How to get to Ruskeala on your own. Mountain Park "Ruskeala"

- a question that many people who have learned about these wonderful places ask. In this article, we will try to explain as clearly as possible how to do this.

Option 1. By car.

The easiest and at the same time the most difficult route. From St. Petersburg, you need to go to the Novopriozerskoe highway, otherwise the A121 highway. There are 130 kilometers of excellent asphalt road to Priozersk. From Priozersk you need to move towards Sortavala. This is another 130 kilometers, but 90 of them are low-quality asphalt, and the remaining 40 are in the trash of a broken primer. After Sortavala the road becomes good again.

After leaving Sortavala, after 8 kilometers, look for the turn signal to Vartsel. The intersection is large, wide and quite difficult to miss. Turning and driving another 18 kilometers, you will have a stunning view of. Be sure to stop here and take a walk, recharge with positive emotions and the energy of nature.

After walking at the waterfalls, move on for another 3 kilometers. As soon as you cross the Tohmajoki River for the second time (the first was at the waterfalls), turn left. Directly at the crossroads with the road to the mountain park there will be a corresponding sign. Another 700-800 meters along a dirt road and you are in a mountain park, park, buy tickets and walk. Have a nice holiday.

Option 2. By bus.

From St. Petersburg in the direction of Ruskeala, buses run from the northern bus station in Murino and the Ozerki metro station. Having bought a ticket and boarded the bus, you will not be expected to fascinating road at 5 - 6 o'clock. The best option would be to leave on the earliest possible bus. As a rule, this is a bus at half past midnight, but there are also later (earlier) ones, for example, at 9-10 in the morning.

Arriving at the bus station in Sortavala, you are given several options for the further way. You can take a taxi, which costs about 300-400 rubles to Ruskeala, or wait for the bus, which usually arrives at 19.30 at the bus station, in which case you will be in Ruskeala about half past eight, and you will also have to walk a kilometer along a dirt road, but you save on a ticket that costs about 80 rubles.

There are cases when local Karelians, out of the kindness of their hearts, brought tourists to the marble quarry, but this is only a matter of luck and charisma of travelers.

Option 3. By train.

This method is the most difficult to implement. The difficulty lies in the fact that the train you need to take arrives at the nearest settlement to Ruskeala at 4 am. The train St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha departs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 21.20-30 from the Ladozhsky railway station. The stop you need is Caalamo. Arrival 4.00. Next comes the hardest part. At 4 o'clock in the morning you need to find someone who will take you to Ruskeala or walk 8.5 kilometers. But even in the case of a leisurely walk, you will have to wait until 9 am, as the marble quarry opens to visitors at this particular time.

When choosing a path, remember that in winter the road is very different from the same road in summer. Be careful and careful, and most importantly, enjoy your time in picturesque places Karelia. Good luck on the road!

mountain park Ruskeala on the map with the route:

The mountain park "Ruskeala" has been functioning for almost ten years. It was opened for mass visits in 2005. Its creation was sponsored by travel agency Kolmas Karelia. "Ruskeala" is very popular today. This place has become so famous for a reason. Tens of thousands of tourists visit it every year.

General information

The monument is called "Ruskeala Marble Breaks of the 17th - Early 20th Centuries". At present, the creation of such a complex is a positive and infrequent phenomenon in Russia. This example clearly demonstrates how an object can be revived with private funds. cultural heritage. The place itself is unique. Here it was possible to recreate a rare symbiosis of the mining museum of the past centuries and the natural attractions that Karelia is famous for. "Ruskeala" is a truly unique ensemble. Its natural beauty can be admired at any time of the year.

Special atmosphere

Three quarries were formed here as a result of marble mining. They are located next to the left bank of the Tohmajoki River. The quarries are interconnected by adits. Soon, work on the extraction of stone ceased. The quarries were abandoned. On the site of ancient quarries, picturesque Oni appeared - white marble thickets filled with clear blue-green water. At present, the inactive adits and mines resemble mysterious grottoes and caves.

Local Attractions

The marble quarry "Ruskeala" is the main attraction of the complex. This place is a monument of industrial culture of the XVIII-XX centuries. Ruskeala Park is officially included in the list of cultural heritage Russian Federation. This monument is unique. There is no other such complex anywhere in Europe. This is a kind of man-made "bowl" from a solid marble array. It is pierced by systems of drifts, galleries and mines. Facing blocks were mined here for many architectural structures city ​​of St. Petersburg. The majestic St. Isaac's Cathedral is also no exception. A variety of buildings were decorated with Ruskeala marble. It has a stunning color: white with greenish flashes. Some metro stations are still decorated with this marble.

