Another estate of the Shuvalov family, which, unfortunately, was not destined to survive to this day . The strange and eccentric name of Vartemägi went to the village from the Finns, from their language, "vartemäki" is translated as "watchdog", but the letter "g" appeared later, apparently for the convenience of pronunciation . The noble family moved the village somewhere in the middle of the 18th century, to be more precise, it was granted Count Pyotr Shuvalov Elizaveta Petrovna . Further Vartemägi pass from father to son, to grandson, n equinquished and this glorious family heritage breaks off in 1917 .

Of course, after the revolution the Count's estate was not ruled - looted, given away for economic needs, as a result of which practically nothing remained. The only memory of the rich estate in Vartemagi today is the stone church of Vera, Hope, Lyubov and their mother Sofia (St. Sophia Church) on top of the hill.

The temple was built 9 long years, from 1825 to 1834, according to the project of the outstanding architect of those times David Visconti, who, by the way, did not wait for the completion of construction - died. The Sophia Church was consecrated only in 1840, since then it became the official family shrine of the Shuvalov Counts. The temple, located on the top of the hill, to which leads an alley of mighty one and a half-century-old fir trees, was erected in the style of late classicism.

The manor park surrounds the former estate - alas, heavily littered and neglected. Walks it is not worth it, at least these days. They say that somewhere around the authorities there is a project for the revival of the famous estate of the Shuvalov family and its once elegant park

Coordinates

Address: Leningrad region, Vsevolozhsky district, Vartemyagi village

How to get there: by car along the Priozerskoe highway, turn right at the sign on Toksovo, then about 800 m, the church is located to the left of the highway. You can get there by taxi № 433 and № 436 from the station. Prospect Enlightenment