Discover Naziya

• The Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Naziya was converted from a former kindergarten.
• The Chapel of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul commemorates soldiers who fell in World War II and were buried in a local mass grave.
• Naziya’s school houses a school war museum described as unique and known far beyond the town.
• The “Raduga” ensemble is based at the “Naziya” Cultural and Sports Center and traditionally takes part in regional and international festivals.

The Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God was created by converting a former kindergarten. Its starting point, then, was a building with a different use. The Chapel of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul adds a different emphasis: it was built in memory of soldiers who fell in World War II and were buried in the local mass grave. Thus, two distinct connections stand side by side in Naziya—the conversion of a building and the commemoration of those killed in war.

This distinction is useful for understanding the area’s cultural history: the church tells the story of a change in a building’s use, while the chapel serves explicitly as a place of remembrance. Both references concern Naziya, but they do not describe the same place or function.

The school war museum is located in Naziya’s school. It is described as unique and is known far beyond Naziya. Its location at the school and its name make it a distinct part of the local cultural profile. The “Naziya” Cultural and Sports Center adds to this picture: it is home to the “Raduga” folk choreography ensemble, which traditionally takes part in regional and international festivals.

These cultural connections range from commemoration and school history to folk choreography. For travelers interested in different forms of culture, Naziya therefore offers more than a single historical connection. The church, chapel, school war museum, and ensemble each have their own role, which cannot be reduced to a shared use.

As a broader travel destination, Leningrad Oblast also includes the Vepsian Forest Nature Park, located in the far east of the oblast. It consists of seven protected areas with particularly strict conservation rules and has numerous lakes. The largest is Lake Lerinskoe, in the protected area of the same name. The park’s special assets include well-preserved old spruce and pine forests in the “Vepsskiy les” and “Ashchozyorskiy” protected areas. They are important for numerous organisms that can survive only in forests undisturbed by economic activity.

Brown bears are relatively numerous in the nature park; the wolverine, which is extremely rare in Leningrad Oblast, has also been recorded there. However, these populations do not guarantee a sighting during a visit. The Veps, a small people of Russia with their own culture and traditions, have traditionally lived in the park.

Koporye Fortress is a museum and a monument to ancient Russian stone architecture in Leningrad Oblast. It has been preserved in its present form since the 16th century; parts of the masonry date back to the 13th century. A self-guided visit using the “Koporskaya krepost 2.0” multimedia guide is mentioned as an option; check its availability before planning your visit. Climbing the walls and towers is prohibited because they are in a dangerous condition.

A regional description dated December 24, 2019, mentions ecological routes across seven protected areas of regional significance. They are intended for independent visits and are equipped with information materials and various visitor facilities. A route at the “Toksovskiye vysoty” natural monument, also described in 2019, forms a loop over sandy hills and hollows and through old spruce and pine forests. Check the current condition of the routes before planning your visit.

Discover more destinations: Melnitsa, Enkolovo, Mistolovo, Murino, Tsvelodubovo, Ropsha, Glinki and Novaya Ladoga.

What does the chapel in Naziya commemorate?

It was built in memory of soldiers who fell in World War II and were buried in the local mass grave.

Where is Vepsian Forest Nature Park?

It is in the far east of Leningrad Oblast and comprises seven protected areas.

Can you climb the walls and towers of Koporye Fortress?

No. Climbing them is prohibited because the walls and towers are in a dangerous condition.

What should you keep in mind about the ecological routes described?

Check the current condition of the routes before planning your visit. The descriptions cited date from 2019.

For the broader travel overview: Leningrad Oblast.