Ruskeala Canyon is a former quarry in which the development of various types of marble was carried out. Today its width is about 100 meters, and its length is about 460 meters. The canyon has a slightly elongated shape from north to south. The first mention of this area dates back to the 17th century. At that time, the land belonged to the Swedes. However, after the success in the Northern War, Karelia, including the quarry, went to Russia.

Ruskeala Park

Catherine the Second became interested in the development of the stone. Local marble was used in the decoration of the Kazan and St. Isaac cathedrals, as well as in the arrangement of window sills in the Hermitage building. The marble canyon has worked for more than 60 years and in the 30s of the 19th century, mining was stopped. After the war, the development of marble was tried to resume, but explosives damaged the aquifer and the bottom of the gorge was filled with water, forming a lake.

To date, industrial production is still underway in the vicinity, but not on the same scale as before. One of the quarries was turned into the Ruskeala mountain park, which made the region attractive for tourism. Ruskeala marble canyon has been cleared, and there are hiking trails and observation platforms on its territory.

The banks of the rest of the quarries are overgrown with bushes and grass in many places, but this does not interfere with the view. From a 20-meter height, truly picturesque landscapes open up. Externally, the rocks make an unforgettable sight – powerful gray-white giants proudly drown in a turquoise lake. Photos taken on the Ruskeala Marble Canyon will undoubtedly become an adornment of the photo collection of any, even the most demanding, tourist.

Where is Ruskeala Mountain Park

The Republic of Karelia is spread over the territory of the Northwestern District of the Russian Federation. It borders on three administrative units – the Vologda, Murmansk and Leningrad regions. The international border with Finland also runs through the territory of the Karelian Republic.

The main attractions of Ruskeala Park in Karelia and the cost of the ticket price

The main attractions of Ruskeala Park in Karelia can be found in the booklet, which is issued free of charge at the park's ticket office.

Prices for tickets and excursions in Ruskeala park in Karelia. According to the price list posted at the ticket office of Ruskeala Park, there are three excursions:

Excursion “Marble Canyon”
Excursion “The Road of Mountain Masters” – Ruskeala Mountain Park
Excursion “Underground Ruskeala”
Individual visit to the “Marble Canyon”

Price and duration of excursions in Ruskeala Park

Excursion	Duration	The cost
Excursion “Marble Canyon”	60 minutes	Adult 450 rub. Schoolboy 150 rubles.
Excursion “The Road of Mining Masters”	90 minutes	Adult 500 rub. Schoolboy 150 rubles.
Excursion “Underground Ruskeala”	60 minutes	Adult 450 rub. Schoolboy 150 rubles.
Individual visit to the “Marble Canyon”	No time limit	Adult 300 rub. Schoolboy 100 rubles.

After pushing around at the ticket offices, it was found out that it was impossible to get on the excursions right away, since the nearest groups had been formed and now it was necessary to buy excursions, which would start in about an hour or two. Therefore, many people buy an excursion “Underground Ruskeala” and take an entrance ticket to the park and spend the time before the excursion in the park, get acquainted with the outer part, and then examine the underground.

Ticket office Ruskeala marble canyon

Having bought a ticket and taking with us a booklet of the park with a map, we went to the entrance. At the entrance, the guard asked that paper bracelets be worn on the arm or attached to the handles of backpacks or bags, so we did. It should be noted that the entrance to the route is beautifully decorated, looking like old wooden houses. This square also houses the administration of the park, souvenir shops and cafes. Everything looks just great.

Ruskeala marble canyon entrance to the territory

The length of the Great Marble Quarry from north to south is 460 meters, the width reaches 100 meters. The distance from the highest point of the quarry to its bottom is over 50 meters. A path has been laid around the quarry. The transparency of the water in the quarry is 15-18 meters; in sunny weather it turns into an intense emerald color. At the surface of the water, numerous grottoes are visible – the remains of flooded adits and drifts.

