Moscow

This city is very popular with foreign guests visiting our country. Moscow is the capital of Russia. It is believed that the city is eight and a half centuries old. The first record of it in the chronicles is dated in the year 1147, and its history starts with a legend about how the Prince Yury Dolgoruky («Long-armed»), who is considered the founder of the city, invited his neighbour - a Prince as well - to a council; and in honor of the event «there was a powerful dinner» in Moscow. A monument to Yury Dolgoruky stands in one of the central squares, opposite the Moscow city hall.

Many centuries ago the city was built on seven hills. It is rather difficult to discern them now, with the only exception of Borovitsky Hill where one of the twenty Kremlin towers stands. The Kremlin (translated from Greek, the word means «a steep hill») and Red Square definitely are the main Moscow sights, symbols of the whole of Russia.

The intricate towers and walls of the Moscow Kremlin were built to a design of Italian architects. The Russian Government works in the Kremlin, so tourists are only allowed to the part of its territory where the cathedrals, the oldest Russian museum, the Armoury Chamber, and the Diamond Fund with its unique collection of precious stones and jewelry are located.

In the Kremlin, close to the 81 - meter tall Bell-Tower of Ivan the Great - once the highest building in Russia - the Tsar-Bell is on display, the largest bell in the world. Its weight is 202 tons and height 6.14 meters. It has never rung: soon after being founded it broke during a fire in 1737. A huge chunk which came off, lies next to it now. Not far from the bell, there is the 40-ton Tsar-Cannon - a masterpiece of the 16th century foundry - which also has never been used for its purpose.

Moscow is a real megapolis: more than 40 km from north to south, more than 30 from east to west. Including the suburbs, it has more than 10 million inhabitants, which makes it the Fifth largest city in the world. Besides, every day there are more than one million visitors in Moscow, and certainly a big part of them are tourists. Those who get to the Russian capital on business - or on route - try to linger here for one or two days to have a look at the city.

There are 5 airports, 9 railway stations and 2 river boat ports in Moscow. The length of the underground lines exceeds 260 kilometers to more than 160 metro stations, new ones are continuously added. The palace-halls of the metro stations, which are among the most beautiful in the world, were built about fifty years ago. The first line was opened in 1935. «Mayakovskaya» and «Komsomol'skaya» are considered the best of them.

The architectural silhouette of the city is quite recognizable due to the seven high-rise buildings constructed in the late 40s and early 50s by a direct command of Stalin. The most famous of them is the University of Moscow building on the Vorobyovy Hills. The other «tall ones» are occupied by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, some hotels, offices, or simply dwellings. The pompous Moscow sky-scrapers with their steeples and sculptures have been raising contradictory appraisals since they were built, but now Moscow without them is just as unimaginable as Paris without the Eiffel Tower.

Among the scores of Moscow theatres, the most famous is the Bolshoi (Grand). Introduction to the Russian classical ballet is a must of any tour program. The Moscow circuses are also popular with foreign guests; there are two in the city, both of them performing continuously.

The bridges across the Moskva and Yauza rivers are adornments of the city, especially in the evening when they are illuminated in a showy way. The longest of them (2 km) is the Metro-bridge in Luzhniki, and the smallest one across the Yauza is only 20 meters long.

The elegant single-arch Krymsky Bridge is perhaps the most beautiful bridge in Moscow. Bridges are constantly built or reconstructed in the city; sometimes they are even moved up-or down-stream by means of barges.

At the highest point of Moscow - Vorobyovy Gory (Hills) - there is a viewing area from which you can see the panorama of the Moskva riverbend and the Big Arena of Luzhniki Stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games were held in 1980.

There are more than 60 museums in the capital; the most popular of which are the Kremlin, the Pushkin Museum of Art with its unique collection of impressionist and modernist paintings, and the Tretyakov Gallery.

There used to be nearly five hundred Orthodox churches in Moscow. Now about 150 are functional and another 100 are in the process of renovating. The most impressive are St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square, the rebuilt Christ the Savior Cathedral, and the complex of Novodevichy (New Maidens) Convent.

Since the early 90s, when Mikhail Gorbachev started «Perestroika» in Russia, Moscow has been sweepingly transforming into a modern European capital. A construction boom is in full swing. Hundreds of buildings are being reconstructed or renovated; new trade, recreation and business centers are being built, as well as bridges and traffic interchanges. Recently, the gigantic tunneling machine that worked under the English Channel has been brought to Moscow. It will make several traffic tunnels up to 3 kilometers long.

In Moscow itself and around it there are many very interesting estates - Kolomenskoe, Arkhangelskoe, Kuskovo, Ostankino – more than worth visiting. And from Moscow starts a most interesting tour around small ancient Russian towns - the Golden Ring.

The Moscow Kremlin is a symbol of Russia, the oldest part of Moscow. The residence of President of the Russian Federation is located at its territory. The Kremlin has been rebuilt many times. Today's towers and walls of red brick were erected at the end of the XV century.

The center of the Kremlin is Sobornaya (Cathedral) Square, the oldest in Moscow. The square got its name from the Kremlin cathedrals clustered around it: the Archangel Michael, Annunciation and Assumption, the latter was the place of the emperors' coronation. Beside the cathedrals, the Ivan the Great golden-domed belltower built in 1508 is situated in this square. In 1491 the Granovitaya (Faceted) Chamber was erected in Sobornaya square, it got its name from the facets of the main front. Solemn ceremonies and receptions of foreign ambassadors were held in the Granovitaya Chamber.

In 1849 the Great Kremlin palace was built under Konstantin Ton's project. It used to accommodate the emperor family's chambers, front halls with magnificent furniture, crystal and porcelain.

In the famous Georgievsky hall ceremonial receptions and handing state awards by the President are held now.

Red Square is the main square of Moscow, the place of military parades and mass celebrations. It came into being at the end of the XV century. The real name of the square in English must sound not Red, but Beautiful, as the Russian word «red» meant «beautiful» in the ancient Russian language. In old times the most important decrees were announced in Red square, the tsars and patriarchs addressed the nation from here. Lenin's Mausoleum - a multigraded building in the constructivist style (arch. Shusev, 1924) - and the Cathedral of Vasily Blazhenny (Basil the Blessed) are situated here. In recent years Red Square has become the venue of concerts of the world famous musicians: Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Moncerrat Cabalie and Mstislav Rostropovich.

The Tsar-Cannon in the Moscow Kremlin is a memorial of ancient Russian artillery and founding art, a piece of ordnance of the biggest caliber in the world. Master of the Cannon-yard Andrey Chokhov cast it of bronze in 1586. The length of the cannon is 5,34 m, the caliber is 890 mm, the thickness of the barrel is 15 cm, and it weighs 40 tons. In the XVI-XVIl centuries the cannon was placed in Kitay-Gorod for defense of the Kremlin and the passage across the Moskva-river. However, the Tsar-Cannon has never shot. The decorative gun-carriage and empty-bodied cast-iron cannon-balls lying at the foot of the cannon were cast in 1835.

In the Kremlin, near the 81-meter Belltower of Ivan the Great which was once the tallest building in Russia, there stands the biggest bell in the world - the Tsar-bell. Its weight is 202 tons and the height is 6,14 m. The bell was never rung: soon after the casting, during the fire of 1737, a big piece fell out of it and now lies beside it.

St. Basil's Cathedral - Cathedral of Pokrov (Intercession) «on the ditch» is a cathedral in Red square, a symbol of Moscow. It was built in 1555-1561 by architects Barma and Postnik in commemoration of the victory over the Khanate of Kazan'. Each one of the independent pillar-churches symbolizes the most important events of the Kazan' campaign. The Cathedral gained its today's elegant appearance in the second half of the XVIII century when it was somewhat rebuilt and painted.

There is a legend that architects Barma and Postnik were blinded on an order of tsar Ivan the Terrible so that they could never create a wonder like that.

In 1936 Lazar' Kaganovich, Stalin's associate, suggested to pull down the Cathedral of Intercession (Pokhrov). They say he made a special model of the Red Square with a removable Cathedral of Pokhrov and brought it to Stalin showing how the cathedral impeded the demonstrations and the traffic. «We shall do it once!..» - he said and tore the cathedral away from the square. Stalin looked at him, thought a little and slowly said: “Lazar'! Put it in its place”.

Lenin's Mausoleum is a memorial burial-vault in Red Square in Moscow in the Mourning hall of which there stands a crystal sarcophagus of Vladimir Lenin, organizer of the October socialist revolution of 1917. The first building of the burial-vault (1924) was wooden. The modern Mausoleum was built in 1930 from the design of Alexander Shusev of granite and labradorite in the constructivist style. Above the entrance of the Mausoleum there is a tribune on which, for more than 70 years now, the first persons of first the Soviet Union and now Russian Federation used to stand during military parades and mass celebrations.

ČThe Bolshoi Theatre is one of the most well-known musical theatres along with “La Scala” of Milan and “Grand Operas” of Paris. It was founded in 1776. The building from the design of architect Bove was erected in 1825 and the quadriga at the front was made by sculptor Peter Klodt. Such famous singers as Feodor Shaliapin, Sergey Lemeshev, Galina Vishnevskaya, Irina Arkhipova, Elena Obraztsova, dancers like Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, Michail Baryshnikhov, Vladimir Vasiliev, Maris Liepa used to appear on the stage of the theatre. There are always the «sold out» notices when the Bolshoi tours abroad.

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is an architectural monument with a unique fate. It was built in 1883 in a so called Russian-Byzantine style from the design by architect Konstantin Ton. It was built with people's donations. In 1931 the Cathedral was exploded by Stalin's personal order to make way for a huge Palace of Soviets in its place; however its unfinished foundation pit was turned into an open swimming pool «Moscow» in 1958. In 1994 it was decided to reconstruct the Cathedral. The building recreation was based on old photos, drawings and sketches, but using modern technologies. At the end of the XX century it took only six years to reconstruct the Cathedral while its original construction lasted 45 years. On August 19, 2000 the Cathedral was sanctified.

Novodevichy (New Maiden) Convent was founded in 1524 by prince Vasily III in commemoration of capturing Smolensk. In the XVI-XVII centuries women of the tsar family and noble boyars’ widows used to become nuns here. The main cathedral of the Convent is the Smolensky built with the Kremlin Assumption cathedral as a model. In the cemetery of the Convent many famous people of Russia are buried, such as writers Gogol, Checkhov, Bulgakov and Alexey Tolstoy, singer Feodor Shalyapin, composer Shostakhovich, pianist Richter, dancer Galina Ulanova. Here Nadezhda Alliluyeva, Joseph Stalin's young wife, and the wife of the only President of the USSR Michail Gorbachev, Raisa, are buried, too. Nikita Khrushev is also buried there.

The Tretyakov Art Gallery is a Russian fine arts museum of the X-XX centuries. It was named after its founder, merchant and patron of arts Pavel Tretyakov who in 1892 granted his collection to Moscow. At that time the main part of the collection were pictures by «Peredvizhniki» ( "The Society for circulating art exhibitions - Traveling artists") - painters of democratic trend in art. In the museum one can see such masterpieces as the Icon «Troitsa» («Trinity») by Andrey Rublev (XV century), the great canvas «Christophany» by Alexander Ivanov, llya Repin's «Ivan the Terrible and his Son lvan» depicting the horror of the father who has killed his son, historical canvases by Vasily Surikhov, works of art by Russian avant-gardists Malevich, Kandinsky, Rodchenko, Larionov, Goncharova etc.

High-Rises in Moscow are houses of 26-32 floors built at the end of the 40s - beginning of the 50s of the last century according to an indivisible town-planning idea and in a single architectural style. They are buildings of Moscow University, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hotels «Leningradskaya» and «Ukraine», administrative and dwelling buildings in two central squares of Moscow. The most well-known of them is the main building of Moscow University at the Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills) which is 238 m tall and is one of the symbols of Moscow.

«The Worker and the Kolkhoznitsa (woman collective farmer)» is a sculptural group created by Vera Mukhina for the Soviet pavilion at the International exhibition in Paris in 1937. It has been placed before the Northern entrance of the All-Russia Exhibitional Center. It is cast of stainless steel; its height is about 25 m. It is a typical work of socialist realism symbolizing the unity of the working class and the peasants: the worker and the «kolkhoznitsa» are holding a sickle and a hammer above their heads; those are symbols of the Soviet state.

Ostankino TV tower is the second tallest building in the world (539 m, the first one is the TV tower in Toronto - 555 m). It was built in Moscow in 1967, by constructor Nilcolay Nikitin. Beside technical services, there is a sightseeing platform and a three-level restaurant «The Seventh Sky» there; the latter is a ring structure slowly rotating around its axis and from it the visitors can see the Northeastern part of Moscow. In 2000 there was a great fire in the building. It is believed that after the reconstruction the tower will become the tallest in the world - 562 m tall.

Moscow metro is by right considered an architectural memorial. It was opened on May 15, 1935. Best architects of Moscow built up the underground. Such stations as «Dvoretz Sovietov» (The «Palace of Soviets»), «Krasnie Vorota» («Red Gates»), «Sokolniki» and «Mayakovskaya» were awarded the Grand-prix at international exhibitions in Brussels and Paris. Facing the first stations took more marble than all the tsar palaces in pre-revolution Russia. During the Great Patriotic war the metro was used as a bomb-shelter. Today Moscow metro has over 160 stations on 11 lines. Beside commonly known lines, there is a mysterious «Metro-2» which links governmental buildings in the center of the city with a mythical underground town at the suburbs of the capital.

«Luzhniki» is the biggest sports complex of Moscow built in the 'mid-50s of last century. It has become the center of Olympic games XXII in the summer of 1980. From there rose up to the sky an 8-meter «Misha» - a little bear, mascot of the Olympic games. There are over 140 sportive facilities in «Luzhniki»: the Sports Palace, The Big and the Small arenas, 11 football grounds, 26 sport halls, 3 artificial skating-rinks and many open sport grounds.

Arbat is one the oldest streets in Moscow. Its name comes from the Arabic «rabad» which means «the suburbs». The street came into being in the XIV - XV centuries. For most Muscovites «Arbat» has a broader meaning, it also embodies the neighboring side streets and court-yards which have kept a special «Moscow» spirit. In house number 53 there is «Pushkin' s apartment in Arbat» museum, where the great poet lived with his young wife three happy honeymoons. In the mid 80s of last century Arbat became the first pedestrian street in Moscow. There appeared a stone pavement, loans and decorative streetlamps. Nowadays Arbat is as popular with the guests of the capital as Red square. There souvenirs and hand-made articles are sold, street singers and musicians sing and play, artists draw portraits.

Kuskovo is a museum estate of the Sheremetyevs counts. The palace and park of the estate were created in the 40s of the XVIII century by serf architects Argunov, Mironov and Dikushin with architect Blank's participation. The pavilion «Grotto», «Italian» and «Dutch» houses, «Greenhouse» and «Hermitage» have survived. In the old park with a system of ponds and canals one can come across 200-year-old trees.

Kolomenskoe is an estate of great princes and tsars of the XVI-XVII centuries (now inside Moscow), which is picture¬squely situated on a high bank of the Moskva-river. It was first mentioned in the first half of the XIV century. The main sight of Kolomenskoe is the Church of Ascension (1532), one of the first stone hip temples. The Church of the beheading of St. John the Baptist, The Belfry of George the Victorious (XVI century), the Kazan Cathedral (XVII century) are parts of the Kolomenskoe complex. Since 1971 Kolomenskoe has been a reserve that features memorials of Russian wooden architecture.

Moscow Region

Moscow region is a territory within a radius of about 200 - 300 km from Moscow, a historically developed district without any exact boundaries, broader than the Moscow area itself. It is the heart of Russia, from here the Russian lands started to spread. In the XIV century at the territory of the nearest Moscow suburbs there was a small Moscow princedom. For a long period more and more lands were joining it until it turned into a powerful Russian state.

Estates, monasteries, art, military, historical and literary museums, small towns with long history, a lot of health centers and holiday homes - all these attract a lot of tourists and holiday-makers to the Moscow region. It is most convenient to travel here by car. The region, as well as the capital, has a radial-circular structure. Roads run like rays from Moscow, and two circular roads, once of military significance and thus not shown on the maps, connect them with each other. Markets and trade centers occupy first several kilometers from Moscow, then forests and fields follow, as well as small villages and churches - all those things that from ancient times called forth melancholy folk «road» songs and inspired poets and artists.

The territory of the Moscow region is large; it is much larger than the areas of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg taken together. There are tens of towns in the Moscow region. The oldest of them are Volokolamsk, Dmitrov, Mozhaisk, Zaraisk, Zvenigorod, Kolomna, Serpukhov, Sergiev Posad. In some of them ancient buildings, churches, kremlins, monasteries have survived. Most popular with the tourists is Sergiev Posad where the Orthodox center of Russia - Troitse-Sergieva lavra, part of the tourist rout «Golden Ring» is situated.

Products of Moscow region craftsmen are famous the world over. Many travelers wish to buy the Gzhel white-blue ceramics, the Sergiev-Posad matrioshka, a tray of Zhostovo, a shawl of Pavlovo-Posad or a Fedoskino lacquered box.

A Moscow nobleman's estate of the XVIII-XIX centuries is not just a private residence surrounded by a picturesque park. Most estates were centers of cultural life. Famous artists, writers, musicians and actors lived in them or visited them. Now some of these estates are turned into museums: Abramtsevo, Melihovo, Muranovo and certainly Yasnaya Poliana - the place where for many years the great Leo Tolstoy worked and where he wrote "Anna Karenina" and “War and Peace”.

