kizhi it is worth noting the Church of the Transfiguration. It was erected back in 1714, and not a single nail was used for its construction. The church has as many as 22 domes, which with their gilding complement the brightness of the sun. From a bird's eye view, the view of this temple will allow you to distinguish it from others, because there are no analogues to this unique monument. The temple is designed in such an interesting and original way that if you take into account the cuts, the appearance of a cross is formed on all four sides. The altar of this majestic temple faces the western side, but the refectory with a porch is conveniently located on the eastern side. The view from this porch is simply amazing and it simply mesmerizes tourists. By visiting this architectural monument, you can enjoy not only its beauty, but also fully embrace the settlements, villages and straits.

Inside, the temple radiates unearthly beauty. Everyone who comes here will feel complete peace. The altar in this majestic temple has 4 tiers, it is lined with a huge amount icons, the exact number of which is 102 pieces. The space inside is evenly filled with calm and peaceful light.

Such an architectural monument as the Church of the Intercession also deserves special attention. The temple was built back in 1764, it is wooden and has 9 domes, the shape of which is quite unusual, making the structure lighter and more original. The outside of the building is decorated with wooden pillars, but inside the temple looks very modest. If you compare it with the previous version. Unfortunately, in the course of history, the very first iconostasis of this building was not preserved, and the current one was completed during the restoration of the church in 1950.

The Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus can be included in the top three attractions of the island. History says that this landmark was built back in 1391. Overeating suggests that the church began to be built after St. Basil appeared to Lazarus. It is this temple that is considered the first building belonging to the Murom Monastery. The construction of this monastery was dedicated precisely Biblical history which talks about the resurrection of Lazarus. Local residents say that the temple has the power to heal from various ailments and it is because of this that this place has become a great center of pilgrimage.

What architectural monuments of Kizhi are still worth seeing?

There is also a Chapel of the Archangel Michael on the island, which is characterized as follows:

was transported to Kizhi from Lelikozero in 1961;

has a very picturesque appearance;

consists of 3 parts, which together form a rectangle;

the walls are built on the north side, and the window faces west;

the bell tower on top is successfully completed with a lush tent;

outside, the architectural monument is decorated with towels with circles and diamonds;

inside, in the center of the ceiling there is a large icon of Christ, and the evangelists are depicted in the corners.

In addition to this monument, there is also a Tent Bell Tower on the island. It was built back in 1863, but it was completely completed in 1874. The belfry tent is supported by 9 columns and ends with a dome with a cross. In total, the structure looks very interesting and harmonious. To illuminate the interior of the bell tower, there are 4 windows, which are made in the form of beautiful arches.

Continuing to travel around the island, tourists will be able to see a tall wooden palisade. Its original has not survived, but the reconstruction was able to accurately convey it. A copy was made already in 1959; in addition to these attractions, you can see ancient mills and barns on the island. All these attractions are collected throughout the region and delivered to the island, which has turned into a huge museum.

Oshevnev’s house can also be considered a popular place among tourists. It looks like Karelian houses that were built before the revolution. The building has two floors and is richly decorated with carvings. There is also an ancient windmill on the island, the likes of which can no longer be found.

What else is new and interesting on the island

Monuments and churches are, of course, good, but we must not forget about the amazing nature of this place. The island has a beautiful topography, a sparse forest stretches not far from the shore, meadows and the sun can be seen from afar, reflecting its glare in the lake. Many villages of the island went under water, but thanks to this, it was possible to do unique museum, which collected more than 50 thousand original, interesting and fascinating items. All these objects accurately tell about the life of the indigenous inhabitants of the region and it is thanks to them that history can be studied. On the island you can get closer to the following objects:

vintage women's jewelry;

original embroidery;

handmade toys;

household items and tools.

But the interesting aspects of Kizhi do not end there, because rare, original and interesting things still continue to be brought here. New exhibitions are constantly being developed, and tourists are invited to take part in master classes that introduce ancient crafts. Guests of the island who come here for the holidays can watch interesting performances and become active participants. You can get out here for a few days, choosing an accommodation option without any problems.

There are no hotels on the island, but you can easily stay at local residents. Kizhi is unique place, which is worth a visit and you need to stay here for several days. To see all the monuments and enjoy the unforgettable nature, you can come here with the whole family, receiving an incredible charge of energy and vivacity. In general, tourists who want to visit Kizhi will definitely not regret it; it is simply a wonderful place that is definitely worth visiting. The island fascinates and attracts attention, allowing you to completely disconnect from city everyday life, delve into history, look at beautiful monuments and just have a great time. It’s worth coming here for great impressions and positive emotions.