slothis · English

Oreshek Fortress near St. Petersburg

2016-07-31 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

I have absolutely no memory of hitting the bed after our endless sauna sessions. I slept like a log, experiencing the deepest sleep imaginable. As soon as I woke up, breakfast was already set out. I'm constantly amazed and grateful to be treated to such luxury.

Before heading back to St. Petersburg today, Timur said he wanted to show me Oreshek Fortress near his hometown of Shlisselburg. I looked it up on the map, and it was listed as "Forteresse d'Orechek," which looks more French than English. Also, I wasn't sure how to spell Shlisselburg in English, so I just used the Russian name earlier. He explained that it's a small island where the Russian army held off the Germans until the very end to protect St. Petersburg during WWII, and before that, it was a prison where Lenin's brother was executed. Going to a prison on such a beautiful day... what a weird thought.

A person riding a bicycle past a red kiosk and a large white boat docked at the pier.
The weather is absolutely gorgeous today.
A small white passenger ship docked at a concrete pier with blue railings.
The boats run quite frequently, so we didn't have to wait long to board.
View from a boat of a fortress and castle walls situated on an island across the river.
You can see the fortress from afar, but they say many people died trying to cross this lake to escape.
A massive stone tower with a conical roof and castle walls seen beyond a field of yellow flowers by the water.
It's quite massive up close.
Two people in traditional clothing standing in a riverside field with yellow flowers.
People practicing martial arts(?) in traditional Russian clothing at the entrance.

Once inside, it was bustling with kids, likely on a field trip from a nearby school. Whether kids or adults, people trying to take selfies with friends in the best spots look exactly the same in Russia as they do in Korea. Since we're heading into summer, the island is incredibly beautiful with green grass and yellow dandelions. With little kids running around with their arms wide open, it feels more like an awesome playground than a prison. There are people in traditional dress educating the children at the fortress, so even the teachers are just strolling around and relaxing. Hard to believe such a peaceful battlefield and prison exists.

View of the river and the village on the opposite side seen through a narrow gap between dark stone walls.
An old cannon in a field full of yellow dandelions with red brick ruins visible behind it.
Ruins of a red brick building with a collapsed roof and only window frames remaining, and a green lawn in front of it.
They probably left it like this on purpose as a historical record, but the building is truly hideous. It's hard to find a spot that isn't riddled with shell and bullet holes.
A small tree standing on a sandy beach against the background of the blue sea and sky.
A tree with a white-painted trunk standing in front of a stone wall and a portrait plaque attached to the wall.
The birch tree (berezka) that enthusiastically slapped our backs in the sauna yesterday.
A grassy path with yellow dandelions blooming along an old castle wall and a blue sky.
Ruins of an old red brick building seen across a wide lawn.
An exhibit featuring a black-and-white portrait of Aleksandr Ilyich Ulyanov and a description in Russian.
Lenin's older brother, Aleksandr Ulyanov. Meeting his death here is what made Lenin decide to walk the path of a radical revolutionary.
A Russian flag fluttering over a foggy river.
View of the water surface covered in thick fog beyond a ship's deck with an orange lifebuoy.
Even more interesting than the fortress was the mist over the lake. Just like at Lake Baikal, it takes less than five minutes for the mist to roll in over the water. Watching the fog suddenly appear right before my eyes was both spectacular and a bit eerie.
A small passenger ship crossing a wide river under a cloudy sky.
A stack of thin pancakes and a rolled pancake dish topped with cream on a dining table.
After returning, we had lunch at Timur's house. Timur's sister-in-law made blini (Russian pancakes), and the portions were huge and the honey was incredibly delicious. From the outside, the apartment looked so gloomy it seemed like it was collapsing, but stepping inside, it was extremely cozy. It seems Russians generally don't care much about building exteriors.

Expenses

Total Expenses: 1000RUB

Total Trip Expenses: 525,936 KRW + 39,555 RUB + $152.26