Welcome
to Russia
For most westerners, Russia
is associated with its European cities -
Moscow
and
St.Petersburg. This is the
heartland of Russia, and these great and ancient cities often
become the focus for most guests. However, there is much more
about Russia, a country that spans eleven time zones, ending
less than 85 km from North America. Within this vast expanse lie
the largest freshwater lake in the world, rivers and forests
teeming with fish and wildlife, awe inspiring volcanoes, and
towering mountains. Russia is the largest country of the Earth,
with enormous tracts of land, its natural and cultural heritage
waiting to be discovered.
Russia has a formidable pool of recreational
resources, including natural landscapes of endless variety and
inimitable beauty, monuments of history and cultural heritage,
unique engineering structures, and unmatched cities, towns and
smaller communities.
The most popular tourist attractions are the old
Russian cities of Vladimir, Suzdal, Sergiev Posad, Pereyaslavl
Zalessky, Rostov, Uglitch, Yaroslavl and Kostroma, the biggest
gems of Russia's Golden Ring. Also high on every tourist's
priority list are itineraries by boat from Moscow to
St.Petersburg and the Valaam Island, a central point of
religious piligrimage, or to Kizhi, the wonderland of old
Russian wooden architecture, the Northern Caucasus and the Black
Sea coast, to Mount Elbrus, the Ural mountains, and the Altai
country, in different natural settings, from the Black Sea coast
(like Gelenzhik and Anapa), the Baltic Sea (Sestroretsk,
Komarovo, Zelenogorsk, Svetlogorsk, etc.) to the mountains of
the Northern Caucasus (Teberda and Dombai), Ural (Kisegatch and
Uveldy) and Altai (Chemal).
In the forest steppe and steppe areas, the
invigorating nature is supplemented with refreshing koumiss,
which is a favourite drink among the vacationers in
Bashkortostan (Aksakovo, Yumatovo and Shafranovo).
There is no doubt that the most celebrated among
Russian balneological resorts, a craze since the early 19th
century to our day, of course, are the Caucasian Spas, a cluster
of mineral springs at Yessentuki, Zheleznovodsk, Kislovodsk and
Pyatigorsk, with Naltchik a short way off. The most famous among
the local springs are Slaviansky, Smirnovsky, Lermontovsky,
Batalinsky, the narzan springs of Kislovodsk, and mineral treats
No.17 and No.4 at Yessentuki.
With the disintegration of the Soviet Union crime
has been rising throughout Russia, however, it is safer here
than in many American cities. Precautions include not flaunting
valuables, or walking alone at night through city streets or
parks.
Moscow
Moscow is conveniently sited in the centre of
Russia's European part where the rivers Moskva and Yauza cross
the Central Russian Plateau.
A settlement of artisans and traders arose at the
site of the present-day Kremlin and Zaryadie long before the
first mention of Moscow in chronicles (the year 1147). Standing
at the crossing of the main trading routes (the Moskva river and
the Yauza), it had its centre on Borovitsky Hill. In the 15th
century Moscow became capital of the Russian state. With the
transfer of Russia's capital to St.Petersburg in 1712, it became
the country's second capital. In 1918, it became the capital of
the Russian Federation, and from 1922 to 1991, it was the
capital of the USSR.
Present-day Moscow is a capital of the Russian
Federation. Moscow is one of the biggest cities in the world. It
occupies the area of 1035 square kilometres. Moscow has more
than 5.000 streets. The population is about 9 million people,
plus more than three million tourists and guests coming
annually. Climate is moderate. The average temperature in July
and August is +20(25)°C; in December and January -10°C. The
humidity is moderate. The Moscow's winters are, as a rule, cold
and snowy.
Administratively, Moscow is segmented into 10
administration districts. The names of the districts comply with
their location: Central, West, North-West, etc. The districts
are, then, segmented into city regions, there are 128 of them in
Moscow.
The Moscow City Duma is the main legislative
body. The executive power is exercised by the Moscow Mayor, the
prefects and the sub-prefects. The municipal authorities are
elected by the citizens of Moscow (vote by secret ballot).
Moscow is a unique city, its architecture
combines the features of Oriental and Western cultures. The
Vysantium traditions were overlapped by the creations of
architects from Italy, England and other West-European
countries.
