PDF format - Russian Travel Magazine

Transcription

RTM
Into the Wild
in Kamchatka
The Price
of Victory
in Volgograd
A Mystical
Journey
to Lake
Baikal
Pskov –
the Cradle
of Russian
Civilization
Russian
Banya
from
a Gentleman
Russian Travel
Magazine
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Russian Travel Magazine
Contents
Russia on the verge
of a tourist boom .........................05
Into the Wild in
Kamchatka ....................................08
Gaze at the Stars in
Kaluga...............................................14
A Mystical Journey
to Lake
Baikal.................................................22
The Russian
way of life in
Leningrad Region ...................26
Arctic Dawn in
Murmansk .....................................28
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The Banya from
a Gentleman ...................................34
The History
and Mystery of the
Penza Region ..............................38
The Price of Victory in
Volgograd......................................42
Pskov –
the Cradle
of Russian Civilization ..............48
Velikiy Novgorod –
Heart of the
Russian State...................................52
The Taste of
Russia ................................................55
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Russian
Travel
Magazine
Editor’s Note
2011
Project “Otdykhay v Rossii”
Publisher
CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
(Moscow, Russia)
Address:
Marii Ulyanovoy Street 19-41,
Moscow, Russia, 119331
General Manager and Editor
Olga Anders
[email protected]
Project Manager
Leonid Alabyan
[email protected]
Editing & Translation
Ingeborga Knutz
Creative Manager
Sergey Sorokin
Advertising Department Director
Nadezhda Vakhtangova
[email protected]
Manager
Elena Averkieva
We would like to express special thanks to our
friends Aleksey Solomatin and Sergey Borisenko, without whom this project would not have
been possible.
Printed by LLC “Poligraphiya - Fert”
Circulation 60’000 copies.
The editorial office holds no responsibility for the content
of promotional materials. The editors do not enter into correspondence with authors and do not guarantee the return
of manuscripts. Published material may be reproduced only
with the permission of the publisher.
‘I am going to Russia!’, my English friend said to me. ‘And where exactly?’, I asked her. She
said, ‘Of course to Moscow, then to St. Petersburg, and I would love to see Baikal… and
what else would you advise me, do you know any other interesting places?’
I couldn’t think of what to say to her. And then I asked myself, yes, of course, for a first
trip to Russia, a visit to the Kremlin and Red Square will do, then a 4 hours train ride to
St. Petersburg... What else do Russian travel companies have on offer? There are a lot of
interesting routes, but how do you choose what’s best for you? How do you make sure
not to miss out on anything?
I open my computer and read the following: total area of the Russian Federation is 17,
075,400 square kilometers, it has over 183 recognized ethnicities living in its 83 regions. So
how do you choose what would be the most interesting place to see for me, my girlfriend
and my friends, who have all traveled the world and now want to go to Russia?
I so much wanted them to not just stick to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also see
the places where Russia itself was born, our “bright pearls” with the pristine, almost
untouched nature, with its simple and kind people, who for centuries kept their traditions and rituals, songs and recipes. And despite the harsh climate and life troubles,
Russian people never cease to amaze with their hospitality, their wide “Russian Soul”
and their unshakable spirit.
With pride and love for my beautiful homeland, I would like to present our magazine,
where we invite you on a fascinating journey through nine regions of Russia, from
Murmansk and Novgorod to Irkutsk and Kamchatka. We will tell you about the most
interesting things to do and see in these regions, and you will learn about their distinctive customs and best tourist routes.
And let everyone choose a route to his or her liking – Russia is a place where every
imaginable type of leisure is on offer and where adventure awaits you at every corner.
Every Russian region has something exceptional and fascinating, be it history, culture
or nature, or all at once!
Experience this unique way of being.
Enjoy your trip!
Address of the Editorial Office:
Marii Ulyanovoy Street 19-41,
Moscow, Russia, 119331
Olga Anders
editor
[email protected]
Telephone: + 7 499 131 2196
NOT FOR SALE
FREE OF CHARGE
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Russia
As far as its potential for tourism goes, Russia is among the top ten most visited countries in the world, attracting
over 70 million tourists a year. Recently, Russia’s state policy in the country’s tourism sector has undergone
significant changes. The federal and regional authorities are now actively promoting inbound tourism, with a
renewed focus on the growing needs of foreign guests and the latest trends in the global tourism market.
There are plans to establish a more modern tourist infrastructure, introduce
measures to support the commercial sector, improve the efficiency of
how the state regulates the industry, and improve the level of professional
training. All of these goals are reflected in the federal Russian program for
the development of domestic tourism in 2011 to 2018. Estimated 50 to 90
billion rubles from the federal budget and about 300 billion rubles in private
investments will go into the implementation of the project, in particular the
development of cruise, beach, historical, educational, environmental, and
other types of tourism in Russia. The plan is to ensure a cluster approach
to provide a wide range of quality tourist services.