Quarry marble "Ruskeala"

Its length is about four hundred and fifty meters. It's pretty deep. The quarry is currently flooded. Water rises to the upper underground horizon. The Finns did this before the war began in the 40s. Most of the adits that were formed in the first half of the last century are under water. Only one of them is located above this level. This adit was formed in the bowels mountain ranges in the 30s. A path was built inside it, along which trolleys with marble moved. It is connected to shaft No. 2. It was along it that the workers moved. The mine goes deep into the mountain at a distance of about two hundred meters. mound railway, along which the trolleys moved, is still preserved.

picturesque views

Outwardly, the marble quarry "Ruskeala" makes a tremendous impression. Gray-white rocks descend down to its heavily indented shores. Rocks go deep into a huge distance. There is a regular excursion to Ruskeala. The canyon has its own pier. Here guests can use the rental service and take a boat. While traveling on it, you can look at the canyon from the water. A certain part of the blocks hangs over this space at a negative angle. Travelers can also admire the views of the grottoes. They were formed in sheer cliffs. The play of light on the marble ceiling attracts the eyes of tourists for a long time. The grottoes really look very picturesque. White and vaults are reflected in the calm water surface.

Precautionary measures

There are also dry adits here. However, tourists are strictly forbidden to visit them. This requires the support of a geologist. The heat outside means that the marble adit is cold. You can feel the dankness as you go deeper into the layer. It's hard to imagine what it was like working here. The Quarry Board provided some data from that time. During peak periods, mining was carried out year-round. The drilling process did not stop day or night.

Fundamental differences

There is the main, most famous and visited quarry "Ruskeala". Around it were located several more abandoned ones. Currently, activities are underway to develop them. Most quarries are different from each other. This applies not only to the types of coasts. This also applies to the color of the water. For example, in one career it may be gray, and in another - blue. The main one is slightly different from the rest. The water in this quarry is bluish-green in color. Over time, the walls here have darkened and weathered. This happened during the time when there were no developments in the quarries. However, this does not prevent tourists from seeing their true color. It can be observed on freshly chipped marble pieces. They are quite common. The old "block" quarry is special in this respect. Here you can see the most striking manifestations of picturesque stone. It was in this quarry that marble was mined in large blocks.

Underground research

The speleological commission of St. Petersburg was engaged in the development of a multi-year expeditionary project. It is called "Underground Karelia". Speleologists were engaged in the study in 2010. The mountain park "Ruskeala" and the Marble failure became the main objects of research. The latter is located very close to the place where the main excursion route by the complex.

Features of the complex

In winter, the marble quarry "Ruskeala" looks no less attractive. At this time of the year, the lake is covered with ice. Therefore, it is very easy to get to the mysterious grottoes and adits. One of these places is called musical for its unusual acoustic properties. In winter, "Ruskeala failure" strikes with its magnificence.

It becomes like an ice castle, the columns of which have the most bizarre shapes. There is art lighting here. It helps the majestic canyon to light up with bright colors after dark. Marble Quarry (Karelia) (a map of the area is given in the article) is a favorite place where divers love to conduct their training. As a rule, they do this in the most remote corners of the quarry, so they do not interfere with the bulk of visitors at all. Several quarries are flooded here. The adits connecting them also ended up in the water. The Ruskeala canyon (the map clearly demonstrates this) included only three functioning underground horizons that were used for mining. Diving enthusiasts will find this place a piece of paradise. Tempting labyrinths will not leave anyone indifferent. At the very bottom of the canyon, some equipment is still preserved. For example, motorcycles, cars and even a crane. All this attracts those who are engaged in techno diving. The water here is clear. Muti is practically non-existent. Aquatic vegetation is also absent. In autumn, however, leaves that drop birch trees can fly.