I would like to immediately note that the route is laid along the top of the canyon, along the route there is a path. The path can go up and down, and sometimes there will be steps. Thus, to visit Ruskeala Park you do not need to have special shoes, but heels will still be uncomfortable.

Ruskeala marble canyon footpath in the park

To ensure safety on the route, iron fences are installed, and where it is far from the cliff, it is fenced with ribbons and signs so that they do not go behind them.

The most beautiful observation points are equipped with observation decks with information boards. Which is convenient and useful. On this information board, it tells what films were filmed in the Ruskeala Mountain Park.

What films were shot in Ruskeala Park

There are five main observation platforms on the route, where magnificent views open up and people like to take photos or selfies against the backdrop of Ruskeala Park in Karelia. For example, the first and smallest observation deck on the route.

The first observation deck

Here are some photos in the first observation deck.

View of the canyon from the first site

Further along the route you will be met by a place called White Mountain. This place has two attractions, the first is to lay your creation out of marble.

White Mountain in Ruskeala Park

And second, buy a souvenir at a local workshop. The workshop is located near the White Mountain in a wooden hut. Inside there is a shop and a workshop in which the master works. You can look at finished products or order a master something of your own. Products are available in different prices from 150 rubles. up to 2,000 rubles. Magnets for 300 rubles.

Workshop at the White Mountain in Ruskeala Park

Without buying a marble souvenir and not collecting your statue, we went further along the route. The next two observation platforms allowed us to take a photo of the marble canyon from a different angle.

The day was not sunny, but it was warm and there was no rain, and therefore many boats floated along the water surface of the canyon, which were rented.

Canyon and boats for hire

From another observation deck, there was a view of how boats swim into the caves.

The boat sails into the cave

The next on the route was an old vertical mine, on the map of the park it is number 3.

If you look at the bottom of the mine, you can see how people walk there.

Top view of the old vertical shaft

Looking at the mine from above, we go down the path and come to the entrance of this very mine, just below and go into the grotto, on the map of the park number 4.

Entrance to the old mine in Ruskeala Park

The grotto is not big, it is dark in the first meters before the sinkhole, but artificial lighting is made. The height of the grotto is not great, about two meters.

We enter the old mine

The light of the vertical shaft is visible ahead and everyone is moving towards it. In this place, the organizers of the park made a metal bridge over the vertical adit.

Old vertical shaft

We reach the zone of failure and now everyone is looking up from where they just came. It is very good that the organizers of the park opened this grotto for inspection, because if you do not get on an underground excursion, then you will at least have a little idea of the underground mine.

The length of the grotto is small, probably about fifty meters, so you can't walk in it for a long time, but you can study the layers of stone and the inscriptions of tourists for a while. The grotto has an entrance and an exit, that is, you pass the grotto through and continue your inspection of Ruskeala Park along the route.

And here we are at the next observation deck, which is probably the lowest of all. Here is a top view of this site.

Viewpoint

But the low one is of course conditional, since after climbing a little along the path that leads along the route, you meet the base for flying over the canyon on a troll.

Further along the route, there is a small ascent, and then a descent to an underground lake. We go down not to the lake itself, but only to the sinkhole, where you can see the underground lake. To see the underground lake, you need to buy a separate ticket and go with an excursion “Underground Ruskeala”.

View of the Underground Lake

If you talk to tourists, then reviews about visiting the Underground Lake in Ruskeala range from bad to enthusiastic. Most of the people are not satisfied with the duration of the excursion itself and the very short interval of turning on the illumination of the underground lake, so some visitors do not have time to take a photo of the Underground Lake and themselves in all their beauty.

After the lake, you will need to walk a decent distance through the forest and come to the Italian cut. The Italian cut in Ruskeale is called due to the fact that in the quarry, for the extraction of marble, Italian-made equipment was used, later flooded there (as they say), huge stone blocks were mined by sawing.

Italian quarry in Ruskeala park

The marble blocks in this place are even and therefore their unique pattern is clearly visible. So the Italian Quarry allows you to take a closer look at Ruskeala marble, touch it, lean against it and if you want to taste it. But for the most part, tourists try to take original photos.