Our country has always been famous for its warmth and universal hospitality. Come and visit us soon!
“The strategic direction of the Russian
tourism industry is the creation of a
competitive market of tourist services
in the country. The main goal for us is to
ensure the safety, quality and accessibility of recreation for Russian citizens and
foreign tourists alike. “
Vitaly Mutko,
Russia’s Minister
of Sport, Tourism
and Youth Policy
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Facts and Figures
Over 11.5 million foreign tourists visited Russia in the first half of 2011.
In 2010, the volume of paid services rendered to Russian tour companies
totaled 203 billion rubles.
The number of collective accommodation facilities in Russia increased by
3,1% in 2010 and amounted to 12.8 thousand with a total accommodating
capacity of over 1 million people.
Total income for the industry last year was about 900 billion rubles (about
2% of Russia’s GDP).
“Our brands include ballet, the great composers, writers and poets, and the places associated
with them, our religion and the great churches.
All of this is primarily cultural tourism. Another
line of development has everything to do with
our amazing nature and its extraordinary diversity. Hunting and fishing attract foreign visitors,
because they can no longer find these virgin
forests anywhere in Europe. Even the Russian
winter is a unique thing. The Russian north is in huge demand. For
example, groups of tourists come from China to Yakutsk especially to
witness the cold weather of no less than minus 45 degrees. They are
interested to experience this extreme. “
Alexander Radkov, head of the Federal Agency for Tourism.
Interview with the newspaper “Izvestia” 23.08.2011
About Russia:
Capital: Moscow
Area: 17,075,400 km2
Population: 142.5 million (UN, 2007)
Major language: Russian
Major religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddism, Judaism
Monetary unit: 1 rouble = 100 kopecks
Internet domain: .ru, .su
International dialing code: +7
Official state holidays
January 1-05 — New Year´s Day
January 7 — Christmas
February 23 — Defender of the Motherland Day
March 8 — International Women’s Day
May 1 — Labour Day
May 9 — Victory Day
June 12 — Russia Day
November 4 — National Unity Day
The climate in Russia is famously varied from the hot subtropical climate
of the Black Sea coast, the Caucasus and the Krasnodar region to harsh
Arctic islands and the coast of the Arctic Ocean. The Far East is dominated
by cold snowy winters and warm and humid summers. Particularly severe
is the extremely continental climate of Siberia and the northern half of
the Far East, which is also the cause of the permafrost area stretchig more
than 10 million sq km. The layer of permafrost, often richly saturated with
underground ice, can be up to 500 meters wide in the north, while in the
basin of Markha river it is as thick as 1500 meters.
Winters in the west of the European part of Russia and in the Caucasus
are usually moderate at 0 to -5 ° C. To the east of Yakutia it is very cold,
with January temperatures dropping as low as -40 and -50 ° C, sometimes
even -70 ° C.
Except for the Far North, Russian summers are relatively warm, even hot
in the very south. The average July temperature in the north of Siberia is
about 1 ° C, in the European part of the country summer temperatures
reach around 24 to 25 ° C, while in the south of Russia it can get as hot as
30 to 35 degrees. Russia has about 120 thousand rivers that are over 10 km
long, with their total length reaching more than 2.3 million km.
