The Russian Wildlife Quarantine Center “Veles” was founded in 2007 and is located in the village of Rappolovo in Vsevolozhsky District, Leningrad Oblast. Anyone interested in the center should plan around its visiting requirements: informative tours are offered for preschool- and school-age children; the day and time must be arranged in advance. The center is currently closed to visitors without an appointment.
A cultural connection to Rappolovo
On April 1, 2026, traditional songs of the Ingrian Finns from Rappolovo were performed in the Institute’s chamber music hall. The Folklore and Ethnography Ensembles “Ryontyushki” and “Korostel” were guests. Alongside the wildlife center, this performance also offers a direct connection to the culture of the Ingrian Finns from the village.
Natural attractions nearby
Two natural attractions of different sizes are located near the destination: Novo-Kavgolovsky Forest Park covers 2,512 hectares. The artificial Izumrudnoye Lake is 0.7 hectares in size and was created in 1979 on the site of an abandoned sandstone quarry. These figures provide a brief comparison of the landscapes, from a large forest park to a small artificial lake. They do not combine the two attractions into a single area.
Nature and culture in Leningrad Oblast
Beyond Rappolovo, Leningrad Oblast offers other nature and culture destinations. Vepsian Forest Nature Park lies in the far east of the oblast and comprises seven nature reserves with particularly strict protection rules. The park has numerous lakes; the largest is Lake Lerinskoye, in the reserve of the same name. Preserved old spruce and pine forests in the “Vepsskiy les” and “Ashchozyorskiy” reserves are important for many organisms that can survive only in forests undisturbed by economic activity. Brown bears are also relatively numerous 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 nature park.
Another cultural destination in Leningrad Oblast is Koporye Fortress, a museum and a monument of ancient Russian stone architecture. Its present form has been preserved since the 16th century; parts of the masonry date from the 13th century. The walls and towers must not be climbed because they are in a state of disrepair. A visit without a guide is possible with the “Koporskaya krepost 2.0” multimedia guide; check its availability when planning your visit.
Nature trails also offer different perspectives on the oblast. A regional description dated December 24, 2019, mentions ecological routes in seven regionally significant protected areas; check the current conditions for each route before your trip. They are intended for independent visits and are equipped with information materials and various visitor facilities. One of the ecological routes described passes through landscapes of sand hills, hollows, and old spruce and pine forests at the Toksovskie Vysoty natural monument. In the “Gryada Vyaryamyanselkya” protected area in Priozersk District, an ecological cycling route passes through lakes, marshes, and dry old-growth pine forest. The Ladva Trail leads to glacial landforms, middle-taiga vegetation, and the Vepsian village of Ladva; it also leads to Lake Ladva in Podporozhye District.
When looking for vacation rentals, it helps to set a clear priority: is the main purpose of the trip the tour in Rappolovo, which must be arranged in advance, or selected nature and culture destinations in Leningrad Oblast? Decide on your destinations first and check the relevant conditions for tours and trails.
Discover more destinations: Ushaki, Murino, Shapki, Vazhiny, Volkhov, Nikiforovskoye, Lodeynoye Pole, Primorsk.
Back to the regional travel guide: Leningrad Oblast.