The Moscow museums preserve invaluable treasures,
including unique collections of Russian and foreign art and
material culture. Currently, in Moscow there are more than 80
museums. The most famous attractions include:
The Moscow Kremlin,
the beautiful and ancient ensemble stands high on the hill
towering over the left bank of the Moskva river. The Kremlin has
always been perceived as a symbol of power and might of the
Russian state, the national idea expressed in stone. It is the
oldest part of the city, its political, historic and cultural
centre, and the seat of the country's highest bodies of power.
The Kremlin contains unique specimens of Russian metal casting
art - the Tsar Bell (cast in 1733-1735 by the father and son
Motorins) and the Tsar Cannon (1586). Besides, it is the site of
several museums.
The Armory ("Oruzheynaya Palata"),
within the fortress walls of the Moscow Kremlin. One of the
oldest Russian museums. It was founded about 500 years ago. In
15th century the Armory was used to store the Tsar treasures. On
display here are unique specimens of applied art and precious
utensils, including the collection of jewelry of the 12th-20th
centuries; the collection of West-European silver utensils of
the 13th-19th centuries (ambassadors' gifts); the collection of
elite arms (12th to 19th centuries); the collection of golden
and silver embroidery (14th to 19th centuries); the collection
of fabrics and clothing of the 14th to the beginning of 20th
centuries; accoutrements and Tsars' carriages.
Diamond Fund
(near the Armoury), a collection of jewelry and
precious stones of great cultural and material value and a
selection of gold and platinum nuggets. Established in 1922, it
contains the symbols of imperial power (the orb, scepter and
crown), unique precious stones (like the diamonds Orlov, 189.62
carats, and Shah, 88.7 carats), the imperial family's jewelry,
and the world's biggest gold nugget, the Grand Triangle,
weighing 36kg.
The Red Square
(Russian: "Krasnaya Ploshchad"), the main square in
Moscow and Russia, the Red Square together with the Kremlin make
a harmonious architectural ensemble. The old Russian "red" meant
"handsome", "the best", "the main". The Red Square witnessed
many important events in the history of the Russian state.
The northern side of the Red Square is bordered
by the building of
the State
History Museum,
which was erected in the 1870-1880s. On the eastern side there
is a large department store built in 1893.
The Red Square is famous with brilliant
Cathedral of
Vasily the Blessed,
popularly known as St.Basil's Cathedral (at the southern end of
the square). The church has a uniquely scenic and festive
appearance, with 8 columnar churches soaring up from a common
pediment, with a ninth, central tent-like church towering above
the rest. Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of
this Cathedral in the memory of the seizure of Kazan, the
capital of Tatar Khanate, which disturbed Rus by endless raids.
The Cathedral was built by Russian architects Barma and Postnik.
Not far from the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed,
in the Red Square, there is
Lobnoye mesto.
There is an opinion that Lobnoye Mesto was used for executions,
but, in reality, it was used to proclaim tsar's edicts and to
hold various religious ceremonies.
Next to the Cathedral stands
the monument to
Minin and Pozharsky,
Russian national heroes, defenders who led the people's
volunteers in 1612. The author of the well-known monument is the
famous Russian sculptor I.Martos.
In the central part of the square, near the
Kremlin wall, in 1930
the Lenin
Mausoleum
was built to the project of well known Soviet architect
A.Shchusev.
The State Tretyakov Gallery
in Moscow, the largest museum of Russian national art. Named in
honour of art patron and art collector Tretyakov, who donated to
Moscow the family collection of paintings in 1892. On display
here there are the specimens of early Russian art of the 9th to
17th centuries, including the icons from Kiev, Novgorod, Central
Russia painted by Andrey Rublev, Simon Ushakov, Dionysius; world
famous pictures; drawings and sculptures; interesting exposition
of the Russian avant-garde of the 1920s; the Soviet art of the
1930s.
The Museum of Applied and Folk Art
in Moscow, here are displayed the best samples of the true
Russian art, ceramics from Gzhel, specimens from Khokhloma,
Palekh, Fedoskino, samovars, fine collections of furniture,
china, glass, clothing, textile, etc.
The State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
in Moscow, the museum comprises the collections
displayed in the Halls of Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian,
Antique, Early-Christian Arts. On display here there are
paintings and sculptures by famous Italian, Holland, Flamand,
German and French artists.
