Leningrad region: sights, features and interesting facts

St. Petersburg is a beautiful city, beautiful, with a unique architecture and ancient history. But no less interesting are the sights of the Leningrad region! In the vicinity of the city you can find caves, and reserves, and chic palaces, and just beautiful natural places that attract tourists from all over the world. We offer an overview of the most interesting places in the Leningrad region, which can be easily traveled by car. Let's start in order.

Natural Beauty

Neighborhoods of St. Petersburg are rich not only with monuments of architecture, but also with beautiful places in nature that have remained primordial. If you prefer a relaxing holiday, as close to nature as possible, then you should definitely visit some natural sights of the Leningrad region:

1. Gorchakov's waterfall, located next to a unique earth fortress, can be found in the Volkhov district, in the village of Staraya Ladoga. It is, of course, small, but for the local nature the phenomenon is quite unique.
2. In the Leningrad region there is the lake Vuoksa, which was formed in the ice age. In the middle of the lake there are islands that are covered with coniferous forests.
3. Peter I created many artificial lakes, one of the first - Sestroretsk spill. Local residents very often come here to relax, as there are clean beaches, there is a cafe, running a river tram. And lovers of history can visit the museum-hut of Lenin.
4. The Veps forest is an ideal place if you are interested in the untouched nature attractions of the Leningrad region. This national park is a real island of freedom and silence, a kind of museum that is located under the open sky. It was created to protect the beauty of forests and marshes.
5. Mountains and volcanoes. Yes, yes, in the vicinity of St. Petersburg you can find even them! For example, in the time of Catherine II, they began to develop quarries for the extraction of marble and other materials in the Ruskeala seals. They were used for the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Hermitage, the Marble Palace. Another attraction is the Hirvas volcano, which was discovered in the waters of the Suna River.

Also in the vicinity of St. Petersburg you can see the island of Seskar, the Duderhof heights, the rock of Love, which all lovers of natural beauties will like.

About natural wonders

If you are interested in the unusual sights of the Leningrad Region, they can also be found here. For example, a mysterious place is Tanechkina Cave, located near the fortress in Staraya Ladoga. Initially, quartz sand was extracted in it, but over time resources were depleted. Today this place is very beloved by bats. You can get here by train or bus.

Speaking of caves, it is necessary to mention Sablinsky, which are supplemented with canyons and waterfalls. All this in a complex creates a truly mysterious atmosphere. The uniqueness of this cave in the only in Russia operating underground chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which is located in one of the caves of the reserve.

Another interesting place is the Oredezhsky caves, which have unusual vaults, reminiscent of Gothic architecture. Here, sand was extracted, from which glass was then produced.

About little-known places

The little-known sights of the Leningrad region are, for example, the Toxovsky bison nursery. Here you can see the bison in their natural habitat. You can get to the reserve by train, bus, and by car. Many lovers travel to the island of Konevets. Its peculiarity is in a unique nature and numerous architectural monuments. Another place that can attract the attention of tourists is the so-called Horse Lake. Its uniqueness is surrounded by a picturesque natural area.

Little known to tourists are geysers, which are located in the Gatchina district. To see the real fountains, beating from the ground, you can at any time of the year. To see these sights of the Leningrad region, by car you need to go along Korpikovskoe highway.

Architectural objects

The popularity of St. Petersburg and its regions is explained not only by the natural features of the territories, but also by its cultural and architectural monuments. If you like history and architecture, then for sure you will like such sights of Leningrad region as palaces, fortresses, military fortifications:

1. Gatchina Palace. Today there is a state museum with a huge number of exhibits. The uniqueness of the place is in the picturesque gardens and parks that surround the palace. In the parks there are bridges, islands, a greenhouse and a poultry house. And the main elements of the composition are two lakes - White and Silver, and a pond.
2. Priory Palace. It is an architectural symbol of Gatchina. The architectural complex has terraces, high roofs, gothic windows, towers with spiers. The Priory is an interesting exhibit of the palace.
3. The fortress in Staraya Ladoga. This historical monument is the center of the village itself.
4. Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo is a favorite place for visiting tourists from all over the world.

Thus, in the vicinity of St. Petersburg you can find a variety of palaces and estates, which will help you to imagine the historical appearance of this area and plunge into its cultural traditions.

Military fortifications

But not everyone is interested in the cultural, natural or architectural sights of the Leningrad region. There are people who like various defensive structures. Such tourists and travelers will be interested in the following objects:

1. Annenskie fortifications, located in Vyborg, on the island of Tverdysh. Today it is a rare monument of Russian defense architecture from the time of Peter the Great. Four bastions, connected by curtains, stretch along the Vyborg Gulf.
2. East-Vyborg fortifications. Another interesting monument is the Battery Mountain or the East Vyborg defensive fortifications, which were necessary during the war with Finland. And today, fortifications remain valuable examples of serf architecture.

Come to the Leningrad region!

Whatever holiday you are interested in, there is an interesting place on the territory of the Leningrad region that you will like. Be sure to visit some of them. They will not make you disappoint.