Severe battles have taken place many times at the lands of the Moscow region. The former battle sites are museums now. Such is Kulikovo Field where Mongol and Tatar troops were defe¬ated in 1380; Borodino military-historic museum-reserve in memory of the hardest battle of Russian army with Napoleon, a memorial complex and museum near passing-track Dubosekovo - a memorial of the Moscow battle of 1941.

The spirit of changes typical of Moscow where a grand-scale construction is on has concerned the Moscow region, too. With every year more and more sanatoriums, tourist centers and holiday-homes meet world standards. Business-centers, the newest methods of rejuvenation and medical equipment, golf fields, aqua-parks - all these can be found today in the Moscow region. Lovers of active rest can go into almost all kind of sports - beginning from riding to hang-gliding and jumping with a parachute. Among a variety of high mountain centers the most popular are those in the North of Moscow, in the region of Yakhroma - sport park «Volen», sport complexes «Stepanovo», «Sorochany», in the village of Shukolovo. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, a passionate lover of mountain skiing, often visits the last one.

To understand Russia, to feel the beauty of its soft nature, to come to know its history and culture, one must visit the Moscow region - this ancient land keeping the memory of great events and great people.

Archangelskoe estate is by right compared to Versailles. In the early XIX century its owner prince Nickolay Yusupov placed here his collections of fine arts of which a lot has survived in the Grand palace. The pride of Archangelskoe is a regular park with memorial columns, one hundred year old lime-trees, pavilions, the church of Archangel Mikhail, colonnade and the Gonzago theatre with unique ancient decorations. Russian monarchs used to visit the estate, so did the great poet Alexander Pushkin.

In the XVII century Russian Patriarch Nikon decided to recreate the Holy Land with an exact copy of the Holy Sepulcher and Gethsemane garden in the suburbs of Moscow. The grand New Jerusalem Monastery similar to the ancient Jerusalem temple, a park with springs and ponds and a cell of patriarchy Nikon were built. Now there is a museum of wooden architecture in the park; a wooden church, a peasants' estate, a chapel and a mill were brought here from various places of Moscow region.

One of the centers of Russian spiritual life, Uspensky Joseph Volokolamsk (Volotsky) monastery was founded in XV century and later it was rebuilt. Since XVII century the Saint gate with a small church above it has survived. In the monastery there is a rich library numbering over a thousand manuscripts, a collection of church plate, editions of the Bible, ancient Russian needlework.

Abramtsevo is an estate not far from Sergiev Posad of the Moscow region. Since 1870 it belonged to the famous patron of arts and manufacturer Savva Mamontov who used to be visited by many Russian artists. Under their projects an attic, a church and a "peasant's house on hen's legs" (in Russian folk tales - a home of the horrible old Baba Yaga) were built in Russian national style. Masterpiece fretworks and majolica have been created there, too. Pictures known by any Russian, such as «A Girl with Peaches» (Mamontov's daughter) by Valentine Serov and «Alionushka» - a barefooted peasant girl grieving at the bank of a pond (a heroine of many Russian tales) by Victor Vasnetsov were created in Abramtsevo. Since 1918 there has been a museum in the estate.

This famous village is located in 124 km distance to the West of Moscow. The field of Borodino is situated in its suburbs. On September 7, 1812 there was a battle between the Russians and Napoleon's army which strongly influenced the result of the Patriotic war. Later Napoleon called the battle at Borodino one of his most horrible battles. The causalities of both sides numbered about 80 thousand people. Nowadays a military historical reserve is situated there. Every year on September, 7 celebrations and festivals are held, scenes of the battle at Borodino are acted, parades and concerts of military brass band take place.

In 40 km from Moscow there has survived a wonderful romantic corner with an overgrown park and a typical nobleman's estate Marfino. From the road to the estate there stretches a pseudo-Gothic bridge-dam reminding of an English castle. White stone griffins meet the visitors at the gate; lonely arbors and two small churches of the XVIII century are seen through the trees.

Zvenigorod is a typical Russian provincial town. Loghouses with carved platbands are surrounded with gardens and vegetable gardens; there are several old stone buildings, churches, museums and a monastery in the suburbs. Anton Chekhov used to work in the hospital of Zvenigorod. But there is a legend, which attracts foreigners and especially Frenchmen there. During the war of 1812 prince Eugene Bogarnet, Napoleon's stepson, stopped to spend a night in Sawino-Storozhevsky monastery in Zvenigorod. In his dream an old monk appeared before him and told him not to profane Russian sanctuaries, then he would return home safe and his descendants would live in Russia. Everything happened just this way: Bogarnet's son married a Russian tsar's daughter and settled in Russia.

Over a hundred years ago the famous Russian writer Anton Chekhov lived in this estate. There his play «Sea gull» was written. The interior of the main house with a porch in form of a fairy-tale castle remains the same as in the writer's lifetime. It seems that the inhabitants of the house have left for a while and will be back just in a minute. In the estate garden there is a bell, which used to call the household to the table, a pond and the Alley of love where an old elm still grows. Flowers are grown in beautiful flower gardens just the way the writer used to do it himself. Nowadays Melikhovo keeps the spirit of Chekhov's epoch.

In 12 km from the Moscow regional town Serpukhov there is one of the few places in Russia where bisons live. By the beginning of the XX century they were exterminated, only several animals survived in the zoological gardens. This species in Russia is rehabilitated in the Northern Caucasus and there, in the Oka reserve. Beside the bison, one can also see a spotty deer, a Russian musk-rat and rare birds there. The natural zones of the reserve go down in terraces to the Oka, the biggest tributary of the Volga.

The tall Zachatievsky monastery and Vladichny Vvedensky convent - the oldest in the Moscow region - beautify a small nice provincial town of Serpukhov in the Moscow region. This town is rich in memorials of Russian history and culture. Fragments of a white stone Kremlin and churches are expressive. Serpukhov is also famous for its production of jacquard blankets.

The Museum-estate of the great Russian writer Lev Tolstoy is situated in Tula region, to the South of Moscow. In Yasnaya Polyana the writer was born, lived about 60 years and is buried. The novels «War and Peace » and «Anna Karenina» were written in Yasnaya Polyana. Tolstoy used to teach peasants' children in the school built by him, edit a teacher's journal, work in the field. Famous artists, writers, composers and followers of Tolstoy's philosophic theory used to come here to meet the «Great Old Man».

From old times this town, in 200 km to the South of Moscow, has been famous for its metal-work, no matter if that were arms or samovars. Among the main places of interest of Tula there is certainly The Armory museum was founded in the period of Peter the Great. There is no other like it in the world; all people's arms are presented here, beginning from the bow and arrows and up to the most modern infantry arms. Tula has been famous for production of spice-cakes since old times. Tula's spice-cakes baked in special forms are not only tasty, but beautiful too. Accordion business came into being in Tula in the XIX century and Tula's accordion became very popular in Russia. Local masters not only polished up the foreign accordion, but created quite a new instrument which no Russian national orchestra can do without.

Kulikovo Field is a military and historical reserve in Tula district, in 250 km from Moscow. In autumn 1380 a grand battle between Russian retinue and the army of Golden Horde took place here. And though Russia remained under Mongol and Tatar yoke for 100 years more, the victory in Kulikovo Field played a great role in realizing by the Russians their force against foreign conquerors. The leader of the Russian retinue prince Dmitry Donskoy is considered a national hero.

In a town of Sergiev Posad (in 70 km to the North of Moscow) there is Trinity-St.Sergius lavra - an Orthodox center of Russia, a memorial of ancient Russian architecture. Monk Sergius of Radonezh in the 1930s - 1940s of the XIV century founded it. Russian religious philosopher Pavel Florensky wrote: «Lavra is an artistic portrait of Russia in its whole compared to which any other place is no more than a photo». One can see there an iconostasis of the XV century with the rarest collection of ancient Russian painting. The center of the monastery is the Uspensky (Dormition) cathedral (1585), which is a copy of the Uspensky cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin by forms, and in terms of the size, is somewhat larger.

In this small village of the Moscow region Sergius of Radonezh, the most respected Russian saint, spent his childhood. One can see the landscape of this place in the picture "Vision of Adolescent Bartholomew" by Mikhail Nesterov depicting a little herdsman, the future founder of the Troitse-Sergieva lavra. Radonezh has once been the capital of local princedom. In the wooden fortress in 1446 grand prince Vasily II was captured by his cousin Dmitry Shemiaka and blinded.

Kolomna is a coeval of Moscow, a reserve of ancient architecture, religious memorials, remainders of Kremlin towers and walls, which survived in their original form. A walk along the ancient streets and suburbs of this small cosy town brings us now into the romantic realm of old Russia and then into the XIX century.

The Russian city of Ryazan' situated to the South of Moscow dates back to the XIV century, though there was once an older town of the same name burnt down by Mongol and Tatars. One of its memorials is the Archangelsky cathedral famous for its architecture. Not far from the city there is an underground monastery in a rock. Riazan' land is closely connected with the name of Russian remarkable poet Sergey Yesenin.

Golden Ring

The Golden Ring is a chain of small ancient towns situated to the north and east of Moscow. It is the most popular tourist route through the Russian provinces. Depending on the time available, you can choose a short - one or two days - trip to the main points: Sergiev Posad or Vladimir and Suzdal'. But if you would like to examine thoroughly all the towns of the Golden Ring - and there are more than twenty of them - it will take you nearly a fortnight.

The Golden Ring is not only a collection of architectural masterpieces and charming landscapes of middle Russia. It is also an opportunity to get acquainted with the life of Russian provinces, unhurried and calm, not spoiled by the bustle of big cities. For example, nobody in a small town gets surprised or upset if a herd of cattle blocks the traffic along the central street.

The tour around the Golden Ring starts in Moscow. Buses go northwards along the old Yaroslavsky Highway. About 70 kilometers from Moscow Sergiev Posad is situated, famous for its Troitse-Sergiev Lavra ("a major monastery" in Greek). The Monastery was founded in the fourteenth century by Sergius of Radonezh, who was canonized during his life. For a long time, Sergiev Posad was the spiritual centre of the country, sort of a Russian Vatican. In the city, there are a monastery, a theological seminary and the Art Museum-Reserve displaying the Orthodox history of Russia.

Suzdal' will greet you with tolling of bells. It is the most fabulous place of the Golden Ring. This museum city has hardly changed for the past two and a half centuries. More than 200 architectural monuments of the past millenium are concentrated here: the Kremlin, trading rows, several monasteries, lots of big and small churches. And on every corner «medovukha» is sold, an ancient Russian drink, sort of honey beer.

Another charming small town on the Volga - Myshkin (Mous'). Cruise motor ships sailing from Moscow to St. Petersburg or vice versa make a stop here. There is a legend explaining the origin of the town's name: Prince Yukhotsky lay down on the river bank to have a rest after a hunt and fell asleep but was woken up by a mouse which ran across his face. When he opened his eyes, he saw a poisonous snake approaching him. In honor of the small rodent that saved his life, the Prince commanded that a chapel be build on the place. Nowadays, the town's inhabitants wisely use its unusual name: they invented and established the only Mouse Museum in the world - an amusing collection of all sorts of images of this small grey animal. Besides, there is The Smirnovs Museum here dedicated to the native of the neighborhood, Peter Smirnov, creator of the famous vodka. And quite recently another museum has been opened - the Museum of Valenki, traditional Russian winter footwear (sort of felt boots).

Pereyaslavl' Zalessky (behind the woods) looks as if there were more old ancient churches than hotels, cafes and shops altogether. Quiet Plescheevo Lake is considered the cradle of the Russian Navy: just here it was that 300 years ago, the young Russian Tsar who became Peter the Great mastered the art of sailing. The small boat of the Russian Emperor miraculously survived and now is an exhibit in one of museums.

Plescheevo Lake is famous for its most uncommon «Pereyaslavl' herring» or «riapushka» of the salmon family. The fish is a relict sea fish and probably got into the fresh water of the lake before the ice age. Russian Tsars used to like it very much, so it was called "Tsar herring". The fish is in the city emblem of Pereyaslavl' Zalessky.

Going along the circle route of the Golden Ring we get to Vladimir, once the capital of the Russian state. Now it is a big industrial centre but it is worth visiting at least to see the frescoes by the great Russian icon-painter Andrei Rublev in the Uspensky (Dormition) Cathedral, and majestic Golden Gates.

A few kilometers from Vladimir, there is a masterpiece of old Russian architecture – the Church of Protection on the Nerl' river. It was built in 1165 on an artificial height in the midst of a water-meadow by the junction of the Kliaz'ma and Nerl' rivers. There is a legend that in the 18th century the white-stone church was about to be demolished because too few people came to it, but - by the will of the Blessed Virgin, the church is dedicated to - a sun ray was suddenly reflected from the golden dome and blinded the workers; and so the church survived.

Rostov Veliky (Rostov-the-Great) is the oldest city of the north-east Rus': it is first mentioned in chronicles in 862. It is situated by the lake whose name - Nero - means «muddy, silty». On its bottom, there is a thick layer of silt, up to 20 meters, which is used for fertilizing fields. The towers of the Rostov Kremlin, impressive with their white-stone architecture, are reflected in the lake's water.

In the restaurants of Rostov you will find the whole range of genuine Russian cuisine. A real Slav meal is a long chain of various dishes: aspic and baked fish, piglet stuffed with boiled buckwheat, game, brews and skillies, fish-soup from three sorts of fish and poultry and saffron — you name it! And the embellishment of the table - an enormous «kurnik»: a pie made of pancakes, chicken, mushrooms and rice.

Along the whole Golden Ring, there are settlements where masters of folk arts have been living for centuries. And today crystal ware is produced in Gus' Khrustal'ny (Crystal Goose), painted wooden caskets in Palekh, painted metal trays in Zhostovo, big and brightly ornamented shawls in Pavlov Posad, enamel jewelry in Rostov. You will hardly find a traveler who could overcome the temptation to take along at least one traditional Russian souvenir to remember the far-away country.

In a town of Sergiev Posad (in 70 km to the North of Moscow) there is Trinity-St.Sergius Lavra - an Orthodox center of Russia, a memorial of ancient Russian architecture. Monk Sergius of Radonezh in the 30s - 40s of the XIV century founded it. Russian religious philosopher Pavel Florensky wrote: “Lavra is an artistic portrait of Russia in its whole compared to which any other place is no more than a photo”. One can see there an iconostasis of the XV century with the rarest collection of ancient Russian painting. The center of the monastery is the Uspensky (Dormition) cathedral (1585), which is a copy of the Uspensky cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin by forms, and in terms of the size, is somewhat larger.

Many legends are connected with this town situated in 100 km from Moscow. According to one of them there once lived Nikitka Holop (Slave) who first in the history of mankind tried to fly to the skies: he fastened the wings to his hands and jumped from the roof of a cathedral.

Traces of the famous tsar's «Libreria » - the library of Ivan the Terrible are lost in the ancient Alexandrov sloboda (settlement). This largest for the XVI century collection of ancient Greek parchments, Latin chronicles, ancient Jew manuscripts which had been admired by the tsar's contemporaries has vanished completely.

Pereslavl' -Zalessky is situated in Yaroslavl' district, in 130 km distance from Moscow, at the bank of the Plesheevo Lake. There seems to be more ancient churches there than hotels, cafes and shops. Medieval temples and churches among which there is Spaso-Preobrazhenky monastery (1152-1160) attract the tourists' attention.

Plescheevo Lake is famous for its most uncommon "Pereslavl' herring" or «riapushka» of the salmon family. The fish is a relict sea fish and probably got into the fresh water of the lake before the ice age. Russian Tsars used to like it very much, so it was called "Tsar herring". The fish is in the city emblem of Pereslavl' Zalessky.

Not far from Pereslavl-Zalessky, at the bank of the quiet Plesheevo Lake, there is the oldest provincial museum of Russia which commemorated its 200th anniversary in August 2003 - "Peter the Great's boat". At this place in 1688-1693 under the guidance of young tsar Peter I a training «amusing» flotilla, the predecessor of the Russian navy, was built. Out of a hundred «amusing» ships only one boat survived for the keeping of which in 1803 a special building, the "Boat House", was erected.

Rostov Veliky (Rostov-The-Great) is the oldest city of the north-east Rus': it is first mentioned in chronicles in 862. It is situated by the lake whose name - Nero - means «muddy, silty». On its bottom, there is a thick layer of silt, up to 20 meters, which is used for fertilizing fields. The towers of the Rostov Kremlin, impressive with their white-stone architecture, are reflected in the lake's water.

The Ascension cathedral in Rostov the Great is the first Christian temple in the North-East of Russia, the oldest and biggest sanctuary of Yaroslavl' eparchy. The history of the cathedral dates back to 991, the epoch of christening Russia. The cathedral will soon be 500 years old.

Yaroslavl' is an ancient city which has kept many beautiful churches and several monasteries of the XVI century. It is the motherland of Russian professional theatre. The amateur troupe of Feodor Volkov was founded in the middle of the XVIII century. Later on at the invitation of the empress it moved to Petersburg where it became the basis of the first professional theatre in Russia.

The wonderful embankment of the Volga, the main place of walks and riding horse carriages, is surrounded with a tracery cost-iron grating of the XIX century. Not so long ago a curious museum was opened in Yaroslavl' - the private John Mostoslavlky's museum. Ancient gramophones, accordions, French clocks and many bells have been collected here, and all these work.

Tutaev is a small town of Yaroslavl' district which is situated on both banks of the Volga. Each of its parts has its own name respectively - Romanov and Borisoglebsk. The town is quiet and full of spirit of the ancient times. One can learn about its history and everyday life of its inhabitants in the Museum where over a thousand of exhibits of local handicrafts and a collection of porcelain and painting are displayed. Tutaev is the motherland of Valentine Tereshkova, the first woman-cosmonaut in the world.