Local staff keep the marble quarry "Ruskeala" clean. Workers periodically make trips to the lake and clean it of debris. Everywhere there are traces of people: papers, plastic bottles and the like. However, visitors litter quite a bit. The guests must be mesmerized by the majestic beauty of the flooded quarry. Pollute the picturesque Mountain Lake conscience does not allow. Within the territory of mountain park not only ancient ones have been preserved. Other historical objects are also located here. For example, the old administrative building. It is made in the style of classicism. The building is entirely made of Ruskeala marble. On the territory of the complex there are monuments of industrial architecture of the XIX century. They are kilns that were designed for burning lime. Their brick pipes are conical in shape. The existing quarry will also be of interest to tourists. You can watch the process of mining large marble blocks. Currently, these objects are not included in the mountain park. For this reason, they are poorly adapted for tourist excursions.

"Ruskeala" (recreation center). General information

Here guests will find a lot of positive emotions. The complex is located in the Sortavala region. This is the southern part of Karelia. From St. Petersburg to this place about three hundred kilometers. The Ruskeala complex, the photo of which is presented in the article, can receive guests all year round. The base is equipped with everything necessary for their comfortable stay. The rooms can accommodate from two to eight people. There are special rooms for honeymooners and families with children. Together with parents, a child, even an infant, can be accommodated here.

Entertainment

Guests can organize a picnic on site. Barbecue available. Guests can bake fish and cook kebabs. Wood burning sauna available for rent. It is located on the shore of the lake. On the basis of "Ruskeala" a rather extensive program for vacationers has been developed. For example, you can safely go fishing, visit Lake Valaam or see waterfalls and friendly and polite staff work at the camp site. Even if guests are not prepared for fishing, they can get bait, tackle and even professional fishing advice.

Where is the attraction located?

The features of the Ruskeala marble quarry are described above. How to get to this place? You can go through Priozersk from St. Petersburg by car. The path will run through Sortavala along the A-129 highway. In the city itself, you should go along the main road towards Petrozavodsk. From Sortavala, at the 10th km, there will be a turn to the A-130 highway. After Priozersk, a rather winding road begins. The total time that will have to be spent on the whole journey is 4-5 hours.

In 1765, marble deposits were discovered in the Ruskeala region. This white-gray stone with shades from light gray to greenish was found in a hill overgrown with coniferous forest not far from the picturesque Ruskeala waterfalls. Soon the industrial production of marble begins. Ruskeala gray marble was widely used in the construction of St. Isaac's and Kazan Cathedrals, Marble, Tauride and Winter Palaces in St. Petersburg.

The marble quarry operated until 1939, was flooded by the Finns, but at present it is a deep marble canyon of old marble quarries, which has found new life: Marble lake attracts great amount tourists with the beauty of the steep marble shores that go into the emerald clear water, the opportunity to sail on a boat through the marble grottoes, admiring the amazing variety of shades of marble, or go down the mine and follow the path that marble was once taken out for the construction of temples and palaces.

Now the excursion path is made for tourists around the Marble Canyon, allowing you to admire the unique spectacle from viewing platforms. A sophisticated lighting system under water, on the surface and along the walls of the canyon (operates during dark nights) provides a round-the-clock overview of the unique cultural monument. In winter, the Ruskeala mountain park also opens its doors to all lovers of winter landscapes, and artistic lighting creates a fairy tale around. Night tours of this wonderful place captivate the eye, leaving pleasant memories for a lifetime (on request).

Excursion to the marble canyon "Ruskeala"

Marble Canyon Prices (Ruskeala Mountain Park)

How to get to Ruskealka marble canyon:

You can see the beauty of the marble canyon in spring by going rafting down the river

If this is not the first time you have been brought to St. Petersburg, you have bypassed the entire checklist of the city's attractions and even all the underground clubs, then it's time to see something new. Editorial along the way I did just that, and went to Karelia, to look at the Ruskeala mountain park and everything along the way.

What is it and why is it for a tourist?

Ruskeala is an old marble quarry, inside of which a lake has formed. Previously, marble was mined there for the needs of St. Petersburg (here is the one that was used for lining metro stations, and even earlier - for St. Isaac's Cathedral). It looks incredibly beautiful at any time of the year, so there are always at least a dime a dozen tourists there. About ten years ago, they decided to equip the park and turn it into a full-fledged place for recreation, which the management did very well. Now it is not only a beautiful quarry with a lake, but also a large area for walking, Karelian forests, boating, a rope park and even a trolley flight over the canyon. And also souvenir shops, master classes, food courts and other pleasures.

In fact, the mountain park "Ruskeala" is very similar to the same "Park of Kievan Rus", only surrounded by marble and amazing Karelian nature. And now the details.

