Nikolskoye: Churches and History

• The wooden St. Nicholas Church was built in 1718 and dismantled in 1812.
• The stone church was built in 1800–1805 with funding from merchant P. S. Rubtsov; it was designed by V. Suranov.
• A Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was established at 17 Oktyabrskaya Street in 1999–2001.
• The remains of an ancient burial mound lie near a bridge in Nikolskoye.
• The memorial to the Battle of the Neva stands between Nikolskoye and Ulyanovka, on the right bank of the Tosna.

The wooden St. Nicholas Church was built in 1718 and dismantled in 1812. The stone church was built between 1800 and 1805 with funding from merchant P. S. Rubtsov; it was designed by V. Suranov. Its construction dates, materials, funding, and architect offer different points of reference for the history of local churches.

Between 1999 and 2001, a Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was established at a new location at 17 Oktyabrskaya Street. It was set up in a prefabricated-panel extension to an apartment building; the extension had originally been intended for a shop. These details add a later church establishment at a specific address to the histories of the older buildings.

Another kind of historical trace can be found near a bridge in Nikolskoye: the remains of an ancient burial mound lie there. The mound adds another theme in local history to the architectural and religious histories associated with the churches.

The memorial stands on a rise beside the road between Nikolskoye and Ulyanovka, on the right bank of the Tosna. It is dedicated to the 770th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of the Neva. The site is described as the camp of Alexander Nevsky’s retinue before the battle against the Swedes and as the place where he prayed before the battle.

Each year, members of military history societies set up a camp from the time of Alexander Nevsky in the field beside the memorial, then stage a reenactment of the events of that time. In this way, the historical attribution of the site and the later depiction of the events sit side by side. If you want to plan your visit around the reenactment, check the event date in advance.

The Vepsian Forest Nature Park lies in the far east of Leningrad Oblast. It comprises seven nature reserves with particularly strict protection rules and numerous lakes. The largest is Lake Lermontovskoye, in the reserve of the same name. The park’s special features include preserved old spruce and pine forests in the “Vepsskiy les” and “Ashchozyorskiy” reserves. They are important for many organisms that can survive only in forests undisturbed by economic activity.

The Veps, a small people of Russia with their own culture and traditions, have traditionally lived in the nature park. Brown bears are found there in greater numbers; the wolverine, which is extremely rare in the region, has also been recorded.

Another cultural site in Leningrad Oblast is Koporye Fortress. It is a museum and a monument of Old Russian stone architecture. It has retained its present form since the 16th century, while parts of the masonry date from the 13th century. You can visit without a guide using the multimedia guide “Koporskaya krepost 2.0”; check its availability before making plans. The walls and towers may not be climbed because they are in a state of emergency.

Discover more destinations: Enkolovo, Shushary, Rappolovo, Torfyanovka, Issad, Kotly, Staraya Ladoga, Volkhov.

When was the stone church in Nikolskoye built?

It was built in 1800–1805 with funding from merchant P. S. Rubtsov and designed by V. Suranov.

Where is the memorial to the Battle of the Neva?

It stands on a rise beside the road between Nikolskoye and Ulyanovka, on the right bank of the Tosna.

May visitors climb the walls and towers of Koporye Fortress?

No. Climbing the walls and towers is prohibited because they are in a state of emergency.

Back to the regional travel guide: Leningrad Oblast.