Take a photo in an italian quarry

After spending time in the Italian quarry, we again set off on our way to the Grand Marble Canyon. We move along a different path and along the way we meet new buildings for the entertainment of tourists. Part of the Italian quarry is set aside for the Kalevala cultural and natural park, which opened on 28 August 2018.

Cultural and natural park “Kalevala”

It is an interactive platform for meeting the heroes of the epic. The entrance ticket is 100 rubles per person. But we found the preparatory work, since it was just opening, it will not work out in full, but I think that everything will work on your visit.

And here again the path leads us along the Great Marble Canyon, we stop at the observation deck overlooking the neighboring lake – this is Lake Montferrand in Ruskeala Park.

And now, not far from the exit from the park, we are met by the next attraction for vacationers “Take your step” from a height of 20 meters for 2000 rubles. (better known as the bungee).

From this place you can clearly see where the daredevils land from the “Flight over the canyon” attraction, as well as the Marble Canyon boat rental.

Ruskeala in autumn

I will leave here a reminder for myself, what else to see in Ruskeale when I arrive in autumn: an underground lake with a float on a platform from a mine to a quarry or a boat trip along the Marble Canyon (only in September); zip-line; Kalevala park, Abode of Angels museum, an abandoned factory and a retro train from Sortavala.

Pros and cons of visiting Ruskeala in autumn:

Pros: the golden autumn in the canyon is especially beautiful (I watched the virtual tour on the official website of the park); since November, the evening artistic illumination is connected.
Cons: Boating, bungee jumping and rope park not available from October.

Park infrastructure

On the territory of the mountain park there are:

Ruskolka cafe
Fast food “Colmas Burger”
Summer cafe-bakery “Summer”
Toilets
Playground
Gift shop “City of Masters”

This infrastructure is located at the opposite end of the Marble Lake in relation to the new entrance to the park.

Ruskeala Express Schedule

The retro train runs every day. He leaves for the park from Sortavala at 10:40. It is convenient for those who come to Sortavala on the Lastochka from St. Petersburg. Back to Sortavala “Ruskeala Express” departs at 17:30 and arrives at 18:30 also under the “Swallow”.

On Saturdays (summer schedule) additional flights are introduced, which depart from Sortavala at 8:50 and 15:00, and return from Ruskeala at 12:30 and 18:50. On the days of events in the park, a special flight St. Petersburg – Ruskeala Mountain Park is launched.

I moved to the Ruskealsky Express directly from the Moscow-Sortavala train, going to the other side of the platform, as do the passengers of the Lastochka from St. Petersburg.

Train conductor “Ruskeala Express”

“Ruskeala Express” was created on the model of “Nikolaev Express” of the late XIX – early XX centuries. The historical shape of the guides and the interior interiors contribute to the immersion in the atmosphere of that time: green lamps, curtains with tassels, black and white photographs, leather armchairs. The retro train consists of 5 carriages: 4 sitting compartments and 1 restaurant car. If you want to sit in a restaurant, hurry up to take your seats or buy tickets with meals.

Retro train compartment

Recently, a photo compartment appeared in the retro train. You can stay in a compartment for up to 10 minutes, entrance fee is 300 rubles. An interactive photo system is installed inside that takes snapshots in virtual historical costumes.

Before the departure of the retro train, we had time to photograph the locomotive, hear how it hums and blows out black smoke. The road flew by imperceptibly, it was impossible to tear yourself away from the Karelian nature views sweeping outside the window. “Ruskeala Express” arrives at the far entrance to the park, where there are cash desks and a left-luggage office (the cost of a cell is 100 rubles).

Trolls

Trolls.

Ruskeala is good not only for its fabulous nature and cultural objects: lovers of outdoor activities will certainly find entertainment to their liking. One of the most popular is trolls or ziplines. The attraction is a downhill ride along a cable stretched between two points at a slight angle. The design is safe, but such a descent gives a sense of speed and the opportunity to admire beautiful views from a height.

