Sortavala, Administrative town in Karelia, Russia
Sortavala is a town on the northern shore of Lake Ladoga in the Russian republic of Karelia, near the Finnish border. The streets show stone buildings from the early decades of the 20th century with Art Nouveau elements and Nordic facades.
The settlement appears in Swedish records from 1468 and changed hands between Sweden, Russia, and Finland through wars and treaties. After World War II, it became part of the Soviet Union and remained with Russia after its dissolution.
The central district features buildings designed by Finnish architects, including the 1915 Bank of Finland structure by Uno Ulberg.
The railway station offers connections to regional destinations on the Khiytola-Matkaselkä line. The town sits about 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the current Finnish border and serves as a starting point for trips around the Ladoga area.
Russian artist Nicholas Roerich lived here and painted around two hundred works while recovering from illness. His former residence now houses a museum that informs visitors about his life and work.
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