The Moscow Metro
is not the oldest one in the world, its stations welcomed the
first passengers in 1930. However, the architectural style and
wide scope of the stations' design deserve the name of the "Undeground
Palace". Nearly all stations are reveted with various natural
stones having unique structure and beauty. Currently, there are
over 150 stations of the Moscow Metro. The Metro stations were
designed and embellished by prominent Russian architects,
artists and sculptors. Their great talent and decorative skills
created not only one more transportation facility, but a
peculiar underground network of great artistic value.
Kolomenskoye,
the residence of Russian tsars (today, it is within Moscow's
limits), lying in a scenic place on the high bank of the Moskva
river. The museum of Kolomenskoye explains about the history of
this place since the ancient times. On display are the
collection of early Russian painting; fine samples of decorative
and applied art; tower-clock mechanisms, ceramics, decorative
metal works, wood-carving. The museum of Russian wooden
architecture displays the structures brought here from different
places in Russia. Among them the house of Peter the Great
brought from Arkhangelsk is especially popular. The funds of the
museum exhibit the unique masterpieces of the Russian art
(icons, drawings, early printed books, etc.). Each guest
visiting Kolomenskoye can feel and enjoy the Russian traditions
and peculiar national colour. Not only the interesting
excursions attract people here, but also many festive occasions
to celebrate folk, religious and state holidays. The festivals
of art are held in Kolomenskoye and special programs reestablish
the ancient traditions.
St. Petersburg
Russian "Sankt Peterburg", formerly "Petrograd"
(1914-24), "Leningrad" (1924-91), northwestern Russia, one of
the most beautiful cities of Europe. St. Petersburg - the Venice
of the North - is a city of haunting magnificence, an imperial
capital that seems to have been built as a monument to its own
passing.
The second largest city (after Moscow) in Russia.
The population is about 5 million people. St.Petersburg has
played a vital role in Russian history. Founded as St.Petersburg
by Peter the Great in 1703, it was for two centuries the capital
of the Russian Empire (1712-1918). It was the scene of the
February and October revolutions in 1917 and was a besieged and
fiercely defended city during World War II. The modern city is
important as a cultural and industrial centre and as one of the
nation's largest seaports.
St. Petersburg is situated on the delta of the
Neva River where it flows into the Gulf of Finland, about 160 km
from the Finnish border. The city once spread across nearly 100
islands of the delta. The low and originally marshy site has
made the city subject to recurrent, often severe flooding.
Canals and natural channels assist drainage and make
St.Petersburg a city of waterways and bridges.
The climate is of the modified continental type,
with marked maritime influences. February temperatures average
-8° C, and July's average +18° C.
Central St.Petersburg is divided by
distributaries of the Neva River into four sections: the
Admiralty Side, Vasilyevsky Island, the Petrograd Side, and the
Vyborg Side. Industrial and residential suburbs spread north and
south. The Admiralty Side is particularly rich in museums,
monuments, and historical buildings and squares. From the
Admiralty, the nucleus of Peter's original city, the great
street known as Nevsky Prospekt goes eastward. The street is
lined by palaces, churches, stores, cafes, and theatres.
St.Petersburg displays a remarkable richness of
architecture that includes the cathedral of the Peter-Paul
Fortress, the Summer Palace, the Winter Palace, the Smolny
Convent, the Vorontsov and Strogonov palaces, the Kazan and
St.Isaacs Cathedrals, the Smolny Institute, the new Admiralty,
and the Senate. Music, ballet, and theatre enjoy a long and
continuing tradition in the city.
Hermitage
in St.Petersburg, one of the largest museums in the world,
founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great. The present-day
Hermitage has several departments - prehistoric culture, the
Antique World, Oriental cultures, history of Russian culture
(including the palace interior and the 1812 Gallery),
numismatics, West European art, displaying the world-famous
works of Leonardo da Vinci, Rafael, Titian, Giorgione, Velazques,
Murillo, Rubens, Van Dyke, Hals, Gainsborough, Poussin, Watteau,
Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse, and many others, and
sculptures by Michelangelo, Rodin, etc.
Velikiy Novgorod
Velikiy Novgorod is situated on the banks of the
picturesque river Volkhov, 190 kilometres to the south of
St.Petersburg. The city was founded more than 11 centuries ago.
Modern Novgorod is important as a tourist centre. The population
is about 234.000. During World War II, the city suffered heavy
damage after the Nazi bombings, but the historic buildings were
subsequently restored. Among the places to see is the oldest
stone building in Russia - St.Sophia Cathedral in the Novgorod
Kremlin.
