In the north-west of our country there is an area called Leningrad, although such a city has not existed on the map of Russia for more than a quarter of a century. The administrative center is St. Petersburg. The name of the region and the city do not match, but the historical patterns are easy to trace. Without Leningrad there would be no Leningrad region, and without St. Petersburg there would be no Leningrad itself.
Historic cities
Where do travelers who come to the Leningrad Region want to go most? Petrodvorets or Peterhof is located 29 km from St. Petersburg. The city attracts tourists with a luxurious complex of palaces and fountains... Peterhof sights and museums are so good that the flow of tourists here does not diminish at any time of the year.
Palace and park ensemble "Peterhof"
Kronstadt is located in the Gulf of Finland. In the island city, you can get acquainted with the achievements of the navy, visit the barracks and ships. People come to Kronstadt to see the Naval Nikolsky Cathedral, take a walk in Petrovsky Park and visit war memorials.
Pushkin became famous for the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum and places associated with the life of the poetess Anna Akhmatova. In the city, which is considered part of St. Petersburg, it is pleasant to walk in spacious parks and take excursions to the majestic royal palaces.
Naval Nikolsky Cathedral in Kronstadt
Vyborg is a former Finnish territory that the Red Army conquered from the Finns in 1940. Vyborg streets have retained their European flavor, although time has not spared the old buildings. Modern Vyborg only remotely resembles Finland.
The most visited attraction in Vyborg is the picturesque castle, which dates back to the 13th century. It is noteworthy that this is the only medieval citadel on the territory of Russia.
Vyborg castle
Another place where tourists come both in winter and in summer is Gatchina. The small town in the south-west of the region is known for its delightful palace and park ensemble, and its historical center is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Tourist routes to Karelia pass through Lodeinoe Pole. You can learn about the history of the construction of a shipyard on the Svir River during the time of Peter I in the local museum of local lore.
Great Gatchina Palace
People come to Luga to honor the memory of the soldiers who defended the region during the Great Patriotic War. The Patriot military equipment park was recently opened near the city railway station.
Another pearl of the Leningrad region is rightfully considered the "city-key" - Shlisselburg. The famous fortress on the island appeared in the first half of the XIV century and was originally called "Nut". Today excursions are conducted along the ancient fortifications. Tourists can see powerful walls, stone towers and the remains of earthen bastions.
Fortress Oreshek
Natural Monuments
The Leningrad Region attracts tourists not only for its historical past. People come here to admire the beautiful landscapes, mighty forests, beautiful rocks, lakes, river canyons, waterfalls and caves. What should you look at first?
The Sablinskie Caves are popular among lovers of outdoor activities. Abandoned mines, in which quartz sand and quartz were previously mined, are located in the Tosno district, not far from St. Petersburg. Today, tourists travel through several caves, grottoes and admire the shallow underground lakes. Tours are held here on weekends and holidays. From the side of the Tosna River there are several entrances to the unequipped part of the underground complex. It is interesting to explore it on your own.
Sablinskie caves
There is a very beautiful Yastrebinoye lake in the Priozersky district of the region. A natural reservoir with a length of about 2 km stretches from north to south and is surrounded by pine forests. On its northern and western shores, there are granite rocks 12-15 m high. Some of them are so polished by an ancient glacier that they have turned into rounded "sheep's foreheads".
Tourists-water workers love to raft along the picturesque rivers of the region. The unusual river Oredezh attracts the attention of not only those who love kayaking, but also paleontologists. The red sandstones in the Siversky Canyon are similar in age and color to the outcrops in Yellowstone National Park in USA. The Devonian outcrops are up to 8 m high, 55 m long and contain the remains of ancient land animals and fish.
Hawk Lake - a view of the Parnassus mountain
Oredezh itself is one of the most radioactive rivers in the world. It contains a lot of radium, so bathing in the river is considered beneficial. Silver, potassium, sodium, iron and other trace elements, which are washed out of the Devonian rocks, strongly affect the local flora. In the river valley, there are trees over 30 m in height, and some ferns grow taller than a person.
Another curious canyon is located on the Lava River. Near the village of Gorodishche, a quiet flat river turns into a rapid mountain stream and flows between sheer cliffs 20-25 m high. The ancient outcrops consist of sandstones, blue clays, shales, limestones and marls. Among them are the remains of organisms that inhabited the Earth 500 million years ago.
Church of Dmitry the Myrrh-streaming in the village of Scheleika
It is very interesting to visit the small village of Scheleika, on the western bank of Onega. There is a geological monument Shcheleyskie rocks, the height of which reaches 100 m above the level of the lake. The rounded upland drops abruptly on the east side and has gentle slopes on the west. Until 1941, a valuable finishing stone - gabbro-diabase - was mined in these places. In the village itself, a wooden church from the end of the 18th century has been preserved.
Opportunities for tourists
The region has a well-developed road network and public transport, so most tourists travel to the sights themselves. Those who prefer organized trips use the services of a travel agency.
Ivangorod fortress
One-day bus excursions from St. Petersburg cost 1000-1500 rubles. Tourists are taken to historical cities, beautiful parks and famous palaces are shown. It is noteworthy that any excursion is easy to buy right on the day of departure or the day before the trip.
It is very convenient to explore the region while living in St. Petersburg or the nearest suburbs of the northern capital. Travelers like to stay in hotels on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. The beautiful resort area offers good conditions for a family holiday - hotel rooms and cottage houses. If you wish, you can rent a house for a night or two in any of the cities. Hotels are everywhere.
Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Nevsky forest park of the Vsevolozhsky district
Souvenirs
Tourists who travel around the Leningrad Region try to buy memorabilia related to a particular city.
Luxurious Peterhof was the suburban residence of Russian sovereigns, so souvenirs are sold here that remind of the magnificent palaces and the courtiers who lived in them. During an excursion in Peterhof, you can purchase an elegant fan, cupronickel cutlery set or neat copies of the famous Faberge eggs.
Old Ladoga fortress
The oldest watch factory in our country is located in Peterhof, so travelers are happy to buy watches under the Raketa brand. Do you want a souvenir reminiscent of luxurious parks? Bring home miniature copies of the Samson or Eve fountains in Peterhof.
Vyborg is home to talented artisans who know how to make beautiful souvenirs from metal, leather and wood.Many handicrafts accurately copy the items used by the residents of the city in the 15th-16th centuries. The proximity to Finland left its mark. Finnish chocolate and sweets are willingly brought from Vyborg. Aromatic Vyborg pretzels and lingonberries are popular among lovers of delicious souvenirs.
Tikhvin Assumption Monastery
In the souvenir shops of Kronstadt, there are many caps and gifts on the maritime theme. You can buy a beautiful pennant, bell or miniature ship in a glass bottle. In souvenir machines for 100 rubles, they print commemorative tokens made of brass with the image of the Naval Nikolsky Cathedral and the inscription "Kronstadt".
Tourists like to bring high-quality products from the Imperial Porcelain enterprise from the Leningrad Region. Of course, whole sets of pretty utensils are expensive, but a couple of tea won't drain a travel wallet too much. Sweet tooths love chocolate and sweets from the Krupskaya confectionery factory, as well as cakes and pastries produced at the Severe enterprise.
Holy Trinity Alexander-Svirsky Monastery
Fans of traditional souvenirs do not leave without tapestries from the Uzor Vyritsa factory. Woven paintings depicting landscapes and historical sites of the region - Gatchina and Tsarskoe Selo - are in great demand.
