The Nizhniy Novgorod region

The Lake is situated close to the village of Vladimirskoye of Voskresensky region in the basin of the river Linda (the Vetluga tributary), 130km away from Nizhny Novgorod. You can take a bus from Semenov to get there which goes as far as Voskresenskoye (twice a day). There is a parking lot near the lake.

The lake’s square is about 12hectares, its length is about 210m and its width is 175m; it’s the deepest lakes in the region (36m dup).

Svetloyar is one of the most legendary and mysterious lakes in Russia. The scientists haven’t come to a conclusion yet about its origin. The water of the lake is magic; it can be kept clean for many years. Finally the legend about the invisible town of Kitezh is connected with Lake Swetloyar. Kitesh is said to lower onto the bottom of the lake.

The Town of Kitezh (Grad Kitezh)
 

There is a legend which says that long, long ago before the Tatars came, there had been a town of Kitezh on the bank of Lake Svetloyar. Six church towers dominated the centre of the town. Having come to Russia and heard about Kitezh khan Batiy dashed to the town with his hordes. Having come up to the Tatars were amazed. The inhabitants were not going to deferent their town or build the line of fortifications. They could hear only the bells ringing and praying behind the walls of the town hardly had the Tatars rushed to the town when the waters of the lake began to overflow its banks and drowned the town.

A lot of Russia writers like V.Korolenko, A.Melnickov-Pechersky, M.Prishvin wrote about Svetloyar and the composer N.Rimsky-Korsackov created one of his best operas “The Tale about the Invisible town of Kitezh.” The lake was painted by the Great Russian painters K.Korovin, A.Vasnetsov, N.Rerich and I.Glazunov. Lake Svetloyar is the subject of scientific research and investigations. One of the most important was organized by “The Literaturnaya Gazeta”.

Nowadays lake Svetloyar is protected by the state. It’s thought to be saint worshiped by the Orthodox believers. Not only pilgrims come here but a lot of people who are interested in history and nature as well. The lake is interesting from historical, ethnological, ecological and botanical points of view.

A lot of people gather on the banks of Svetloyar to celebrate Ivan Kupala holiday (on the 6th of July). All tourists can take part in it.

There is a chapel in honour of Kazan God’s Mother on the bank of the lake. You’ll also see the footprint of God’s Mother.

When leaving Svetloyar and returning through the village of Vladimirskoye, don’t forget to have a look at the unique wooden church of the 18th century in honour, of Vladimirskaya God’s Mother icon and drop in the historical museum “Kitezh”.