Myshkin (Mouse) - another charming small town on the Volga. Cruise motor ships sailing from Moscow to St. Petersburg or vice versa make a stop here. There is a legend explaining the origin of the town's name: Prince Yukhotsky lay down on the river bank to have a rest after a hunt and fell asleep but was woken up by a mouse which ran across his face. When he opened his eyes, he saw a poisonous snake approaching him. In honor of the small rodent that saved his life, the Prince commanded that a chapel be build on the place. Nowadays, the town's inhabitants wisely use its unusual name: they invented and established the only Mouse Museum in the world - an amusing collection of all sorts of images of this small grey animal. Besides, there is The Smirnovs Museum here dedicated to the native of the neighborhood, Peter Smirnov, creator of the famous vodka. And quite recently another museum has been opened — the Museum of Valenki, traditional Russian winter footwear (sort of felt boots).

Uglich is a charming old town on the bank of the Volga. All its history is connected with a mysterious event of the late XVI century - the death of the last Rurichovich, Dmitry, tsar Ivan the Terrible's son. The people, having suspected a murder, started an uprising, which was severely suppressed. The alarm bell which used to gather people was «punished» like a human-being: it was flogged with lashes, its tongue was torn out and it was exiled to Siberia. Many years later the bell was «acquited» and now it is kept in the Uglich Kremlin. There are two other sites of interest in Uglich: the Museum «Library of Russian vodka» and a private museum of the Kulagins where visitors can hear the famous Uglich bells.

Kalyazin is a small town on the right bank of the Volga known since the XII century. Its main sight is the belfry of Nikholsky cathedral (1800), which raised above the part of the town submerged as a result of the Uglich hydroelectric power station construction. During preparations for flowage all the erections of the town were pulled down or exploded, and the belfry remained for training parachute jumpers. It is now the symbol of the town.

Uspensky cathedral was built in 1158-1160 (rebuilt in 1185-1189). It is a grand five-dome, five-nave cathedral with the survived fragments of frescos of XII-XIII centuries and also frescos by Andrey Rublev and Daniil Cherny (Black) (1408). At the beginning of the XIX century a belfry was built at the cathedral.

In Vladimir, a city with a 1000 years old history, a remarkable memorial of XII century - the white stone Golden Gates has survived They marked the beginning of the main street of Vladimir. In ancient times the oak ranges were copper gilded, their arched vault was painted with frescos. Now they house the Military and historical museum.

Great prince's Dmitriy cathedral of the XII century in Vladimir faces the Kliaz'ma River. It is famous for its superfine stone fretwork. Among more than a thousand images the mystery of which have not been discovered yet there are the images of tsar Solomon and psalmist David, Alexander Makedonsky and Russian princes. At the top of the cathedral there is openwork cross with a weathercock in form of a dove.

It was built in 1165 on an artificial height in the midst of a water-meadow by the junction of the Klyaz'ma and Nerl' rivers. There is a legend that in the 18th century the white-stone church was about to be demolished because too few people came to it, but - by the will of the Blessed Virgin, the church is dedicated to - a sun ray was suddenly reflected from the golden dome and blinded the workers; and so the church survived.

This ancient town lost among primeval forests in Vladimir district is called the motherland of llya Muromets, the hero of folk legends. Architectural ensembles on the tall bank of the Oka River are elegant and smart. The Historical and art museum, "Small Hermitage" hosts a wonderful collection of furniture and plates of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Theatrical performances based on the life of legendary heroes are popular in the town.

Ipatiev monastery in Kostroma is one of the most famous memorials of Russia. Once a small wooden church, it turned into the richest stone monastery, the cradle of the Romanov dynasty. It was there that the embassy of boyars arrived to call for Michail Romanov to become the Russian tsar. Now several museums are open in the reserve, one of them is devoted to Russian tea-drinking. Among the old plate there is a tea service with a samovar. Its weight is only 15 gram but it works!

St. Petersburg and its suburbs

The most European of all Russian towns and cities celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2003. St Petersburg was founded by the most famous Russian Tsar, Peter I (the Great), and named in honor of the apostle Peter (the keeper of the keys to the gates of Paradise) under whose protection was the Emperor himself.

Tsar Peter is one of the key figures in the history of Russia. A real reformer, a man of tremendous will and energy, extremely intelligent but at the same time cruel and merciless, he could handle oars and ship cordage, knew how to hammer iron, built shipyards, ruled the state. He managed to transform the patriarchal Moscovy into the European Russia. In his innovations, the Tsar was extremely severe: on pain of punishment, he forced the boyars (noblemen) to shave their beards and to wear European-style clothes, ordered New-Year' s fir-trees dressed up all around the country, and raised drinking coffee to the rank of a state necessity. His stature matched his other talents - the Russian Emperor stood six feet six inches tall.

In the City Emblem of St Petersburg there are two anchors: for the sea and river. Peter the Great believed that anchors were the keys for Paradise. That is how he wanted to call his new city initially.

The Venice of the North, Northern Palmira, Paradise, The City of White Nights, Petropolis, Petrograd - all these are different names of the largest northern city in the world. From 1924 to 1991 it was called Leningrad, after the name of the first communist leader of Russia, Vladimir Lenin.

St Petersburg started with the Peter & Paul Fortress. The foundation of it was laid on May 16, 1703, and this date is considered the birthday of the city. Peter I chose the location quite well. From the small island (750 by 360 meters) between the channels of the Neva river in its broadest part, the fortress commanded the waterway along the river; so the route into Russia from the Baltic sea and the city itself were safely protected against any invaders by its mighty bulwarks. At midday sharp, a cannon shoots on one of the Peter & Paul Fortress' bastions and the people check their clocks or watches by the report of the shot; this tradition has been kept since 1736.

From the very beginning the city was destined to become the new capital of Russia. Having won from the Swedes the northern lands and gotten a way out to the Baltic sea - having "hacked a window open on Europe" in the words of the Russian poet Alexandr Pushkin - Peter I decided to build his new city in the image and likeness of Amsterdam. One of the Neva's islands, where the Admiralty shipyard used to be located, even now is still called the New Holland. Thousands and thousands of peasants and craftsmen were driven together from all over Russia to the dismal marshy terrain of the Neva delta. One hundred thousand workers died during only the first 10 years of building the fortress-city. Dozens of canals were dug, bridges and dams were built. The best architects, sculptors, artists and engineers were invited from all around Europe - Italy, France, Holland, Germany. Nevertheless, the northern capital of Russia acquired its own face, its own unique «Petersburgian» style.

St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Even though the capital of the state returned to Moscow in 1918, "Peter" retained its status as the second capital. The city has more than 5,000,000 inhabitants, who are considered “the most intellectual Russians”, maybe because of the fact that they are lucky to live in a real city-museum.

Like Venice, St Petersburg is spread across a lot of big and small islands. Their number has been continuously decreasing because of the work of the town-planners who fill up the river channels impeding the city life. There were about 150 islands at the beginning of 19 century, 101 – a hundred years ago, and now there are only 42.

Today, on the territory of the city there are 93 rivers, canals or brooks, and more than a hundred lakes or ponds. But the surrounding water, so beautifying for any city, is a constant source of troubles for St Petersburg. Strong winds from the Gulf of Finland often drive the Neva water back into its mouth, flooding the residential areas. Floods of extremely dangerous extent have occurred 65 times! The most disastrous ones with lots of casualties happened in 1777, 1824 and 1924. In 1955 the Neva's waves assaulted the city again, but at that time, luckily, nobody died. At the same time a daring project of hydraulics engineering arose - to build a giant dam across the Gulf to protect the city of St Petersburg from the sea. So far the project has been realized only partially - mostly due to environmentalists' objections and the lack of funds - but the floods became weaker.

There are 342 bridges in the city now, 21 of which are raised or pulled apart at night. The longest one is Alexander Nevsky bridge (905.7 m). the broadest - Siniy (Blue) across the Moika river (97.3 m). One of the most beautiful bridges across the Neva - Troitskiy (completed in 1903) - was designed by the world famous French engineer Eiffel, the architect of the tower in Paris named in his honor. You just can't help admiring the fine structure of the Bank chain bridge decorated with gilded-winged griffins, or the horse statues by Peter Klodt on Anichkov bridge.

A peculiar calling card of the city is also its season of white nights, when the raised bridges across the Neva are fairly visible against the background of the light sky. Those who get to St. Petersburg from the end of May to the middle of July - for more than 50 days when the sun almost doesn't set behind the skyline - can admire the wonderful panoramas of the city at night, walking along numerous stone embankments.

What is the symbol of St Petersburg? There is no common opinion. It might be the Bronze Horseman - the monument to the founder of the city, Peter I, on the Senate Square, or the Alexander's Column, erected on the Palace Square in honor of the victory in the war against Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812-1814, or the «Needle» of the Admiralty tower with a golden ship on the top, or the Rostral Columns on Strelka (spit) Point on Vasilievsky Island, or the famous «Mariinka» ballet.

During World War II, being blockaded by the enemy, the city of Leningrad experienced the most difficult period of its history, which lasted for 900 days. The horrible winters of 1941 and 1942 with their frosts and starvation, artillery shelling and Luftwaffe bombardment, took the lives of more than 640,000 citizens. In commemoration of that, touching and majestic memorials have been erected on Piskariovskoe and Serafimovskoe cemeteries.

Leningrad citizens who survived the blockade recall that when the sacks with sand protecting the Bronze Horseman against the enemy's shells had been removed - somebody drew with chalk a medal "For Defence of Leningrad" on Peter the Great's chest.

The main street of St Petersburg is the 4.5 kilometer long Nevsky Prospekt. A walk along Nevsky is a sort of life-asserting rite for many inhabitants of the city. Everything is smart, fashionable and elegant here, always.

The Hermitage belongs to the largest museums in the world. You just can't miss visiting it; the same goes for the Russian Museum, gigantic Isaac Cathedral (101.5 m high), Letny Sad (Summer Garden) with its famous tracery iron grill, and Peter & Paul Fortress where many Russian Monarchs are buried.

There are also some exotic museums. In the Kunstkamera (in translation from German "Rarity Chamber"), some freak babies have been kept preserved in alcohol since the Great Peter's days. The Tsar often said: I want people to see and learn. In the first years, the visitors didn't have to pay anything; on the contrary, they were given a treat, for which special funds were earmarked from the Treasury.

Across the Neva from the Winter Palace, a real navy cruiser from the beginning of the past century has been moored for several decades. A blank shot from the prow cannon of the cruiser Avrora in November 1917 signaled the seizing of power in Russia by the communists led by Lenin. There are more than 14,000 displays at the Museum of Bread, which is situated across the street from the Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic

Those interested in Russian literature surely know that St Petersburg is the city of Pushkin and Dostoevsky. Here started his poetic career the Nobel Prize laureate Joseph Brodsky. Composers Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich were Peterburgians as well.

Beautiful and romantic are the suburbs of St. Petersburg, hardly inferior to those of Paris or Berlin. Try to get to the yearly Fountain Festival in Peterhof at the end of - May, walk along the shady alleys of Gatchina, Pavlovsk, Oranienbaum... And in one of the halls of the luxurious Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo (King's Village) you will hear a dramatic story about the unique Amber Room, stolen by the fascists during the War, and see the process of its minute reconstruction.

Unlike Moscow, St. Petersburg is calm and non-fussy. Unfortunately, sunny days are not as frequent here as overcast or rainy; but Peterburgians - adoring their city - find some charm even in that. And you can see their point: it is just impossible not to fall in love with St. Petersburg!

Peter & Paul Fortress is a symbol of St. Petersburg and the first building in the city. The date of laying the fortress – May, 16, 1703 – is considered St. Petersburg's birthday. Its first walls and bastions were made of ground and wood, in 1706 the erection of a brick fortress started (architect Domeniko Trezini) and was over only by 1740. In the center of the inner yard there is a tall Cathedral of Peter and Paul with a many-level belfry crowned with a gilded broach with a weathercock in form of a flying angel. The general height of the belfry is 122,5 m, it is the tallest architectural erection of the city. A magnificent wooden gilded iconostasis in form of triumphal entry was made in 1722-1726 in the style of Moscow baroque. Almost all Russian tsars of the Romanov dynasty beginning with Peter the Great are buried in the cathedral.

The Spit Point («Strelka») of Vasilievsky Island is the Eastern end of the island dividing the river into the Big and the Small Neva. For a long time it had been used as the main trade port. Architect Thoma de Thomon created the architectural ensemble including the Rostral columns. The dominant of the Spit Point of Vasilievsky Island is the Stock Exchange the composition and decor of which remind of the temples of Ancient Greece and Rome. Sculptural groups symbolizing the prosperity of the Russian Navy and trade decorate the building.

The Bronze Horseman is a memorial to Peter I, founder of St. Petersburg, created by sculptor Etienne Maurice Falkonet. Its opening on August 7, 1782 was timed to the hundredth anniversary of Peter's enthronement. The bronze horseman riding a raised horse at the peak of a rock is one of the best equestrian monuments in the world. In 1833 the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin wrote a poem "Bronze Horseman" in which the sculpture comes to life and torments the main hero. The monument is one of the symbols of the city.

Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square is the central square of St. Petersburg, the venue of meetings and solemn parades. The architectural ensemble of the square is formed by the buildings of the General Staff and the Royal Guards General Staff, the Zimny (Winter) palace and the Alexander Column. Thanks to the symmetry of proportions and the architectural style, Dvortsovaya Square is one of the finest in the world.

Alexander Column in Dvortsovaya Square is a monument to the victory in the Patriotic war of 1812. It was erected in 1830-1834 under the project of architect Auguste de Montferrand and was made of dark-red granite. It was called after Emperor Alexander I. On top of the column there is a bronze figure of an angel symbolizing a victory of the good over the evil. It is the highest triumphant column in the world; its height is 47,5 m.

Zimny (Winter) palace was the residence of Russian emperors. This grand building was erected in 1754-1762 under the project of architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the style of baroque. The length of the cornice of the palace is almost 2 km, there are over 1000 halls, about 2000 windows and the same number of doors in it. The rich interior of the palace was rebuilt several times, especially after the fire of 1837. The decorations of the palace suffered badly from the vandalism of revolutionary soldiers and seamen in October, 1917. In 1922 the building of Zimny palace was granted to the Hermitage museum.

Hermitage is one of the greatest museums in the world. The building of Zimny palace in Petersburg houses the largest part of its collection. The Hermitage collection comprises more than 3 million of memorials of culture and art of various epochs and peoples. In almost 300 halls of the museum there are departments of pristine culture, ancient culture and art, Orient, a gallery of precious jewelry, the department of numismatology etc. The collection of West-European art which features about 600 exhibits forms a special part of the depository. Works by Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, El Greco, Velasquez, Rubens, Rembrandt, Renoir, Matisse, Rodent, Van Gogh, Picasso and other famous masters are displayed in 120 halls.

St. Isaac's Cathedral is one of the best cathedrals of Europe built in 1818-1858 in the style of late classicism under the project of architect Auguste de Montferrand. This grand erection is inferior in size only than cathedrals of St. Peter in Rome and St. Paul in London. Its somewhat ponderous beauty and magnificence used to strike travelers' imagination. Malachite, lapis lazuli, colored marble and 400 kg of gold were used for the decoration of the cathedral.

Nevsky Prospect is the main street of St. Petersburg. The prospect and its environs feature best museums, theatres, libraries, hotels, shops and restaurants. Many Russian and foreign historians, travelers, writers and poets used to write about this street. Anichkov bridge across the Fontanka river with sculptural groups «Taming the Horse», a part of Nevsky prospect, is one of Petersburg's places of interest.

The Admiralty is Russia's first shipbuilding dockyard at the Baltic Sea founded in 1704. In the first quarter of the XIX century it was rebuilt in the Russian Empire style under the project of architect Adrian Zakharov. The building with streets fanning out from it has become an architectural center on the left bank of the Neva. The front walls are decorated with statues and bas-reliefs expressing the idea of Russian Navy's glory. The top of the gilded spire of the Admiralty is decorated with a small boat-weathercock, one of the symbols of St. Petersburg.

The Kazan' Cathedral is a memorial of architecture of classicism. It was built in 1801-1811 under the project of architect Voronikhin. A grand hemisphere colonnade (similar to that of St. Peter's cathedral in Rome) is joined with the Northern front facing Nevsky Prospect. In 1813 the glorious field marshal Mikhail Kutuzov was buried in the cathedral. Near the vault there are tens of captured banners and keys to fortresses and towns.

The Summer Garden (Letny Sad) is the oldest garden of St. Petersburg, a memorial of parking and gardening art of the first third of the XVIII century. Here the summer palace of Peter I (now historical and domestic museum) was located. The Summer Garden used to be the venue of court celebrations and receptions of foreign ambassadors; later it became a promenade of aristocracy. In the Summer Garden there is a monument to the famous fabulist Ivan Krylov, a follower of the traditions of Aesop and Lafontaine.

New Holland is a historical name of an artificial island in St. Petersburg, which was formed as a result of construction of two canals. In the beginning of the XVIII century the stores where timber was kept in a special “Dutch” way were called “Holland” After relocation the store got the name of New Holland. New Holland's focus of interest is an arched portal above the canal that flows to the premises of the store. It is planned to erect a cultural and recreation complex on the island.

Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theatre is one of the oldest musical theatres of Russia. It got its name after the empress Maria Alexandrovna. In 1935-1992 it was named after one of the Soviet leaders Sergey Kirov (that is why in the West it is still often called «Kirovsky»). The first nights of performances which afterwards became classic were run at «Maninka's» stage: ballets by Chaikovsky “Sleeping Beauty” and “Nutcracker”, operas by Musorgsky «Boris Godunov» and «Khovanshina».

The Russian Museum founded in 1898 features the biggest collection of Russian fine art in the world. The Russian museum is located in four magnificent palaces. The largest part of the exposition is displayed in Mikhailovsky palace (1825, architect Karl Rossi). The collection of the Russian museum numbers about 400 hundred exhibits. All the trends and genres of Russian fine art from the X to the XX centuries are presented here. In the 80s of the XX century a department of newest trends was formed in the museum highlighting installations, video art, photo and photo-based art etc.

Alexander Nevsky Lavra is a monastery, one of the greatest architectural memorials of St. Petersburg. It was founded by Peter the Great in honor of the hero of the battle at the Neva in 1240 prince Alexander Nevsky. The prince was buried in the St. Trinity cathedral of the Lavra. The residence of Metropolitan of Petersburg and Ladoga is located here. In the burial-vaults and at the cemetery of the monastery many outstanding people of Russia are buried, among them scientist and writer Lomonosov after whom the Moscow university was named, military leader Suvorov, composer Tchaikovsky, writer Dostoevsky.

The Neva is the greatest river of St. Petersburg. Dressed in granite, this elegant beauty of the city used to horrify the Petersburgians by its terrible floods. There are more than ten bridges across the Neva and most of them are architectural memorials. The Neva is especially beautiful during white nights when the bridges are raised and convoys of ships sail slowly along the river. The majority of travelers give up their slumber to see this sight.

White nights is a period from the end of May to the beginning of July at the North-West of Russia when the evening nightfall and the morning dawn (come together) meet and dusk lasts the whole night. At this time lights are not on and traditionally people take walks along the embankments of Petersburg. At the time of light night dusk the city is especially beautiful and many tourists wish to visit it just at this time.

«Aurora» is a cruiser-museum put for everlasting anchorage at Petrograd embankment in Petersburg, a “revolutionary vessel”. It is famous for its “epoch-making” shot on October 1917 - a sign for the beginning of the storm of Zimny palace by revolutionary soldiers and seamen. The storm of Zimny was the most important event of the October armed revolt as a result of which the Russian social democratic working party of Bolsheviks came to power and established a communist regime in Russia.

Peterhof is a palace and park ensemble in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. It has been built since 1714 up to the second half of the XVIII century with the participation of architects Leblon, Brownstein, Miketti, sculptor Bartolomeo Rastrelli and other. Peterhof is often called "Russian Versailles" though Peterhof is far ahead of Versailles in terms of the number, variety and beauty of its fountains. Especially nice is the Grand cascade - a unique architectural complex of 64 fountains and about 250 sculptures.

Tsar Village (Tsarskoye selo) is a suburb of St. Petersburg, the main summer residence of the Russian emperors in the XVIII-XIX centuries. It is famous for its palace and park ensemble and also for the Lyceum where Alexander Pushkin, the outstanding Russian poet studied in the 1810s. One of the best works of Russian baroque, the Grand Catherine Palace (1756, architect Rastrelli) is situated in Tsar Village. The walls of the Amber room of the palace were destroyed during World War II and now they have been reconstructed.

Pavlovsk is a suburb of St. Petersburg named after emperor Pavel I who received this land as a gift from his mother Catherine II for his own residence. The architectural center of Pavlovsk is the Grand palace (1782-86) built under the project of Charles Cameron in the style of Russian classicism. In the large park of Pavlovsk there are many elegant pavilions, arbours, bridges and rotundas combining the features of rococo and early romanticism. Pavlovsk is the motherland of Russian scouts who annually celebrate their holiday there on April, 30.

Gatchina is a palace and park ensemble in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. In the second quarter of the XVIII century it belonged to Gregory Orlov, a favorite of empress Catherine II. In 1765 Jeanne-Jacques Rousseau who was persistently invited by count Orlov almost settled in Gatchina. In 1783 future emperor Pavel I became the owner of Gatchina, because of him the palace and the suburbs gained military features. It is then that there appeared the spirit of melancholy and romanticism here.

Oranienbaum is a city in 40 km from St. Petersburg. The creation of palace and park ensemble of Oranienbaum started in the beginning of the XVIII when emperor Peter I granted these lands to his associate Alexander Menshikov. He built a Grand palace there, whose splendor of the interior was expected to exceed Peterhof. However its earliest interior decoration has not survived. In the 50s-60s of the XVIII century the palace of Peter III and China palace were built here. Oranienbaum didn't suffer much during World War II and did not have to be reestablished. Probably for this reason it looks somewhat deserted, but there is a certain charm in it, one feels the «spirit of the time».

North-west area

North-west Russia is often called the Lake Country. The largest lakes of Europe are here: Ladozhskoe and Onezhskoe.

In the Republic of Karelia, whose area is 172,000 square kilometers, there are more than 62,000 lakes and 27,000 rivers or streams. Both the lakes and rivers are rich with fish, including salmon, and on their banks you will find infinitely many mushrooms and berries. Indented coastlines of bays and small islands form intricate water labyrinths — similar to those of Finland or Canada - a real paradise for fishermen and canoeists.

Karelia is also famous for its seids - idols made of rock and standing on leg-supports. A real Pantheon of thousands of those rocks can be seen on the islands to the east of the town of Kem'. Not less interesting is a display of petroglyphs - rock drawings by primitive people, dated to the 4th millenium BC - the largest in Europe. Besides, the largest European National Park, «Vodlozersky», is in Karelia, too.

Not far from Petrozavodsk, which is the capital of Karelia, a health resort, the first in Russia, is situated, «Martsialnye Vody» (Mars' Waters), famous for its mud-baths. It was established in 1719 on the base of ferriferous mineral springs by an initiative of Peter the Great, and called after the god of war and iron. Patients come here from far away to be successfully treated.

All the tourists travelling around north-west Russia without fail visit the islands of Kizhi in Lake Onega and Valaam in Lake Ladoga.

Kizhi impresses you with its unique 22-domed Cathedral of Transfiguration which was built in 1714 of pine timber with axe and chisel - without a single nail. It is said that the plans for the church were drawn by Peter I himself. Now works of wooden architecture from the whole of Karelia have been gathered on the island.

The island-monastery of Valaam north of Lake Ladoga lives its own innermost life. The

monastery was founded in the 14th century. The monks have transformed this wild northern island into a flourishing garden by their labor. They drained the marshes by a system of canals and even brought black earth from far-away southern lands, carrying it on carts over hundreds of kilometers. Even fruit trees grow on the island today despite its severe climate. More than 50,000 tourists visit the island every year, half of them foreigners.

The most western region of Russia - that of Kaliningrad - is called the Amber Country. It took Nature millions of years to change conifer resin into bright yellow stone, and now the Baltic waves throw it onto the shore. Here, in the settlement of Yantarny (Amber), is the largest deposit of the «sunny stone» - 90% of the world's reserves. Six hundred to 800 tons are excavated annually, and the Kaliningrad Amber Factory produces more than 350 types of articles from the stone - jewelry, figurines, vases, panels, souvenirs. In the Amber Museum frequently visited places in the Pskov region. The monastery is famous for its ancient cave-cells cut in the rock. The main cave consists of six «streets» about 200 meters long, and there are more than 300 gravestones there made of sandstone slabs. More than 10,000 monks' remains lie here, and many Russian nobles were buried in the cave as well. The cave is ventilated naturally and the temperature is always +5°C.

On the way from Pskov to Pechory there is another ancient city - Izborsk. Not far from the site of the ancient settlement there stands a stone cross. According to a legend, Truvor is buried here - one of the Varangian princes who came in the 9th century to rule Rus'.

also a real paradise for fishers and hunters: the forests are inhabited by bears and elks, wild boars, squirrels, red and white foxes, wood grouses, heath-cocks, hazel-hens; and the rivers are full of fish. The city of Vologda - the center of the region - is contemporary with Moscow: it originated in 1147. The Cathedral of St. Sophia, built during the rule of Ivan the Terrible, is the main sight of the city. Citizens of Vologda were always characterized by their keenness of wit, enterprise, and ability to endure severe climate conditions - all of which were needed to conquer vast spaces beyond the Urals. Many pioneers -trail blazers in Siberia and Alaska - were born just here, in the region of Vologda.

Veliky Ust'ug - not far from Vologda - is believed to be the native town of Grandpa Frost, the Russian Santa Claus. The town is 800 years old, and there are many brilliant craftsmen here who produce masterpieces of folk arts made of wood or birch-bark as well as unmatched silver furnishings. Not so long ago, Grandpa Frost's House - a unique wooden palace - was built in the forest 15 kilometers from the town of Veliky Ust'ug. Next to it, there are comfortable cottages with hotel rooms and some grounds for winter games. And in the town itself, the urban residence of Grandpa Frost is set up. There is a shop on its grounds where you can buy New Year souvenirs and books; and in the «Throne-room» you can not only have your picture taken together with Grandpa Frost but also watch the folk art masters working. The special «Grandpa Frost's Post-office» in the residence processes letters addressed to him. Grandpa Frost gets more than 300,000 letters and postcards a year, both from all the regions of Russia and from abroad.

The city of Smolensk is situated in the West of Russia at the border with Belarus. It was coiled «the key to the Moscow state», and the famous fortress wall built by the architect Fyodor Kon' at the very beginning of the 17th century - «the stone necklace of the Russian Land». Many great battles took place at the walls of this frontier city; to seize it meant to get the most important strategic positions. The stone walls of the Kremlin, earthworks and the streets of the city witnessed its military valor and glory, sometimes tragic. Smolensk is much older than Moscow. Having been first mentioned in chronicles in 863, it can almost compete with the very first Russian cities of Kiev and Novgorod.

The oldest buildings in Smolensk are the Churches of St. Peter and Paul on Gorod'anka (1146), of Ioann Bogoslov (Theologian) on Var'azhki (1173-1176) and of Mikhail Arkhangel (1180-1197). The main object of worship in the city is the Smolensk Icon of the Virgin, deeply respected by all the Orthodox.

Smolensk is 400 kilometers to the west of Moscow on the highway connecting the capital of Russia with the countries of Eastern and Western Europe. This not very large (about 350,000 inhabitants) old Russian city certainly deserves to be called at. Especially if you come into Russia from the West in your car.

Vyborg is one of the biggest and most beautiful towns in Leningrad region. It is situated in the north west of the Karelian Isthmus on the banks of the Gulf of Finland within 130 km from St. Petersburg. The major part of the town is located on the peninsula with its carved with deep bays, the rest lies on the islands. The town has a high relief; its highest point on the Batareinaya mountain is 33 meters above sea level Vyborg is very attractive with its picturesque environs and unique monuments: the Vyborg castle built by Swedish knights; it is the last remained medieval castle in Russia; the Kruglaya (Round) Tower, the Chasovaya (Clock) Tower, St. Hyacinth Church, Peter I monument, and a majestic landscape park «Montrepos» with a XIX century manor. Vyborg environs boast pinewoods, picturesque granite rocks and skerries of the Gulf of Vyborg that house sanatoria and holiday retreats. Here summer is warm and winter is mild - the town is famous for its climatic therapy.

Karelia is often called «the land of lakes». The biggest Europe lakes Ladozhskoye and Onezhskoye are situated there. There are more than 62,000 lakes and 27,000 rivers or streams. Both the lakes and rivers are rich with fish, including salmon, and on their banks you will find infinitely many mushrooms and berries. Indented coastlines of bays and small islands form intricate water labyrinths - similar to those of Finland or Canada - a real paradise for fishermen and canoeists. The largest European National Park, «Vodlozersky», is in Karelia, too.

The Kivach waterfall is located at the Suna River in Karelia near Petrozavodsk. There is the second biggest waterfall in Europe after the Rein waterfall. The sound of the water falling from the 11-meter height used to be heard from 4-5 km away. Now the water flow has diminished because of the dam construction on the river but this is still a very exciting sight to see. There is a nature preserve of the same name around the waterfall, the Nature Museum, an arboretum with a collection of virtually all species of threes growing in Karelia including the famous Karelian aspen.

This island is a must-be for all tourists traveling Russia's north west. Kizhi impresses you with its unique 22-domed Cathedral of Transfiguration which was built in 1714 of pine timber with axe and chisel - without a single nail. It is said that the plans for the church were drawn by Peter I himself. Now works of wooden architecture from the whole of Karelia have been gathered on the island.

The island-monastery of Valaam north of Lake Ladoga lives its own innermost life. The monastery was founded in the XIV century. The monks have transformed this wild northern island into a flourishing garden by their labor. They drained the marshes by a system of canals and even brought black earth from far-away southern lands, carrying it on carts over hundreds of kilometers. Even fruit trees grow on the island today despite its severe climate. More than 50,000 tourists visit the island every year, half of them foreigners.

Solovki monastery is located on the Solovki Island in the White Sea. Monks Zosima and Sawwatius founded it in the XV century. The monastery area surrounded by powerful brick walls and towers features the refectory with the Assumption cathedral, the three-tier Transfiguration cathedral, the Annunciation church (XVI century) and the XVIII century bell tower.

The most western region of Russia - that of Kaliningrad - is called the Amber Country. It took Nature millions of years to change conifer resin into bright yellow stone, and now the Baltic waves throw it onto the shore. Here, in the settlement of Yantarny (Amber), is the largest deposit of the «sunny stone» - 90% of the world's reserves. Six hundred to 800 tons are excavated annually, and the Kaliningrad Amber Factory produces more than 350 types of articles from the stone - jewelry, figurines, vases, panels, souvenirs. In the Amber Museum a vast collection of all sorts of items is on display, consisting of unique stone samples, jewelry and domestic things dated from the ancient past up to now.

A unique natural object of the region is Kursh Spit. An unbroken ribbon of sand-dunes ranging in width from a few hundred meters to 4 kilometers stretches for 70 kilometers into the sea. The dunes are up to 68 meters high, which is the third highest after Vietnam and the west of France, and the white hills make you believe you are in a desert. A National Park is established here. In several places where landslides might occur, you are allowed to move only along the well-arranged paths. The dune slopes are fastened with brushwood fascines. The dune relief, together with the forest green and the Baltic Sea's boundless blue, forms a fascinating view which attracts thousands of tourists.

Great destiny and great history belong to the city of Pskov. It is situated at the very border of Russia, at the confluence of the Velikaya (Grand) and Pskova rivers. The city was first mentioned in chronicles in 903, but the date of its origin is unknown and goes back to some very old times. For many centuries the city was an outpost defending Russian lands against invaders from the West. In Pskov the first Russian cathedral dedicated to the Holy Trinity was built, that is why a Russian proverb exists: «Where the Trinity is - there's Pskov as well».

The old city is located on quite a high hill - a limestone rock; here the Pskov kremlin was built, named Krom or Detinets. The gilded «onion» cupola of the Trinity Cathedral could be seen on a sunny day from a distance of 30-40 kilometers. The most important archeological object in Pskov is a cultural layer, up to 7 meters thick, within the fortress walls. Only seven hectares out of 215 have been researched so far, and the archeologists proceed with their work.

Pskovo-Pechersky Svyato-Uspensky monastery, 70 kilometers to the west of the city at the Estonian border, is one of the most frequently visited places in the Pskov region. The monastery is famous for its ancient cave-cells cut in the rock. The main cave consists of six «streets» about 200 meters long, and there are more than 300 gravestones there made of sandstone slabs. More than 10,000 monks' remains lie here, and many Russian nobles were buried in the cave as well. The cave is ventilated naturally and the temperature is always + 5 degrees.

Pushkinskiye Gory is a literature historical museum-preserve in Pskov region which was established in honor of Alexander Pushkin “the sun of Russian poetry”. The preserve comprises the Mikhailovskoye, Trigorskoye and Petrovskoye estate-museums. In the village of Mikhailovskoye, the place of the disgraced poet's exile, he wrote the world greatest literary pieces: tragedy «Boris Godunov» and poem «l remember the wonderful moment» that many Russians know by heart. Pushkin's grave is in the Svyatogorsky monastery - a venue of pilgrimage for the poet's fans.

Novgorod is one of the oldest Russian cities, it is known since 859. In the Novgorod Kremlin there is the most ancient in Russia stone temple - the Sophia cathedral. In 1862 in the centre of the Kremlin a monument to the 1000-anniversary of Russia, consisting of 129 figures and reflecting all basic events of the Russian history was erected. Opposite to the Kremlin, on the other coast of the river of Volkhov, Yaroslavovo dvorische is situated - a complex of ancient buildings (temples, towers, a part of a court yard). Under the legend, prince Yaroslav the Wise built here a palace surpassing in terms of magnificence all similar constructions in Europe. It is known that in the palace Norwegian king Olaf, deprived of a throne, and sons of English king Edmund - Edvin and Edward, expelled by the Danish king Kanuth, were sheltered.

The Sophia cathedral (or a cathedral of St. Sophia), in Novgorod, in the territory of the Kremlin, was constructed in 1045-1050 taking the Sophia cathedral in Kiev as a model. It embodies severe power and simplicity of forms reflected in lean decor. Five-domed five-naved cathedral is surrounded with two-story galleries. Fragments of frescos of the second half of XI century, the bronze Korsun gate of XII century, icons XIV-XV centuries withstanded the ravages of time. After destructions of the Great World War of 1941 -1945 the cathedral was restored.

