Rappolovo: Wildlife Center, Culture and Landscape

A specific point of interest in Rappolovo is the Russian Veles Wildlife Quarantine Center; there are also scenic destinations nearby. The village is located in Vsevolozhsky District of Leningrad Oblast.

Veles: visits by prior arrangement

The center was founded in 2007. Informative excursions are offered for preschool- and school-age children; the day and time must be arranged in advance. The center is currently closed to walk-in visitors. Anyone planning an excursion should therefore arrange the visit beforehand and treat it as a scheduled part of the program, not as a spontaneous stop.

Forest park and lake nearby

The nearby scenic destinations differ considerably in size. Novo-Kavgolovsky Forest Park covers 2,512 hectares. The artificial Izumrudnoye Lake is much smaller, at 0.7 hectares; it was created in 1979 at the site of an abandoned sandstone quarry. Together, the two destinations offer contrasting scales: a vast park and a small body of water with a specific history of its origins.

Music from Rappolovo

A cultural connection to the village was heard on April 1, 2026, in the institute’s chamber music hall: traditional Ingrian Finnish songs from Rappolovo were performed there. The guests were the folklore and ethnography ensembles Rjontjuschki and Korostel. This example connects the village’s name with a specific musical heritage; the performance took place in the institute’s chamber music hall.

Nature and culture in Leningrad Oblast

Looking beyond Rappolovo to Leningrad Oblast, you will find Vepsian Forest Nature Park in the far east of the oblast. It comprises seven protected areas with particularly strict conservation rules and is characterized by numerous lakes. The largest is Lake Lerinskoye, located in the reserve of the same name. The park’s special features include well-preserved old spruce and pine forests in the Vepsskiy Les and Ashchozyorskiy reserves. They are important for numerous organisms that can survive only in forests undisturbed by economic activity.

The wildlife and culture also make this regional connection special. Brown bears are found in greater numbers in the nature park; the wolverine, extremely rare in the region, has also been recorded there. The Vepsians, a small people of Russia with their own culture and traditions, have traditionally lived in the park. These themes are part of Leningrad Oblast and broaden the view of the region beyond Rappolovo.

Koporye Fortress as another regional destination

Another point of interest in Leningrad Oblast is Koporye Fortress, a museum and a monument of Old Russian stone architecture. It has been preserved in its present form since the 16th century; parts of the masonry date back to the 13th century. The multimedia guide “Koporskaya krepost 2.0” makes it possible to visit without a guided tour; confirm its availability when planning. Climbing the walls and towers is prohibited because they are in an emergency condition.

Choose a holiday apartment based on your travel interests

Start your search for a holiday apartment by considering the experiences you want to focus on: Rappolovo, with its wildlife center and nearby scenic destinations, or a broader selection of nature and cultural experiences in Leningrad Oblast.

Discover more destinations: Svetogorsk, Nikolskoye, Shapki, Kobona, Terebochevo, Domozhirovo, Issad, Vaganovo

For the broader travel overview: Leningrad Oblast.