Yanishpole: War Memorial and Church

Places of remembrance in Yanishpole

The war memorial in Yanishpole was built around the grave of four unknown Soviet soldiers. Their remains had been discovered in the mid-1980s at a fork in the road four kilometres from Yanishpole. On 30 June 1990, the soldiers were ceremonially laid to rest in the village centre. The memorial thus tells of a discovery outside the village and a shared commemoration in the centre.

Another historical landmark is the Church of the Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda and Lyubov and their mother Sofia. It was built from May 2002 to 2008 and consecrated on 28 September 2008 by Archbishop Manuil of Petrozavodsk and Karelia. While the war memorial commemorates the 1990 burial, the church’s construction and consecration date back to the early 21st century. Together, these two historical themes provide a specific local starting point for exploring Yanishpole.

In the wider destination of the Republic of Karelia

The Republic of Karelia also offers a range of themes to consider when planning a trip. A general excursion in the Kivach Nature Reserve includes an outdoor walk to Kivach Waterfall, as well as a visit to the dendrological collection and the natural history museum. The waterfall is on the Suna River in central Karelia, is 10.7 metres high and, after the Rhine Falls, is considered Europe’s second-largest lowland waterfall.

A 1,000-metre circular trail runs through a wooded area on the banks of the Suna near the nature reserve’s excursion zone. The excursion lasts 1 to 1.5 hours. For current conditions and bookings, check with the operator. This helps distinguish the tour’s duration from the other components of the general excursion when planning.

The Kizhi Museum Reserve offers a different focus: its open-air collection features 89 monuments of traditional wooden architecture. These include old chapels and houses, mills, granaries, threshing barns and drying racks. Visitors can explore the interior of the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God and peasant houses; traditional peasant crafts are demonstrated in the houses. Kizhi thus showcases both architectural styles and craftsmanship.

The World Heritage site of the Onega and White Sea Petroglyphs comprises 4,500 Neolithic rock carvings in the Republic of Karelia. The Onega petroglyphs include more than 1,200 figures in Pudozhsky District; most are located on the central capes of Pery Nos, Besov Nos and Kladovets. The White Sea petroglyphs mainly depict hunting and sailing scenes, along with related equipment, as well as animal and human footprints. The Belomorsk petroglyphs are located in the lower reaches of the Vyg near its mouth at the White Sea, 6–8 kilometres from Belomorsk, and comprise more than 2,000 different drawings.

The protected landscapes of the Republic of Karelia also offer a variety of highlights. Kalevalsky National Park was established to protect a large area of natural forest. Vodlozersky National Park stretches across the Republic of Karelia and Arkhangelsk Oblast and is one of the largest wilderness reserves in the world. Paanajärvi National Park lies in the Louhi District in northwestern Karelia; features that attract visitors include its landscapes, rich plant and animal life, pristine tranquillity and abundant fishing opportunities. The Marble Canyon, in turn, forms the centrepiece of Ruskeala Mountain Park.

If the village’s two historical landmarks are the reason for your trip, search specifically for a holiday apartment in Yanishpole. If your holiday focuses on a waterfall, wooden architecture, rock art or national parks, let your choice of destination be guided by that focus.

Discover more destinations: Essoyla, Suojarvi, Yalguba, Uya, Ruskeala, Derevyannoye, Veshkelitsa, Kotkozero

See the wider travel overview: Republic of Karelia.