In Ruskeale, the flight takes place over the most picturesque part of the mountain park – Lake Marble. An adrenaline rush and positive emotions are guaranteed. It is worth considering that there are queues for the trolls. There is a restriction on the body weight of a tourist – up to 120 kg. Children under the age of seven are not allowed to go down either.

Address: Flight over the canyon (trolls), st. Marble, Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Russia.

The history of the creation of the canyon

The history of the park dates back to the 18th century. It was at that time that Peter I gave the territory on which the national park is now located to Prince A.B. Buturlin for his faithful service. The prince was not interested in marble, so the quarries were forgotten for several decades.

Interest in the place returned only under Catherine II. She launched a large-scale construction in St. Petersburg, requiring a huge amount of marble. The Empress wanted to mine the stone on the territory of her own state, since the import of material from abroad was too expensive. The local pastor Samuil Alopeus brought the empress's entourage to Ruskeala mines, he was interested in geology, and he decided to show the place to the capital's craftsmen.

In the XX century, the quarries were forgotten again, since in 1939 the Soviet-Finnish war began. People left the mines for the duration of the hostilities, but at the end they tried to restore the mine.

It was in the twentieth century that as a result of blasting operations, the deepest and oldest quarry was flooded with water, which is why a lake popular among today's tourists was formed. And in 1980, an Italian quarry appeared, in which layers of marble were mined using a special technology.

Only in 1998 the marble quarry became a monument of the cultural and historical heritage of Karelia. In 2005, the place received the title of a national park and underwent improvement and reconstruction, becoming a tourist destination.

Tourist memo:

If you are planning to settle near the park, book your room in advance. There are a lot of people who want to relax here.
Do not forget about comfortable shoes, mountain roads will not tolerate heels.
If there are too long lines in front of the checkout, go to the reception. You can also buy the required ticket there.
Traveling with a child? Do not lose sight of him, even for a second. Career is dangerous and you never know what might happen

Diving

Diving.

Scuba diving is another activity for visitors to the mountain park. Scuba diving here is especially pleasant and interesting thanks to the clear and transparent water of the quarry. The walls contain many caves for divers to swim in. The flooded adits resemble a real labyrinth.

Tourists should remember that the water is cool even in summer, around +16 Celsius. The season runs from May to October. In addition, you need to come with your own equipment or rent it back in Petrozavodsk. You can dive alone or with an escort. In the second case, the price also includes instruction and photos.

Address: Mountain Park Ruskeala, Mramornaya street, Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Russia.

Underground Ruskeala

Excursion “Underground Ruskeala”

The underground mine tour is the most interesting tour of the mountain park. To take a seat in a group, especially on weekends, it is advised to arrive early and buy a ticket right away. Groups (maximum 15 people) are formed on the spot on a first come, first served basis. The temperature in the adits is around + 6… + 8 ° C all year round, take warm clothes with you. Children from 3 years old are allowed on the underground excursion, pets are not allowed. The route is 850 meters long and lasts 60 minutes.

Before the start of the excursion, all participants undergo safety instructions, sign in the magazine and receive equipment – a vest and a helmet.

Illumination of the underground caves of Ruskeala

As the guide told us, an old Finnish woman presented the map of underground tunnels to Ruskeala Park. In return, she asked to create a museum dedicated to the workers of the Ruskeala quarries. It will be built soon. The cavers of the Russian Geographical Society are engaged in scientific research of the dungeons.

At the entrance, it is still dry and light, pictures of the dungeon hang on the walls at different times of the year. As you go, it gets darker, water flows along the edges of the path, the vaults overhang and everything seems mysterious. Experts-cavers call Ruskeala adits “underground space”.

Underground lake

You walk through the tunnel where the rock was mined, find numbers on the walls, small stalactites hanging from the ceiling, and you find yourself in an underground lake. This is a large hall with marble columns and grottoes, along the perimeter of which a bridge is laid.

