Discover Shonguy: Culture, Memorial Sites and Routes

The “Druzhba narodov” festival competition has been held at the Shonguy Cultural Centre since 2008. Classes from the local school present the cultures of the peoples of Russia and the world. The memorial complex includes a mass grave containing three Heroes of the Soviet Union and 38 other Soviet airmen. Two descriptions of multi-day routes list Shonguy railway station as an intermediate stop or endpoint.

The “Druzhba narodov” competition focuses on the cultures of the peoples of Russia and the world. Participating classes from the local school present them at the Cultural Centre. Held since 2008, the competition provides a cultural focus distinct from the town’s memorial sites.

The memorial complex includes a mass grave containing three Heroes of the Soviet Union: Guards Lieutenant Krivosheev and Guards Captains Bochkov and Mironov. It also includes 38 other Soviet airmen. A monument in Shonguy has been included in a restoration programme. The cultural competition and memorial sites thus offer different ways to engage with the place.

A published route guide describes two routes of different lengths and durations; the following details are from that guide and do not confirm current route conditions. According to the guide, the Category I route is 130 kilometres long, passes through Shonguy railway station and takes five to six days. The Category II route covers 140 kilometres, according to the guide, ends at the railway station and takes seven to eight days.

This makes it possible to compare the scope of the two routes described: the second is ten kilometres longer and has a longer stated duration. If you plan to include either route in your itinerary, check the current route conditions.

The wider destination of Murmansk Oblast offers other distinct cultural and nature-related experiences, including in Umba and Teriberka. The “Starinnaya pomorskaya derevnya Umba” walking trail is 5.5 kilometres long and offers insights into northern wooden architecture and the everyday life of the Pomors. It follows a river and leads to the sea. Seven information boards along the trail cover the settlement’s history, as well as the Pomors, their livelihoods and everyday life. The guided tour described must be booked at least two days in advance; check the current arrangements with the provider.

At the Museum of the History, Culture and Everyday Life of the Tersky Pomors in Umba, the exhibition covers livelihoods from the 18th to the early 20th century: fishing, hunting marine mammals, shipbuilding and pearl fishing. Crafts from this period are also featured, including carpentry and joinery, woodworking, shoemaking, as well as women’s crafts and needlework. Another example is Tonia “Tetrina”, an open-air history and ethnography complex documented since the 15th century.

In Teriberka Nature Park, the focus is on landscapes and protected nature. The park protects nesting sites of rare bird species, two bird colonies featuring black-legged kittiwakes and rare cormorants, plants listed in the Red Data Book, and natural monuments such as the cliffs of Teriberka. Batereysky Waterfall forms when water from Lake Maloye Batareyskoye plunges over steep rocks and flows into the Barents Sea. Visiting the nature park requires a permit applied for online and an admission fee. Check the current arrangements before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Kolvitsa, Loparskaya, Pushnoy, Apatity, Monchegorsk, Teriberka, Lovozero and Zelenoborsky.

What takes place at the Shonguy Cultural Centre?

The “Druzhba narodov” festival competition takes place there. Classes from the local school present the cultures of the peoples of Russia and the world; the competition has been held since 2008.

How do the two routes described differ?

According to a published route guide, the Category I route is 130 kilometres long and takes five to six days; it passes through Shonguy railway station. According to the same guide, the Category II route is 140 kilometres long, ends at Shonguy railway station and takes seven to eight days; these details do not confirm current route conditions.

What Pomor-related topics can you explore in Umba?

The guided walking trail offers insights into northern wooden architecture and the everyday life of the Pomors. The exhibition at the Museum of the History, Culture and Everyday Life of the Tersky Pomors also covers traditional livelihoods and crafts from the 18th to the early 20th century.

For the overview of the wider destination: Murmansk Oblast.