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Information centres

«Visitors’ Centres» are a kind of ‘a door’ to the Park. Visitors and tourists get primary information the quality of which is vital for their future stay in the territory. Every visitor gets full information on tourist routes, ecological paths, accommodation places, services and prices. Visitors can also see the exposition on cultural heritage, natural peculiarities, present-day work of the Park, buy souvenirs at the stalls. Visitors’ Centre in the village of Vershinino is situated in a restored 2-storey building of the beginning of the 20th century which used to be the residence of the local merchant Kozhevnikov; the centre houses some expositions, exhibitions, museum collection, a souvenir stall, a lecture hall, a smaller conference hall. As the house was meant to be lived in, the style of expositions is in general agreement with the fact. They have the following sections: «Izba» (House), «Master’s Kut»(Corner), «Babiy Kut» (Woman’s Corner), «Clean Place», «Gornitsa» (Chamber), «Red Corner» (The corner where the icons used to hang). These are the most well known parts of the Russian dwelling. Here lies the difference of the Visitors’ Centre in the village of Vershinino from that in the village of Morshchikhinskaya which is a newly built house of an original architectural design; the contemporary design defines the style of expositions in it. Besides the elements of museum expositions there are also an ecology classroom, a cafe, comfortable hotel rooms for 10, a souvenir shop. The Visitors’ Centre has all the modern conveniences – cold and hot running water, showers, etc.

Tourists’ routes, ecological and educational paths

Circular ecological and educational route by water and land «Ancestors’ Path» runs in the Kargopol sector of the Park: the village of Morshchikhinskaya – Naglimozero ( Naglim Lake) - the village of Morshchikhinskaya. It is 15 km long, 10 km of the route are along the forest path, 5 km are on the lake. One can see a seid (a cult stone), worship crosses, the place of the 18th century monastery, portages of the 14th century there

Radial ecological and educational route by land «North Equator» runs in the Kargopol sector of the Park: the village of Morshchikhinskaya – watershed ridge between the White and the Baltic Seas Maselga - Khizhgora - the village of Morshchikhinskaya. Its length is 18 km. Of interest are a watershed ridge in Maselga, a wooden church in Khizhgora.

Radial ecological and educational route by water «Five lakes system» is in the Kargopol sector of the Park: the village of Maselga – Levusozero Lake – the village of Maselga. The route length is 12 km. Objects of interest: signs of the Quaternary ice period, lakes and canals system, a cribwork bridge, a water-mill.

Radial ecological and educational route by water and land «Trans-Kenozero Path» is situated in the Kargopol and Plesetsk sectors of the Park. It crosses the Park from south to north, from the village of Morshchikhinskaya to the village of Vidyagino. It is 35 km long. The rout runs along the historical road of the 12th - 16th centuries. Objects to be seen are ancient unpopulated villages, chapels, worship crosses, churches and church-yards, ‘sacred groves’, natural and cultural landscapes.

Ecological and educational route by water «Treasures of the relict Rus» is in the Plesetsk sector of the Park. It covers the Kenozero lake system. Objects to be seen are ancient villages, chapels, churches, church-yards, ‘sacred groves’

Ecological route «Path of ant-hills» is worked out together with the teachers and schoolchildren of the secondary school in the settlement of Morshchikhinskaya. It starts at the Lekshmozero Visitors’ Centre and runs 2.5 km. Objects of interest: nature of the taiga forests, a chapel of Kseniya of Saint-Petersburg, and historical monuments of the Lekshmozero Land.

Tourist circular ecological and educational route by land «Forest Fairy-tale» starts in the village of Zikhnovo (the Plesetsk sector of the Park), and runs 20 km. Objects to see: rich nature of the Kenozero forests, ancient villages, chapels, worship crosses, historical roads. It is interesting to take pictures of rare plants in the Park (the best time for it are July and August).

Traditional tourist route by water (boat voyage) is from Undozero down the river Undosha – the Pochozero Lake – the river Pocha – the Kenozero Lake – the river Kena – the river Onega. It runs across the Plesetsk sector of the Park. Tourists can have a rest on the Kenozero Lake, to see places of interest on numerous lake islands.

At the junctions of the ecological paths there are equipped rest sites with information stands and signs. Today much work is being done to arrange a detailed information system along the ecological paths.

Seasonal visits to the Park

The territory of the Park is interesting to visit in any season. Still there are some short-term limitations or uncomfortable seasons for tourism: at the time when ice is forming on the rivers and lakes (November) and when ice is thawing out (April) the ferry connecting the villages of Konyovo and Vershinino does not work; in the first half of summer (June-July) mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects are abundant in the Park area, tourists should have mosquito nets.

© Arkhangelsk regional tourist information centre, 2005-2008

8, Svobody str., 163000, Arkhangelsk, Russia; tel./fax: + 7 (8182) 21 40 82

Open: Mon-Thu - 9:00 - 17:30, Fri - 9:00 - 16:00

© Committee on International Relations and Tourism Development

© Main photo by Y. Kaver

© Translation by T. Klushina

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