Vyborg. A fabulous city

One hundred thirty kilometers from St. Petersburg, hiding the small town of Vyborg. According to ancient times and the beauty he can safely compete with many Russian historical centers. And it's very unfortunate that most of the tourist routes, which are organized by tour guides Northern Capital, not reaching the city. Get to Vyborg from St. Petersburg can be on two roads - Vyborg (A-121) and Seaside Freeway (M-10). The first road is pretty boring, begins with Engels Prospect in St. Petersburg, and then runs two-lane flow among the suburban areas and small towns, the most notable of which is the Black River (but not the one who shot at Pushkin). Much more interesting to get out of town in Primorsky highway. Firstly, it is possible to look at the St. Petersburg version of the Moscow Rublevki - in this resort area situated mass luxury villas and town houses with a claim to exclusive architecture. Secondly, there is a chance to see the old resort area of ??Russian emperors and nobility, who went on the water in Sestroreck. Oh, and, thirdly, the road winds through the steep shores of the Gulf of Finland, which makes it a very picturesque in the design of the northern flora. For Sestroretsk towards Vyborg begins federal highway "Scandinavia" - elegant European painting road of international importance. It is for this highway is going a lot of goods from Finland to Russia and back. With her in the village lights and crosses Vyborg highway. However, wishing to get in Vyborg can continue its path and the Primorsky highway, and Vyborg (which later merged with Priozersk), but the road will already very long and uncomfortable, so all continue to move along the M-10. Track Scandinavia at most sites two-row, but has a very wide margins. It is very convenient to overtake, despite the workload. Here it is, seeing fast running car, take the asphalt on the edge of the road and pass bustler. It is said that this practice went on Foreign courtesy of drivers of heavy trucks. Whatever it was, but the loaded train playfully cavort on the sidelines, allowing unhindered himself to overtake, which is very important when long continuous lines that separate the oncoming lane. But we must not delude ourselves: traffic cops are sitting there under the bushes in large quantities, place a bread, since the road surface has to race. The most common violation - speeding. The first time I was on a sports car on the highway "Scandinavia". Although, in fairness, it should be noted that the Hyundai Coupe only in appearance sports car. It is equipped with a 6-cylinder engine of 2.7 liters, which produces only 167 hp Like, "dope" in the car should be much, but in reality it does not matter maintains its facilities. Languid, fuzzy switching 6-speed manual gearbox, too large angles of rotation and the "spread" of braking from high speeds reduce the "out" all the efforts of designers who have done their best. Kind of a Hyundai Coupe, especially after a facelift, of course, alert and beautiful. But the word "sports" from the description of this model, I would have removed. Altogether. In order not to lead people astray. Let it remain "a catchy, dynamic, coupe-sedan with sporty inclinations" - that would be fairer to buyers. Especially since it consumes a lot. At speeds up to 120 km / h computer shows consumption of about 13 liters per hundred kilometers, but it's worth to exceed this figure as the cost rises to 16 or even 17 L, 92-octane gasoline. For the moment I filled the 95-th: the car became high-spirited, but not much. By the way, gas stations on the highway "Scandinavia" is situated almost in strict accordance with international standards - every 20-30 miles - and it does not spoil the landscape of flashing outside the window of ancient pine trees. Viborg, as it were divided into two parts: current and historical. And if the modern buildings is not much different from the usual quarters in many cities, the historical part is simply gorgeous! The city mostly located on a peninsula which is washed by the Gulf of Finland, and its heart is the Vyborg Castle, overlooking the Castle on the island. Another, much of it takes a lot of islands, the largest of which are Tverdysh (the Finns call it Linnasaari) and the Guards. Some historians argue that Vyborg was founded in the IX century, Novgorod, but this theory has not yet confirmed. Similarly, we can only say that there was located a slight strengthening of Karels, which controlled the road to Lake Ladoga, and was captured by the Swedes in 1293. It is from this year and there is reason to Scandinavian stone fortress-castle begins his countdown of Vyborg as a permanent settlement. Status of the city he received