In the middle of the lake there is a huge hole from where you can see the sky and people. We turned on the backlighting with music, which added an effect to an already impressive place. The Cave Lighting project was developed by a German company specializing in the illumination of underground objects.

Pedestrian bridges

In winter, the water of the underground lake freezes, forming bizarre shapes. Ice carvers make figures of fairy-tale characters that do not melt until the end of May. In mid-August, I saw them only in photographs.

The underground excursion ends with a walk along the Marmara Lake by electric ferry. The views from the water are no less beautiful than from the top. Boats sailed past us and troll riders screamed past us.

Kalevala park

Kalevala Park.

“Kalevala” is a collection of legends of the Karelian epic known all over the world. The park, located near the Italian quarry, was named in his honor. On the territory of travelers, heroes of epic runes (songs) carved from wood and stone await.

The local nature perfectly matches the atmosphere and mood of Karelian legends. The area is divided into Dark (with a stone cliff) and Light (with a vast clearing) parts. Guests are given booklets with basic information about the collection “Kalevala” and its characters. The walk is truly fascinating and interactive: the creators of the park organize quests, master classes and other entertainments, give visitors souvenirs.

Address: Mountain Park Ruskeala, Mramornaya street, Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Russia.

White mountain

The ridge of the White Mountain shimmers in the rays of the sun in many shades: pale blue, light gray, white, silver. It looks just amazing, and what kind of pictures against the background of this splendor are obtained!

Ancient settlement of Paaso (Spasskoe)

How to get there: with an excursion from Sortavala, or on your own, along the A-129 highway. Navigator coordinates: 61.732262 °, 30.698997 °

Paaso slope not only offers panoramic views of Sortavala and its surroundings.

An ancient settlement of the Korela people was located here (not Karelians, namely Korela – a mixture of different Finno-Ugric tribes). It is very easy to find the path upstairs: stand with your back to the highway, and there will be an inconspicuous path to your right. Local residents will show you the way.

Tohmajoki river waterfalls

The famous Ruskeala waterfalls are located a couple of kilometers from the national park. It was here that the Soviet film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” was filmed. Of course, streams can hardly be called waterfalls; rather, they are just powerful streams gushing from the rocks. But there are still a lot of people who want to take a look at the place.

Sports swimming

Sports swimming in Ruskeale is practically the only chance to swim in the lakes of the canyon. The rest of the time, swimming is prohibited here, and the water is extremely cold here (it already brings legs). So if you are planning to participate in the Ruskeala Swim, calculate your strength.

Regional Museum of Northern Ladoga

The only local history museum in the city. The building itself is historic and belonged to the famous physician Gustav Winter. The layout and facades in the style of “Finnish national romanticism” have been completely preserved.

The museum is well equipped: each exhibition is accompanied by electronic labels that can be read from a tablet. The peculiarity of the museum is the symbolic stone keys, passing through which you learn new information.

The museum has at its disposal not only natural, but also industrial exhibits. After all, Sortavala is the center of marble mining, mining, and also the former “bone of contention” between the Russian and Swedish rulers.

Marmara Lake and Boating Tour

Marmara Lake and boat trip.

The lake was formed after the flooding of the Marble Canyon. The exact reason why water began to flow into the mine has not been established. Perhaps part of the rock was blown up by the Finns during the Second World War.

Now the lake is one of the most picturesque places in Karelia. Its length is about 460 m, width – 100 m. The main feature is very clear water of a beautiful turquoise color. In some places, the bottom can be seen to a depth of 18 meters. The walls of the canyon are silvery-white, and the banks are green with dense conifers.

Tourists admire the reservoir from observation platforms, but a boat trip along it will give even more vivid sensations. The service is available only during the warmer months. You can ride on your own, all passengers are given life jackets. The walls of the canyon are riddled with grottoes and tunnels. There is a passage through which you can get to the underground adit.

Address: Marble quarry, st. Marble, Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Russia.

