Petrozavodsk in 3 Russian words
It is the capital of the Republic of Karelia and the largest city on the shores of Lake Onega. Here are three of its main symbols.
1. ОНЕЖСКАЯ НАБЕРЕЖНАЯ (Onega Embankment)
This is a real open-air museum! The embankment features a collection of artworks donated to Petrozavodsk by its sister cities from around the world. Among the most interesting is the ‘Fishermen’ composition from the U.S. city of Duluth, Minnesota, which depicts American and Russian fishermen casting their nets into the water.
2. ГОСТИНИЦА «СЕВЕРНАЯ» (‘Severnaya’ Hotel)
This imposing red-and-white building with columns and an attic, located right in the heart of Petrozavodsk, is the city's oldest hotel, the ‘Severnaya’ Hotel. It opened in 1939. During World War II, it was almost completely destroyed, but was restored in 1948.
3. СОБОР АЛЕКСАНДРА НЕВСКОГО (Alexander Nevsky Cathedral)
The main Orthodox church in Petrozavodsk and all of Karelia was built between 1826 and 1832. During the Soviet era, it housed a local history museum, with all five domes demolished and the interior completely remodeled. The cathedral's original appearance was only restored in the 1990s.
