Prionezhsky District: Vepsian Culture and Lake Onega

• The R. P. Lonin Vepsian Ethnographic Museum in Sheltozero provides insight into the material and spiritual culture of the Vepsians.
• Near Sheltozero are archaeological sites dating from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age; another complex extends into the Middle Ages.
• The “Lake Onega Shores” nature and recreation area covers 65.6 hectares, all of which belong to the forest fund.
• The Rurik Lonin Vepsian Ethnographic Museum offers a one-hour excursion about Sheltozero.

The R. P. Lonin Vepsian Ethnographic Museum in Sheltozero provides insight into the material and spiritual culture of the Vepsians. The Rurik Lonin Vepsian Ethnographic Museum has been housed in the Melkin House in Sheltozero since 1991. The house was built in the second half of the 19th century for the large, wealthy Vepsian peasant family Melkin. This example allows the history of the building to be distinguished from its later use as a museum.

For a clearly defined activity, the museum offers the one-hour excursion “Sheltozero—a historic Vepsian village.” Its title puts the village at the center, and the stated duration can help you fit the visit into your day. If you are interested in Vepsian culture, this brings together an ethnographic museum, a historic home, and a guided tour focused on the village.

Near Sheltozero, a group of prehistoric sites comprises 14 settlements and two burial grounds dating from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age, from the 7th to the 2nd millennium BCE. The cultural heritage site “Sheltozero Shores” is a separate archaeological complex in the lower reaches of the Sheltozyorka and Sarbakhta rivers. It includes 31 prehistoric settlements, three burial complexes, and four individual graves; the periods represented range from the Mesolithic to the Middle Ages.

The time spans distinguish the two groups of sites: the sites near Sheltozero date as far as the Bronze Age, while “Sheltozero Shores” also includes medieval periods. For your thematic overview, this highlights the difference between a prehistoric settlement and burial landscape and an archaeological complex spanning a longer period.

The “Lake Onega Shores” nature and recreation area is intended to protect and restore natural landscapes and natural resources along the lake, as well as to provide recreational opportunities. Its aims include health-promoting activities, ecological and nature-based tourism, and creating opportunities for tourism and leisure. The designated area covers 65.6 hectares, all of which belong to the forest fund.

At the district level, sandy beaches, pine forests, and river rapids are also among the recreational areas. This adds another area of interest to the cultural and archaeological themes.

The stone, single-nave Church of the Apostle Matthew in Sheltozero was built in 1838 by St. Petersburg merchants Terenty Ulyanov and Mikhail Matveev. It has one altar, was expanded and renovated in the 1910s, and was reconsecrated on November 16, 1913. It was later converted for use as a club. This sequence shows several stages in the building’s history without reducing it to a single construction date.

The Iono-Yashezero Monastery of the Annunciation for Men is a monument of monumental church architecture. It stands on a narrow isthmus between Lakes Monastyrskoye and Yashezero, on the western shore of Yashezero. The surviving buildings are deteriorating. Both its location between the lakes and its state of preservation are relevant to understanding this historic site.

Another historical trace leads to the Shoksha quarries. Raspberry and red quartzite have been mined there since the late 18th century, initially for St. Petersburg and its suburbs. Since the 20th century, the material has also been extracted for Moscow and other cities. The history of the quarries thus complements the museum, church, and archaeology themes with the historical extraction of a specific natural resource.

Discover more places in the destination: Namoyeva, Zaozerye, Polovina and Suysar'.

Discover more destinations: Loukhskiy District, Prionezhsky District, Kondopozhskiy District and Loukhsky District.

How long does the museum excursion about Sheltozero take?

The excursion “Sheltozero—a historic Vepsian village” lasts one hour.

What periods do the archaeological sites cover?

The group near Sheltozero ranges from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age. The cultural heritage site “Sheltozero Shores” covers periods from the Mesolithic to the Middle Ages.

What are the purposes of the “Lake Onega Shores” area?

It is intended to protect and restore natural landscapes and natural resources along Lake Onega, as well as to provide recreational opportunities. Its aims also include ecological and nature-based tourism.

For the broader travel overview: Republic of Karelia.