Retket

Vyborg

To find yourself in the past without inventing a time machine you should travel to Vyborg, the only Western European medieval city in Russia, the center of "Russian Finland", especially beloved by Petersburgers at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Walking along its narrow streets, looking at the surviving fragments of fortifications (Vyborg Castle, Round Tower, Panzerlax bastion), admiring the monuments of Northern Art Nouveau, you can easily feel yourself in the place of an inhabitant of the legendary Middle Ages!
 

Description of excursions

Vyborg city center walking tour - Knights' Vyborg
Our guide will tell you about the history of the city, its legends and secrets. You will walk narrow cobblestone streets; see low buildings, Market Square, one of the oldest merchant houses of the city, the Knights' House, the clock tower of the former cathedral, the monument to Thoris Knutsen, the Panzerlax bastion

Daily
Duration 1-1,5 hrs

The cost depends on the number of participants.

"Northern Art Nouveau" Vyborg Walking tour

While examining the whimsical facades of old mansions, we will talk about the philosophy of Northern Art Nouveau - a that personifies the victory of mankind over ancient superstitions. We will decode the mysterious symbols, learn about the unique asymmetrical composition, colors, embossed decors and bright mosaic panels.

Walking through the city and admiring dragons and bizarre plants, you will involuntarily remember Swedish castles and Finnish wooden churches, combining austerity and elegance. How did this develop and in what other spheres of life did it find its reflection, besides architecture? For whom were the best mansions of the city built? You will learn about this and much more on this excursion!

Daily
Duration 1-1,5 hrs

 

Alvar Alto Library Walking Tour

Visit to the library of Alvar Aalto. You will discover the amazing architecture of functionalism while visiting the only library in Russia, built by the outstanding Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. This building was created specifically to house the library, taking into account all the processes which run in the book house.

Duration 1,5 hrs

 

Military Vyborg walking tour

Since the time of the Northern War, people said - whoever owns Vyborg owns Karelia. This small town was the most important strategic military point. That is why, first, the Swedish and then the Russian authorities constantly renewed and expanded Vyborg fortifications. You will learn about the military history of the city during this excursion, you will see Annenkron, Vyborg Castle, Horned Fortress

Daily
Duration 1-1,5 hrs

 

Tour to Military Museum of the Karelian Isthmus

Dedicated mainly to the Winter War of 1940-1941 and the continuation war of 1941-1944. The museum was created by the historian Bair Irincheev, contains collections of photographs and historical documents, samples of Soviet and Finnish military uniforms of those years, and finds from the battlefield. As a building for the museum, the territory of the Central Barracks is used, where the first in Russia museum "Feat of Women in Defense of the Fatherland" and the pavilion "Vyborg in the cinema" are located. This museum is interactive, all models of small arms can be picked up and photographed.

Duration 1,5 hrs
 

Tasty Vyborg tour

We will visit the Burger's Estate - home of a wealthy Swedish citizen (an architectural monument of the 16th-18th centuries). Inside the building original fireplace has been preserved, 16th century wooden ceiling has been recreated. We will listen to the story of the Burger's Estate, about two neighboring monasteries, about the symbols of Vyborg - the witch Loukhi, the cat Totti, Franciscan and Dominican monks. We’ll try the famous Vyborg pretzel and gleg - a Scandinavian herbal drink with spices and herbs.

Duration 1-1,5 hrs

 

Boat trip

A boat trip on a motor ship from the Vyborg embankment along the picturesque spots of the Vyborg Bay: Tverdysh Island, the coast of Mon Repos Park, Ludwigstein Island.

 

Excursion to the medieval town of Svargas - the capital of the Varangian lands

Historical and ethnographic open-air museum, recreated in full size, as a fortress of the Baltic Slavs of the early Middle Ages (8th - 12th centuries), during the period of the birth of the Russian statehood. "Svargas" is an Indo-European word translated as "Sunny sky".You will see the work of the mint of the Varangian capital Dagdaheim. In the city smithy of Enheim, you can get acquainted with the work of a blacksmith, you will be told and shown how the most necessary household items were made in the Middle Ages. What a city without its own pottery workshop - we have very noble potters, known thousands of miles to the east, all the way to Siberia!The mysterious runic prophecy may become a support for you in a difficult situation. The real medieval square theater on the main square of Konung in the city of Svargas. Hurry to see and have plenty of fun!In the hunting grounds, you can shoot from a real bow, throw an ax and surprise everyone with your accuracy.

Duration approx. 3 hrs