The Valaam archipelago, consisting of 50 small islands, is located in the northern part of the Ladoga Lake. A unique landscape-architectural complex has been created here, the park area is 24.7 thousand hectares, of which only 3600 hectares fall to the islands. Among them is the island of Valaam (2,800 hectares), which gave the name and archipelago, and the monastery on it.

The name "Valaam" is translated from Finnish as "high land", a less likely translation is "land of vow" or "land of light". Some believe that the name comes from the name of the pagan god Baal (sometimes identified with Slavic Veles) or the biblical prophet Valaam.

How to get to Valaam

You can get to Valaam on the "comet" or the motor ship from the city of Sortavala, where buses and "shuttle bus" from Petrozavodsk go.

The trip from Sortavala to the island of Valaam and back, including two excursions and lunch, will cost 1850 RUR (children under 12 years - 925 rubles). The ticket, which includes one tour, will cost tourists at 1250 RUR (50% discount for children under 12 years old).

The climate of Valaam

Average monthly temperature, ° C

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

sen

Oct

but I

Dec

in the afternoon

-8

-7

-2

+4

+12

+17

+20

+17

+12

+5

-1

-6

at night

-15

-13

-8

-3

+3

+8

+11

+9

+5

+0

-6

-eleven

Spring on Valaam comes in late March. Summer sunny days are 30-35 more than on the mainland. Winter with snow begins in early December. In mid-February, an automobile connection is established with the nearest town of Sortavala (42 km).

Phone numbers

• The Natural Park "Valaam Archipelago": 186756, Valaam, st. Central, 4, phone: (814-30) 38-247
• The Seca Hotel, tel .: (814-30) 38-248
• Department of Communications: st. Central, 6, phone: (814-30) 38-241
• Medical assistant point, tel .: (814-30) 38-221

Entertainment, excursions and attractions Valaam

The central landmark of the archipelago is the ensemble of the Valaam Transfiguration Monastery with a stone chapel consecrated in the name of the icon of the Mother of God "All the Afflicted Joys". No less interesting are the five-domed Spaso-Preobrazhensky cathedral, the chapel of the Annunciation, the chapel in the name of the icon of the Sign of the Mother of God, the five-domed Spaso-Preobrazhensky cathedral, the old monastery cemetery (17-19 centuries), the Igumen cemetery and the church of the Reverend Fathers, near the walls of which the abbots of the monastery are buried.

The Savior-Transfiguration Cathedral is framed by two rows of cell buildings, which stand with the letter "P". One row consists of two-story buildings and churches of the Assumption and St. Nicholas (the latter is abolished). The second includes the Holy Gates, the gate church of Peter and Paul (1809), the Church of the Life-giving Spring (1814) and the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity Church (1837) built on it.

It is impossible not to mention the famous Valaam sketes: the White (Vsekhsvyatsky), the monastery of Alexander Svirsky, the Yellow (Gethsemane), the Red (Resurrection), the Predtechensky and Smolensk.

Other places of interest: Chapel of the Annunciation (late 19th century) - one of the oldest buildings on the island; the building of the carriage-stables house of the 18th century; chapel in the name of the icon of the Sign of Our Lady (1836) - is installed in honor of visiting the monastery by the emperor Alexander II.

• How much does a cruise to Valaam cost?

Photo of Valaam (15)