The Russians are fond of gathering mushrooms and berries in the woods. There are lots of both in the Vologda region, which is within eight hours by train from Moscow. Here up to 52,000 tons of cranberries and red bilberries are gathered in summer, and more than 30,000 tons of mushrooms. The region is also a real paradise for fishers and hunters: the forests are inhabited by bears and elks, wild boars, squirrels, red and white foxes, wood grouses, heath-cocks, hazel-hens; and the rivers are full of fish. The city of Vologda - the center of the region - is contemporary with Moscow: it originated in 1147. The Cathedral of St. Sophia, built during the rule of Ivan the Terrible, is the main sight of the city. Citizens of Vologda were always characterized by their keenness of wit, enterprise, and ability to endure severe climate conditions - all of which were needed to conquer vast spaces beyond the Urals. Many pioneers - trail blazers in Siberia and Alaska - were born just here, in the region of Vologda.

Veliky Ustyug - not far from Vologda - is believed to be the native town of Grandpa Frost, the Russian Santa Claus. The town is 800 years old, and there are many brilliant craftsmen here who produce masterpieces of folk arts made of wood or birch-bark as well as unmatched silver furnishings. Not so long ago, Grandpa Frost's House - a unique wooden palace -was built in the forest 1 5 kilometers from the town of Veliky Ustyug. Next to it, there are comfortable cottages with hotel rooms and some grounds for winter games. And in the town itself, the urban residence of Grandpa Frost is set up. There is a shop on its grounds where you can buy New Year souvenirs and books; and in the «Throne-room» you can not only have your picture taken together with Grandpa Frost but also watch the folk art masters working. The special «Grandpa Frost's Post-office» in the residence processes letters addressed to him. Grandpa Frost gets more than 300,000 letters and postcards a year, both from all the regions of Russia and from abroad.

St. Ferapont monastery is situated in the village of Ferapontovo (Vologda region) 20 km from the Kirillov-Belozersky monastery. It was founded by Moscow monk Ferapont in 1398. The Nativity of Virgin Cathedral was erected there in 1490. It was the first brick construction not only in St. Ferapont monastery but in the whole Belozersky area as well... It came into prominence thanks to preserved paintings by Dionysus whose icons together with Andrei Rublev's paintings became the national cultural endow. St. Ferapont Monastery houses the museum of Dionysus's frescoes.

Kirillov-Belozersky monastery located on the shores of the Siverskoye lake (now a part of the town of Kirillov, Vologda region) was founded in 1397. The architectural complex houses the Assumption Cathedral (1497-1498), hospital wards (the end of the XVI - the beginning of the XVII centuries), fortress structures of the «Old town» (XVI century) and the «New town» (1653-1682), and a number of churches and buildings of the XVI-XVIII centuries. It is a museum-preserve since 1924.

The city of Smolensk is situated in the West of Russia at the border with Belarus. It was called «the key to the Moscow state», and the famous fortress wall built by the architect Fyodor Kon at the very beginning of the 17th century - «the stone necklace of the Russian Land». Many great battles took place at the walls of this frontier city; to seize it meant to get the most important strategic positions. The stone walls of the Kremlin, earthworks and the streets of the city witnessed its military valor and glory, sometimes tragic. Smolensk is much older than Moscow. Having been first mentioned in chronicles in 863, it can almost compete with the very first Russian cities of Kiev and Novgorod. The oldest buildings in Smolensk are the Churches of St. Peter and Paul on Gorodyanka (1146), of loann Bogoslov (Theologian) on Varyazhki (1173-1176) and of Mikhail Arkhangel (1180-1197). The main object of worship in the city is the Smolensk Icon of the Virgin, deeply respected by all the Orthodox.

Volga region

The Volga is often called the main street of Russia. It is one of symbols of the country: «Volga, Thou art our mother», says an ancient Russian song. With its length of 3,530 kilometers, it is the longest river of Europe. The first scientist who described the Volga and put it on the map was the ancient Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy in the 2nd century.

The Volga is a great water and tourist way. Starting from a spring on the marshy Valdai Hills, in the heart of Russia, proceeding through hundreds of lakes, the river carries its waters through the whole central part of the country to the south and runs into the Caspian Sea, forming a huge delta of 800 branches and channels. By a system of canals, the Volga is connected with the seas - Baltic, White, Azov - as well as with the largest Russian cities of Moscow and St Petersburg. Travels by steam ships from Moscow to St Petersburg, or in the opposite direction, are very popular with foreigners, as well as shorter ones to the picturesque Volga cities of Yaroslavl', Kostroma, Myshkin and Uglich.

But let us return to the source of the Volga, to the Tver’ region. The place where the river begins was determined precisely, which happens rather seldom, and it was done in the 17th century. The ancient documents specify that Volga flows «from a bog, from under a birch, by a spring, and goes into lake Volgo». Under the decree of the Russian Tsar Aleksey Mikhailovich, Volgoverkhovsky Spaso-Preobrazhensky monastery was established in 1649 at the source of the Volga, which began to be considered as a sacred place. Now the Cathedral of St Olga, built of red stone, is in that place. The first symbolical bridge (a tiny one) across the Volga is constructed within just the first hundred meters from its source, though it can be easily jumped over, even by a child. And above the spring giving life to the main Russian river, there is a wooden chapel. Beside it, a typical, small Russian village has been

settled called Volgoverkhovie (Top of the Volga). It is a real pilgrimage place for tourists. Families come here come from far away; many parents desire to show their children this place sacred to the Russian people.

Several kilometers from the source of the Volga is situated Lake Seliger, one of the best known centres of tourism in Central Russia. It is a vast lake area containing a chain of channels and stretches, expanding from north to south for 100 kilometers. Lake Seliger has 160 islands and 110 inflows. The coast line is surrounded with thick deciduous and coniferous woods. Forest borders and clearings make excellent grounds for «wild» tourist camping. In summer, bright tents of fishermen and canoeists gleam all around the coast of the lake and on the islands. The water already heats up to +20 and more in June. Seliger is a real paradise for fishermen. Thirty kinds of fish can be caught here, including zander, bream, catfish, whitefish, and even eel, brought into the lake half a century ago. And there are lots of mushrooms and berries -strawberries, black and red bilberries.

The centre of the Seliger area is a typical provincial Russian town named Ostashkov. From its quay the steam ships depart. The most popular excursion on the lake is an evening one. Hundreds of tourists come to admire famous Seliger sunsets and to visit the tiny romantic island on which the Monastery Nilova Pustyn' (Nil's Hermitage) is located.

Winding through numerous lakes and bogs, incorporating waters of small and average rivers, the Volga, bending around Moscow approximately 100 kilometers to the north, passes through the ancient Russian cities of Rzhev, Zubtsov, Tver', Uglich, Yaroslavl' and Kostroma; and in Nizhny Novgorod meets its largest right-hand inflow - the Oka.

The city of Nizhny Novgorod is the third largest of Russia. It is famous for the mediaeval Kremlin standing on the steep Volga bank and for the constantly working exhibition of the Russian weapon. Because of the many historical and cultural monuments here, UNESCO has included Nizhny Novgorod in the list of 100 cities of global value. Its area is also famous for unique national folk-craft goods: painted wooden ware from Khokhloma, knives from Pavlovo, embroidery from Gorodets, matr'osh-kas (sets of nesting dolls) from Sem'onov, filigrees from Kozakovo, laces from Balakhna. Nizhny Novgorod is a city of merchants and craftsmen; it used to be so rich that it gained the nickname «Russia's pocket». Grandiose industrial fairs have been held here since olden times, assembling businessmen from all over the country.

The Volga city of Kazan', the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, is considered the centre of Islam in Russia. Every year, more and more people visit the site of the settlement of Bulgar -which vanished in the 15th century - where the Tatar state had arisen and Islam was accepted. Pilgrimage tours attract not only Muslims but also Orthodox Christians. Among the sights of the area, there are the Kazan' Kremlin, Old-Tatar Sloboda (settlement), the Raifa Bogoroditsky (Virgin's) Monastery, small towns of Sviyazhsk and Yelabuga with the so-called «Devil's settlement» nearby — the ruins of a fortified settlement built by one of the Volga region tribes in the 1st millenium CE.

The most interesting architectural structure in Kazan', S'uyumbeki Tower is the symbol of the city. Many legends are connected to the tower. One of them says that having learned about the unearthly beauty of the Tatar Khan's widow, S'uyumbeki, the Russian Tsar, Ivan the Terrible, proposed her to become the Moscow Tsaritsa (queen). The received refusal became the cause for a Russian expedition against Kazan'. Not wishing bloodshed, S'uyumbeki agreed to marry the horrible Tsar but set a condition: as a wedding gift she wanted a tower, built in no longer than one week and standing higher than any minarets in Kazan'. The tower was erected by some miracle. During the wedding feast, the bride expressed her wish to look at her native city from above for the last time before departing to Moscow. Having climbed to the very top, she jumped off the tower together with her small son. Ivan the Terrible, having seen that, destroyed Kazan’.

Zhiguli Reserve and the National Park «Samara bend» are called the Volga Switzerland. Many kinds of relict plants and animals can be found in this area of unique nature. There you may stroll, or ride a horse, or row a kayak on the Volga, or sail a yacht, or visit mysterious mining galleries; as well as get acquainted with the culture of the small ethnic group of the territory.

Great interest is caused by the numerous abnormal phenomena observable in the territory of Zhiguli Hills. Periodically, large spheres shining with green light appear in the sky - people call them «cat's paws» - or triangular beams of light - «cat's ears». There are also famous legends about Zhiguli Mirages - images of ancient cities, temples and fortresses arising from the air.

The most beautiful and extended quay on the Volga is in the city of Samara. It has an absolutely «resort» air, even though Samara is a city with a population of more than one million. The tourists coming to the city can go down into the deepest of the declassified objects of the Second World War - Stalin's bunker - and taste the best brands of real Zhiguli beer, the oldest in Russia, and sail through Zhiguli Gate, the narrowest bottleneck on the Middle Volga.

In the Samara region on the Volga bank near Mastryukovskie Lakes, for three decades, the bard song festivals have been annually held. Romantics from all over Russia and from abroad come here in the tens of thousands for some days to live in tents, to sit with friends at the camp-fires and to listen to their favourite songs. The most spectacular part of the festival is its final night concert. The stage is situated on water where a raft in the form of a guitar has been constructed. And the spectators take seats directly on the grass, so that the steep Volga bank starts sparkling with thousands of pocket flashlights. Everybody joins the bards in their singing, and so this bank is called the Singing Hill.

Many foreign tourists visit the town of Ulyanovsk. It is connected, first of all, with a still existing interest to Vladimir Lenin, who was born in this city. Many are attracted by an opportunity to visit the once-closed aircraft works where Tu-204 planes are produced or the Civil Aviation Centre, where you can work on an aircraft simulator that completely imitates flying a plane. Besides, the visitors to Ulyanovsk discover a lot of interesting things; that, for example, Tatars, Chuvashes, Mordovians and the Volga Germans live here alongside Russians. And all these peoples regularly carry out their national festivals: Kurban-bayram, Sabantuy, Kirkhi-syra (autumn festival of beer), Kaze Mese (Tatar ritual festival of the goose), Mostorovan' Morot (festival of Mordovian folklore), Akatuy (Chuvash national holiday).

In Tolyatti is located the well-known Volga Automobile Factory. But despite being an industrial centre, the town does not suffer from any lack of clean air, all its three districts are surrounded by woods where you are likely to meet elks and roes, foxes, hares, squirrels. One local legend says that the pine forest located today in the downtown was planted in the first half of the 19th century by the French soldiers taken in captivity during the Napoleon campaign in Russia.

The city of Saratov - one of the largest on the Volga - is located on its right-hand bank. The history of this region is connected to the names of the 17th and 18th centuries' peasant war leaders - Stepan Razin and Yemelyan Pugachev. It is interesting that a huge role in the development of the city and region was played by numerous immigrants from Western Europe, mainly from Germany, who began to come here

in the 18th century during the reign of the Russian Empress Catherine the Great, a German by birth. Among the German settlers, the families of well-known millers stood out for their richness: the Schmidts, the Reinekes, the Borels. The most beautiful houses in Saratov belonged to them. They were great philanthropists and patrons of the arts. Across the river from the city, a few kilometers downstream, there is another significant place. Here, near the village of Smelovka. the first astronaut in the world, Yury Gagarin, landed on April 12, 1961.

The most ancient city in the lower reaches of the Volga, Astrakhan is located in the delta, on several islands. It is the centre of fishing on the Volga and Caspian sea, where the largest quantity of sturgeons remain (white sturgeon, Russian sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, sterlet), comprising about 90 per cent of the world's production. The main dainty - famous black "Russian caviar" - is exported from here worldwide.

There are many secrets of how to correctly prepare this dish, which real gourmets believe to be worth its weight in gold. The best caviar is extracted From the fish caught within certain weeks in spring and autumn at the spots where the Volga branches flow into the Caspian sea. After rinsing, caviar is salted in metal reservoirs. A skilled expert mixes caviar gotten from several sturgeons, carefully selecting it by colour, consistency of capsule and other features known only by the artists of this skill.

The sturgeon is a national wealth of Russia. To restore the stock of this most valuable and rare fish, 8 piscicultural factories work in the Astrakhan region. The gainful fishing of the sturgeon and beluga is forbidden, but sports fishing is very popular. You catch a fish, weigh your trophy, have your picture taken with it to keep as a souvenir - and let it go. Generally speaking, fishing is the main thing for which this place is worth coming to.

To tell the truth, most of the delta territory is considered reserved, therefore only licensed fishing is allowed. But you can get a catfish up to 45 kg on your spinning rod. It is not surprising that real fishers come here from all over the world. Besides, the hunt for goose, duck and other waterfowl is very popular in the Volga delta.

Recently, the tourist infrastructure of the Astrakhan area has been developing very fast. Modern camp sites with all imaginable conve¬niences are under construction for the fans of active rest, as well as floating hotels with a set of services which can compete with those of the best on land; and small comfortable steam ships are being equipped for travels on the Volga.

Near the Volga delta on the border between Russia and Kazakhstan, a unique relict plant of surprising beauty - the lotus - can be met with in some gulfs of the Caspian sea. Special boat excursion are organized during its flowering, and the tourists set out to admire the lotus fields; it is a really fantastic show.

The place of the source of the Volga was quite definitely known yet in XVII century. Ancient state documents point out that the Volga flows out of a bog, from under a birch and runs to the Volga lake. By an order of the Russian tsar in 1649 at the source of the Volga, which was considered a sacred place the Volgoverkhovsky Spaso-Preobrazhensky monastery was founded. Now there is a cathedral of red stone in this place. The first symbolic bridge across the Volga was built only in several meters away from its source, though even a child can easily jump over the river in this place. Nearby there is a typical small Russian village called Volgoverkhovie. It is a real place of the tourists' pilgrimage, families come here from far away, and parents wish to show their children this sacred place.

Lake Seliger is in several km distance from the source of the Volga. It is the most famous tourist center of central Russia. It is a lake district consisting of a chain of channels and reaches which stretch over 100 km from North to South like a great labyrinth. There are more than 160 islands on the Seliger. The forest edges and glades are an excellent place to stay for «non-package» tourists. In the warm season tents of fishermen and canoeists rise up along the banks and islands. Yet in June the water heats up to 20 degrees and more. There are 30 species of fish here: pike, perch, bream, cat-fish and even eel brought here half a century ago. Forests are full of mushrooms and berries.

Ostashkov is the center of the Seliger region, a small provincial town. It is over 500 years old and it is famous for its leather production. Special places of interest of the town are houses standing almost in the water on the Old embankment. Boats run from the landing stage of Ostashkov. The most popular excursion over the lake is an evening one. Hundreds of tourists come to admire the famous Seliger sunsets and to visit a small romantic island where the famous monastery Nilova Pustyn' is located, the place of pilgrimage of all the Orthodox Christians.

One of the greatest reservoirs in the world built by Soviet convicts has been named after this small town on the bank of the Volga. Rybinsk was situated at the crossroads of river and railways, its people from ancient times used to fish and deliver fish to the tsar's court, grow bread and bring goods to Petersburg. It is believed that «the town of Rybinsk is a corner of Petersburg». It looks like the Northern capital in terms of street planning and look of temples and buildings.

Nizhny Novgorod is the third of the greatest cities of Russia; it is famous for its Kremlin of the XVI-XVII centuries which stands on the tall bank of the Volga, its fine embankment and an exhibition of Russian arms. Since ancient times grand industrial trade fairs have been held in the city and gathered entrepreneurs from the whole country.

Kazan' is one of the greatest cities on the Volga, the capital of Tatarstan Republic. In its history and architectural memorials, such as the Kazan' Kremlin, the native Russian spirit is combined with a unique flavor of the East. The main site of the Kremlin is the Tower of S’uyumbeki. Today Kazan' is a great cultural center where Russian and Tatar national traditions coexist.

From Kazan' one can sail to the island where an old town of Sviyazhsk with memorials of ancient Russian architecture is situated. On the way one can see a monastery in the depth of a woody rock. The nature of these lands is amazingly beautiful: rare plants grow and muskrats, minks, wild boars and sandpipers live in the flood-lands of the Sviyaga river.

The most beautiful and the longest embankment on the Volga is situated in Samara, one of the five cities of the Volga with an over a million population. There have always been a lot of foreigners, especially Germans, in this old merchant city. The acting Roman-Catholic church has a magnificent organ. Tourists visiting this city can go down the deepest declassified site of World War II - Stalin's underground shelter (its depth is 37 m), taste specialty of the oldest in Russia Zhiguli beer, sail through Zhiguli Gate, the narrowest place on the Middle Volga. In the suburbs of Samara one can visit karst caves.

