Malye Korely, Open-air museum near Arkhangelsk, Russia
Malye Korely is an open-air museum with over 100 traditional wooden buildings from northern and northwestern Russia displayed across a large riverside site. The structures include farmhouses, windmills, chapels, and other community buildings arranged to show how these settlements were organized.
The museum opened in 1964 and started with a windmill from 1744 originally located in the village of Bor. Since then, traditional buildings from different regions have been moved here and restored to preserve this architectural heritage.
The collection is organized by four regional zones, each showing how people in different northern areas built their homes and adapted to local conditions. The buildings reveal practical choices made by communities living in harsh climates far from cities.
The site sits along the Northern Dvina River and is accessible by public bus from town. It is best to visit from May through September when opening hours are extended and the weather makes walking around more comfortable.
The collection includes the Chapel of the Holy Trinity from Valtyevo village, a rare wooden structure with a triple-nave design and raised foundation. This elevated construction allowed the building to remain accessible even during the heaviest snowfall.
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