Riekkalansaari Island and Nikolsko-Serdobolsky Pogost

The oldest church in Ladoga is one of the largest graveyards in the Moscow principality. An Orthodox shrine on the Lutheran land, which at one time was inhabited by either Swedes and Karelians of the Lutheran faith, or Russian families. Riekkalansaari is translated as “Greek”, which in the 12-13th centuries was synonymous with the word “Orthodox”.

The first settlers on the island appeared at the beginning of the 6th century, and since then it has not been empty, although it could not boast of a dense population. Traditionally, fishermen, farmers and hunters lived here, and in modern times Riekkalansaari is considered a summer cottage: quiet, fresh, not far from the city.

You can walk around the island all day, from natural attractions – two lakes, ancient rocks reminiscent of volcanoes raging here, high cliffs with gorges, meadows and forests.

A pontoon bridge and many boats from the pier lead to the island from Sortavala.

Scuba diving

Experienced divers should try the local scuba diving. But the park does not have its own rental equipment, so you have to carry your own. Plus you will be asked for a diver's license to make sure you are an experienced diver. One dive will cost you 300 rubles, for which the park will provide you with a floating platform.

Mine and adit

Some two centuries ago, marble was mined in a vertical shaft and a local adit. Many children (and some adults as well) are afraid to go down into the adit, because it seems that there, in the depths, it is very dark. But this is not the case. The entire space is well lit, the paths are equipped with handrails, all visitors are invited to wear helmets. There is nothing to be afraid of.

Mining Craftsmen's Road

Mountain craftsmen's road.

During this fascinating excursion lasting about two hours, tourists will learn the history of the development of the canyon and the extraction of marble. On the route, they are accompanied by a guide who will acquaint them in detail with the local wonders and interesting facts.

The Mountain Masters' Road includes several objects of the mountain park at once. In addition to exploring the Marble Canyon, travelers can look into the underground workings with a picturesque lake. Also at the service of the excursion participants is the Italian quarry, where marble cuts have been preserved.

Address: Mountain Park Ruskeala, Mramornaya street, Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Russia.

Exhibition Center Kronid Gogolev

Karelian wood craftsmen are not only architects who built unique huts and churches. Kronid Aleksandrovich is a woodcarver, his works travel to world exhibitions. But they also have their own house – Sortavala. In the reliefs, Gogolev actively used the theme of Valaam and Ladoga. Main subjects: everyday life, holidays, landscapes and beauty of the Karelian land.

Selected works of the master are exhibited in the center: from his first attempts – small details, and ending with triptychs and wooden panels.

Festivals and concerts

Music festivals and concerts are often held on the territory of Ruskeala. For example, in 2019 the open-air Ruskeala Symphony was held here, during which the Karelian Symphony Orchestra played classical and rock works of famous performers.

The poster of the events can be found on the website of the national park and make arrangements for the arrival to the significant event.

Rock garden

Rock garden.

Continuing their acquaintance with the natural resources of Karelia, tourists often drop in to the Rock Garden, founded by a native of these places Boris Akhonen. For about 20 years, he has been collecting rock samples, forming unusual compositions and whole sculptures from them.

The collection of stones is still growing: many visitors to the garden pass on their interesting finds to Boris Stepanovich. The collection includes pomegranate, shungite, gems and, of course, Ruskeala marble. The excursion is conducted by the owner of the park. And if time allows the tourist, he can independently assemble a stone sculpture. The exposition also includes rare specimens – household items found by Ahonen in forest areas abandoned by people.

What to do in winter?

In winter, entertainment events in Ruskeale are much less than in summer. During the day, here you can walk along snow-covered trails, enjoy stunning views, take pictures against the backdrop of an icy forest.

In the evening, lights will light up throughout the canyon, and an interesting exhibition of ice sculptures will open. You can go ice skating on the frozen lake or ride a real husky dog sled.

Fans of extreme sports can rent a snowmobile and go on a trip along specially designated tracks (the rental price will depend on the length of the path and the time on the road).

The remoteness of Ruskeala from civilization

Ruskeala settlement – the nearest settlement;
the city of Sortavala – 32 kilometers;
border crossing “Vyartsilya” – 20 kilometers;
the city of St. Petersburg – 300 kilometers.