in 1403 and remained in Sweden right up to 1710, when he captured the Peter I during the Northern War. Such close proximity to the capital of the Russian Empire and favorable strategic location made the city the center of many historic events. From the walls of the castle of Vyborg was possible to observe the legendary defeat of the Swedish squadron in 1790. By the way, most of the time until the beginning of XX century, Vyborg was inhabited mostly by Finns and was a member of the Grand Duchy of Finland. Almost 90% of its residents were the Scandinavians, and the town itself is called in the local Viipuri. However, to this day at the Finnish charts, he passes under that name, and many of the country Suomi so far leave no hope of getting back ancestral homes and palaces, a suit on this litigation. Still, the stark beauty of the city's buildings, constructed in the style of the Northern Art Nouveau ", leaves no one indifferent. On the island Tverdysh National is historical, architectural and natural museum "Mon Repos Park," which in French means "my peace, repose." This is a magnificent rocky landscape park on the shores of the Gulf of Vyborg, the ensemble is created by recognized masters of architecture - Martinelli, Montferrand, de Tomon and many others. Near the park is a small island of the Dead, which is a beautiful tomb dynastic families that bought the estate. In general, the family of Ludwig Nicolai, who was president of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1788. Unfortunately, many works of classical architecture have been lost, but now is an intensive restoration. Here, there, on the island Tverdysh, located Ann fortifications built mostly in the middle of the XVIII century. These fortifications were named in honor of the Empress Anna Ivanovna and represent four bastions, connected by curtains (lines live fences), which stretch across the island from the coast to Bay of Vyborg Bay of the Shield. What is really impressive in Vyborg, so it is a huge medieval castle, standing on the island. Together with him the whole architectural ensemble of the city is literally fantastic, comes to us from the pages of books by Anderson, Larsen and Lindgren. Castle looks particularly beautiful at night, all lit up. Unfortunately, its main attraction - the tower - now hung with forests reconstruction, but it still looks great. At the castle you can shoot with bows and crossbows made "antique" to see the exhibition of objects Inquisition. Each year in May there is folk music festival "The May tree." In addition, the Vyborg Castle was chosen by historical reenactors who gather here in July, dressed in medieval armor and armor, in order to fight a duel. A Russian Film Festival "Window to Europe" gathers here the color of the European beau monde, and intellectuals. Very good in Vyborg and Clock Tower. It stands almost in the heart of the old Stone Town (the central town was walled in 1470-ies), ground it serves huge natural boulder. Built in 1494 as a bell tower Vyborg Cathedral, destroyed during the war. Already in 1753 the tower was installed early hours of the bell. Once inside, you can see the old weight-lifting mechanism for hours. The irony: after the fire tower was used as a fire-tower. Describe the Vyborg in one short article there is no way - so many of its unique architectural monuments and buildings of antiquity. Spirit of the city is passed as soon as you enter the historical part - it is all paved with ancient paving stones! Market Square is still a matter of pride the townspeople - Round Tower. Now it is a nice beer garden. Generally, the problem is with hotels and eating in Vyborg is not worth it - lots of small private pensions offer their rooms at prices lower than in Moscow, but we can not say that just junk. The average price for a decent room - 2500 rubles. per day. Eat in the historic center of expensive - everything is geared to foreigners (mainly Finnish), so that prices "bite". But I took a fancy to a very good cafe, which is located right on the border of the historical center, not far from Red Square. Yes, in Viborg has a Red Square! A delicious dinner for two quite meet the price of a thousand rubles, and fed quickly that avtoputeshestvennika very important. Vyborg is a border town near there are three checkpoints on the border with Finland. It is from this endless stream of "gray" Russian car buyers, and authorized dealers deliver their cars is through this stretch of the border. But that's another story about a trip to Finland I will tell you next time. What to see: the Gulf of Finland, Vyborg Bay, Vyborg Castle, Round Tower, Clock Tower, Mon Repos Park, Market Square, a resort zone of Russian emperors and nobility.