About the life and lives of people in the past century, we canlearn from ancient legends and legends, as well as on artifacts preserved in museums. And how do you get the idea to go on a weekend in a real northern village of the XVI-XIX centuries? There is such a place, and it is located quite close to the large modern city of Arkhangelsk. The architectural and museum complex "Small Korely" is located on a vast territory and is one of the largest museums of wooden architecture in the country.
The beginning of a large-scale reconstruction
Back in 1963, architects were worriedpreservation of ancient monuments of Russian architecture. Unique and unusual buildings are preserved in many places where people have lived since ancient times. However, the problem was that it was usually a single church or a dwelling house in a remote village. In this case, the object is not properly protected, not restored in a timely manner, as a result of which it simply decays and collapses.
Chief Architect of Arkhangelskspecialized research and production workshop engaged in the creation of a unique museum complex. A picturesque place was chosen, and practically all the environs of the city of Arkhangelsk were examined in search of monuments of Russian architecture.
In 1974, the museum "Little Korela" was opened, andhis first visitors could see 11 ancient buildings of various purposes at once. The name of the complex was in honor of the village, located nearby.
History of the museum
Today the museum complex is a memberAssociation of European open-air museums. And in 1996, the "Small Korely" were included in the State collection of particularly valuable objects of cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation. The year 2012 is also remarkable in the history of the museum; then it received the prestigious prize “Property of the North”.
Today the exposition includesabout 120 buildings of various types and purposes. Among them are residential buildings, farm buildings, and majestic temples. What unites the exhibits is that they are all built of wood and without a single nail. All architectural monuments were created in the XVI-XX centuries, completely disassembled for transportation, after which they were restored and assembled on the territory of the museum.
Architectural monuments
To date, the total area of the museumis about 139.8 ha. Its uniqueness lies not only in scale, but also in organization. All architectural monuments are inscribed in the surrounding landscape and look as natural as possible. For the convenience of tourists, "Small Korely" are divided into several sectors (mini-villages): Mezen, Pinezhsky, Dvinskoy, Kargopol-Onega. While visiting the museum, you can admire not only architectural forms, but also learn more about the life of our ancestors. In some buildings, interior decoration has been restored, services are held in churches, and even from the belltowers from time to time a chime is heard.
In addition to farmsteads, barns, churches andchapels, the pride of the complex - windmills, there are only 7 of them, and one has a restored working mechanism. Also in the museum you can see wells, old vehicles, benches and fences - such as our ancestors used. The Museum of Wooden Architecture "Malye Korely" regularly holds various festivals and folk festivals on major holidays, with the same true Russian flavor and immersion in a bygone era.
Mode of operation and cost of attendance
You can visit the museum at any time of the year.It is open for tourists daily from 10:00, closes in the summer - at 19:00, and in the winter - 17:00. You can explore the monuments of architecture alone or accompanied by a guide as part of an organized group. For guests there are several programs of excursion services, differing in subject, duration and cost. The price of an adult ticket is 100-150 rubles, discounts for students, pensioners and children are provided.
How to get to the museum "Small Korely"?
The architectural and historical complex is located at 25kilometers from Arkhangelsk. You can reach it by personal or public transport. You should focus on the village of Malye Korely - it is near it there is a reserve with the same name. To the desired settlement follow buses number 104, number 108, number 111. Many tourist agencies of the city offer excursions with a transfer to the museum and back to the city. If you are driving a private car, it is most convenient to use the navigator or navigate to the signs. If the place of your holiday or business trip is Arkhangelsk, “Malye Korely” is a must-visit place. Only here you can enjoy all the magnificence of northern architecture in its original form. A visit to this museum will be interesting to everyone, but if in doubt, come here for a holiday or one of the festivals.
