Lakhdenpokhya: sights and history of the Karelian town

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

This article will focus on the Karelian city with an interesting name Lahdenpokhya. The sights of this area attract tourists from all over the country simply because the locality has an unusual name. Looking ahead, it is worth saying that today it is an unremarkable town. But there are still interesting objects here.

Lahdenpokhya - brief information about the city

The city is the administrative center of the eponymous (Lakhdenpohsky) district - the most southwestern in Karelia. It is located on the shores of the Yakimvar Bay of Lake Ladoga on the Aura-Yoki River, which is 300 km from Petrozavodsk. The name of the settlement literally translates as "the far corner, the end of the bay." Until 1924, the city was called Si eklahti, that is, "Sieve Bay".

On the territory of Lahdenpokhya, according to data for 2010, about 8,000 people live. Its area is only 9 square kilometers.

Historical data

First, you should get to know the city of Lahdenpokhya - the sights can wait a bit. Its foundation falls on the 16th century, when the Yakkima settlement was settled here. In those days, the northwestern Ladoga area was part of the Bogoroditsky Kiryazhsky churchyard of the Karelian district of the pyatina of Novgorod Russia.

Then, in the 24th year of the last century, the village of Lahdenpokhya appeared on this site. It received the title of city only under the USSR, in 1945. Simultaneously with this event, the formation of the Lahdenpokh region took place.

Deepening into the history of Lahdenpokhya, some points can be emphasized. In 1323 Karelia was divided into two parts. This is the first border between the Swedish state and the Russian Empire, which could have the status of an official one. But already in the XV century, the territory became completely owned by Russia. True, not for long: a century later, when the Russian-Swedish war broke out, Karelia went to the Swedes - the victorious side. A little later, the Russian army liberated the territory. This happened in 1721.

In 1918 Karelia was taken away again - this time by the Finns. The republic returned to the USSR only after 1940, when the Russian-Finnish war ended. Here is such an interesting story. And the sights of Lahdenpokhya are also attractive. Although there are very few of them here.

What better to know in advance

Walking around the city, it is better to always carry your passport with you. Since the territory used to be a border zone, here you can still meetvigilant military, although the regime is long gone. Nevertheless, in order not to waste time and not spoil the impression, it is recommended to keep your passport with you.

Lakhdenpokhya Attractions

On the territory of this tiny "state", which still retains a touch of Finnish flavor, carelessly mixed with Soviet "design", there are only a few sights. But these places are worth visiting. Therefore, if you ever get a chance to visit Lahdenpokhya, where to go and what to see will already be known.

1. Starting directly about the sights of Lahdenpokhya, it is worth mentioning the ruins of the Lutheran church first of all. This once interesting building was built in 1850. The design was carried out by the well-known Finnish architect of German origin, Karl Engel, who completely completed the layout of Helsinki and created many beautiful objects. Classicism can be traced in his works, and the Lutheran Church is no exception. The ruins were left after a fire in 1977. There is a monument to Finnish soldiers nearby.
2. Rauhala Manor. The object was built in the late 1800s by the Winter family. The homestead is located on the outskirts of the city.
3. Speaking about the sights of Lahdenpokhya, one cannot fail to mention Huuhkanmäki. This is an architectural ensemble of a military camp in the early 1900s. Now there are many entertainment establishments in this area (tourist zone), but Huuhkanmäki remains a monument of Finnish military architecture.
4. Common grave. Located in the city center andopened in memory of the Soviet soldiers who died in 1941. Nearby is the chapel of St. George the Victorious. It, in turn, was timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany.
5. There is also a Lutheran church in Lumivaara. It was built in 1935, and a Finnish military cemetery was formed next to this architectural landmark.
6. Orthodox chapel in the name of Valentine. The temple is located on the embankment of the Yakkimvar Bay.

One of the most interesting places is an abandoned bunker

In the city of Lahdenpokhya, attractions are divided into "often" and "rarely visited". One of the last is an abandoned bunker. Its authors are Americans who designed a secret underground shelter in the 1930s specifically for the Finns. Now this place is abandoned, but it is very attractive for tourists and locals. Therefore, in order to explore the whole city, it is worth making your way to this place as well.

G. Lakhdenpokhya – “reserved Russia”

The most attractive natural landmark of the Lahdenpokh region is Kuhkaa. This is a picturesque island, which is famous for its sandy beaches and is perfect for a relaxing holiday. Especially for those people who love to be among nature.

On Lake Yastrebin, which is a natural monument and part of the "reserved Russia", tourists can admire the large rocks. This place is located on the border of Karelia and the Leningrad region. An objectis a rock mass about 60 meters high, which seems to hang over the lake. Climbing competitions are held here, and those who are not fond of this sport can just relax - clean air and a pleasant landscape are always beneficial.

The city of Lahdenpokhya, the sights of which were discussed in this article, is really an unremarkable settlement. But if fate brings one day to this corner of Russia, you should not waste your time - it is better to visit popular places, especially since there are few of them.