Petrozavodsk

Petrozavodsk spreads along the western shore of Lake Onega, displaying a mix of Soviet-era architecture, newer apartment blocks, and scattered wooden houses in outer districts. The city stretches inland from the waterfront, with wide avenues running through residential neighborhoods and industrial areas.

The settlement began in 1703 when Peter the Great founded an iron works here to produce cannons and equipment for his new Baltic fleet. Over the centuries it grew from an industrial site into a regional hub with educational institutions and research centers.

Daily life centers on the Onega waterfront, where locals stroll in the evening and gather in parks along the shore. Karelian and Russian traditions blend in everyday habits, from local food choices to craft markets that display both contemporary work and traditional pieces.

Trains link the city directly to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Murmansk, while buses connect different neighborhoods within town. The central waterfront district is easy to explore on foot, with most points of interest concentrated along the promenade.

Wrought-iron railings and ornamental pieces from the historic foundries still decorate palaces and embankments in Saint Petersburg today. Many of these intricate works traveled hundreds of kilometers by land and water to adorn prestigious buildings in what was then the Russian Empire's capital.