Solovki prison camp, Soviet prison camp on Solovetsky Islands, Russia
Solovki prison camp was a Soviet facility that occupied former monastery buildings on an archipelago in the White Sea, featuring high stone walls and multiple detention blocks. The complex spread across the islands with barracks and fortification structures distributed throughout the area.
The camp was established in 1923 and served as a prototype for the Soviet Gulag system, initially detaining opponents of the Bolshevik regime. Its structure and practices became a model for numerous other detention camps across the country.
The prison buildings preserve scratches and inscriptions left by inmates, including intellectuals such as mathematicians, artists, and religious figures from the 1920s and 1930s. These markings tell of the lives of those held here.
The site can only be visited during warmer months when boat connections from Karelia operate. Visitors should bring weather-resistant clothing and be prepared for short opening hours and limited accessibility.
Prison records indicate that inmates developed a secret communication system using maritime signal flags visible from different parts of the compound. This network helped them exchange information despite isolation conditions.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
