Village Kargopol

Sights
Kargopol, "bear land" or "crow field," is one of the oldest trading cities in the Russian North, renowned for the traditions of its artisan and merchant dynasties. Adorned with the ornamentation of its white-stone churches and framed by a ring of ancient wooden churchyards, it preserves artifacts of a turbulent history in the amber of frozen time. It was presumably founded in the 12th century and became an important trading center on the route to Pomorye. The city is located near Lake Lache, on the left bank of the Onega River.
Kargopol's urban landscape is defined by beautiful examples of Russian white-stone architecture. The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin and the Church of the Annunciation are masterpieces of Kargopol stone ornamentation. The artist and art historian I.E. Grabar compared the elegance of the Church of the Annunciation's decoration to the palaces of the Florentine Renaissance.

The central architectural ensemble of Kargopol is the Cathedral Square, or New Market Square. The Nativity Cathedral, the city's first stone church, is located here. It now houses the Kargopol Museum's unique collection of painted "heavens." The museum's central exhibition hall is housed in the nearby Vvedenskaya Church, whose cellars housed the imperial family's property, which had been evacuated from Moscow in 1812. Towering over all the churches in Kargopol is the sixty-meter-tall stone bell tower, built on Cathedral Square for Catherine the Great's failed visit. The melodic ringing of its bells resounds across the Onega River and the surrounding area. You can hear them, for example, during the traditional "Crystal Ringing" bell-ringing festival.
Another vibrant city event is the Festival of Folk Craftsmen of Russia. Kargopol has long been renowned for its artisans—it was a center for gold embroidery, patterned weaving, embroidery, and printed textiles. Icon painters, silversmiths, copper casters, blacksmiths, potters, and woodcarvers operated here, and the squirrel fur harvested and processed in Kargopol was highly prized.

Kargopol's most famous handicraft today is, arguably, its painted clay toys. Their distinctive feature is the fairytale-like quality of their characters and stories. One of the most popular characters was and remains Polkan—half-horse, half-man, with a full beard, decorated with medals and epaulettes. You can get to know these clay toys better and even try making one yourself at the Bereginya Folk Crafts Center.

In November 2019, Kargopol joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Crafts and Folk Art and received the Creative City logo. In September 2020, Kargopol joined the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of Russia.

Food, Gastronomy, Terroirs
Kargopol is famous for such dishes as Kargopol-style ukha (fish soup), Kargopol gingerbread, pickled mushrooms, and other local delicacies. But a culinary masterpiece with a beautiful, mouth-watering name stands out, namely Kargopol thin pies, which we'll tell you about now.
Kargopol thin pies are also known as "podorozhniki," "podpekanniki," "konchiki," and "razgonai."
The pies we'll be discussing today are a traditional Kargopol dish, and they have several names. They are called "thin" (the dough is rolled out very thinly), "podorozhniki," "podpekanniki," "pogonyalki," "razgonai," and "konchiki" (or "konTsiki" in the local dialect). It's clear why they're called "podorozhniki" (plantain pies) because they were baked for travel. Pies are very high in calories and filling. These pies keep for a long time. Podpekanniki (short-crusted, burnt) are also understandable. When baked in a frying pan, they turn out slightly baked. But why "ponganyalki," "razgonyai," and "konchiki" (little pie)? It turns out there's a custom there, and for that reason, these pies are considered symbolic. After a feast, the hostess would bring out a platter of these "konchiki" pies, fanned out, to the guests, signaling that it was time for them to go home.
Family Café "Alaska" Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Naberezhnaya im. Baranova 32 (Sberbank building, 2nd floor) Tel.: +7 921 488 98 11, +7 921 075 48 98. Hours: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM (seven days a week).
Café "Shelkovnya" Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Gagarin Street 9 Tel.: 8 (81841) 2-17-69
Café "Rashen Sushen" Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, ul. Gagarin 9. Tel.: + 7 921 814 18 51 (delivery phone) Hours: Mon-Thu 11:00-01:00 Fri-Sat 11:00-05:00 Sun 11:00-01:00
Deliry at the "Payshchik" store Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Pobedy Street 14 Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-19:00, Sat, Sun 9:00-18:00 (subject to schedule changes)

