Pastoral LAKE

Such an unusual name, right ?

According to local legends, it acquired this name simply due to a pastor who came from Switzerland once and lived in this area.

Believe it or not, in 1997–1998, as part of a joint Swedish-Russian scientific project, a study of the lake was carried out, during which volcanic ash from the Icelandic volcano Katla was discovered in the bottom sediments !

I am always astonished by our planet's unknown history and how big or small everything can be.

In any case, we came here to rest many times in the resting base on the shore of the lake, and we loved each of these experiences, which led me to the desire to share this place with all of you.

As a funny fact, we booked our rest last time, in a new trendy place that I wanted to explore for a while.

However, when we arrived there, we felt not the wish to stay (crowded, uneducated, loud people, unwelcoming staff) and this wish was realized when I was refused my passport. I won't mention the name of the place, but don’t worry, you won’t find it on this page ever ! Everything happened so naturally, and we quickly changed our minds, booked our nights in the pastoral lake, and literally last minute changed our full holiday plans, for the best !

Why do I love to rest at The Pastoral Lake ?

Why, among all these choices around Saint Petersburg city (Leningrad Oblast), do I advise this place ?

This place is incredibly beautiful, quiet, and peaceful.
This is mostly for people who come to rest, not the ones who came only to create content for their Instagram followers, so you will immediately feel this cozy and respectful vibe.
It's very close to the city; in one hour by car, though, you change the atmosphere as if you were in another part of Russia.
A dog-friendly place: if you are a dog lover, this is a place for you, with the Husky Park.
Very close to nature, with an incredible view from your lodge on the lake.
The domain for walking is huge, to be explored endlessly. It’s surrounded by forest; human life is pretty far from the base; nevertheless, the domain offers an endless number of trails, even in the winter, which is rare.
You can walk, bike, or ski for kilometers, and for those who want to try something new, you can always go husky sledding, visit the elk farms or even rent a snowmobile and ride on the frozen lake. In summer, it's enough to enjoy the view and make a picknick, surrounded by the beauty of Russian nature; forests of pines and birches.
Everything is private and of a high standard. For a rest in full nature, you have the maximum comfort and available services. You will have your own barbecue grill, your own jacuzzi, and your own sauna, believe it or not, for an unexpectedly reasonable price. It is hard to find better.
And the staff members are friendly and helpful, which I consider to be a must.
There is a kitchen in your house, but for the lazy ones, you can eat in the restaurant, and for the laziest of the lazy, you can demand delivery.

If you come as a big group, you should rent a house on the lake, but if you are a couple, I highly recommend renting the super lodge; we come there only for this accommodation.