Where to stay?

Most tourists come to Ruskeala for one day. But if you plan to stay in the park for a little longer, then you will need to find housing near the park area (there are no hotels in the park itself).

Usually it is very difficult to find a free place in some hotel or at a recreation center near Ruskeala, especially in the season. So book your seats in advance.

Here are some options for where you can stay for the night:

recreation center “Ruskeala” – the best option, a double room with one bed will cost 3,500 rubles per night, 20 minutes walk to the park;
guest house “Tsar of the Hill” – the convenient location of the guest house makes it a tasty morsel for many tourists, and therefore there are often no places here, 10 minutes on foot to the park, the rooms inside are as modest as possible, the night will cost you 2,700-4,700 rubles;
mini-hotel “Julia” – a budget hotel, the room in which is estimated at 2,500 rubles per night, located 15 minutes walk to the park;
hotels in Kitee and Tohmajärvi – if you have a Schengen visa, it will be much cheaper to find a hotel in Finland, the nearest settlements are located 35-50 km from Ruskeala.

How to get to Ruskeala

The most convenient and easiest way to visit Ruskeala Park and the Marble Canyon is by excursions and bus tours. A wide variety of offers can be found on the Internet. Prices start at 2 thousand rubles. It is not easy to get there by public transport, but it is also possible:

Train number 350 runs from Ladozhsky railway station to Sortavala. The journey takes about 5 and a half hours. The estimated cost of a one-way ticket is 500 rubles;
Buses run from the Northern Railway Station to Sortavala. The exact timetable can be found on the official website. The ticket will cost about 600 rubles, and the journey will take about 5 hours;
Minibuses depart from the Okay shopping center at the Ozerki metro station. The ticket price is the same as for a bus. The road will take 1 hour less;
You can get from Sortavala to Ruskeala by local minibuses or taxis.

For those who decide to visit the Great Marble Canyon by private transport, it is best to use the navigator. The route to the point of interest is as follows:

From St. Petersburg you need to go to the A-121 highway;
In Sortavala you should turn onto the road 86K-332 – the road will lead directly to Ruskeale.

On the right side of the road there will be Lake Ladoga, and on the left – the border with Finland.

Features of Ruskeala

In the vicinity of the village of Ruskeala and the town of Sortaval, there is a large selection of tourist recreation centers and guest houses. The most comfortable option is to rent a cottage. In summer, you can stay at the campsite. The working hours of the mountain park depend on the season. So in winter, it does not work on Sundays. It is worth noting that ticket offices close 1 hour before general closing. For more information about the opening hours of Ruskeala Park and the Marble Canyon, see the official website.

The entrance to the territory of the natural landmark is paid. For an adult, a ticket will cost 250 rubles, and for children over 7 years old – 100. Additionally, you can take advantage of group excursions. So, a tour of the caves and grottoes with a guide will cost 1,000 rubles. The cost of a regular excursion is 400 rubles. The park offers boat rental and diving opportunities. A detailed map is issued at the ticket offices, and at night the territory is illuminated with colorful lights.

The road to Ruskeala is winding, so you need to drive very carefully by car. Due to the proximity to the border, there may be communication problems – roaming is turned on. The banks of the canyon are steep cliffs, so climbing on them is dangerous. It is also forbidden to swim behind the buoys when renting a boat – stones are periodically dropped from above.

Museum “Abode of Angels”

The Museum of Wooden Sculpture “Abode of Angels” was opened in Ruskeala Park quite recently. Sculptures and entire compositions carved from wood with a chainsaw are exhibited under the transparent dome. This is a unique technique that has no analogues in the world. The authors of the works are the winners of international festivals of artistic woodcarving Alexander Ivchenko and Alexander Alferov.

