Traditional Russian Village
MANDROGI

Unique Russian Village is 300 km northeast of Saint Petersburg in the Podporoje district. It borders the Lodejnoje Polje district of the St. Petersburg region and the Republic of Karelia. The Svir river, one of the large navigable rivers of the St. Petersburg region, runs near the Village Mandrogi. The river connects Lake Ladoga and Onega. The district is one cleanest ecological arease in the St. Petersburg region. This is due to the absence of industrial enterprises polluting the air and water. This district averages only one person per square kilometer. The main occupation of the residents in this area is the timber industry.

This unique village, which was built in the last few years, is very similar to a 19th century Russian village. Although the wooden architecture is similar to the 19th century, we have included the modern conveniences of electricity, telephone, e-mail, sauna and modern bathroom facilities.

There is a museum of vodka and samogon. A museum of bread is being built now. There will be a reconstruction of an ancient mill and bakery at the village.

Wildlife: There are various animals in the district. Brown bear, wolf, fox, white hare, beaver, marten, mink, badger and squirrel are quite common. Occasionally you will find wild boar, lynx, moose (elk) and raccoon dog. The population of grouse black, cock, hazel-hen are very numerous in the St. Petersburg region. The best season for hunting birds is in May and September and October. Trained experts in managing game animals live and work at Verhnije Mandrogi. The elk nursery was organized recently. The fully domesticated young elks are raised there. Japanese quails, pheasants, grey partridges, ducks and geese are kept at the poultry-house. A horse-stable for meek pure-bred horses and doghouse for hounds complete the sight of the village. Forage plants are sowed every year on the inn's lands, baits and saline soils are left nearby. Some badger holes are kept. Russian hounds trained for hare hunting, a game-terrier and huskies are available. There are hunter towers near forage fields and some hunter huts for 3 ... 4 persons are located near birds display grounds and elk paths and stands. There are many clean rivers and lakes not far from village. Pike, pike-perch, salmon, grayling and trout are some of the fish you will find in these waterways.