Kizhi Pogost, Wooden church complex on Kizhi Island, Russia
Kizhi Pogost is a church complex with two wooden churches and a bell tower on an island in Lake Onega, northern Russia. The buildings stand together on an open site overlooking the water and form part of an outdoor museum for historical wooden architecture.
The Church of the Transfiguration was built in 1714 with twenty-two wooden domes arranged in tiers. The Church of the Intercession was added fifty years later and served as a winter church for the local community.
The churches follow Karelian Orthodox building traditions, with onion domes rising in tiers and carved wooden facades. Visitors can see the traditional carpentry technique where all parts fit together without metal nails.
The island is accessible by boat from Petrozavodsk between May and September, with guided tours offered in several languages. Visitors should bring sturdy footwear as the museum grounds can be uneven and cover several areas.
The Church of the Transfiguration stands among the tallest wooden structures in the world, reaching over 120 ft (37 m). A system of interlocking beams carries the weight of the twenty-two domes without additional support pillars.
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