IVANGOROD FORTRESS
Address
1 Petra Velikogo Emb. (наб. Петра Великого, д. 1)
+7 4012 531 744
+7 4012 340 244
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 10am-6pm; The upper deck is also open on Tuesday 10am-6pm
Average visit: 1h30min
Admission:
Guided tours:
About
Ivangorod fortress clearly dominates the landscape of the town. It stands on the bank of Narva river and overlooks Narva castle on Estonian side of the river. Today, you can walk around the fortress walls and explore the towers. The museum (located in the red-roofed building on the photo below) is due to open in December 2015.
Address: 1/6 Kingisepp highway (Кингисеппское шоссе, д. 1/6)
Directions and transportation: The fortress is located off the main street of Ivangorod, just next to the border. If you walk from the centre of the town, you need to turn left just after you pass the tall residential building (it is the tallest and probably the ugliest building in Ivangorod and is hard to miss). Pass the building and walk until you see the viewing platform with stairs to your right. Walk down the stairs and continue straight towards the river until you get to the castle. You can either take the main path leading up to the main entrance or walk right along the castle hill to the Fortress museum, there is another entrance on that side. Another way to get to the castle from the main street is to walk towards the border control (you'll probably see a queue of lorries there) and just before the toll bar turn left and walk down the path which threads along the fence of the border control. It'll lead you straight to the main entrance of the castle. We only recommend this path when the weather is dry.
The length of an average visit: 1h30min
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10am-6pm
Admission: General 100₽ /Student 50₽ /Senior 45₽ /Children under 16 Free
Accepted payment methods: Cash only
Accessible to English speakers: Yes. There're signs in English on the territory of the fortress
Guided tours: No. But you can buy an audioguide from the ticket office.
Languages: Audioguides come in 3 languages: English, Russian and Estonian. You also get a map with numbers to help you find the right recording.
Duration: You can choose between 3 options: Short tour (1.5km) takes 43min, long tour (1.5km) takes 76min. A theme tour (1km) based on local fairytales and legends takes 69min.
What’s On:
Shop: You can buy some books and postcards related to Ivangorod at the ticket office
Tips: Don't forget to go up one of the towers and walk along the castle wall. The view of the river and Narva castle is stunning. There're no lights in the towers so you might consider taking a torch with you. The churches are only open for the service. If you are interested in visiting them it's best to check the timetable of services in advance.
FORTRESS MUSEUM
About
The museum is located in an old red-bricked house (hence the other name of the museum is 'the red house') which once housed the customs. It is presently located in a kind of a ravine between the castle hill and the bridge to Estonia. The building doesn't seem to have undergone any major changes in the past centuries and it's not heated so the museum is only open between May and September (call them to know the exact dates). This small museum is actually dedicated to eight fortresses (or rather what's left of them), located in the Northwest of Russia. Apart from Ivangorod, it's Yamburg, Koporye, Oreshek, Old Ladoga, Tikhvin, Vyborg and Korela. You can read about their history and see the objects found during the excavations. There's a lovely old man working at the museum. You're likely to meet him sitting outside and reading his newspapers. And don't be surprised if he offers you a cup of tea, he really enjoys when tourists visit his museum.
Address: 1/6 Kingisepp highway (Кингисеппское шоссе, д. 1/6)
Directions and transportation: When you get to the castle and see the path winding up towards the entrance in front of you, turn right and follow a path leading towards the river. You'll see a red-bricked house to your right, that's where the museum is.
The length of an average visit: 30min
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 10am-6pm
Admission: General/Student/Senior/Children
Accepted payment methods: Cash only
Accessible to English speakers: No
Guided tours: No
Tips:
IVANGOROD ART MUSEUM
About
The largest collection of Ivan Bilibin's paintings and drawings anywhere in Russia. Ivan Bilibin is most famous for his illustrations of Russian fairytales. His very detailed style and an excellent eye for colour are easily recognisable. The museum tells about his life showing his earliest paintings, illustrations for the invitations and menus of the Royal palace, then portraits of rich Egyptians which we wrote to earn money when in immigration, his mature paintings wrote in France. And finally, his last works made in Leningrad before he died in the blockade. There's also his furniture and clothes, traditional Russian costumes collected by him in the north provinces of Russia. There're also some painting by his wife who was also a painter.
Address: 6/1 Kingisepp highway (Кингисеппское шоссе, д. 6/1)
Phone number: +78137551792
Directions and transportation: The museum is located in the very centre of Ivangorod on a hill. There's always a queue of lorries waiting to pass the customs so you might not even notice this 2-storey mansion behind them.
The length of an average visit: 45min
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 10am-6pm
Admission: General/Student/Senior/Children
Accepted payment methods: Cash only
Accessible to English speakers: No
Guided tours: No
What’s On:
Shop: Yes. The souvenir shop and information centre are located in the adjacent building together with the ticket office. They sell books about Ivangorod and local souvenirs.
Tips: Temporary exhibitions are located on the ground floor.