Zhiguli Hills, which are 375 m high, stretch out 75 km along the right bank of the Volga. The Zhiguli reserve and national park «Samara Bend» are called «the Volga Switzerland». The unique natural memorial keeps a lot of species of relic plants and animals of preglacial epoch. There are large reserves of crystal clear water in karst cavities. Tourists in Zhiguli can travel on foot or by horse, visit the mountain galleries full of mystery, and come to know the culture of small nations of the region. A lot of anomalous phenomena of the Zhiguli Hills attract much attention. From time to time big luminescent green spheres appear in the sky. Some people associate this with unidentified flying objects, the same as the famous Zhiguli mirages - images of ancient towns, temples and fortresses.

Known over the world under the name of Stalingrad, this city keeps the memory of World War II, and the main memorials in Volgograd are certainly connected with this event: Mamaev Kurgan, the gigantic monument Motherland, Panorama museum «The Battle of Stalingrad». But there are other places of interest, too: the unique Church on the water, museum-reserve «Old Sarepta». Closeness of the Volga, Southern nature, mineral springs and sandy beaches on both banks of the Volga create wonderful conditions for rest in this region. One can stay at the suburbs of the city, in a Cossack stanitsa, in houses of the XVIII-XIX centuries, feel the Cossack life, take part in ancient ceremonies and fish.

In the delta of the Volga, on several islands, the oldest city of the Lower Volga district - Astrakhan' - is situated. This is the center of fishing at the Volga and the Caspian Sea where a multitude of sturgeon fish has survived (white sturgeon, Russian sturgeon, stellate sturgeon and sterlet) which is 90% of the world's output. The main delicacy is the famous Russian caviar, which is exported over the world.

In the delta of the Volga, at the frontier of Russia and Kazakhstan, in the bays of the Caspian Sea, one can meet relic plants - nut lotus and white water lily. Since ancient times in India lotus has been considered a sacred plant. In Egypt light-blue lotuses have been respected. But a real lotus is a poisonous plant; one can feel sick after eating only a few nuts of lotus.

Fishing in the Delta of the Volga is just magnificent. In the fishing season everybody is allowed to fish. No wonder that thousands of fishermen come here for whom sailing landing stages have been built. Fishing sporting events are regularly held. Sturgeon is the national riches of Russia. 8 fish hatcheries work in Astrakhan' district for reestablishing this valuable and rare species.

Black Sea coast and Caucasus

There are 400 kilometers between the northern and southern points of the Black Sea coast of Russia, between the Tamansky peninsula on the steppes and the subtropical resort city of Sochi. From May to October, all the sea resort life of the country concentrates on this rather small segment of the coast. Scores of settlements and small towns, hundreds of hotels, sanitariums (health centres with medical treatment) and boarding houses, millions of holiday-makers from all over Russia and foreign tourists - all make up the Black Sea coast. Located at the same geographical latitude as the Adriatic resorts or those of the Italian and French Riviera, it resembles them in many aspects.

Why is the Black Sea called «black»? There are many versions. The ancient Greeks and Romans called it Pontus Euxinus - the hospitable sea. But Turks, on the contrary, have nicknamed it Karaden-Giz - inhospitable, that is black. It is also assumed that the sea got its name because of the colour of the silt that is thrown onto its beaches during storms, or because of the fact that metal objects lowered to a great depth grow black.

With the latter, by the way, another epithet is connected - "the sea of dead depth". There is no life in the sea at depths of more than 200 meters. The Black Sea is not very rich in fish; nevertheless it is possible to come across beluga or sturgeon here. Oysters, mussel and crabs are found, sometimes eels or sword fish appear, and once two whales were even observed. Dolphins are quite frequent, not only in the high sea or in the dolphinariums of the towns of Gelendzhik and Adler, but also at the sea-side beaches, where sometimes they allow people to play with them. There are two species of sharks in the Black Sea - fortunately small and completely harmless. From Crambe-shark liver, a medicine is produced that can treat oncological diseases.

Anapa - the largest family and children's resort in Russia - has been in existence since 1866. There are 40 kilometers of perfect sandy beaches here and 10 kilometers of pebble beaches. The sea is shallow and the bottom flat, which is especially enjoyed by small children.

The city of Sochi is called the summer capital of Russia. This subtropical city-park is stretched along the coast for almost 150 kms. It consists of the resort settlements of Adler, Hosta, Matsesta, Dagomys, and Lazarevskoye. The resort originated in 1898. The city has a population of about 300,000, but each year it hosts not less than 3 million holiday-makers. There are more than 200 sanitariums, hotels and boarding houses located there. Lots of palms, agaves, magnolias, red maples, and numerous flower gardens scattered in the streets give the city a unique colouring. Especially famous is the Sochi arboretum where there are more than 2,500 species of plants from many countries of the world. Subtropical flora is represented in the park Southern Cultures. One finds oneself in a brilliant celebratory mood walking through the seaside park, Riviera. As at any sea resort, there is everything for scuba diving, windsurfing, water skiing, yacht sailing, fishing and under-water hunting.

Sochi is also a major mud-bath and climatotherapy resort. The mineral springs in the valleys of the rivers Matsesta, Agura and Hosta have been used for treatment since antiquity. Athenians, Romans and Byzantines used to come here from over the sea. The sulfide-chloride-sodium waters of Matsesta have been known since 1902. There are more than 50 bore-wells here, lifting the healing water from underground for baths, inhalations and drinking. The best known mineral water in the Black Sea region is the carbonic Chvizhepse. All kinds of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neurologic, hematologic and dermatologic diseases are successfully cured at local resorts. Sochi is considered to be not inferior to the glorified resorts of Nice or San Remo. The favorable subtropical climate, pure sea air soaked with oxygen, and rich zone of southern vegetation would definitely improve and strengthen anybody's health.

The territory to the north of the Black Sea, Taman' and Kuban', is an area of traditional winemaking. On the bank of the picturesque Lake Abrau-D'urso, not far from Novorossiysk, a winery has been working since the end of the 19th century. Its huge cellars are 90 meters underground. It was here that Russian sparkling wine was first produced, which is not practically inferior in quality to the famous French champagne but much less expensive. You can taste sparkling and other local vintage wines in numerous tasting rooms and, of course, in the restaurants throughout the coast.

To the south of the city of Tuapse, the spurs of the Great Caucasian Range come to the very sea coast. The gorges of mountain creeks forming numerous waterfalls are very picturesque. The Akhshtyrsky canyon of the river Mzymta is one of most beautiful places here. A twisting mountain road laid in rocks leads you to the settlement of Krasnaya Pol'ana (Red Meadow). On the way there, tourists usually visit a trout fish-farm, where one can fish, and an apiary of the local beekeeping enterprise, largest in Europe. A lot of construction work is being done in these places. Alongside the old road, very narrow, the modern one is laid, wide and safe. Some tunnels are being constructed for the road, one of them 2 kilometers long.

The settlement of Red Meadow is 600 meters above sea level. Recently, much attention has been paid to the development of a modern mountain-skiing resort here. Conditions for this purpose are excellent: An abundance of snow, mild winters, and the great variety of slopes attract both tourists and sportsmen. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, an ardent mountain skier, has visited this resort several times, which has certainly given a new momentum to the construction work. Downhill skiing is becoming more and more popular in Russia, and the natural conditions of the country allow for the development of winter resorts. Red Meadow is one example of that. New elevators, hotels, cafes and other elements of tourist infrastructure are quickly being erected here.

The wild, severe and majestic nature of the Caucasian Mountains impresses. The peaks covered with eternal snows reach in the area of Red Meadow the height of nearly 2,000 meters. Fans of extreme skiing are taken by helicopters to the mountaintops beyond the clouds. Red Meadow is also a favourite gathering place of hang-gliders. And from here you can take a ride in a balloon to admire the fantastic panorama of the mountains roundabout. In addition, rafting is very popular with the tourists here. Water routes designed for different levels of readiness range from those for skilled sportsmen to those for beginners and even small children.

In the mountains, the air temperature goes down by 6 degrees with each thousand meters of height, so if it is +25° at the seaside, it will be only +7° at the altitude of 3,000 meters.

Therefore, Red Meadow offers its visitors a unique package - mountain skiing plus the sea. Having gotten your fill of skiing, you can drive down to the coast and after half an hour be swimming in the warm sea. There are not so many places on our planet where absolutely different climatic conditions are combined so comfortably.

Having overcome the Caucasian Range (certainly, the most convenient way is by plane), we get to another most interesting place in the south of Russia, the resort of Caucasian Mineral Waters. As you approach it, you can see the cone-shaped, volcano-like mountains rising on the horizon as if they were growing from the flat steppe: Zmeyka (Little snake), Zheleznaya (Irony), Beshtau and Mashuk. The air here is extremely clean and transparent. The slopes of these rather low mountains are covered with rich hornbeam and oak woods. There are many apple, pear, cherry-plum and other wild fruit trees.

The resort is surrounded by the picturesque spurs of the Great Caucasus Range. Artists and photographers are invariably inspired by the local landscapes: rocky peaks raised beyond the clouds, glaciers sparkling in blue, gloomy depths of gorges, green Alpine meadows, boisterous rivers noisy with their waterfalls and rifts, auls (villages) and ancient temples of the mountain-dwellers. It is believed that the view of the mountain landscapes alone has a miraculous curative force. In these mountains, there are about a thousand small but surprisingly beautiful and clean lakes, with turquoise water. There are also several hundred glaciers. The highest peaks reach 4-5 thousand meters. Here is the highest point in Europe - the extinct volcano Elbrus, 5,642 meters. This huge, double-headed mountain blocks the long Baksan Gorge. You can take the cable-car from the glade of Azau to go up the slope of Elbrus to the height of 3,500 meters.

At the upper reaches of the river Teberda, Dombay Meadow is located. Even not very experienced tourists can stroll from here to the Alibek glacier without much effort, or take the route to Kloukhor Pass (2,782 m) and to the dark blue Lake Klukhor, small but very deep; there are ice-floes on it even in the hottest summer.

The tops of Elbrus, Cheget, and Dombay are covered with deep snow all the year round. They are traditional vacation spots of tourists, climbers and mountain-skiers; cable-cars and hotels have been constructed here.

Mineral water is the most traditional and effective medical factor of the Northern Caucasus. The local mineral springs have been famous from time immemorial for their variety of chemical composition and curative properties; some of them are absolutely unrivaled. The famous resorts of Kislovodsk, Essentuki, Pyatigorsk and Zheleznovodsk were established in the 19th century. More than a hundred springs of mineral water are concentrated here in a small area, as well as the unique curative mud of Lake Tambukan. The most famous of the waters is Narzan, which in translation from the Kabardinian language means «hero-water». There are more than 100 sanitariums equipped with all the modern facilities, and nearly thirty tourist and hotel complexes. Annually, more than half a million people come here for treatment and rest. As a rule, they forget about their illnesses for a long time after staying at the Caucasian Mineral Waters resorts. It is no mere chance that there are many legends about Caucasian longevity, as there are more people over 100 years of age in the Caucasus than anywhere else in the world.

The Gelendzhik bay of the Black sea coast of the Caucasus has ideal conditions of a climatic health resort: mild and warm winters and hot and dry summers. Gelendzhik literally bursts with sanitaria which beside solar and seawater baths offer mud therapy and wine therapy treatment. Gelendzhik mineral water is used for treatment of kidney and gastric diseases. Recently Gelendzhik is dynamically developing: a magnificent embankment with numerous entertainment facilities and amusement parks has been newly constructed. Fresh air is fragrant with pine flavour and the town's environs feature mountain waterfalls, cedar woods, and historical monuments. For example, there still exist remnants of a 2000 thousand-year-old settlement.

On the Abrau peninsula not far from Novorossiysk on the bank of the mountain lake Abrau, in the estate of the Russian tsar, there is a winery which since the end of the XIX century has been producing champagne and other Kuban wines. Russian sparkle wine is in no way inferior to the famous French champagne and is considerably less expensive. Gigantic wine cellars are 90 meters deep under the ground. Local collection wines can be tried in tasting rooms and restaurants all over the Black sea coast.

Tuapse resort is an exclusive ecologically clean corner of the Black sea coast. The richest flora on the whole coast, climatic factors, abundance of forests and natural monuments make it unique. Pebble and sandy beaches run along the 110 km length of the area. The «Dolphin», the biggest aqua park on the Black sea coast, is situated in Tuapse. The town's environs preserve natural, historical and archaeological monuments: caves, lakes, petroglyphs, waterfalls, dolmens, ancient settlements. A wild bee honey leaks from craves of the Medovye (Honey) caves and there is a dolmen under an ancient burial mound which resembles the famous English Stonehenge.

It is a major family and children resort in Russia. The town is situated on the bank of the environmentally clean Anapa bay, in place of the ancient town of Gorgipia. A unique combination of dry steppe climate with fresh sea air, 280 sunny days a year, mud and mineral springs contribute to pleasant rest and treatment of many respiratory, cardiovascular and dermatological diseases. Anapa's environs offer a lot to see: a mountain lake, holy springs with silver water, the Utrishsky nature preserve with unique plants, a dolphinarium, and wine cellars where you can try local collection wines.

The most famous resort of Russia stretches 150 km along the Black sea coast. «Hardly is there a person who hasn't been in Sochi once» is a line from a well-known Russian movie characterizing an utmost popularity of the resort. One of Stalin's dachas (a weekend country house) where anyone can stay now is situated there. It is not only sun and sea that attract people to Sochi but also opportunities to combine rest with treatment in stylish sanitaria. The famous Matsesta mineral springs that help to cure many deceases is an important medical factor. Every year Sochi becomes the venue of many international exhibitions, competitions, tournaments, forums and festivals.

The heart of Sochi resort is Matsesta, a spa with sulfated hydrogen springs. «Matsesta» is translated from Adygei as «burning water» because skin turns red on submerging into sulfate water. Crusaders on their way from eastern crusades to Western Europe restored health in Matsesta waters. Illnesses of locomotorium, blood pressure disorders, nervous and skin diseases are treated in Matsesta. There are many interesting sights in the environs of Matsesta: waterfalls Zmeika (Little snake) and Agura in the valley of the Matsesta River, the Orlinye (Eagle) Cliffs with the figure of Prometheus on top of one of them.

Krasnaya Polyana, a mountain ski resort at the foothills of the southern slope of the main Caucasus mountain range, is situated within 50 km from the seaside and at the height of 600 meters above sea level. Its unique mountain-marine climate is in no way inferior to mountain resorts of Switzerland, Italy, and France. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, the confirmed mountain skier, likes visiting Krasnaya Polyana, and it is no wonder that now the resort is dynamically developing: new roads with tunnels, elevators, cableways and ski-tracks are built. In Krasnaya Polyana you can go skiing, riding a Russian troika (three horses harnessed together), flying paragliders, riding snowmobiles, and after a half-an hour drive get to the beach and swim in a warm sea. Not far from Krasnaya Polyana there are mineral springs, the "Flora and fauna of Caucasus" museum and Nicolas II hunting lodge.

Taman’ is a small town where the Black and Azov seas meet, which preserves traces of the ancient civilization, Russian Middle Ages, Venetian and Osman cultures. Among its sights are the old Cossack church of unique architecture, a monument to the Cossacks of singular design, the Antique museum and the Museum of the Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov who glorified this town in the novel «The hero of our time». Local markets are famous for fish, caviar and Taman wines. The Archaeological museum displays exhibits from archaeological sites of the ancient Hermonassa and the old Russian gorodishche (settlement) Tmutarakan’. Not far from Taman’ there is the Solenoye (Salt) Lake with medical mud, mud volcanoes: their mud rejuvenates skin.

Krasnodar is the center of the rich south krai (territory) of Russia. Its former name is Ekaterinodar. Cossacks founded the city in the XVIII century on the right bank of the Kuban River. The city has several museums; the Art museum is famous for its wonderful collection of Russian avant-garde of the early XX century. The city hosts the Kuban academic Cossack choir that is famous worldwide.

Cossacks, descendants of «Free people», a special social group dating from the 15th-16th centuries, live mainly in Krasnodar territory. During several centuries they developed own customs, rites, way of life. Cossacks elected their leaders - chieftains, solved jointly most important problems, and lived on raids to adjoining territories - Crimea and Turkey. Free life runs in Cossacks' blood. This is what the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin said about them: «always on horseback, always ready to fight». Most dear things for a Cossack are a horse and a saber; even now a courageous and devil-may-care person is called "a baring Cossack".

The Caucasus is a territory between the Black, the Azov and the Caspian seas, whose area nearly equals the area of Spain (over 500 thousand sq.km.) The greatest mountain in Europe - Elbrus (5642 m) - is situated in the Caucasus ridge. Elbrus resorts, Dombai, Teberda, Arkhyz, attract many skiers, snowboarders, mountain climbers, and speleology tourists. The native Caucasus population is famous for longevity. A person who is over 100 years old is quite common there. The Caucasus has a special place in Russian literature. The beautiful nature of the area, dramatic events of the Caucasian war of the first half of the XIX century, old traditions of the freedom-loving mountain people are described in works of Russian poets and writers: Pushkin, Lermontov, Tolstoy.

