Siversky: Dacha Culture and History

Dacha culture and historic buildings

Explore Siversky through its dacha culture and historic architecture. The “Dachnaya Stolitsa” Museum is housed in an old country house built in the 1890s by the St. Petersburg architect Ivan Mikhailovich Golmdorf. Its exhibition covers various stages in the development of the Siverskaya dacha area. This brings two scales together: the building history of a particular country house and the development of the dacha area as a whole.

The Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Siversky was consecrated in 1889. Another historic house in Siversky is associated with Isaac Schwartz; it was built in the late 19th century in an eclectic style with elements of the Neo-Russian style. For travelers interested in comparing architectural styles, this offers a tangible contrast: the church can be dated by its year of consecration, while the house can be understood through its design and its combination of different stylistic elements.

Landscapes in the wider travel region of Leningrad Oblast

The natural landscapes of Leningrad Oblast are also worth exploring. The banks of the Oredezh in the area of Rozhdestveno, Mezhno, and Siversky have the status of a regional geological natural monument. There, the banks consist of red sandstone from the Middle Devonian. The protected status and the rock describe different aspects of this regional landscape: the area is designated a natural monument, while the sandstone gives it its geological character.

Another natural area in Leningrad Oblast is Vepsian Forest Nature Park, in the far east of the oblast. It includes seven nature reserves with particularly strict protection rules. There are numerous lakes in the park; the largest is Lake Lerinskoye, in the reserve of the same name. Notable features include preserved old spruce and pine forests in the “Vepsskiy les” and “Ashchozyorskiy” reserves. These forests are important for numerous organisms that can survive only in forests undisturbed by economic activity. Brown bears are relatively numerous in the park; the wolverine, extremely rare in the region, has also been recorded there. The Vepsians, a small people of Russia with their own culture and traditions, have traditionally lived there.

More nature and cultural destinations in Leningrad Oblast

A regional overview dated December 24, 2019, describes ecological routes in seven regionally significant protected areas. They are intended for independent visits and are equipped with information materials and various visitor facilities. Examples described include the circular ecological trail at the Toksovskiye vysoty natural monument, which passes over sand hills and hollows and through old spruce and pine forests. In the “Gryada Varyamyansel'kya” protected area in Priozersk District, an ecological cycling route runs through a landscape of lakes, bogs, and dry, old pine forest. Since the route descriptions date from 2019, check current conditions before your trip.

Koporje Fortress offers a different historical focus. It is a museum and a monument of ancient Russian stone architecture. It has survived in its present form since the 16th century; parts of the masonry date from the 13th century. Because it is in a state of disrepair, climbing the walls and towers is prohibited. It is possible to visit without a guide using the “Koporskaya krepost' 2.0” multimedia guide; check its availability when planning your visit.

Discover more destinations: Issad, Gorlovshchina, Kobona, Volochaevka, Kerro Massif, Kezoruchey, Naziya, Svetlitsa

For the wider travel overview: Leningrad Oblast.