Listvyanka (Listvenichnoye) Village is situated 70 km from Irkutsk and stretches 5 km along the lake Baikal shore. It's population is only 1,500 people. Listvyanka got its name due to numerous larches (“listvenitsa” in Russian) which are widespread in these places. Thanks to its nearby situation to Irkutsk Listvyanka is visited by many tourists all year round. And that’s not a coincidence. Listvyanka has a well-developed infrastructure, including hotels of various categories and levels and restaurants. In Listvyanka there is Baikal Museum, a pier from where one can go to a trip across Baikal on a ship, an observation area situated on Mountain Cherskiy with a magnificent sight of Lake Baikal, a local market where one can buy famous smoked omul fish, souvenirs, etc.
Listvyanka village`s sights:
Shaman Stone
Shaman Stone is in the source of the River Angara at the entrance to the Listvyanka village. The source of the River Angara is considered to be the biggest river outlet in the world; its width reaches 863 meters. Opposite the Shaman Stone on the lake shore there is an observation area where locals sell smoked Omul and souvenirs.
Baikal Museum
The museum is open from 09.00 till 19.00
The museum exposition was created in 1928 for collecting, studying and keeping information about Lake Baikal flora and fauna. It received the status of museum in 1993. The museum exponents present the life of the lake, its geological structure, peculiarities of the coast line. These are stuffed animals and birds of rare species, fish, minerals, and other objects that have been found during scientific expeditions. In 2004 they did a capital repair of the museum and settled a limnological aquarium where the underwater life of the lake is presented. There you can see Omul, sturgeon, pike, and other species of fish living in the natural environment. The water temperature in the aquarium is rather low 4 °C. The Baikal seals living in the museum aquarium are also of great interest for the visitors. They are mother and daughter. The conditions created for them are made as near as possible to their natural environment.
Cherskiy Mountain
Cherskiy Mountain is an observation area situated on the top of the mountain. The mountain has its name after explorer of Baikal, a geologist I.D. Cherskiy. You can walk up the mountain in 30 minutes or go by cable road which is faster and takes only 15 minutes. From the top of the mountain there’s a beautiful view on the southern part of lake Baikal, Khamar Daban mountain range, the source of the Angara River with Shaman Stone, Port Baikal settlement, the Circumbaikal Railway, and the main pier in Listvyanka.
St. Nicolas Church
St. Nicolas Church is situated in Listvyanka, in Krestovaya valley 500 meters from the shore. There is a nice legend: a Russian merchant Xenofont Serebryakov got into a storm during his trip across Lake Baikal. The storm broke with a terrible force and the merchant could do nothing but pray god and St. Nicolas – the protector of sailors – for rescue. His prays were heard and he survived. On his return Serebryakov decided to build a church on the lake shore and started the construction. After Serebryakov’s death his wife completed it. In the 1950s the church was restored and inherited icons from various churches of Irkutsk. At present it is a functioning church.
Picture Gallery
This is a private picture gallery created by an architect and poet Vladimir Plamenevskiy. Vladimir Plamenevskiy is a member of Russia’s Architects Union and of Russia’s Writers Union. Works of various artists and craftsmen are presented at the gallery, all the works are dedicated to Baikal. You can buy pictures, costumes, jewellery, souvenirs made of birch bark there.
Baikal astrophysical observatory
The observatory is the only place in Listvyanka closed for tourists. The scientists watch the sun activity with the help of solar telescopes from the mountain top in Listvyanka and register solar flares. You can visit the observatory only by prior agreement.
To go to Listvyanka you can book a transfer (1 hour’s trip) or go to Listvyanka by yourself from Irkutsk bus station (1.5 hour’s trip).
