The Runes' Singer, Memorial monument in Sortavala, Russia
The Runes' Singer is a bronze monument on Vainamoinen Square in Sortavala that shows a figure in a classic singing posture. It depicts how Karelian bards conveyed their verses and stories through melodic vocal performances.
The monument was created in 1935 by Finnish sculptor Alpo Sailo with funding support from Karl Gustaf Berg. It was commissioned during a period when the region served as a cultural crossroads and local traditions needed to be preserved.
The name refers to the ancient Karelian tradition of preserving epic stories through sung verse rather than written form. Visitors see a figure frozen in the classic singing posture that was central to how people passed down history and legend in this region.
The monument sits in the central square of Sortavala and is accessible year-round at no cost. The best time to visit is during daylight hours when light plays across the bronze figure and its details become clear.
The monument now holds status as a federal cultural heritage site in Russia, uniquely representing the intersection of Finnish, Karelian, and Russian cultures. This triple recognition makes it a rare example of cross-cultural acknowledgment in the region.
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