Izvara, human settlement in Izvarskoye rural settlement, Volosovsky District, Leningrad Oblast, Russia
Izvara is an estate with museum buildings, a park, and spring-fed lakes located in the Izvarskoye rural settlement near Saint Petersburg. The property contains nine structures dating from the 18th to 20th centuries, including a manor house, an art-nouveau style school building, and a small chapel.
Archaeological finds show people settled here as early as the 12th century. The estate was acquired by Nikolai Roerich's family in the 19th century and later transformed into an agricultural colony for disadvantaged children before becoming a museum in 1984.
The settlement takes its name from a Finno-Ugric tribe that once inhabited the region. Walking through the estate today, you can observe how successive generations lived and worked on this land through the remaining buildings and landscape.
The estate is open Wednesday through Saturday and can be reached by car or bus from Saint Petersburg. Access is straightforward, and you can explore the exhibitions, park, and chapel at your own pace or join guided tours with interpreters.
Nikolai Roerich spent summers here finding inspiration for his artistic work. The estate is also used today for ongoing scientific research, where teams study local plants and excavate archaeological artifacts.
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