Russian North: Land of Inspiration
- Category: Ideas & Inspiration
- Practices: Different practices
Summer is in full swing, it's holiday time! All want to go to south, to the sea, but I invite you to the Russian North!
To the land of peace, silence, tranquillity. Leave the hustle and bustle of megapolicies, hurry to the edge of unity with nature, absorb its forces!
The Russian North is a special historical, cultural and ethnographic region of Russia, which stretches along the north of the European part of the country and includes Vologda, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk regions, Karelia and Komi Republics.
The place is amazing, you can enjoy the radiance of white nights, silence and aroma of the forest, beauty of many lakes, miracle of wooden churches, warmth of human relations, love for their culture and traditions!
I am in love with the north, its austerity and silence, its solidity and picturesqueness.
Today I will try to "infect" you with love for Kenozero.
Kenozersky National Park is a specially protected natural area located in the south-western part of the Arkhangelsk region at the junction of Plesetsk and Kargopol administrative districts, the western border goes along Karelia.
There are two ways to get there:
1. By St. Petersburg (Moscow) – Arkhangelsk train to Nyandoma station, then by Nyandoma – Kargopol, Kargopol – Wrinkle couch or taxi.
2. By car. We drove through Petrozavodsk to Medvezhegorsk, along the Medvezhegorsk–Vologda road to Pudog, and then to Kargopol. The road is good, by a part from Karelia to Arkhangelsk region is a dirt road. Do not follow Vytegra – Lodeynoye field route, my road experience is not so great, but I have not seen such a bumpy dirty road in my practice!
Do not be afraid of the road, a visit to Kenozerye is enchanting and rewarding! National Park has various accommodation options: guest houses, natives` houses, camping area.
In addition to amazing nature, its pristine beauty, peace and quiet, you will be amazed by the beauty of the northern architecture, it fits so organically into the surrounding landscape.
"Holy" groves, churches and chapels, worship crosses, archaic buildings are an undeniable value of Kenozerye. From 65 chapels today you can see 40, only 11 from 18 churches survived.
This is due to the fact that the Russian North because of natural difficulties has never controlled by the Russian leaders, North has a saying "God is high, far from czar", there was no serfdom, and people lived there honestly, worked with love, were able to protect what was created. The distance from the railway also played a positive role in the safety of the region.
The formation of the national Park in 1991 (28 years ago) helped to preserve the wooden architectural sights in their original places. Dwelling houses, granary, barns, bath-houses, mills, bridges are of special interest as well.
In the North, the buildings were decorated with skilful carving and painting on the outside and inside, this heritage is also preserved to this day.
Kenozerye is a storeroom for historians and folklorists. Here people preserve traditions of their ancestors carefully. Almost every resident has a Russian folk costume and is happy to put it on for holidays and parties.
They cherish the elements of everyday life, enthusiastically talking about their purpose. Folk songs, rhymes, ditties, dances, supper at the spinning wheel, popular games to this day are a part of leisure time among residents.
In winter, they build a snow mountain and fortress for children. People here are amazing, with a broad Russian soul. I have been here twice for New Year and Ivan Kupala day, I cannot but say that people do not play, they live according to the traditions of their ancestors.
It is a pleasant surprise that young people, leaving to study in Petrozavodsk, in St. Petersburg, return (and it is worth it) and continue to live in the village, despite the difficulties of the village Northern life!
Finally, we tell about another miracle of Kenozerye: here is a watershed of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.
Don't believe me? Go and see for yourself! Beware of one thing — you will really want to come there again!