Kavkazskye Mineralnye Vody (Caucasus Mineral Waters) is one of the oldest spas in Russia consisting of four towns: Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Yessentuki and Zheleznovodsk. This is the only year-round resort that has no rivals in the Eurasian continent in terms of abundance, variety and value of mineral waters. There are over 100 mineral water springs of thirty different types and the Tambukan Lake with its unique medicinal mud. The «terrain cure» method (a graduated outdoors walking) in combination with medicinal mineral water and other medical treatment is used for treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

There are thousands of picturesque lakes in the Caucasus Mountains. The biggest lake of the Western Caucasus is Abrau. It is situated 85 meters above sea level in a mountainous hollow, its green mirror-like surface reflecting woody mountains. Its origin is still a mystery. It is believed that the lake emerged from a small mountain river partitioned by newly formed mountains during the Flood. There is another mystery: where does the water from the lake go? A river runs in the lake, several springs spurt from its bed and there is no streamflow. In the Great Caucasus Mountains at the height of 2 thousand meters there lies small but deep Klukhor Lake. Ice cakes float on its surface even in hottest summers.

By the early 1920s of the XX century animals were almost extinct in Caucasus woods. Rare species that existed only there such as deer, bison, and west-Caucasian goat were disappearing. Foundation of the Caucasus nature reserve and several wildlife refuges saved them and helped to settle many other species. Boars, chamois and roedeers are quite common, there are many Caucasian goats and bisons. The pride of the local woods is a Caucasian red deer, a big, well-shaped and gracious animal. Bucks with gorgeous horns are especially beautiful. Their beauty is rivaled only by gracious roedeer and axis deer and European fallow deer brought to the Caucasus. These agile animals run unbelievably fast jumping 8 meters high. A Caucasian bear reigns in subtropical woods of the Black sea coast. This cowardly animal is a vegetarian and is not dangerous for man.

Elbrus is a mountain massif of the Great Caucasus representing a cone of a dead volcano with two summits - the western (5261 m) and the eastern (5642 m) are divided by a deep saddle (5325 m). Russians consider Elbrus the highest point of Europe and not Mont Blanc as is recognized worldwide. One of its summits was first conquered in 1829 and in the XX century Prielbrusye (near Elbrus area) became the venue of popular climbing and one of the major centers of mountain skiing and tourism. The area of settlements Terskol, Elbrus, Tegenkli hosts tourist camps, shelters, alpine camps and cableways.

Siberia

Siberia is rather more an image than a geographical concept. Everything reaching to the east beyond the Ural Mountains, the whole northern part of the Asian continent, is considered by most people - especially foreigners - to be Siberia. For those who have never been there, all this huge space - the cities, forests, seas, rivers, lakes and bogs - merge into one stereo¬type: snow, frost, huge distances, wildness.

Actually Siberia is various and many-sided. To divide it into regions is rather arbitrary: Western and Eastern Siberia, Altai, Tuva and Khakassia, the Sayans and Transbaikalia, Yakutia. The most northern part of Asia is also related to Siberia although it might be included into the Far North region together with its western, European sector. Seven thousand kilometers from west to east and 3,500 kilometers from north to south. Ten million square kilometers, almost 20 Frances by its area - that is Siberia!

The first Europeans to reach Siberia were Russian coast-dwellers from the White Sea. The first Russian cities there became Obdorsk, Tyumen and Tobolsk, evolved from the fortresses built after expeditions by the Cossack ataman Yermak in the second half of the 16th century.

The territory is very rich and in many respects not yet mastered by man. About three centuries ago the Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov foretold that "Russian power with Siberia will increase". There are plentiful reserves of gas and petroleum here, gold and diamonds, wood, furs, wildlife, fish, and the cleanest fresh water; on the mighty rivers, power stations, the largest in the world, have been constructed.

In general, everything is huge in Siberia: the rivers - Ob', Irtysh, Yenisey, Angara, Lena; the mountains - Altai and Sayany; the lakes -Baikal and Teletskoe. Through Siberia runs a significant part of the Trans-Siberian Railway constructed in the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th centuries, whose length is 9,332 km.

The Siberian frosts also are an object of note. At times they reach negative 40-50°C.

And «just» negative 25-30°C is quite a normal winter temperature for the local inhabitants; they do not notice it. But summer in the south of Siberia is rather hot, up to 30.

It is possible to swim, though the water in reservoirs frequently remains cool. Even in July it warms only to 17-18°C. But there are artificial «seas» here - storage ponds of numerous hydroelectric power stations. The large cities - Omsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk - are in the southern part of Siberia.

The main attraction of the Krasnoyarsk Region is Poles, a unique reserve in the spurs of the East Sayan. The outcrops of volcanic rocks here have formed about 80 groups of cliffs up to 100 meters high. Some have names according to their outlines - Old Man, Old Woman, Golden Eagle, Feathers, Fortress. Mountain-and rock-climbers are fond of this place. And here in Krasnoyarsk, a fascinating boat route starts - down the Yenisey, to the Far North, up to Dudinka and Dixon.

Mountain Altai is particularly attractive. Its main reference point is Lake Teletskoe. The local people call it Gold Lake. This area is very popular with all sorts of tourists: ramblers, rafters, skiers, climbers, fans of horse-riding. Some difficult water routes where you can check out your endurance and courage follow the rivers Katun', Bashkaus, Chuya, Chulyshman. Climbing the highest point of the Altai, the mountain Belukha (4,056 m), is considered very prestigious. In Mountain Shoria, near to the town of Mezhdurechensk (Between-the-rivers). mountain-skiing slopes are equipped.

Amidst the vast spaces of the taiga, the mysterious plateau Putorana is hidden, the highest part of the Central-Siberian Upland Region. «Putorana» in the language of the local inhabitants, the Evenks means «the country of lakes with abrupt coasts». The plateau is dissected by deep valleys, up to 1000 meters, forming lakes. From the highest point, the mountain called Kamen' (Rock), the view opens

for hundreds of kilometers. Streams rush down the steep sides of valleys in chains of waterfalls. Of course, there are no roads here so tourists get to this place only by helicopters, flying over hundreds of kilometers.

Buryatia, located to the south and east of Lake Baikal, is the centre of Buddhism in Russia. There are about thirty temples or datsans. As any nomadic people of the steppes, the Buryats have always had a real cult of the horse. The owner of a herd always knows each horse "by sights". A steed-friend is the main character of Buryat tales and legends. Highly appreciated is the healing power of mare milk or kumis.

The reindeer has been and remains the greatest asset of the natives of the North. It is ridden and harnessed onto sledges. From its hide, clothes and footwear are sewn and yarangas (tent-houses) built, and the meat of the deer remains the basic food for the northern people as it was hundreds of years ago.

In Southern Siberia, on the banks of the river Yenisey and its confluents, the small ethnic groups live: the Khakases, Tuvinians, and Buryats. There are about 80,000 Khakases and less than 200,000 Tuvinians. Some representatives of these peoples are masters of the unique art of throat singing. The singers do not utter any words, but in the sounds they produce in their throats you can hear now a whole orchestra, now the clatter of horses' hooves, now the hoarse groans of an animal. This art is taught from childhood, and not everybody can master it. It is interesting that throat singing is performed only by men.

In Tuva, the geographical centre of Asia is designated with a specific mark. There are few roads here and they are rather rough. But the fantastic nature of the region attracts travelers.

Not so long ago, another kind of exotic tourism originated in Russia - travel to the North Pole. A group is taken from Moscow by plane to the Spitsbergen Archipelago, and then by helicopters to a camp on the ice at the North Pole. Here the tourists will spend some days, and they have no time to get bored: they ride dog-sledges or snow-scooters, ramble across the ice hummocks, rise above the boundless white fields on a balloon. There is even a polar sauna and some amusements in the camp. And as soon as suitable weather occurs, a short rush by helicopter is performed to the spot with geographical coordinates 90*00'. Happy travellers have the opportunity of calling their relatives and friends by satellite phone and the pleasure of getting photographed at the most northern point of the Earth.

Siberian frosts are also a kind of sight, sometimes they reach 40°C and 50°C, and the local residents don't even notice some 25-30 °C. It is a usual temperature for the winter. But at the same time the summer in the South of Siberia is rather hot, up to +30°C. One can bathe, though the water in ponds remains chilly: even in June it heats up to 17-18°C. But there are artificial «seas» here: a lot of reservoirs of hydroelectric power stations.

The largest part of this famous railway built in late XIX - early XX century is on the territory of Siberia. The total length of the main line is 9332 km. In some region Transsib has not got a reserved motor road, so it is the only means of communication in Siberian expanses.

Siberia is multifarious and diverse. It can be divided into regions only by convention: Western and Eastern Siberia, Altai, Tuva and Khakassia, the Sayans, Baikal region, Yakutia. Also by convention the Extreme North can be referred to Siberia. Siberia stretches 7 hundred km from West to East, 3,5 hundred km from North to South, its area is 10 thousand square km, that is almost 20 Frances.

Siberia is rich and to a great extent not mastered by people. Yet three hundred years ago the famous Russian scientist Lomonosov foretold that the Russian power would grow at the account of Siberia. Great are the reserves of oil and gas, the cleanest fresh water here, the greatest hydroelectric power stations have been built at powerful rivers. All in all everything is large in Siberia: rivers - the Ob’, the Irtysh, the Yenisey, the Angara, the Lena; mountains - Altai and Sayany, lakes - Baikal and Teletskoe.

Krasnoyarsk columns is a unique reserve in the spurs of Eastern Sayan, in the South of Siberia. Those are 80 groups of rocks up to 100 m high. Some of them have got names according to their profiles - Grandpa, Grandma, Feathers, Fortress. It is a favorite place of meetings with mountain-climbers and rock-climbers. The reserve was founded in 1925 on the initiative of townsmen for saving picturesque syenitic columns. Rocks hard for climbing helped the creation of an outstanding school of mountain-climbers and rock-climbers of world level.

The Yenisey is the largest river in Siberia and the most full-flowing in Russia. 22 thousands of big and small inflows run into the Yenisey. Few people know that in its upper part the Yenisey has got two independent river-beds - the Big and the Small Yenisey. Their common way 4000 km long starts at the geographical center of Asia and flows into the Arctic Ocean. The width of the Jenisey in some places reaches up to 3 km. One can cover almost all this way by ship and appreciate the wonder and power of the Yenisey, see many towns and cross the Arctic Circle. The Yenisey is not only a beautiful river but also a powerful source of energy.

The unique Museum of Permafrost is situated in the town of Igarka, at the Arctic Circle. The town itself stands on perma¬frost and in one of the empirical caves, at the depth of 12 m, one can see the lenses of ice having firmly frozen into the ground making it a reliable foundation out of it. In the exposition one can see mammoth's bones frozen into the blocks of ice.

The Lena river crosses the Lena-Angara plateau, a hilly forest place. At this part of the river the banks are sometimes raised over 300 m above water. In this place or that one can see the Lena columns decorating the banks. They seem to be fantastic erections though they have been created by nature itself and stretch over 500 km. The width of the river changes from 1 to 10 km and there appear so called «cheeks», one of which is called «Drunk Bull».

Plateau Putorana is lost in the boundless expanses of the taiga. Translated from the language of local residents «Putorana» means "the country of lakes with steep banks". Deep, up to 1000 m, valleys cross the plateau forming lakes. Water torrents go down the vertical sides of the valleys making a chain of waterfalls. There are certainly no roads here and the tourists are brought by helicopters from hundreds of kilometers away.

The Northern deer has always been a great value for the aboriginal peoples of the North. They ride it and harness it into the sledge, make clothes out of its skin and cover the roofs of their houses, and the deer meat has remained the main food for them, just like hundreds years ago.

Tours to the North Pole is one of the kinds of exotic tourism which appeared in Russia not so long ago. A group of travelers is brought from Moscow by planes to Spitsbergen archipelago and then delivered by helicopters to a tent camp on ice, at the very North Pole. Tourists spend several days here: they ride dog-sledges and snow-riders and rise on the balloon over quiet white fields. There are even a polar sauna and attractions in the camp. As soon as the weather becomes suitable, they make a short rush by helicopters to the geographical point of 90° 00' 00° 00'. Happy travelers can make a call to their people by satellite phone and take photos at the extreme Northern point of the planet.

Horse worship has always existed with the Buryat and Tuva peoples, just like with all the nomad steppe peoples. The owner has always known his horse exactly. Horse-friend has always been the hero of legends and tales. Medical force of mare's milk - kumis - has been highly appreciated.

A historical and ethnographical bus tour «The Great Sayan Ring» has been worked out for tourists. This tour includes visiting the historical village of Shushenskoe famous because there had once been Vladimir Lenin in exile. The tour about the Museum-reserve is a merry adventure in a real Siberian village of XIX-XX centuries. The tourists not only watch but also take part in ancient ceremonies, games and folk dancing. In the tavern the tourists are treated to home-brew and lard and before saying goodbye they drink tea with a bird cherry pie in a Siberian house according to the tradition.

The Sayan mountains are a sacred place and a natural climate resort as well. The tour round the «Sayan Ring» is a unique one. Within 9 days you will get in touch with everyday life of Siberia of the past centuries and their modern life-style, come to know various religions. In Tuva tourists put up in real felt yurtas specially built for tourists will all the conveniences. A unique art of throat singing will not leave them indifferent. There is the geographic center of Asia in Tuva, buddhistic monasteries and the only shaman clinic in the country.

Altai is a mountainous country in Central Asia. This word means "golden mountains". There are a lot of legends about Altai. One of them tells that here are the gates to a mysterious country Shambala which will become the center of world civilization after people annihilate themselves. The nature of Altai is unique. Nowhere in the world one can find so many kinds of landscapes at such a small territory. Walking, water, mountain and ski tours of any category of complexity are arranged here.

Mountain Altai is especially attractive. The symbol of the region is the Teletskoe lake, local people call it «Golden». The territory is popular with walking and water tourists, skiers, mountain climbers and horse riders. Especially prestigious is climbing the highest point of Altai - mountain Belukha (4056 m).

Shamanism is a system of a primeval belief in good and evil spirits which the human life depends on. Shaman is the mediator between the spirits and the human. It is believed that he possesses a supernatural force, is capable to predict the future, can cure for an illness, find the loss. In Tuva one can see a magical ceremony of talk between the shaman and the spirits at the camp-fire. It is accompanied by drawling howl and playing the tambourine. In Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva, there is a shaman clinic. Everyone can learn one's future and go through the ceremony of ablution.

Small nations - the Khakassian, the Tuva, the Buryat, the Yakut inhabit the Southern Siberia, the banks of the Yenisey. The Khakassian are, for example, about 80 thousand, the Tuva - less than 200 thousand. Representatives of this nation know the unique art of throat singing. The singer does not pronounce any words, but in the sounds produced by his throat one can here now the music of the whole orchestra, now clatter, now hoarse moans of animals. This art is taught since childhood and not everyone succeeds. It is interesting that throat singers are only men.

Stone statues or stone idols are considered among the most interesting memorials of ancient Tuva. Those are sculptures of warriors with ritual vessels in their hands. There had once been about 200 of them, but most of them have been pulled off and are exhibited in the Museum of local lore in Kyzyl. But the most remarkable of them, «Genghis-khan» is still standing in the steppe. He has no relation to the Great Mogul. «Genghis-khan» made of light red granite is over 1200 years old. The people of Tuva worship the stone idols and believe in their force able to do good or harm.

Baikal

Lake Baikal is a gem of Eastern Siberia. Nearly a quarter of the global fresh water stock is concentrated in it, and the water is most transparent and clean. A white disk of 30 centimeters in diameter can be seen through the Baikal's water even at a depth of 40 meters! The lake is almost 500 meters above sea level. It is 636 kilometers long and has a width of from 20 up to 80 kilometers. There are 1,850 species of animals and 850 species of plants in Baikal, and many of them are found only here. The most famous Baikal fishes are sturgeon, umber, white-fish, and viviparous golom'anka. But the delicious omul is prized higher than any of them.

There are plenty of sunny days on Baikal, more than at the resorts of the southern seas. But in autumn, storms are frequent, with vigorous winds. The lake freezes in the second half of January, and becomes completely free of ice in May. The Baikal ice is extremely clean, as is the water; it forms huge transparent fields so that you can see the bottom and the underwater inhabitants of the lake.

Baikal is a real magnet for tourists. The majority come in summer, which is quite warm here. At the end of July, beginning of August, the water at the coast gets warm as well. It is best to travel on Baikal on a small ship, having the opportunity to change the route at one's own discretion, to call at picturesque bays and straits, to fish or sunbathe. Such travels are becoming more and more popular recently.

Lake Baikal is called «the pearl of Siberia». Almost a quarter of world's resource of fresh water is concentrated here; the water is pure and clear. A white disk with the diameter of 30 cm can be seen through the Baikal water even at the depth of 40 m. The lake is situated at the height of about 500 m above the sea level, its length is 636 km, the width ranges from 20 to 80 km and the maximum depth is over 1637 m.

There are more sunny days at Baikal than at the resorts of Southern seas - over 300 a year. In autumn there are often storms and strongest winds. The lake becomes frozen in the second half of January and gets free from ice only in May. Baikal ice, the same as its water, is amazingly clear and forms huge limpid fields; at a small depth one can see the bottom and the inhabitants of the lake.

Baikal is a real magnet for tourists. Most of them come in summer, which is warm enough here. In late July - early August the water heats well at the coasts. Boating is best for traveling along Baikal as it gives you a chance to change the route by your own taste, visit picturesque bays and channels, go fishing and sunbathing. Such travels have recently got a growing popularity.