Cafe, souvenir shops and a toilet in the Ruskeala marble canyon park

After the route we wanted to take a boat ride, but it turned out and there was a queue to wait for one hour, so the boats were missed and went to have a snack. The choice fell on the cafe Leto, since the cafe-bakery was not far from the entrance – exit from the mountain park. There is also a café of Karelian cuisine on the territory of the parking lot and it is called Ruskolka. The Summer cafe had ice cream, pastries and drinks. We took a whip with lingonberries and a gate with trout and potatoes, like local dishes.

Summer cafe you can have a snack

The cafe is clean and comfortable, and there were also free places. The local gastronomy seemed very tasty, apparently the walking tour added to the appetite.

Having had a snack, we went to look at souvenirs. As expected, there was a large selection of wood products, but most of all I was surprised by the dishes made of milky ceramics. Milk is a very appetizing formulation and one of the most popular fire decorating methods. The bottom line is as follows – a sintered crock that has been fired at a temperature of 970 degrees is placed in milk, and then baked again at a lower temperature (about 300-400 ° C). The pores are “closed”, the product acquires water-repellent properties and a beautiful dark brown tint.

Milk ceramic dishes

Entertainment and services

Bungee jumping area

Entertainment in Ruskeala Park depends on the season. On weekends, queues are formed for popular attractions (trolls, boats). Only experienced divers are allowed to dive with a license and their own equipment. Snowmobiles and ATVs must be booked in advance by phone. Check prices and conditions on the park's website.

Trolls (Zip-line) – 1200 rubles
Tarzanka (jump with a rope from a cliff 20 m high) – 1500 rubles
Boat trip on Lake Marble – 800 rubles / hour per boat (maximum 4 people), from May 23 to October 1
Self-propelled platform ride – 200 rubles / person
Rope park “Kubik” – 500 rubles
Secret paths of the Earth KALEVALA – 100 rubles
Diving 1 dive – 300 rubles, from May 1 to October 1
Snowmobiling / ATV riding – from 2,500 rubles / snowmobile
Winter sleigh “cheerful banana” – 300 rubles / person

Boating on Lake Marmara

On the territory of the park there are 4 cafes, souvenir and grocery stores, toilets, and a playground. We drank tea with branded Karelian gates (open pies) in the Leto cafe. You can dine at Kolmas Burgers, Ruskolka cafe or Grill (open from June 1 to September 30). All of them are located on the site at the main entrance to the park and the visitor center.

There are no hotels in the park yet. I stayed in the city of Sortavala, many people prefer country houses and recreation centers, which are located in picturesque places. For example, the recreation center Ruskeala is located on the shore of the lake next to a mountain park.

My impressions of visiting the Ruskeala Mountain Park coincide with the opinion of the majority – beautiful, unusual, interesting. If possible, come to the park for special events.

Italian quarry

Italian quarry.

The quarry got its name back in the 18th century, when Italian engineers supervised the development. Later, under Soviet rule, marble was mined there using Italian mining technologies, using foreign equipment. Basically, light blue and light gray stone was mined, which forms the basis of Mount Belaya.

During a tour of the Italian quarry, tourists will look at the traces of drilling in the thickness of the rocks, see the marble layers in the section. All holes in the rock were then drilled by hand, later they were filled with explosives. The explosion chipped off large pieces of marble. In winter, huge marble blocks were laid on a sleigh and transported to Lake Ladoga, and then transported across the ice to St. Petersburg, where the carvers turned them into works of art.

Address: Quarry “Italian quarry”, 1 st, Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Russia.

Sources used and useful links on the topic: https://radioiskatel.ru/landmarks/canyons/mramornyj-kanon-ruskeala/ https://albinatour.ru/ruskeala-mramornyj-kanon.html https://frog-travelers.ru / park-ruskeala-mramornyj-kanjon-sortavala / https://travelq.ru/ruskeala/ https://tripplanet.ru/dostoprimechatelnosti-ruskealy/ https://bloknot-turista.ru/rossiya/kareliya/dostoprimechatelnosti-kareliya /ruskeala.html https://kudarf.ru/szfo/kareliya/sortavala-ruskeala-dostoprimechatelnosti.html

Post source: lastici.ru