St. Petersburg is a beautiful city, beautiful, with unique architecture and ancient history. But the sights of the Leningrad region are no less interesting! In the vicinity of the city you can find caves, nature reserves, chic palaces, and simply 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 well be traveled by car. Let's start in order.
Natural beauty
The surroundings of St. Petersburg are rich not only in architectural monuments, but also in beautiful places in nature that have remained pristine. If you like a relaxing holiday as close to nature as possible, then you should definitely visit some of the natural sights of the Leningrad region:
- Gorchakovschinsky waterfall, located next to a unique earthen fortress, can be found in the Volkhov district, in the village of Staraya Ladoga. Of course, it is small, but for the local nature the phenomenon is quite unique to itself.
- In the Leningrad region is located Lake Vuoksa, which was formed in the ice age. In the middle of the lake are islands that are covered with coniferous forests.
- Peter I created many artificial lakes, one of the first - the Sestroretsky flood. Locals very often come here to relax, as there are clean beaches, there are cafes, and a river tram works. And history buffs can visit the Lenin hut museum.
- Veps forest is an ideal place if you are interested in the natural sights of the Leningrad region not touched by man. This national park is a real island of freedom and silence, a kind of museum, which is located in the open. It was created to protect the beauties of forests and swamps.
- Mountains and volcanoes. Yes, even in the vicinity of Petersburg you can even find them! For example, during the time of Catherine II, they began to develop quarries for the extraction of marble and other materials in Ruskeala adits. They were used for the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Hermitage, and the Marble Palace. Another attraction is the Girvas volcano, which was discovered in the waters of the Suna River.
Also in the vicinity of Petersburg you can see the island of Seskar, Duderhof heights, the rock of Love, which will appeal to all lovers of natural beauty.
About natural wonders
If you are interested in 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 mined 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 Sablinskie caves, which are complemented by canyons and waterfalls. All this in a complex creates a truly mysterious atmosphere. The uniqueness of this cave is in the only active underground chapel in St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Russia, which is located in one of the caves of the reserve.
Another interesting place is the Oredezh caves, which have unusual arches resembling Gothic architecture. Sand was mined here, from which glass was then produced.
About little known places
Little-known sights of the Leningrad region are, for example, the Toksovsky Zubropotennik. Here you can see the bison in their natural habitat. You can get to the reserve by train, minibus, and by car. Many travel lovers go to the island of Konevets. Its feature is in its 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.
Geysers located in the Gatchina district are little known to tourists. You can see the real fountains spurting from the ground at any time of the year. To see these sights of the Leningrad region, you need to go by car along Korpikovsky 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 you will surely like such sights of the Leningrad region as palaces, fortresses, military fortifications:
- 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. The parks have bridges, islands, a greenhouse and a house. And the main elements of the composition are two lakes - White and Silver, and a pond.
- Priory Palace. It is an architectural symbol of Gatchina. The architectural complex has terraces, high roofs, Gothic windows, towers with spiers. An interesting exhibit of the palace is Priory.
- Fortress in Staraya Ladoga. This historical monument is the center of the village itself.
- The Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo is a favorite place for tourists from all over the world to visit.
Thus, in the vicinity of St. Petersburg you can find a variety of palaces and estates that will help you 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. The following objects will be of interest to such tourists and travelers:
- Annensky fortifications located in Vyborg, on the island of Tverdysh. Today it is a rare monument of Russian defense architecture since the time of Peter the Great. Four bastions connected by curtains stretch along the Vyborg Bay.
- East Vyborg fortifications. Another interesting monument is Battery Mountain or East Vyborg defensive fortifications, which were necessary during the war with Finland. Today, fortifications remain valuable examples of fortress architecture.
