Mandrogi (Russia)

Upper Mandrogi is Svir River cruise port located on the river's left bank, and between Ladoga and Onega lakes. This picturesque village is one of the most beautiful places in Leningrad region and an unique recreation and tourism center.

When approaching Mandrogi from north, from the ship can be seen its six houses - named "The Carved House", "The House of the Carver", "Painted House", "The Lace House", "The Smart House" and "House-Terem" ". When arriving from south, the first thing you see is a working mill built according to plans from the 17th century. In the village cruise tourists can taste traditional Russian dishes and enjoy arts and crafts activities guided by local craftsmen. The cruise company also helds here an outdoor waiter-served picnic lunch under canopy-covered verandas with capacity over 1,000 guests.

Prior to WW2 (1939-1945), the village was a major mill town and a fishing settlement hardly touched by time. WWII left it a burnt ruin, but after the fall of USSR / Soviet Union (1991), a group of Russian investors bought the land and invited the region's best woodworkers to use traditional skills to restore Mandrogi's former glory. Between 1996-1999 village's traditional buildings were fully restored.

Cruise ship passengers traveling between St Petersburg and Moscow on this route often stop in this unique town. The elaborate gingerbread-like woodwork attracts international tourists, a lot of whom spend a day in the local museums themed on Russia's folk life. The Museum of Russian Vodka is Mandrogi's most popular attraction. It has a collection of 2500 varieties of vodka that was brought from all across Russia and displays the different ways in which this world-famous drink is produced. The Vodka Museum has its own homebrewing facility and hosts for tourists lectures, seminars, tastings.

Craft workshops Join this popular attraction with painting and wood carving, lacework, pottery and weaving demonstrated. There is even a petting zoo in Mandrogi that contains local animals and plants, as well as a quail farm which features fresh quail eggs.

Mandrogi cruise terminal