Kizhi is a museum-preserve. Where is it, photo

The Russian land is rich in unique monuments of history and architecture. But, perhaps, a very special place is occupied by a wonderful island, located in the heart of the Russian North. The museum-reserve of Russian wooden architecture "Kizhi" is the largest open-air complex. Its center is an architectural ensemble, which adorns the Kizhi Pogost.

Where is the Kizhi museum-reserve?

This question is probably of interest to fans of ancient wooden architecture. The historical and architectural museum-reserve "Kizhi" is located on the same island in seventy kilometers from Petrozavodsk - the capital of Karelia. It is one of the largest open-air museums in our country. Its area is more than ten thousand hectares. In Karelia, this is one of the most visited places. Every year there are one hundred and eighty thousand Russian and foreign tourists.

Nature

Come to these picturesque places and nature lovers. The island has surprisingly preserved a unique ecological complex, where a large number of rare species of birds live. Today, an interesting ecological route has been developed here, the length of which is more than three kilometers. There are several grounds on its territory, from which you can admire the amazing nature of Karelia. During the tour, tourists can inspect the traces of the glacier, which came here over eleven thousand years ago, see the nesting places of wading birds, enjoy the low-key beauty of the northern nature.

Museum of Wooden Architecture "Kizhi"

We are sure that people who have never been to Karelia will be amazed by the beauty and originality of these places. But first, let's specify which lake the museum of Kizhi is located on. Onega is the second largest in Europe in terms of size, second only to Ladoga. There are more than 1300 small islands here, but among them Kizhi Island occupies a special place. There is a building on it. Kizhi is a museum that was formed over two and a half centuries. By the concentration of historical heritage objects, it is a unique territory that has no equal in the European north of our country.

The collection of architectural monuments collected here totals 76 buildings. It consists of 82 historical monuments: on Kizhi Island there are 68, in its environs - 8, in Petrozavodsk - 6. To create the world-famous now museum-reserve "Kizhi", photo of which can be seen in all advertising booklets of large travel agencies, started in 1966 From the Kizhi churchyard. By the way, he is on the UNESCO list today. Over time, valuable exhibits appeared on the territory of the complex, which were collected in the villages of Karelia.

Features of the museum

All wooden buildings in Russia in ancient times were built with the help of only one tool - the ax. However, to date, it should be recognized that there are almost no such buildings, since during the restorations the masters use nails and other construction devices.

In fact, the whole island is a unique museum. The architectural monuments that the Kizhi Museum has at its disposal are divided into three separate sectors. Their tourists visit more often than others. Magnificent monuments are located in the historical villages and in the north of the island. Kizhi (the museum) pays special attention to educational and educational work. On the territory of the complex there is a lecture hall where you can learn a lot of interesting things from the history of the building.

Church of Transfiguration

This is an object that is first seen by all visitors to the island of Kizhi. The museum (or rather, its employees) is very proud of the stunning wooden structure - the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This amazing structure is a frame (octagonal) with four tiers. Each of them is strictly oriented around the world. On the lower log, there are two more, much smaller in size.

The Church of the Transfiguration is the most famous exhibit of the complex. Historians believe that it was erected in the late 16th century. However, the most severe fire almost destroyed it. The magnificent structure that we can see today was built in 1714. Its height is 37 meters. The church is crowned by 22 chapters of the original form, which give the building a fairy-tale appearance.

The main element of the interior of the church is the iconostasis (four-tiered), which consists of 102 icons.

The Intercession Church

Another famous church that can be seen on all photos of the museum "Kizhi". This is the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin. It was built in the late 17th century, but after a while (1764) it was rebuilt. The central part of the structure is an octagonal log frame. Its roof is decorated with nine domes. The iconostasis of the church was restored during the restoration - in the fifties of the last century, as some of the original icons were lost.

The Intercession Church harmoniously corresponds with the architecture of the Preobrazhenskaya, complementing its original view of the panorama of the island. In the canopy there is a high porch, which is typical for most Russian northern churches. From here you can go to the temple building. In the Church of the Intercession you can visit the service, listen to the amazing chants of the monks and hear the unearthly chime of the bells. The special interest is not only tourists, but also experts cause icons. Basically they were written by local people. The cupolas of magnificent churches are strikingly delicate. Each of them consists of small parts - plowshares, cut out manually from pine.

Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus

Museum-Reserve "Kizhi" (photo you can see below) has on its territory and more modest buildings than, for example, the temple of the Transfiguration. At the Kizhi churchyard there is a modest ancient church of the Resurrection of Lazarus. This miniature building symbolizes the grandiose path that the iconic architecture of Russia has overcome from its origins to unique works of wooden architecture dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Scientists-historians studied the state of wood and structural details. They came to the conclusion that the building dates back to the 16th century. This is a fairly simple construction of a cage type. Such buildings have a four-walled frame: a so-called cage and a gable roof, which brings them closer to a group of peasant buildings - from a bath and a barn to a hut. In 1961 the monument was reconstructed according to the project of architect A. V. Opolovnikov. The measurements made by Academician LV Dahl were extensively studied and used since 1876. This allowed to restore the church with great accuracy.

Other buildings

Kizhi is a museum on the territory of which more than twenty peasant houses were transported, several chapels, farm buildings: barns, baths, rigs. The interiors of the houses are equipped with tools, utensils, furniture, which were used in antiquity. More than five hundred icons, stored here, underscore the identity of the northern tradition of icon painting.

Invaluable collections

The Kizhi Museum is not only architectural monuments, but also valuable stock collections. This collection of various subjects of ethnography, handwritten and old printed books, paintings, photographs and drawings. The variety of funds allows the museum to have both a main exhibition and temporary exhibitions.

Funds are divided into several branches:

1. Orthodox iconography. This is a collection of icons that are stored in chapels and temples, images that adorn the "red corners" in the houses of the peasants.
2. Decorative and applied area. There are rich collections of weaving, paintings, embroidery, wood carvings.
3. Archival documents. Here you can see the drawings of the architect, Opolovnikov, who carried out the restoration work.

In the funds of this museum, old postcards, united by Kizhi themes, have been preserved. A separate, no less valuable part of the fund are photographs of local residents that were made before 1940.

Restoration work

Since 1980, in the territory of a unique complex under the close attention of UNESCO, restoration work is underway. Before the experts there was the question: "How did the wooden building survive, watered by rain and blown by the northern winds since 1714?". Throughout the world, the search for technologies for processing and preserving wood without the use of chemical compounds was conducted. Unfortunately, nothing like this is found in the world. Therefore, the restorers had to turn to the experience of the ancestors who created these works of art. Today the grandchildren of northern architects work here, carpenters and woodworkers are not in the same generation.

The uniqueness of the works is also connected with the fact that the pine trees, from which the churches were built, were cut down in winter in severe frosts and only by axes. Experts believe that in this case, natural resin conservation takes place. This allowed the wood to last several centuries. Such trunks lasted eight years, only after that they could be used in construction.

There is an opinion that the period from the 14th to the 18th century became a "glacial period" in these parts. And in 1714 it became a peak of cold, so tree trunks have a surprisingly high density of rings.

Operating mode

The Kizhi Museum can be visited at any time of the year. In winter, visitors are welcome from 10.00 to 16.00, in the summer - from 8.00 to 20.00. The island can be reached from the capital of Karelia, Petrozavodsk at any time. The second way can be started in the village of Velikaya Guba (Medvezhyegorsk district). Visiting the island is often included in the program of excursions that depart from St. Petersburg.

During the navigation from the Petrozavodsk Water Station, regular flights are sent. The journey takes one hour and fifteen minutes. From Great Luba you can bring private carriers to the island. Fans of extreme sports in winter can get here on skis or dog sleds. In the summer, tourists can be transported by helicopter. There are no hotels on the island. And on the neighboring there is an opportunity for a few days to settle in guest houses. You can book in advance.

Tips for tourists

Everyone who wants to see the unique Kizhi complex - a museum - should know that it is necessary to follow certain rules. First, the inspection of the monument is carried out accompanied by an employee of the excursion department. Secondly, it is not allowed to visit the museum with pets. Thirdly, tourist parking can be equipped at the places provided for this. And the parking of any transport is coordinated with the administration.