A few kilometers from the southeastern border of St. Petersburg lies the "Bogoslovka" estate, a modern ethnopark where visitors can immerse themselves in the unusual atmosphere of Russian wooden architecture, a contrast to the typical architectural style of St. Petersburg. Today, let’s take a short walk through this unique place.
How to Get There
The estate’s address is Leningrad Oblast, Vsevolozhsky District, Nevsky Forest Park, "Bogoslovka" Estate. You can reach it by car or by bus No. 476, which departs from the "Lomonosovskaya" metro station.
The complex is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays and from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekends and public holidays. Admission is free, but if you wish to take photos inside the church or at the farmyard, a donation of 50 rubles is required.
If you want to learn more about the history of Russian wooden architecture, you can book a guided tour of the complex. Tours are available on weekends, every hour from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The cost of the tour is 300 rubles (summer 2020).
A Bit of History
Although the estate features ancient architectural monuments, the complex itself was opened relatively recently, in 2003. Today, visitors can see only a small portion of the planned structures. Guests can view the Pokrovsky Cathedral from the village of Ankhimovo, the Chapel of the Savior Not Made by Hands from the village of Kirilovo in the Kargopol district, the bell tower of the Lower-Uftug Pogost, a merchant’s house from the village of Verkhovye, and the farmyard.
In the future, this public-private partnership project will include several more zones with restored architectural monuments. Additionally, there are plans to recreate the Zinoviev family estate house on the Black River.
The dominant feature of the complex is undoubtedly the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin. This church is a replica of a 17th-century church originally located in the village of Ankhimovo, Vytigor Pogost in the Olonets Province (now in the Vologda Region). The modern church was consecrated in 2008, five years after its construction began in 2003.
The church is an active place of worship, and visitors can enter to admire its interiors. Everything here is made of wood, and the surrounding environment makes you feel as though you’ve been transported several centuries back in time. According to legend, Tsar Peter the Great himself designed the original church.
On the way back, you can take a look at the merchant Kostin's house from the village of Verkhovye and visit the farmyard with its blacksmith shop and carriage house. At the exit from the estate, there is a small kiosk with baked goods where you can snack before heading home.
In summary:
- An unusual ethnopark with restored masterpieces of Russian architecture;
- Free admission;
- You can visit the complex on your own or as part of a guided tour group.
