Kirishsky District: Bogs and Bobbin Lace

• The Chistyy mokh State Nature Reserve is located in Kirishsky District and covers 6,434 hectares.
• Its landscape includes raised and transitional bogs, forests, and small bog lakes.
• The Kirishi Local History Museum exhibition covers the history of the district from the earliest times to the present day.
• A central focus of the exhibition is Zakhozhye (Kirishi) bobbin lace.

The nature reserve encompasses part of a large bog complex in the Volkhov River basin. It includes several raised and transitional bogs. Forests lie around the bogs, on bog islands, and in the Dubnya River valley. There are small bog lakes in the western part of the reserve.

The area of 6,434 hectares and the variety of landscapes convey two different aspects of the reserve: its size and the changing mix of bogs, forest habitats, and lakes. So anyone comparing natural areas will find more than just one type of landscape here. These features give a concrete sense of what makes Chistyy mokh distinctive, without reducing the area to a single image.

The Kirishi Local History Museum exhibition presents the history of the district from the earliest times to the present day. Zakhozhye (Kirishi) bobbin lace takes center stage. On display are photographs of lace-makers and examples of traditional peasant lace.

The exhibition thus connects a broad sweep of regional history with a specific cultural theme. The photographs show lace-makers, while the lace examples illustrate the craft itself. For travelers who want to explore culture as well as the landscape, the museum offers a distinctive way to discover the district’s history.

In the far east of the broader destination of Leningrad Oblast lies Vepsian Forest Nature Park. It comprises seven reserves with particularly strict conservation regulations. The park has numerous lakes, the largest being Lake Lerinskoye in the reserve of the same name. Other notable features include well-preserved old spruce and pine forests in the Vepsskiy les and Ashchozyorskiy reserves.

These old forests are important for numerous organisms that can survive only in forests undisturbed by economic activity. Brown bears are found in significant numbers in the nature park, and wolverines, which are extremely rare in the region, have also been recorded. The Vepsians, a small people of Russia with their own culture and traditions, have traditionally lived there as well. These natural and cultural features relate to Leningrad Oblast and Vepsian Forest Nature Park.

Leningrad Oblast also offers a range of ecological trails. A regional overview dated December 24, 2019, describes trails in seven regionally significant protected areas as intended for independent visits, and mentions information materials and various visitor facilities. Check the current conditions before planning to take one of these routes.

A description from 2019 mentions a circular ecological trail at the Toksovskie vysoty Natural Monument, running over sand dunes and through the hollows between them, as well as through old spruce and pine forests. In the Gryada Varyamyansel'kya protected area in Priozersk District, an ecological cycling trail passes through a landscape of lakes, bogs, and dry, old-growth pine forest. Check the conditions for these routes before your trip, too.

The Ladva Trail leads to glacial landforms, mid-taiga vegetation, and the Vepsian village of Ladva. It also leads to Lake Ladva in Podporozhye District. An ecological trail near the settlement of Kurba in the same district runs alongside lakes in Vepsian Forest Nature Park. These trail descriptions name different destinations: some focus on landforms, others on a village or lakes.

Another cultural attraction in Leningrad Oblast is Koporye Fortress, a museum and monument of ancient Russian stone architecture. It has been preserved in its present form since the 16th century, while parts of the masonry date from the 13th century. Climbing the walls and towers is prohibited because they are in an emergency condition. The museum website currently lists a self-guided visit using the Koporskaya krepost' 2.0 multimedia guide as an option. Check whether this option is available before planning your visit.

Discover more destinations: Lodeynopolsky District, Vsevolozhsky District, Gatchina District, Volosovsky District, Vyborgsky District, Gatchinsky District, Korsakovsky District, Tosnensky District.

What landscapes can you find in the Chistyy mokh nature reserve?

The reserve encompasses part of a large bog complex in the Volkhov River basin, with raised and transitional bogs and forests around the bogs, on bog islands, and in the Dubnya River valley. There are small bog lakes in the west.

What is a particular focus at the Kirishi Local History Museum?

The exhibition covers the history of the district from the earliest times to the present day. Zakhozhye (Kirishi) bobbin lace takes center stage, with photographs of lace-makers and examples of traditional peasant lace on display.

What different types of trails are there in Leningrad Oblast?

Descriptions mention, among other things, a circular trail over sand dunes and through forests near Toksovskie vysoty, an ecological cycling trail through a landscape of lakes, bogs, and pine forests, and the Ladva Trail, which leads to a village and a lake. Information about several trails dates from 2019; check current conditions before your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Leningrad Oblast.