Vyborg Castle museum

The Vyborg Castle museum tells a story about a long history of Vyborg and the surrounding nature.

1. The entrance of the museum is located in the Castle courtyard.

Vyborg Castle’s Lower Yard

Autumn walk around the Vyborg Castle. I crossed the Fortress Bridge and ended up on the Castle Island. And the first thing that welcomed me was the white Commandant’s House.

1. The Commandant’s House was once the residence of the Swedish king’s Governor. But the Museum of Underwater Archeology was located there the day I visited it.

Underwater archaeology museum in Vyborg

I decided to walk around Vyborg Island.. I entered the Vyborg Castle courtyard through the white Commandant’s House, it was the main entrance of the Castle and it was the first thing that I saw there. If I am not mistaken, it was built at the beginning of the 17th century.

1. During my visit, the Underwater Archaeology Museum was located there. The signs with arrows on the shabby building said “ticket office”.

Vyborg Castle Island

Сastle Island is an island in the Vyborg Bay. The Vyborg Castle was founded here in 1293 by Torkel (or Tyrgils) Knutsson  (Lord High Constable of Sweden). Before that there was a site of Karelian fortress.

1. I walked along the Vyborg embankment, and I could see the Castle Island and the famous castle on it.

The Clock Tower of Vyborg

Vyborg is a town located 174 km west of St. Petersburg. I remember Vyborg for its picturesque ruins, narrow stone paths, and lots of fluffy cats.

1. I started my walk around the city from the white Clock Tower. The Tower was once a part of the Old Cathedral.

Staraya Ladoga and Volkhov

What else can you see near the Staraya Ladoga fortress?

1. Not far from the fortress you can find Varyazhskaya (Varangian) street. People say it’s the OLDEST street in the whole country. Can you imagine?

Staraya Ladoga Fortress churches

There were two more historical buildings on the territory of Staraya Ladoga fortress. And they both were churches – the St. George’s Church and the Church of Dimitriy Solunskiy.

1. St. George’s Church was built in the 12th century. It is one of the oldest churches of Russia’s North. You can find more information about it on Wikipedia.

Staraya Ladoga Fortress museum

I continued my autumn walk around the Staraya Ladoga fortress in the museum. The museum was located in the Vorotnaya tower.

1. The room was dark and cold, and it had two layers.

Staraya Ladoga Fortress courtyard

I visited medieval Staraya Ladoga fortress in September 2013, and at that time the fortress had not been fully reconstructed yet. My walk continued inside the fortress.
1. Vorotnaya tower from the courtyard of the fortress (the tower was in the middle of the Western wall).

The Walls and Towers of Staraya Ladoga Fortress

Staraya Ladoga (Old Ladoga) is located 120 km north-west of Saint Petersburg and it is one of the ancient capitals of Russia and perhaps the oldest Russian city. People suggest that Ladoga was founded in the year 753.

Today it is a small village located between Novaya Ladoga (New Ladoga) and Volkhov, on the banks of the Volkhov and the Ladozhka rivers. It was called Ladoga in the past and it was a trading centre and a strategic harbour.

If you want to know more about Staraya Ladoga Fortress, you can visit Wikipedia.

1. I visited this famous fortress in early September 2013. There was a small red information centre in front of the fortress walls, where tickets and souvenirs were sold.