 Accommodation

• The Kargopolochka Hotel is located in the city center, a 10-minute walk from the bus station and main attractions. A 24-hour front desk is available. Rooms range from economy to well-appointed. They feature a modern interior and everything you need for a comfortable stay. Guests can enjoy the Aminta Café, which serves Russian and European cuisine. We also cater for tourist groups upon request. (photo) Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Lenin Street, 83 Tel: +7 (81841) 2-12-64, +7 (81841) 2-26-96
• Kargopol Hotel is located in the city center. The main attractions are a 5-minute walk away. The hotel offers 15 well-appointed rooms of various categories. A 24-hour reception, free parking, and a sauna are available for an additional fee. A cozy 40-seat café is located in the basement of the hotel. Serving Russian and European cuisine. (photo) Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Lenin Street, Akulova, 23 Tel.: +7 921 495 09 67, 8(81841) 2-11-65 Email: info@solovkibp.ru
• Guest House "Moroshka" is located a 20-minute walk from the center of Kargopol and its attractions. It offers well-appointed rooms of various categories, accommodating 25 guests. The guest house has its own style, a cozy atmosphere, and is equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay. Guests can enjoy a shared kitchen with all the necessary equipment, a lounge, a conference room, a pool table, a 24-hour reception, a souvenir shop, and free parking with video surveillance. (photo) Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Akulova, 23 Leningradskaya 63 Tel.: +7 964 291 46 77, +7 921 474 03 13 E-mail: gd.moroshka@mail.ru
• GUEST HOUSE "CENTRAL" Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Gagarin Street 6 Tel.: +79314038356, +79964636601 Marina Alekseevna Guest House "Central" is located in the historic center of Kargopol. Museums, cafes, Cathedral Square, and the Onega River embankment are within walking distance. The guest house offers a family room for 4, a 3-bed room, and a 2-bed room. Rooms include a mini-fridge, TV, wardrobe, and internet access. Guests have access to a spacious, fully equipped shared kitchen. The hallway has 3 bathrooms and 2 showers, a washing machine, and a hairdryer.

Getting there
There is no railway in the city, and the nearest train station is in Nyandoma. Trains arrive there daily from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Arkhangelsk.
Bus #976 runs from the Nyandoma train station to Kargopol, three times a day on weekdays and twice on weekends. A ticket costs 317 rubles; the current schedule can be found on the TIC group: https://kargopoltic.arkh.muzkult.ru/
A taxi to Kargopol will cost approximately 1,800 rubles; taxi numbers are available on the TIC website: https://kargopoltic.arkh.muzkult.ru/taxi
Another option: get to Kargopol from Arkhangelsk. Bus #521 runs once a day, with additional services on some days. A ticket costs 1,831 rubles, and the journey takes 8 hours. You can check the schedule on the bus station website at https://bilet.malavto.ru/.
The most convenient option is to travel by car. The roads are deserted and there are few cars, so the average speed will be high. You can also see other towns along the way.

Museums
Kargopol Museum. We invite you to discover the history and culture of Kargopol with the Kargopol Historical, Architectural, and Art Museum. Your visit to the museum begins with a historical walk through Kargopol: white-stone churches from the 16th to 19th centuries, decorated with Kargopol "patterns," and the Cathedral Bell Tower, which offers a bird's-eye view of Kargopol. While strolling through the city, stop by the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, home to one of the largest collections of "heavens" in the Russian North, made up of wooden churches and chapels from Kargopol. The miraculously preserved five-tiered carved iconostasis from the 18th century will amaze you with its grandeur. Ancient streets lined with merchant houses, flowing springs, and the famous "rinsing place" will captivate even the most seasoned traveler.
By visiting the museum's exhibitions and displays, you'll learn about the traditional way of life of Kargopol since the town's founding. You'll see antique scarves richly embroidered with gold thread, try on a festive Kargopol costume featuring traditional "mouse" or "path" embroidery, and try your hand at traditional crafts at workshops.
The surrounding area of ​​Kargopol boasts preserved wooden architecture from the Russian North from the 16th to 19th centuries. Tent-roofed churches in Saunino and in Russia's most beautiful village, Oshevensk, the Epiphany Church in Lyadiny, chapels and votive crosses, and log village huts—and this is far from all you'll see on a tour with the Kargopol Museum.
Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, st. Lenina, 40
Tel.: 8 (81841) 2-25-39; 8 (81841) 2-26-60
https://karmuseum.ru/

Museum of the Fairytale Hero "Bear Land" This unusual, fairytale-like corner—the "Bear Land" ecopark—is located in a pine forest, a 30-minute walk from the Cathedral Bell Tower. There is a guarded parking area for 10-15 cars. The museum grounds include the Kargopol Architraves Museum, small architectural forms, the Ice Tower, Toptygin's Hut, a workshop, a taxidermy exhibition (stuffed northern animals and birds), the Beekeeper's House, and a smoke sauna. There's a souvenir shop and a workshop for making carved window frames. Wood carving workshops (saw-cut and three-dimensional carving) are held here. Children and adults alike are particularly interested in the wooden sculptures of fairy-tale characters and popular animated series. The compositions in the pine forest are constantly being updated. In the evening, the entire park is illuminated with multicolored lights and illuminations.
Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, 11 Yuzhnaya Street. Tel: +7 921 488 65 84 https://vk.com/medkrai

Bereginya Folk Crafts Center. Located in the historic "House of Merchant Veshnyakov," a regional cultural heritage site, the Center is home to master craftsmen. The institution preserves traditional Kargopol crafts: molding and painting Kargopol clay toys, birch bark weaving, embroidery, patchwork, rag doll making, horse printing, and others.
The craft center offers master classes, tours, and interactive programs. Visitors can also visit the exhibition hall with various exhibits and the Kargopol clay toy museum. Tel.: 8(81841) 2-17-04; https://cnrbereginya.arkh.muzkult.ru

