In Arkhangelsk, historic merchant buildings, a central pedestrian avenue and the tradition of kozuli appeal to a range of interests. Museums explore the history of Pomorye, while walks take in northern architecture and sculptures. The decorated gingerbread cookies are more than a souvenir, too: they have their own festive tradition.
Museums and Architectural History
The Arkhangelskiy krayevedcheskiy muzey is housed in the architectural monument Arkhangelskiy Gostinyy dvor, dating from the 17th to 18th centuries. This makes the connection between the museum and historic architecture a tangible way to explore the city's history. At Russkiy Gostinyy dvor, visitors can see restored 17th-century merchant chambers and 18th-century ceremonial halls; a large museum and cultural centre is located there. The restored, single-domed chambers house the permanent exhibition “Istoriya i kultura Pomorya XVI-XVII vv.” and also host temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibition focuses on the 16th and 17th centuries and introduces the history and culture of Pomorye. The merchant rooms and exhibition content thus offer different ways to explore local cultural history.
Exploring Arkhangelsk on Foot
Prospekt Chumbarova-Luchinskogo, also known as Chumbarovka, is a pedestrian street in central Arkhangelsk. Visitors can see northern architecture and sculptures of well-known writers and their characters. A walk passes wooden houses, some of which stand on their original historic sites; other buildings on Chumbarovka have been relocated or newly built. The street therefore brings together a distinctive cityscape and buildings with different stories, without all the houses sharing the same architectural history.
Arkhangelsk offers self-guided routes and walks for exploring on foot. Tourist walking tours include routes through the city centre, along Prospekt Chumbarova-Luchinskogo and around Solombala. There are also audio tours of the city centre and Solombala. The routes differ mainly in the areas they cover: the city centre, Chumbarovka or Solombala. Those who would like to take an audio tour can find one for the city centre and Solombala.
Kozuli: Baking, Craft and Festive Tradition
The Arkhangelskiy pryanik-kozulya museum offers guided tours and workshops on decorating kozuli. Arkhangelskiye kozuli are also available there as souvenirs. These decorated gingerbread cookies were traditionally baked and given as gifts at Christmas and New Year; they were also used to decorate the Christmas tree. The tradition therefore connects the cookies with gift-giving and festive decoration. Visitors interested in kozuli can take a guided tour or try decorating them themselves at the museum.
More Cultural Sites in the Wider Destination of Primorskiy District
In the wider destination of Primorskiy District, the Museum of Folk Arts and Crafts of Primorye in Uemsky has a permanent exhibition titled “Gostinaya Seni Maliny”. In Malye Korely, village ensembles are set among spruce forests in the Kargopol-Onega, Dvina, Pinega and Mezen sectors, with traditional homes, storehouses, wells and fences. The interiors of the farmsteads showcase the skills of northern Russian carpenters and explore topics such as fishing, grain farming, household management, wedding customs and historic means of transport. Visitors can also see the mechanism of a large tent-roofed windmill; residential and farm buildings belonging to prosperous peasants from Kargopol or Pomorye; the interior of a Dvina tavern; a blacksmith's workshop from Kholmogory; a fisherman's house; and the hut of a commercial hunter.
Malye Korely also hosts celebrations for Maslenitsa, Easter, New Year, Christmas, the Bread Festival, the Horse Festival, the Hay Festival and Bell-Ringing Day. Adults and children take part in festive customs and folk amusements, sing along to the accordion and swing. If you are planning to attend one of these festivals, check the specific event dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Kapustniki, Kargopol, Kharitonovo, Onega, Velsk, Isakogorka, Blagoveshchenskoye, Solovetskiy
For the wider travel overview: Arkhangelsk Oblast.
