Discover Belomorsk
Accommodation in Belomorsk
Belomorsk brings together the history of a former headquarters with nearby petroglyphs. The Museum of the Karelian Front is in town; routes lead to rock carvings in the surrounding area. This lets you consider city history and petroglyphs as distinct focal points when planning your trip.
Belomorsk at a glance
- The Museum of the Karelian Front is housed in the former headquarters of the Karelian Front, the city’s first brick building.
- An interactive exhibition on the history of the Belomorsk Pomorye opened at the Belomorsk Local History Museum in January 2023.
- The Belomorsk petroglyphs are on the lower reaches of the Vyg, 6–8 km from Belomorsk.
- A nature trail from Vygoostrov to Zalavruga runs through the forest to several groups of petroglyphs.
What city history do the museums tell?
The Museum of the Karelian Front is located in the former headquarters of the Karelian Front. The building was the city’s first brick building and is a cultural monument in the Republic of Karelia. This means that two historical connections come together at this site: its former function as a headquarters and its significance in Belomorsk’s architectural history.
Another topic is the interactive exhibition “Skazaniya Pomorskogo berega” at the Belomorsk Local History Museum. It presents various aspects of the history of the Belomorsk Pomorye and opened in January 2023. Check whether the exhibition is currently available before visiting. This lets you connect your museum visit with the historical theme without treating the two museums as one and the same.
What makes the nearby petroglyphs distinctive?
The Belomorsk petroglyphs are on the lower reaches of the Vyg, near its mouth at the White Sea and 6–8 km from Belomorsk. They include more than 2,000 different carvings. Their riverside location and the large number of rock carvings give a visit a different geographical focus from the city museums.
Across the broader destination of the Republic of Karelia, the World Heritage property of the Onega and White Sea Petroglyphs comprises a total of 4,500 Neolithic rock carvings. Hunting and sailing scenes, along with related equipment, predominate among the White Sea petroglyphs, as do animal and human footprints.
Which routes lead to the rock carvings?
One route begins with a visit to the “Besovy sledki” petroglyphs in the “Belomorskie petroglify” pavilion. A new pavilion was built for these petroglyphs in 2021. Check whether the pavilion is accessible before visiting.
The nature trail from Vygoostrov to Zalavruga passes through the forest and leads to the “Erpin Pudas III,” “Erpin Pudas IV,” and “Zalavruga” petroglyph groups. This gives you two distinct landmarks to orient yourself by in the area: a visit to “Besovy sledki” and a longer, named route featuring several groups of petroglyphs.
This lets you tailor your search to your planned itinerary.
FAQ
Where are the Belomorsk petroglyphs?
They are on the lower reaches of the Vyg, near its mouth at the White Sea, 6–8 km from Belomorsk. They include more than 2,000 carvings.
What does the nature trail to Zalavruga include?
The trail leads from Vygoostrov through the forest to Zalavruga and the “Erpin Pudas III,” “Erpin Pudas IV,” and “Zalavruga” petroglyph groups.
When did the exhibition at the Local History Museum open?
The interactive exhibition “Skazaniya Pomorskogo berega” opened in January 2023. Check whether it is currently available before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Vyartsilya, Konchezero, Essoyla, Kindasovo, Yanishpole, Sofporog, Suoyarvi, Shyoltozero.
For the broader travel guide: Republic of Karelia.