Retro Car Museum and Ski Museum
The "Old Jalopy" retro car museum is the only one in the Arkhangelsk region. The museum's owner, Oleg Ivanovich Danilov, originally from the village of Pechnikovo, has been a collector since childhood. The museum displays not only vintage cars, but also motorcycles, toy cars, bicycles, and various interesting artifacts from the Soviet era. Most of the cars are in working order, ready to be driven right away. Each car has its own story. You can touch everything at the museum, even get behind the wheel of these legendary cars. Children have so much fun crawling around and driving them. The museum owner can even take you for a ride in a vintage car around the museum grounds.
Ski Museum
The museum is small but very interesting. It features skis from the 19th and 20th centuries, the first roller skates, Soviet-era skates, vintage sleds, the first ski bindings, irons, hockey sticks, awards, hockey uniforms, and much more. Even if you've never been into winter sports, after visiting the museum you'll definitely want to try skiing or skating. And all of this can be done right here in the winter. Skates and skis are available for rent, and there's a winter skating rink and a cross-country ski trail nearby. Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Sirenevaya Street 7, Tel: +7 921 49 33 422

Shevelev House Museum. The Shevelev Museum is located in the house where the Shevelevs, renowned masters of Kargopol clay toys, Dmitry Vasilyevich (1907-2000) and Klavdia Petrovna (1913-1974), lived and worked from 1946 to 2000. The Shevelev family, five generations of potters and toymakers, originated from the village of Tokarevo, located a few miles from Kargopol along the Pudozhsky Highway.
The museum opened in 2003. One of its main goals is to popularize the traditional art of Kargopol and the surrounding area. It features a memorial section, temporary exhibitions, and a workshop. A cozy house on Gagarin Street houses materials about the family's history: photographs and family heirlooms, each preserving memories of a past life. The exhibition traces not only the fascinating history of the Shevelev dynasty of master craftsmen, but also the entire Kargopol pottery and toy industry. Here you can see traditional toys and pottery made on a hand potter's wheel, coated with lead glaze, or baked in "solodyaga"—a special flour mash—as well as examples of traditional textiles, and items made of birch bark, wood, and forged metal. Visitors can even try their hand at Kargopol clay: the workshop offers master classes on molding and baking traditional Kargopol clay toys, as well as lectures on folk art. Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Gagarin Street. Gagarin 30, 32 Tel.: 8 (81841) 2-11-71, +7 921 477 10 64 By appointment

Useful Links
Reference Information
Buy bus tickets from Kargopol to Nyandoma
Address: Kargopol, Sovetskaya St., Building 53 (2nd floor above the MFC).
Hours: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, lunch break 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Tel.: +7 931 406 75 81
Bus tickets from Nyandoma to Kargopol can be purchased on the bus. Buy bus tickets from Arkhangelsk to Kargopol
Official website: www.malavto.ru "Buy a ticket online"
Malavto dispatch phone number: +7 909 554 85 55

Nyandoma railway station.
Address: Arkhangelsk region, Nyandoma, 33 Sevast'yanova St.
Information service: 8 (800) 775-00-00
Mobility assistance center: 8 (800) 510-11-11
http://nyandoma.dzvr.ru/

Car service centers:
StoAvto service center
Address: Arkhangelsk region, Kargopol, 113a Oktyabrsky Ave. (behind the Malinovka café)
Tel. +7 964 300 26 98 (service, tire fitting, tow truck), +7 952 255 29 19 (car wash)
Nord Service Center
Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Oshevenskaya St., 1
Tel: 8 (81841) 2-14-46
Pharmacies:
Vita Nord Pharmacy
Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Leningradskaya St., 7
Tel: 8 (800) 100-72-72
Dobraya Pharmacy
Address:
Arkhangelsk Region. Kargopol, Lenin Street, 50
Tel.: +7 (991) 468-20-89
Pharmacy "Zabota"
Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Lenin Street, 67
Tel.: 8 (81841) 2-15-54
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sat, Sun 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sberbank of Russia branch
Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Nab. Baranova, 32
Tel: 8 (81841) 2-16-16
Rosselkhozbank branch
Address: Arkhangelsk region, Kargopol, Oktyabrsky Ave., 58,
Tel: 8 (81841) 2-21-49
Working hours: 07.00-21.30 Breaks: 12.00-13.00, 18.00-20.00
ATMs:
Sberbank
Address: Arkhangelsk region, Kargopol, embankment. them. Baranova, 32 (6.00-00.00),
st. Arkhangelskaya, 48 (8:00-22:00)
Rosselkhozbank
Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Oktyabrsky Ave. 112 (9:00-19:00)

Post Office
Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, Leningradskaya St., 10
Tel.: 8 (81841) 2-16-73, 8 (81841) 2-16-84
Migration Service (Passport Office)
Address: Arkhangelsk Region, Kargopol, ul. Pavlovskaya, 26
Tel.: 8 (81841) 2-12-23, 8 (81841) 2-29-47
Tour operators:
Severtur LLC
Tel.: 8921-243-02-15
Lache Travel Agency
Tel.: 8921-088-35-75