Murmansk
Murmansk (probably from the Sami word "murman"
meaning "the edge of the earth"), northwestern Russia, the
largest town in the world north of the Arctic Circle, lies 200
km north of the Arctic Circle, and on the eastern shore of Kola
Bay, at the ice-free Barents Sea, home to Russia's
nuclear-powered ice-breakers. The population is about 473.000.
The town, founded in 1915 as a supply port in
World War I, was a base for the British, French, and American
expeditionary forces against the Bolsheviks in 1918. In World
War II Murmansk served as the main port for Anglo-American
convoys carrying war supplies to the U.S.S.R. through the Arctic
Ocean. The town is now an important fishing port, and its
fish-processing plant is one of the largest in Europe.
A lot of guests flock in during the Festival of
the North, held in the last week of March and featuring reindeer
races and a ski marathon.
Vyborg
Northwestern Russia, the town stands at the head
of Vyborg Bay of the Gulf of Finland, 113km northwest of St.
Petersburg. It's one of Europe's oldest cities and has an
imposing medieval castle built on a rock in the bay. First
settled in the 12th century, Vyborg was built as a fortress in
1293 by the Swedes after they had captured Karelia. In 1710 the
fortress was captured by Peter I the Great, and Vyborg
thenceforth remained under Russian rule. From 1918 to 1940 the
city was part of Finland and held the name Viipuri, but it was
ceded back to the Soviet Union in 1940 after the Russo-Finnish
War. The city was occupied by Finnish and German forces from
1941 to 1944, after which it was returned to the Soviet Union.
The city sustained severe damage during World War II but was
subsequently rebuilt. Vyborg is an important fishing port and
also has ship-repair yards.
The population is about 81.000.
Suzdal
Northeast of Moscow, town in the Vladimir oblast,
one of the most celebrated tourist attractions in Russia, famous
for its abundance of historic architectural features, including
such marvels as the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of
God (built in the 13th century), the St.Euphymius Cathedral of
Our Savior (16th-17th centuries), the Cathedral of the
Deposition of the Veil (16th-19th centuries), the Protection
Cathedral (15th-18th centuries), and monasteries and churches of
the 17th and 18th centuries.
The ancient Russian town of Suzdal is about 1000
years old. Its architectural monuments have been shortlisted by
UNESCO as international cultural heritage.
Today it is a huge open-air museum.
Sochi
With the Caucasus mountains as its backdrop,
Sochi is a wonderful Russia's resort at the Black Sea. With its
subtropical climate, warm sea and adjoining modern resort
complexes, Sochi has long attracted heads of state, foreign
tourists and Russians alike. Sochi has dozens of hotels, tourist
centres, and campsites and more than 50 sanatoriums. Its streets
and gardens are filled with exotic subtropical trees and shrubs.
There are picturesque waterfalls, hilltop views, mineral springs
and alpine vistas to enjoy.
Vladivostok
Old Russian: "Rule the East", seaport and
administrative centre of Primorsky kray (region), extreme
southeastern Russia. The town was founded in 1860 as a Russian
military outpost. During World War I Vladivostok was the chief
Pacific entry port for military supplies and railway equipment
sent to Russia from the United States. After the outbreak of the
Russian Revolution in 1917, Vladivostok was occupied in 1918 by
foreign, mostly Japanese, troops, the last of whom were not
withdrawn until 1922. The antirevolutionary forces in
Vladivostok promptly collapsed, and Soviet power was established
in the region.
During the Soviet period Vladivostok remained the
home of the Pacific Fleet, which was greatly enlarged in the
decades after World War II. Vladivostok's military importance
was such that from 1958 to 1990 it was entirely closed to
foreigners.
Vladivostok is the chief educational and cultural
centre of the Russian Far East. It is the site of the Far
Eastern Scientific Centre, the Far Eastern State University
(founded 1920), and medical, art education, polytechnic, trade,
and marine-engineering institutes. The city has amateur and
professional theatres as well as a philharmonic society and
symphony orchestra. There are also museums of local history and
of the history of the Pacific Fleet. The population is about
648,000.
The city is surrounded by the Far East Maritime
Reserve and the Ussuri Nature Reserve, home to black and brown
bears, Siberian boars, Ussuri tigers, the rare Amur leopard and
hundreds of local and migratory birds.
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