Where is Valdai in Russia. Where to stay in Valdai

On the territory of Russia there are a lot of unique in its beauty places, the Valdai Region is one of such beautiful places, famous for its beautiful nature and centuries-old history.

Geographical position

Where is Valdai? This protected area is located in the central part of the Valdai Upland, on the territory of two regions of the country: Tver and Novgorod. On the shores of the Valdai Lake, among the green hills and endless forests lies the small town of Valdai, where tourists like to be resting, tired of the hustle and bustle of large settlements, like to rest.

History of the name of the Valdai Lake

There are two theories of the origin of the name of the lake, which gave the name to the city.

The first is a legend. Once on the shore of the lake lived a handsome blacksmith named Valdai, every morning he came to the shore of the lake to wash. When he leaned toward the water, she woke from sleep and, worried, whispered the name of the young man thrice. From that time people began to call the lake Valdoya, and then they began to call the settlement where the city of Valdai is located.

The second theory is the opinion of scientists. They believe that the name of the lake comes from the Greek word "Valda", which translates as pure, bright, white.

Valdai

This small city with a 500-year history, there is no harmful industry poisoning the air, there are no nightclubs, Valdai is not that nice either.

Russia is probably the only country in the world where there is a museum of bells and it is located in Valdai, which has long been famous for its factories and workshops for making this musical instrument. The unique collection of the museum contains a large number of bells and bells of various sizes and purposes: from church to ship, from yamshchitskikh and shepherds to firemen and desktops. The museum visitors can get acquainted with the history of bell casting, see an interesting collection, listen to various melodies of bell-ringing and even try themselves as a bell ringer. The museum is located in the former building of the Catherine's Church. Performed in an unusual "round" style, decorated with a colonnade and domed roof, it is undoubtedly one of the architectural monuments of the city.

Another attraction is the city of Valdai - located on the central square of the Holy Trinity Cathedral . The temple was erected in the 18th century in the Baroque style, during its history has experienced many things, including several large fires, however, it was reborn every time. Now the beautiful building of the temple, executed in gently pink tones, is a real decoration of the city, the doors of which since 1998 have been reopened to believers.

Iversky Monastery

Opposite the shore of the lake, where the Valdai is located, on the Selvitsky Island stands the current Iver Monastery - the main attraction and the Orthodox shrine of the city. On the territory of the monastery are several Gate churches, the Assumption Cathedral, the chapel with the burial vault, the Epiphany Church and the Pilgrimage Center, daily excursions are organized. You can get to the island by boat, which departs every two hours from the city wharf.

Monuments of the Valdai Region Architecture

In the Valdai region in past centuries there was a large number of ancient estates and landed estates. Many of them did not spare time, but the interest of tourists to them is not weakening. The most interesting for visiting are three estates: the manor of Alyutin, the house of the Musyn-Pushkin family and the estate of Novotroitsa.

The Mussiny-Pushkin Estate is one of the preserved monuments of architecture in the vicinity of the city of Valdai. Where is the estate? At 38 kilometers from the city, on the shore of the lake in the area of the modern village of Peretno, a rich estate was still a century and a half ago. Now here you can see only the remains of a once beautiful house, now gaping with empty eye sockets of windows, and the functioning church of the Life-Giving Trinity.

The Manor of the Mountain, which belongs to the Duke of Leuchtenberg in the 18th century, is located on the shore of Fr. Borovki. In those days it was a rich and prosperous estate with numerous farm buildings, a church, a huge park and a three-story "master's" house, like a real palace. Now it is only a few buildings that are in disrepair, but some people still live in some houses.

Manor of Novotroitsa was built in the 18th century on the shore of Lake Dinner (from the word "terrified", describing the shape of the lake) and belonged to the noble family of Samarins-Kvashnins. This was the estate of wealthy people: rich mansions, many auxiliary buildings, its own church. But the time is merciless ... Now only a small part of the dilapidated buildings remains here, but the garden and park ensemble with the birch grove has not been badly preserved.

The Valdai rivers

Charming and clean edge of Valdai. Where is this wonderful place? Valdai - one of the most beautiful places of the East European Plain. A large web of rivers and streams, marvelous lakes surrounded by green forests, huge boulders covered with moss scattered on picturesque hills and river valleys, all these are memories of a huge glacier that retreated northwards many centuries ago, leaving all this splendor on its way. The water in the rivers and lakes of this charming land is cold, clear and fresh.

