Olonets (; ; ; ) is a
town in the
Republic of Karelia,
Russia, situated on the
Olonka River, to the east from
Lake Ladoga. It is the administrative centre of
Olonetsky District. According to the
2002 Russian Census, the population of the town is 10,240. This is a decrease from the 11,888 reported in the 1989
Soviet Union Census.
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
Muscovy against the Swedes. The same year it was granted municipal rights. 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's importance shifted from trade to ironworking industries. In 1773, it was made capital of
Olonets Governorate. Eleven years later, however, the regional capital was moved to
Petrozavodsk, and Olonets started to decline.
Modern Olonets is ranked among historical towns of Karelia, and it is the only city in the republic where
Karelians are in majority (over 60% as of 2004). In 1999, the town celebrated its 350th anniversary.
Sister cities
See also
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