Discover Staraya Ladoga

Frescoes from the 12th century survive in St George's Church; they can be viewed in summer in dry, sunny weather. The Zemlyanoy Gorod fortification dates back to construction work carried out in 1585. The archaeological collection of the museum-reserve currently comprises more than 25,000 objects dating from the Neolithic to the 17th–18th centuries.

St George's Church combines traditions of Byzantine and Novgorodian stone architecture. Its 12th-century frescoes also make the church interesting to travellers interested in medieval wall painting. There is a specific condition for viewing them: they can be seen in summer in dry, sunny weather.

In 1585, earthworks were raised and bastions built along the southern section of the fortress wall. This fortification is called “Zemlyanoy Gorod” and is open to visitors. The church and the defensive structure represent different architectural themes: one focuses on stone architecture and frescoes, the other on historic fortifications.

At the southern end of Staraya Ladoga stands the St Nicholas Monastery, with a restored tent-roof bell tower from the late 17th century. Another architectural form is the wooden church dedicated to the patron saint of warriors, St Demetrius of Thessaloniki. Built in the first half of the 17th century, it houses an exhibition on the history of garrison churches and the frescoes of St George's Church.

The archaeological collection of the museum-reserve spans a broad period: it comprises more than 25,000 objects dating from the Neolithic to the 17th–18th centuries. Archaeological topics from very different periods are therefore represented side by side. Temporary exhibitions are held on the ground floor of the P. V. Kalyazin House.

The museum offers several themed tours by prior arrangement. These include a tour of the architecture and frescoes of St George's Church, a tour of the Ladoga Fortress, and one on archaeology from the Stone Age to the Early Middle Ages. Those looking for a broader overview may be interested in a comprehensive tour of the Old Russian city of Ladoga or one covering the shrines and antiquities of Staraya Ladoga. These tours also require prior arrangement; confirm the specific details with the museum in advance.

The exhibition “Christian Ladoga” opened in 2020–2022. The exhibition “White Gold. Porcelain” ended in 2024. These two exhibition dates reflect different points in the exhibition history of the P. V. Kalyazin House; they do not mean that both exhibitions are currently on view.

If the frescoes of St George's Church are a priority for you, plan your visit for summer and bear in mind that viewing is subject to dry, sunny weather. Themed tours require prior booking. When planning, choose the focus that interests you most: architecture and frescoes, the fortress, archaeology, or the broader topics of city history and shrines.

To travel from Saint Petersburg, you can take the suburban train from Saint Petersburg to Volkhovstroy-I and then bus No. 23 as a public transport connection. Check current train and bus services before travelling, as route details may change.

Discover more destinations: Podborovye, Vyra, Garbolovo, Vistino, Murino, Baranovo, Vaganovo, Toksovo.

When can the frescoes of St George's Church be seen?

The surviving frescoes from the 12th century can be seen in summer in dry, sunny weather.

Do themed tours need to be booked in advance?

Yes. The museum offers the tours mentioned by prior arrangement. Confirm the specific details of the comprehensive tours with the museum in advance.

How do you get there from Saint Petersburg?

The public transport options include the suburban train from Saint Petersburg to Volkhovstroy-I, followed by bus No. 23. Check current services before travelling.

To the main travel overview: Leningrad Oblast.