Here on the outskirts of the swamp is a small key, which starts the long way of the mighty Volga River; here, from the small marshes, the Dnieper and the Western Dvina, the Volkhov and Msta, most of the tributaries of the Neva, hundreds of small rivers, a huge number of small and large lakes, thousands of streams and Springs, of which about a dozen with healing mineral water, and several hundred marshes. It is not for nothing that the Valdai is considered the cradle of the rivers of Russia.

Lakes of the Valdai Region

Lake Valday is one of the most beautiful reservoirs of the region, one of the 10 cleanest lakes in the world. Despite its small size, it impresses with its depth, which in some places reaches 52 meters. In the southernmost part of the reservoir, where the Valdai Lake is divided by three islands into two reaches, there is a town of the same name. To the north is another lake - Dinner.

Lakes are replenished mainly at the expense of springs, so the bottom here is clean, and the water is cold and transparent. Beaches with fine sand, located around the lake picturesque forests, in which there are many berries and mushrooms, good fishing attract tourists here at any time of the year. Lakes Dinner and Valdai are recognized as nature monuments, they have a unique healing and scientific-cognitive significance.

Far from major cities, in an ecologically clean area there are unique cascading lakes that form the Western Dvina river basin . Here, on the rich in forests, marshes and lakes on the southwestern slope of the hill, the river collects its main waters. This is one of the cleanest areas in Europe.

Near the village of Molodilno there is another unique lake - Sinenkoye, only 300 meters long. 80% of its shores are a mossy quicksand. The water in the lake is surprisingly blue, always transparent and does not change the level. It is noteworthy that the waters of Sinenky never blossom, insects do not ride on its surface, and the few perches that inhabit the lake have acquired an incomprehensible coloring. The lake is so transparent that through the glass of water all the snags on its bottom are visible, it creates the feeling that they can be reached by putting your hand in the water.

National Park

The real gem of the region where the Valdai is located is the National Park. Slender ship pines with sharp tops, thick green fir trees, quivering aspen trees and graceful birches on picturesque hills create extraordinary landscapes, picturesqueness which is supplemented by numerous rivers and lakes.

Nature has created an area where there is everything necessary for life - flood meadows, rich with the beast, berries and mushrooms of the forest, fish crystal clear rivers and lakes, curative mineral springs. It would be a big mistake not to save this unique natural heritage, which has accumulated in itself the region where the Valdai is located.

For the first time in these lands the reserve was created in the 1920s, 148 hectares in the area of the Valdai Lake were recognized as inviolable and protected until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. Nearly six decades after several institutions conducted a thorough examination, in 1990 the National Park was organized.

On its territory there are 70 lakes and 20 rivers, in which more than 20 species of fish (pike, pike perch, snack, bream, catfish and others) are swimming, the rarest of them are trout, eel, river lamprey and the ordinary heifer .

More than 85% of the park is forest: spruce and pine forests, oak, birch and linden groves, cedar and fir areas, as well as mixed forests of elm, maple, larch and ash. In total, 60 species of trees grow here, more than 600 species of grass, 32 of them are listed in the red book of the country, and 20 - in the red book of the planet. On the territory there are 20 species of animals and about 140 species of birds, among them 6 representatives of the Red Book.

Where to rest in Valdai?

We think that after reading the article everyone will find a place in this amazing land that he would like to visit. A trip around the countryside, visiting the National Park or the Iversky Monastery, a boat trip along the rivers and lakes of the region or fishing - a lesson for anyone.

Accommodation for travelers in Valdai

Problems with housing are not here, every traveler will find where to stay at Valdai. Tourists can stay overnight in guest houses on the territory of the monastery, agreeing this with a pilgrimage department in advance, renting a room in one of the hotels in this region, going to a boarding house or rest house located directly in the park, or staying in a tent camp in order to To feel the unity with nature.

Valdai is a unique place in its beauty where crystal clear lakes and rivers stretch among the lush and picturesque greenery of the southern taiga. This region is rightfully considered one of the most remarkable corners of Russia, fabulous beauty and clean air attracts numerous guests every year who want to enjoy magnificent scenery, calm nerves and strengthen immunity far from noisy cities.