The Island of OIkhon is the largest island of Baikal, with intricately indented coastline and high rocky capes, which form comfortable shallow small bays with sand and pebble beaches. The Western coast of OIkhon is low and rocky; it has stone and brackish steppes and sand dunes. The Eastern one, on the contrary, is tall, with steep and rocky slopes. Here, in several kilometers distance from the shore, the lake reaches its maximum depth - 1637 m. At the coasts of OIkhon one can see the famous Baikal seal and at the island itself the scientists have found a site of ancient people. American researchers consider inhabitants of Baikal coast the ancestors of American Indians, that is why the modern residents of OIkhon arise great interest in foreigners. Local people believe that Genghis Khan's grave is in a cave of OIkhon.

This first in Russia reserve was founded in Buryatia, at the coast of Baikal, in 1916 to preserve and study the sable. The Baikal brown bear and the squirrel feel fine, too, among the stone peaks mountain and taiga forests with lakes and picturesque waterfalls. At the central estate of the reserve one can visit the Museum of nature and take a bath with sulfate and natrium mineral water from a hot spring.

This is the most famous bay at Baikal, a place of amazing beauty. This is a grand architectural ensemble of nature, one of the symbols of the «Holy Lake» and the most popular tourist center. The sandy beach of the bay is enclosed with pyramidal rocks Big and Small Belfries and around them one can see the famous «marching trees». There are more sunny days here than at many resorts of the Caucasus.

"Trees on stilts" is the main sight of Bay Peschanaya. Mighty cedars with branches twisted with the wind are like dancing shamans. For tens of years the Baikal wind and water have been blowing and washing the sand from below the roots of the trees and they have stood up on their roots-stilts above the ground higher than a man's figure.

The amazingly beautiful lake Baikal features more than 50 species of fish, but the main edible fish is the delicatessen Baikal omul. Fishing at Baikal is so unusual and exciting that even most indifferent people become fishermen here. One can fish from the shore, but it is better to go on a cruise and try all the ways of fishing the grayling, omul and burbot. The main way of fishing is certainly with the minnow, but there are other, rather exotic local ways. You will be provided with the cordage and the ledger-bait, so it is worth trying!

The unique fresh-water seal is also called one more wonder of Baikal. Its main habitat is the Ushkany islands of the lake. Good-natured and curious small animals get to the shore stones and sunbathe; they are tens and hundreds. In other places this animal with whiskered muzzle and round childish eyes can rarely be seen so closely.

Over three thousand rivers flow into Baikal and only the Angara flows out of it. At the source of it, near Listvyanka village, in 70 km from the city of Irkutsk, there is a tall stone above the water with which the following legend is connected. Father-Baikal threw a fragment of a rock into his disobedient daughter, the Beautiful Angara who in spite of all the bans had moved apart the water of the surrounding lake and gone to the mountains, to her fiancé, the Yenisey.

Irkutsk, one of the most beautiful cities of Eastern Siberia, grew at the place of a stockade town built in 1661 at the bank of the Angara, at the mouth of the Irkut River. The architecture of these lands is an unusual combination of various cultures, religions and epochs. Here one can see both western respectability and purely eastern decoration. In the oldest part of the city there have survived many wooden Siberian houses from thick black larch, decorated with fingerplates with thin fretwork ("Siberian baroque"). Other places of interest are the house of governor-general (“White houses”), the building of Irkutsk department of the all-Russian Geographic society and the Irkutsk Drama theatre. There are many churches in Irkutsk, and there is even an organ hall there.

The Baikal-Round railway runs along the most beautiful bank of Southern Baikal. This unique engineering project was built in 1905. The railway was called the «Golden buckle» of Russia because of the complexity and high price of construction. It connected Trans-Siberian main line broken by Baikal (the trains had crossed the lake by ferry before). Now the Baikal-Round railway is a historical and architectural memorial: a deadlock single line railway with many tunnels and elegant portals. Several times a week an old diesel locomotive runs from the station Sludyanka to the port of Baikal delivering all the necessary things to the nearest villages.

Buryatia is the center of Buddhism in Russia situated to the South and East of Baikal. There are about thirty Buddhist temples - datsans there. Unique nature also attracts tourists to Buryatia. In Tunkin National park in Sayany one can see extinct volcanoes, waterfalls, caves and many lakes. Primitive sites of a man, rock paintings and inscriptions have been found here. Ecological tours where one can watch animals and plants in the reserves, climbing the hill of Munko-Sardik, rafting, hunting and fishing are also attractive. There is horse worship in Buryatia and the medical value of mare's milk - kumis - is highly appreciated. It is worth tasting.

Far East

To Europeans, the Far East seems to be a real «world's end». Indeed, there are more than 9,000 kilometers between Moscow and Vladivostok, and the difference in time from Central Europe is 10 hours! But for local inhabitants themselves or their neighbours from the countries of the Asian-Pacific Region the Far East is not so far. Air connections link the main cities of the region - Vladivostok and Khabarovsk - to Japan, Southern and Northern Korea, Thailand, and the USA. Tourist ships sail to Japan and the Republic of Korea. Throughout all the territory of the region, the Trans-Siberian Railway runs, with branch lines to the border and the sea coast.

The winter here is cold but dry and amazingly sunny, and therefore extremely healthy. Even the strongest frosts are survived easily because of the dry air. But the best time for travelling here is the second half of July, August and September. The Far East area is located at the same latitudes as Sochi at the Black Sea coast of Russia, so the sun here is as gentle and shines for 180-200 days a year.

Everything is surprising for a European in the Far East. Nature is really stunning because North and South, the largest continent of the Earth - Eurasia - and the greatest ocean - Pacific - meet in this «nook of the Earth». Everything is concentrated here, the sea with sandy beaches, fantastic underwater landscapes, water areas for sailing sea boats, taiga thickets still keeping their virgin outlook, mountain rivers, waterfalls, caves, mighty trees wrapped in lianas, medical mineral springs - you name it! Even the mountains are unusual in this area: low ranges reaching from southwest to northeast in parallel lines have round, dome-shaped tops and gentle slopes. There are no sharp peaks or crests, gorges or deep canyons here. These mountains are called sopkas. ln the mountains of the southern part of Primorye Territory, there is a very specific kind of fir-deciduous forest - the famous Ussury taiga.

Twenty-five native peoples live in the Khabarovsk Territory. Among them are the Ulchi, Nivkhi, Evens, Negidals, Udeges, Orochis. The most numerous group is Nanais. All of them except the Nivkhi have in their languages the word «nani», that in translation means «man of the land» These «men of the land» are traditionally engaged in hunting and fishing, and are known for their original applied art. Their national ensembles are very popular as well. Making the traditional clothes of the peoples living on the Amur banks is one of the most popular folk arts, combining the art of cutting, applique/work, leather, metal and stone processing. The dressing gowns made of fish skin are most interesting. They used to be worn in spring, summer and at the beginning of autumn.

There is a unique place in the Khabarovsk Territory, on the Amur bank, where ancient rock drawings have survived. They are approximately 12,000 years old. According to a Nanai legend, these figures were made by a woman's finger in the times when the stones were as soft as wax and three suns shone in the sky. Scientists in many different countries have been trying to find a key to the Sikachi-Al'an petroglyphs for more than a hundred years. Nature in Khabarovsk Territory is surprisingly beautiful. The forests of this area are healthier than anywhere in Russia. Only here grow the miraculous curative plants of ginseng and Chinese Schizandra, incorporating the healing power of Nature. In the Amur river flowing through the Khabarovsk Territory, there are 85 species of fish; only the Mississipi and the Amazon are richer. Therefore the opportunities for fishing here are unique.

Kamchatka, a peninsula in the Far East, is one of the few regions on the planet whose natural, virgin, wild condition has survived until our day. This unique area makes an immense impression on the foreign and Russian tourists who most gladly come here.

On the western coast of the Avachinskaya Guba, there are three groups of hot mineral springs - Paratunskie, Zhirovskie and Bannye (Baths). And between Lake Karym and Lake Kronotskoye, there is a unique item of nature - the world-famous Valley of Geysers. The south part of the peninsula is famous for Kuril lake -a huge spawning place for salmon.

The tops of Sredinny Khrebiet (Middle Range), crossing the central part of Kamchatka, are suitable for hiking. There are mountain lakes with warm water here and thermal springs. In this zone, especially interesting are the traditional settlements of the native population - Evens. In general, there are more than 70 different tours organized in Kamchatka - helicopter, river rafting, horse, ski and foot routes; ecological, ornithological, and ethnographical, including visiting of reindeer herds and fishing spots of the native population; traditional ensemble shows; reindeer- and dog-sledge races; sports hunting and fishing; cruises on the Avachi bay and underwater sports. The peninsula has unique opportunities for developing year-round mountain-skiing tourism. On the mountain Moroznaya (Frosty) near the town of Yelizovo, mountain-skiing runs up to 2,200 meters long are equipped and are certified by the International Federation of Mountain Skiing and Snow-boarding.

Twenty seven per cent of the region's territory are in the category of protected natural areas. The capital of the area - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - is located on the coast of the bay of Avachinskaya Guba, rare for its beauty and size. The bay is surrounded by a chain of volcanoes. In total, there are more than 160 volcanoes on Kamchatka, 28 of which are active, among them Kl'uchevskaya Sopka, the highest point of the peninsula (4,750 m). The Kor'ak group of volcanoes (height more than 3,200 m), 25 km from Petropavlovsk, is suitable only for hiking routes and mountain-climbing. The snow slopes of the volcanoes provide perfect opportunities for mountain-skiing. And there is even an ocean beach here, near the airport of Khalaktyr.

Not only plants but also animals have mixed up intricately in the Far East adding exoticism to this magic territory. The wolf, lynx and brown bear live together with the tiger, leopard, spotty deer, skinny turtle, bright large butterflies and marsh game or waterfowl. And consequently the sports hunt is one of the most popular kinds of leisure in the Far East. In general, due to the climate, the features of the landscape and wonderful beauty of the flora, all sorts of active recreation are popular in the area -adventure tourism and rambling on foot or skis over the mountain slopes. There are also developed slopes for mountain-skiers. Out of 160 cavities known in Primorye - underground manholes, niches, grottoes and caves - forty have already been mastered by speleo-tourists. In addition, there are more than 2,000 memorials of history and ancient culture in the region. In the Primorye Territory, there is a large preserve - Sikhote-Alinsky - where meteorite craters are found which are better preserved than any others in the world. In the reserve, about 40 tigers live, approximately 150 serows, and 100-120 spotty deer. But the main wealth of the oldest preserve in the Territory is the virgin Ussuri taiga itself.

The capital of the Primorye Territory — Vladivostok - is one of the most picturesque and interesting cities in the Far East. It is the «European» city nearest to the countries of the Asian-Pacific region. Its historical center is very original. Not a single building repeats another in its architecture; Gothic, German Baroque, Modern and Russian style can be seen together in a unique ensemble.

The Europeans think of the Far East as a real "Land's end". In fact, the distance from Moscow to Vladivostok is over 9 hundred thousand km, the time difference with central Europe is 10 hours. But for the local residents themselves and their neighbours from Asian and Pacific regions the Far East is not so far. There is a direct communication by air between the main cities of the region: Vladivostok and Khabarovsk and Japan, Southern and Northern Korea, Thailand and the USA. Tourist vessels run to Japan and the Republic of Korea. A railway - Trans-Siberian main line - crosses the whole region.

Winter in the Far East is frosty, dry, amazingly sunny and therefore extremely healthy. Because of the dry air even strong frosts are easy to stand. The second half of July, August and September are the best time for traveling. The Far Eastern region is situated at the same latitude as Sochi at the coast of the Black sea, so the sun there is as caressing and shines 180 - 200 days a year.

Everything in the Far East is surprising for the European. The nature is just astonishing because East and West meet in this corner of the planet, the greatest continent - Eurasia and the greatest ocean - the Pacific meet here, too. Here one can find everything: the sea with sandy beaches, fairy underwater landscapes, areas for sea cruises, taiga woods, small mountain rivers, waterfalls, caves, mineral springs.

Even mountains are unusual in this region: there are low mountain ranges running from the South-West to the North-East parallel to each other with round dome-shaped peaks and gentle slopes. Such mountains are called sopkas. In the mountains of the Southern part of the Primorie district there are coniferous and deciduous forests - the famous Ussuri taiga.

Both plants and animals are fantastically mixed up in the Far East adding exotics to this wonderful region. The wolf, the lynx and the brown bear live near the tiger, the leopard, the spotty deer, bright and big butterflies, wader and fur animals. That is why hunting sport is one of the most popular kinds of leisure in the Far East.

Bear is the largest of the predatory animals living in the Russian woods. From time immemorial he is a symbol of Russia. The bear is respected for force and skill, he is one of the main characters of Russian fairy tales. On the Far East the favourite food of the bear is salmon which inhabits the local rivers.

At the territory of the Primorye region, in the biggest reserve - Sikhote-Alin’ - there are meteorite craters which have no equal in the world in terms of their size and integrity. The reserve is inhabited by nearly 40 tigers, about 150 serows and 100 - 120 spotty deer. The main riches of the oldest reserve of the region is its virgin Ussurian taiga.

The capital of Primorye is one of the picturesque and interesting cities of the Far East. This is the nearest to the Pacific and Asian countries «European» city. The historical center of Vladivostok is very special - architecture of every building is unique. Gothic, German baroque styles neighbour on modern and Russian styles there.

25 native peoples of the North live in the territory of Khabarovsk district, for 8 of them this territory is aboriginal. They are Ulchi, Nivkh, Even, Negidal, Udege and Orochi. All these peoples except Nivkh have in their languages the word «nani» which means «man of the land». These "people of the land" are traditionally busy with hunting and fishing and famous for their original decorative art; their national ensembles are very popular. Traditional clothes are one of the most well known kinds of decorative art; especially popular are robes of fish skin, which were used in summer and in the beginning of autumn.

The nature of the Far East is amazingly beautiful. The local forests are as full of health as nowhere in Russia. Wonderful curative plants - ginseng and Chinese Schizandra grow only here.

The Amur is one of the greatest rivers in the world; it has been formed by the junction of the Shilka and the Argun rivers. It flows into the Okhotsk Sea. Its length from the source of the Argun is 4440 km, and it stretches from the junction of the Shilka and the Argun for 2824 km. The left bank of the river belongs to Russia, the right one to China. The Amur is inhabited by 85 species of fish that is why fishing here is unique.

Kamchatka is a peninsula at the Northeastern border of Russia. It is the land of volcanoes, hot springs, boiling geysers, fast rivers and roaring waterfalls. Tourists tend to visit the Valley of Geysers, which looks fantastic thanks to cascades of waterfalls, mud coppers, carpets of coloured seaweeds and lichens. The largest geyser - the Giant - throws out a 30 m high stream. In Kamchatka they take care of tourists and lovers of extreme rest: routes are worked out for mountain-climbers, one can go in for mountain skiing and parachute sport; rafting and fishing tours are arranged.

The peaks of the Sredinny (Middle) mountain ridge crossing the central part of Kamchatka are available for walking tourism; the area is full of mountain lakes with warm water and thermal springs. Of special interest in this region are national settlements of the native population - the Evens. In Kamchatka there are over 70 tourist routes - scientific, helicopter, rafting, horse and walking routes, ski trekking, ecological and ornithological tours, ethnographical tours with visits to deer herds, fishing of native population, folk ensembles, cruises and diving sport.

27% of Kamchatka peninsula is protecting nature site. The center of the region, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, is situated at the shore of the amazingly big and beautiful Bay of Avachi. A chain of volcanoes surrounds the bay.

There are over 160 volcanoes in Kamchatka all in all, among them 28 are active. They include Kliuchevskaya sopka -the highest point of the peninsula (4750 m). The Koryak group of volcanoes (3200 m high) in 25 km from Petropavlovsk is available for mountain climbing and mountain skiing. There is even an ocean beach there - near the airport of Khalaktyr.

There are three groups of hot mineral springs at the Western coast of Avachi bay - Paratunskie, Zhirovskie and Bannye. Between the Karym and Kronotskoye lakes lies a unique natural memorial - the famous Valley of Geysers. The South of the peninsula is famous for its Kuril lake - a large place of salmon spawning.

Mastering Sakhalin, an island discovered by Russian seafarers back in the XVII century, started only in the XIX century. Now it is an industrially developed region which preserves the virgin beauty of nature. There are small limpid mountain rivers rich with trout there, virgin forests where the Northern fir-tree grows side by side with the Southern yew-tree. The most amazing thing that scientists cannot explain is the giantism of plants. Even agricultural plants there exceed their continental congeners several times. The Tunaicha Island is the main place for fishing. Especially lucky are the tourists who can watch the spawning of salmon. Fishing there is interesting both in winter and in summer.

Kurils are a great number of volcanoes, phenomenal gurgling lakes, geothermal and mineral sources, therapeutic muds, beauty of landscapes and abundance of sea delicacies. Kurils are located on the border between the sea of Okhotsk and Pacific ocean, between peninsula Kamchatka and island of Hokkaido. Most known of them are Iturup, Kunashir and Shikotan islands. On the Kunashir island there is the highest Kuril volcano Tyatya and the world famous cape Stolbchaty, on the Iturup island - the highest in Russia waterfall llya Muromets (141 m). According to a legend in evergreen thrickets of the bamboo covering territory of Iturup, struggling soldiers of the old Japanese army are still hidden.

The most eastern part of Russia is famous not only for minerals and valuable furs, but also for monuments of material and art culture of 1 millenium B.C. There are excavation of ancient Eskimo settlements, burial grounds and the most northern in Asia rock painting (petroglyphs). Rare animals and plants species, abundance of fish, huge rookeries of walruses and seals, birdy spots, rocky coast of Bering Strait, hot springs invite ecological tourists.

Information of Russian Federation Federal Agency For Tourism

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