Where is it and how to get there?

Ruskeala is located almost on the border with Finland, so you can drop in not only from St. Petersburg or Petrozavodsk, but also from northeastern Finland, if it has already drifted there. Nearest Russian city- Sortavala, even though the name is Finnish. From Sortavala to the mountain park, it’s another 30 kilometers to go, so if you are not a seasoned hitchhiker and don’t get high from traveling in the spirit of “we’ll take the train to Sortavala, and then we’ll figure it out, we’ll catch a ride or take a taxi,” then you have two options to get to the park . This is to take an excursion from St. Petersburg or drive by car. The main part of the route runs along a very good track, with bumpers, markings and a new surface without holes, so it’s quite possible to drive a rental car.

The road from St. Petersburg without stops will take about 4-5 hours, but there is also something to see along the way, we will talk about this later. There is a car park in the mountain park itself, although on weekends there is a chance to spend time looking for a parking space. A detailed description of the route is on the park's website, signs are also present. We chose a two-day bus tour from St. Petersburg. On the same site there is a list of options (they differ in the number of days and program). The cost is quite reasonable - from 2,250 rubles for a one-day excursion, which already includes tickets, breakfasts, guides and other joys, to three-day tours of Karelia in the region of 8,500 rubles per person. We only had to pay extra for the entrance ticket on the second day and for the food, but this is not a mandatory option.

What to see along the way?

These sights are included in the program of bus tours. But if you are traveling by car, you can take your time and spend as much time here as you want.

Korela fortress- the northernmost fortress of the Novgorodians, built in the middle of the XIV century to defend against the Swedes. The fortress is well located, so it was besieged so many times that it’s amazing how it still survived, and during its existence it was ruled alternately by Russians, Lithuanians, Swedes, or who knows who, conquering and recapturing the outpost. Korela is also known for the fact that Emelyan Pugachev was kept here with his whole family and the Decembrists were constantly exiled.

Now the fortress is a beautiful well-groomed complex on the island, on the Vuoksa River. On the territory there are several small expositions. It is worth taking a guide who will tell you a lot of interesting things and show you the territory, the prison, exhibition halls, etc. Editorial along the way I was very pleased with the tour, and this is the rare case when I advise everyone.

Entrance tickets - 100 rubles, excursion - 120 rubles. Website of the fortress: korelafortess.ru

Waterfalls Ahvenkoski - terribly beautiful Karelian waterfalls, very seething and well equipped - with railings, bridges, photo platforms, etc. Most of them are known for the fact that a scene from the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” was filmed here. Since it is very close to the park, you can stop by on the way back if it is very crowded on the first visit.

Ladoga lake- needs no introduction. You can go to any place you like, wander around, take pictures. For bus tours in Sortavala on the shore Lake Ladoga lunch is provided, but if you are driving a car - do not make a mistake and do not dine at this point, it is better to look separately, have lunch separately.

Mountain Park "Ruskeala"

There is something to do in the park for a day or two. You can take a tour, but we decided to wander on our own and found entertainment for both days. On this occasion, the editorial along the way made her top 5 activities in the park.

1. Ride a trolley over a quarry. It costs 1000 rubles, but not for the faint of heart.
2. Ride a boat on the lake inside the quarry. It costs 400 rubles per boat per hour, capacity 4 people.
3. Climb on marble blocks, go down to the river on stones, climb into the depths of the forest (carefully - everything is for people who are self-confident)
4. Find your way to the old lime kilns built in the early 19th century.
5. Choose a master class and mold your souvenir.

As a bonus, you can choose any place in the sun overlooking a flooded quarry and have a picnic there. The cost of entering the park is 250 rubles per day, all activities, master classes, dogs and pots are paid separately.

What not to do on the road?

If you took bus tour then you won't have much of a choice. If by car, then it all depends on you. We advise you not to waste time on these places, but of course the choice is yours.

Tasting tinctures in the city of Lahdenpokhya. Lahdenpokhya is a stop for many buses on the way to Ruskeala in order to lightly drink fifty tourists and convince them to take out half a drink store. It is worth saying that the drinks there are passable, but it is not worth the time at all. If you are traveling with a group, then all that remains is to pray that it is adequate and does not hang out in the liquor store for an hour longer than necessary. Instead of tasting edition along the way went to explore the town of Lahdenpokhya and really plunged into the theme of the famous public