Parnaya: Lake Landscape, Trail and History

Parnaya lies at the northern tip of Lake Bolshoye, also called Lake Parnoye. The village is described as the “Valley of Lakes”; around ten bodies of water in the area are considered among the most picturesque in Krasnoyarsk Krai. The lake landscape is a natural starting point for planning a trip. Specific local landmarks include a wooded health trail and several sites connected with church history, as well as the water.

Lake Landscape and Walks

The health trail runs through the wooded part of a peninsula and offers views of Lake Bolshoye. Its route includes a developed ascent. In Parnaya, you can walk along the trail; the forest, peninsula and lake views together shape this part of the walk. You can plan the route as a nature experience in its own right. Check the trail’s current condition before setting out.

Lake Krugloye, located in the village of Parnaya, is another point of interest associated with water. It is up to 80 metres deep; its formation in a volcanic crater is considered an uncertain explanation. Recreation facilities with access to the water are located on its shore. The specific nature experiences therefore differ: at Lake Bolshoye, the focus is on the view from the health trail; at Lake Krugloye, it is on access to the water at the shore-side facilities. When looking for an apartment, you can first consider which of these settings you want to shape your stay, then compare the location of a particular listing with your plans.

Church History in Parnaya

The first church in Parnaya was built as a wooden structure between 1870 and 1875 using public funds, but soon burned down; a new church building was constructed in 1904. The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1999. After restoration, the church opened in 2005. These dates bring the village’s architectural history to life and provide another theme for travellers interested in culture as well as landscape.

Krasnoyarsk Krai as a Wider Destination

Beyond Parnaya, the wider destination of Krasnoyarsk Krai offers a great variety of nature experiences. Ergaki Nature Park is in the southern part of the region. In summer, activities there include hiking and horseback riding; in winter, the snow-covered slopes attract skiers and snowboarders, while snowmobile tours and snowshoe hikes are also among the winter activities. In the Puoranskiy Zapovednik, the Putorana Plateau, table mountains at elevations of 1,000 to 1,500 metres above sea level, canyon-like basins of tectonic lakes and numerous waterfalls shape the landscape. The region’s natural attractions thus range from seasonal activities to expansive highland and waterfall scenery.

The cultural attractions of Krasnoyarsk Krai also extend beyond Parnaya’s church history. The Shushenskoye Historical and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve in the village of the same name recreates a Siberian village from the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its many wooden architectural monuments include peasant houses, a merchant’s house, a forge and an ostrog (fortified prison); in total, the site has 194 monuments of rural architecture. The Novaya Derevnya architectural and ethnographic complex, with its nature and landscape park, opened there in 2011. The museum-reserve’s programmes convey the traditions and customs of times gone by and offer insights into peasant life: visitors can sample peasant dishes and gain an introduction to traditional crafts; games, customs and festivals are also part of the experience. For your travel plans, Shushenskoye therefore offers a distinct cultural point of comparison with Parnaya’s lake and nature attractions.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ust'-Kamo, Minderla, Beret', Sharypovo, Minusinsk, Sukhaya, Kodinsk, Divnogorsk

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Krasnoyarsk Krai.