Ruskeala Mountain Park

What to do in Ruskeala Park

First of all, this is an incredibly beautiful place: picturesque marble cliffs are reflected in the greenish surface of the purest lakes. Here you can admire nature from observation decks, walk along the trails of the magnificent park, explore historical sites from the water or go to the dungeons. Fans of extreme recreation can ride a zip-line or bungee jump over the canyon from a height of 20 meters. And here you can taste traditional Karelian cuisine, visit festivals and concerts of famous performers.

Special attention should be paid to handmade souvenirs that are created by local craftsmen.

What to see

The history of the Ruskeala Mountain Park

The history of Ruskeala should be considered from the moment the Lutheran church appeared in the village of Ruisselk in 1632. Nearby, the Swedes began to mine marble for the production of building lime. But after the end of the Northern War, the territory became part of the Russian Empire.

By decree of Catherine II, large-scale searches for natural stone for the construction of St. Petersburg began in Russia. Since 1766, marble mining began in Ruskeala, which showed excellent prospects for the deposit. On January 19, 1768, Catherine II signed a decree of the Senate on the beginning of the development of marble in Ruskeala for the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral. From that moment on, the village began to be actively populated by workers and their families.

Ruskeala marble was also used to decorate the Mikhailovsky Castle, the monument to Peter I, the Rumyantsev obelisk to Victories on Vasilyevsky Island Square in St. Petersburg and the Eagle Pavilion in Gatchina, the cladding of the mosaic floors of the Kazan Cathedral, the cladding at the Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya metro stations in St. Petersburg.

Mining continued until the end of the 90s, and in 2005 the Ruskeala Mountain Park was formed on the site of the former quarries. In just a few years, the territories were improved, the entire infrastructure was thought out and built, which makes Ruskeala one of the main tourist attractions in Russia.

Scientific speleological researchers of the Russian Geographical Society took part in the creation of unique routes.