Description of the attraction
Sheltozero Vepsian Ethnographic Museum named after R. P. Lonina is unique in Russia, its expositions tell about the culture of the people of the Karelian region - the Vepsians, who are descendants of the Ves tribe. The creation of the museum's collection began in the 60s, the local historian writer Lonin Rurik Petrovich, he was the first collector of Veps folklore. In 1967, the first exhibition of the People's Museum was opened. In 1980 it became a branch of the Karelian State Museum.
The funds of the museum, which include more than 6,000 items, are located in one of the most beautiful and largest Vepsian houses of the mid-19th century, built by the merchant Melkin. All exhibits are divided according to the corresponding themes, these are household items, dishes made of clay, wood, birch bark and straw. Weaving, blacksmithing, photographic documents. They were collected in the Vepsian villages of the Karelian, Leningrad and Vologda regions.
The most interesting ethnic items are placed in the Vepsian hut and in the household yard, here you can see: sleds; a boat made of a whole aspen trunk, sewn with the help of pine roots; there is also a two-wheeled chaise; flax processing tools; blacksmith, carpentry, carpentry tools.
In one of the rooms there are items dedicated to hunting, fishing - the crafts of the northern peoples. Traps, homemade fishing gear, birch bark with an ancient map of the lake. There is also a loom, a bast cradle with a colored chintz canopy and a cow's horn teat. Various dishes: copper, earthenware, birch bark. Homespun linen clothing, patchwork quilts. Written and photographic materials of the ethnographer, traveler V. Maikov, made by him in the middle of the 19th century in Vepsian villages.
We offer a wide range of excursions for adults, children, students, schoolchildren, foreign tourists. In the museum you will not only touch the history, but also hear live voices performing Vepsian melodious songs, hear the Vepsian language. You will be able to taste traditional Vepsian dishes prepared according to old recipes. These are rybniki, fishermen's fish soup, skantsy, wickets. In winter, you will find fun entertainment - riding on a Finnish sleigh.
There is also an exposition dedicated to the partisan movement in these parts during the Great Patriotic War. The only one in the world, unique deposit of crimson quartzite is also located here. In ancient times it was called Porphyry. You can see this stone in the decoration of St. Isaac's and Kazan Cathedrals, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Winter Palace. This stone was also used outside Russia, in 1847 in France, when a sarcophagus was being built for Napoleon.
The museum is visited by almost 10 thousand people a year. Every year in Sheltozero folklore festivals are held: "The Tree of Life" - in July - a folk holiday that gathers residents from all nearby villages; Memorial Day of St. Jonah of Yashezersky - on October 5, a church service is held in a local church, and in the House of Culture you can listen to a concert of sacred and folk music.
