Olonets is a town and the administrative center of Olonetsky District of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located on the Olonka River to the east of Lake Ladoga.

Geography

Olonets is located at the confluence of the Olonka and Megrega rivers, on the Olonets Plain, 140 km southwest of Petrozavodsk, 269 km northeast of St. Petersburg along the highway («Kola» highway).

History

Olonets is the oldest documented settlement in Karelia, mentioned by Novgorodian sources as early as 1137. Its history is obscure until 1649, when a fortress was built there to protect the Grand Duchy of Moscow against the Swedes. The same year it was granted town privileges. Until the Great Northern War, Olonets developed as a principal market for Russian trade with Sweden. To the south from the town, there sprawled a belt of fortified abbeys, of which the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery was the most important. In the 18th century Olonets' importance shifted from trade to ironworking industries. In 1773 it was made the seat of Olonets Governorate. Eleven years later, however, the seat was moved to Petrozavodsk and Olonets started to decline. Modern Olonets is classified as a historical town of the Republic of Karelia and is the only town in the republic where Karelians are in majority (over 60% ).

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Olonets serves as the administrative center of Olonetsky District, under which it is directly subordinated. As a municipal division, the town of Olonets, together with eight rural localities, is incorporated within Olonetsky Municipal District as Olonetskoye Urban Settlement.

Education

Olonetskaya district station of young naturalists. It was opened on December 17, 1971. Music, sports and art schools of the city. Center for Additional Education. It was opened in 1951 as the House of Creativity of children and youth, later – the House of Children's Creativity. 2 secondary schools, six buildings of local preschool institutions. Olonets branch of Sortavala College (previously the branch was an independent educational institution under the names: PU-2 (in the period from 1962 to 2014), Olonets Technical School – from 2014 to February 2019 before reorganization).

Attractions

The city has preserved the layout of the XVIII century.

City holidays and events

Demographics

Population

Population:

Ethnicity

Olonets is the only city on the territory of Karelia where Karelians make up the majority of the population, in addition, the Olonets district is a place of compact residence of Karelian Livviks and the most populated Karelian district of the Republic of Karelia. Besides Karelians, Olonets is home to such traditional Karelian peoples as Finns, Russians, as well as Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles and Lithuanians. In relation to the Belarusian and Ukrainian population, this is primarily due to the post-war resettlement from the destroyed villages of Belarus and Ukraine, Karelia was a place of exile for Poles and Lithuanians. There is a small community of Chechens in Olonets and Olonets district, which is not typical for this region and the republic as a whole. According to the 2002 census, 53 representatives of this nationality live here. In this regard, a number of ethnic conflicts have arisen in the area.

Telecommunications

Cellular communication

Cellular communication services according to the LTE standard are provided by the operators «MTS», «MegaFon», «Tele2», «Beeline», «Rostelecom», and «Yota».

Wired telephone connection

The wired telephone connection in the city is provided by «Rostelecom» PJSC and «Svirtelekom» LLC.

Internet connection

High-speed wired Internet connection is provided by the operators «Svirtelekom», «Rostelecom».

Television

Digital terrestrial (DVB-T2 standard), satellite, cable TV broadcasting is available in the city.

Notable people

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Olonets is twinned with:

Sources