Chupa: Historic Pier, Museum and Memorial Sites

Chupa’s wooden pier, more than 100 years old, dates from before the Revolution; its construction began in 1915 during the building of the Murman Railway. The Valitov Stone historical and geological museum serves as an information and tourism centre. In central Chupa, a memorial site includes the graves of two pilots who died in the Second World War.

Construction of the wooden pier began in 1915, at the same time as the Murman Railway was being built. The settlement that grew up around the pier was named after it. The construction history and the town’s name are therefore closely linked: the pier is not only a historic structure, but also part of the story of how Chupa got its name. Its pre-revolutionary age and the start of its construction during the railway works place it within the settlement’s early history.

The Valitov Stone historical and geological museum combines its information and tourism services with an exhibition on the settlement and development of the coast of Kandalaksha Bay. The period covered extends from the Eneolithic to the present day. The long history of the coast and the geology of the area are presented together.

Exhibition topics include minerals and rocks from the coast of Kandalaksha Bay, the history of Moscow glass and the extraction of ceramic raw materials in the area around Chupa. The collections and exhibits were assembled during expeditions by the KRPO “Basin Council of the North Karelia Coast.” Project partners, private owners and local historians donated them to the museum. If you are planning a museum visit, check current visitor arrangements in advance.

The memorial site in central Chupa includes the graves of two pilots who died in the Second World War. A stele erected in 1985 bears memorial plaques made of gabbro-diabase. They list the names of 79 residents of Chupa who died on the fronts of the Second World War.

An obelisk was also erected at the site where an aircraft crew, brought to Chupa, was reburied. The graves, the remembrance of those named and the obelisk thus commemorate different aspects of wartime remembrance in Chupa.

The wider destination of the Republic of Karelia offers other, distinct nature and culture experiences. At the Kivach Nature Reserve, a general excursion includes an outdoor walk to Kivach Waterfall, as well as visits to the arboretum and the nature museum. A 1,000-metre circular trail passes through a wooded area on the bank of the Suna near the excursion zone; the excursion lasts 1 to 1.5 hours. Check conditions and booking with the operator in advance.

On Kizhi Island, the museum reserve showcases 89 monuments of traditional wooden architecture. These include old chapels and houses, mills, granaries, threshing barns and drying racks. Visitors can see the interiors of the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God and peasant houses; traditional peasant crafts are demonstrated in the houses. These examples describe the wider destination of the Republic of Karelia and are distinct regional topics alongside Chupa’s local history.

Why is the pier important to Chupa’s history?

Its construction began in 1915 during the building of the Murman Railway. The settlement that grew up around it was named after the pier.

What does the Valitov Stone Museum show?

The exhibition covers the settlement and development of the coast of Kandalaksha Bay from the Eneolithic to the present day. Its topics also include rocks and minerals, Moscow glass and ceramic raw materials from the area around Chupa.

What does the memorial site commemorate?

It includes the graves of two pilots who died in the Second World War, a stele erected in 1985 bearing the names of 79 Chupa residents who died in the war, and an obelisk at the site where an aircraft crew brought to Chupa was reburied.

For the wider travel overview: Loukhsky District.