Pitkyaranta: Memorial Sites and Nature

• At the center of the city is the Monument of Glory at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
• A monument to the Soviet liberators is a 45 mm artillery gun mounted on a concrete pedestal; it was installed in 1979.
• The city walking route leads to the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, at 1 Voznesensky Lane.
• The Uksinskaya Ozovaya Gryada natural monument lies south of the city, near Lake Louhijärvi.

The monument to the Soviet liberators consists of a 45 mm artillery gun mounted on a trapezoidal concrete pedestal. It was installed in 1979. Its distinctive form and installation date give this memorial site a clear point of reference in the city’s history.

The Monument of Glory in the city center commemorates thousands of Soviet soldiers who died in the hostilities of 1939–1940, 1941, and 1944 in the Pitkyaranta area. It stands at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. His remains were reburied there in 1977, having been transferred from a mass grave of Soviet soldiers who fell in battles near Pusunasaari Island within the city. The two dates have different meanings: 1977 refers to the reburial, while 1979 is the year the gun monument was installed.

The Church of the Ascension of the Lord at 1 Voznesensky Lane is listed as a stop on the city walking route. Its address provides a specific point of reference for anyone wishing to explore Pitkyaranta along the route described.

Another point of interest lies outside the city: the Uksinskaya Ozovaya Gryada natural monument is located south of Pitkyaranta, near Lake Louhijärvi. A stop on the city walking route and a protected natural site in the surrounding area therefore offer different ways to focus your visit.

Beyond Pitkyaranta, the Republic of Karelia offers distinct cultural and natural attractions. A general tour of the Kivach Nature Reserve includes an outdoor walk to the waterfall and visits to the dendrological collection and the natural history museum. The waterfall is on the Suna River in central Karelia and has a drop of 10.7 meters. After the Rhine Falls, it is considered Europe’s second-largest lowland waterfall.

Near the excursion area, a 1,000-meter circular trail runs through a wooded area along the banks of the Suna. An excursion lasts 1 to 1.5 hours; this is the duration of the excursion, while 1,000 meters is the length of the trail. Check current conditions and booking details with the operator.

The Kizhi Museum Reserve focuses on traditional wooden architecture: 89 monuments stand in the open air, including chapels, houses, mills, granaries, threshing barns, and drying racks. Visitors can see inside the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God and peasant houses; traditional peasant crafts are demonstrated in the houses.

Prehistoric rock carvings offer another contrast. The World Heritage site of the Onega and White Sea Petroglyphs comprises 4,500 Neolithic carvings. The Onega petroglyphs include more than 1,200 figures in Pudozhsky District; most are located on the capes of Pery Nos, Besov Nos, and Kladovets. The White Sea petroglyphs mainly depict hunting and sailing scenes, including equipment, as well as animal and human footprints. Pitkyaranta’s urban memorial sites are thus distinct from Kizhi’s wooden buildings and the republic’s prehistoric rock art.

Choose the destination that best matches the experiences you want to prioritize in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Uzheselga, Spasskaya Guba, Kostomuksha, Mikli, Kotkozero, Velikaya Guba, Matrosy, Salmi.

What memorial sites are there in Pitkyaranta?

The city center is home to the Monument of Glory at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Another monument to the Soviet liberators is a 45 mm artillery gun mounted on a trapezoidal concrete pedestal.

Where is the Uksinskaya Ozovaya Gryada natural monument?

It lies south of Pitkyaranta, near Lake Louhijärvi, and is therefore outside the city limits.

Which church is included on the city walking route?

The route leads to the Church of the Ascension of the Lord at 1 Voznesensky Lane.

How long does an excursion in the Kivach Nature Reserve take?

The stated duration is 1 to 1.5 hours.

Go to the main travel overview: Republic of Karelia.