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Russia
CONSULAR MISSIONS OF RUSSIA
Abkhazia
Embassy of Russia in Sukhumi
Sukhum, Akirtava str., 24
+7 840 226-36-93
[email protected]
Germany
Generalkonsulat der Russischen Foederation in Bonn,
Waldstrasse, 42, 53177 Bonn
+49-(0)-228- 386-79-31
Generalkonsulat der Russischen Foederation in Hamburg,
Am Freenteich, 20, 22085 Hamburg
+49-40- 229-52-01, 229-87-42, 229-77-27
[email protected]
UK
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Edinburgh
58 Melville St., Edinburgh, EH3 7HF
+44-131 225-70-98; 225-23-09; 220-17-85 225-95-87
[email protected]
USA
Consular Division, Embassy of the Russian Federation,
2641, TUNLAW RD.,N.W., WASHINGTON D.C., 20007, USA
+1-202-939-89-11, 483-75-79; 939-89-19; 939-89-09,
[email protected]
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in New York,
9 East 91 Street, New York, NY, 10128, USA
+1-212-348-17-17; 348-57-62, 831-91-62, [email protected]
France
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Marseille 3,
av. Ambroisе Pare, Marseille, 13008
+ 334 91-77-15-25, 91-76-26-79 91-77-34-54,
[email protected]
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Strasbourg 6,
place Sébastien Brant, 67000 Strasbourg
+333- 88-36-73-15, 88-36-97-85, 88-35-34-81, [email protected]
More information on the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia:
http://www.mid.ru/zu_r.nsf/strawebeng ■
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Total Area: 464’000 sq km
Population: 345’000 people
Administrative Center:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Tourist Centers:
Nature Park «Volcanoes
of Kamchatka»
Local Time (UTC/GMT): +11
How to get there:
Moscow to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky flight (9 hours)
Seoul – Vladivostok – PetropavlovskKamchatsky flight (6 hours)
Tourist Information in English:
www.visitkamchatka.com
Where to stay:
Hotel “Petropavlovsk” ***
From 3 600 rubles per night
Hotel “Avacha” ***
Hotel «Bel-Kam-Tour»****
Where to eat:
Boulevard Restaurant
Italian Restaurant Da Vinci
Lounge Cafe BARAKA
Cafe «On-life»
Night Life and Entertainment
Entertainment Center «Sports Bar»
Pobeda Avenue 34, tel. 5-76-92
Entertainment Center «Kosmig»
Karl Marx Avenue 31,
tel. 9-49-90 (bowling)
Night Club «Nebo»
Elizovo, Lenina Street 6
Tel. 8 (41531) 7-27-27,
8 (4152) 444-666
Safety and Emergency
Situations:
Kamchatka’s search and rescue
team – (4152) 41- 03 - 95,
fax (41522) 27-65- 60,
Petropavlovsk - Kamchatsky,
Khalaktyrskoe Highway 5.
Center for Crisis Management –
300-112,
Emergency - 01
Police - 02
nearest consulates of European
countries and the US:
Germany Consular Section
Moscow, Leningradsky Prospect
95а, 933-43-11, 936-21-43
Spain General Consulate
Moscow, Nikitskaya street 21
937-56-27 937-56-26
USA Consular Section Moscow,
Novinsky Boulevard, 19/23
728-55-99 728-52-47
France General Consulate
St. Petersburg, Moika Embankment,
15 (812) 311-87-11
(812) 312-77-77
Switzerland Consular Section
Moscow, Ogorodnaya Sloboda
Lane, 2/5, 258-38-39, 925-52-89
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Kamchatka
Kamchatka offers a wide range of tourism opportunities, guaranteed to satisfy
even the most insatiable thirst for adventure, recreation and curiosity.
Paratunskaya features 30 recreation centers, including sanatoriums with
spas and thermal water pools.
Eco-tourism
Hiking and Volcano Climbing Tours
Kamchatka boasts a variety of outstanding wild nature spots. A number of
conservation areas were created on the peninsula in order to protect nature’s resources and help develop eco-tourism. Six of Kamchatka’s volcanic
sites are on UNESCO’s natural heritage list, including the Kronotsky nature
reserve, South Kamchatka state federal reserve, as well as natural parks of
Nalychevo, Yuzhno-Kamchatskiy, Bystrinsky and Klyuchevkoy.
Tours are also offered to the unique Valley of Geysers, to the caldera of
the Uzon volcano, as well as other spectacular monuments of nature in
Kamchatka. No matter which tour you choose, you would be surrounded
by a landscape of unforgettable natural beauty, that seems as if created for
no other reason than to be observed, admired and photographed.
Kamchatka has 200 volcanoes on its territory, with 30 of them still active,
making it one of the most remarkable spots on the planet. The mountains
in Kamchatka are ideal for ascending and mountaineering, and offer routes
for all levels – from the beginner to the very experienced climber. Ascents
are possible on various volcanoes, ranging from Avachinsky, Koryak and
Kozelsky to the Kluchevskaya Sopka, which is the highest active volcano
in Eurasia, with an altitude of 4750 meters.
Ethnographic tourism
Of particular interest is the history and life of Kamchatka’s indigenous
peoples, including, among others, the Evens, the Koryaks and the Itelmens.
Local travel agencies offer tours to authentic ethno-cultural centers of the
indigenous peoples of Kamchatka, where tourists can witness their traditions and customs, arts and crafts, and sample a delicious national dish.
River Rafting
The Kamchatka peninsula would be interesting to lovers of river rafting
adventures, thanks to its dense river system and mountainous terrain
coupled with flat valleys, which make up for one of the world’s most
magnificent landscapes.
Culture, Education and Sightseeing
The attractions of Kamchatka, however, are not limited to adventure tourism. City tours are on offer for visits to local museums and historical monuments of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city with a dramatic and fascinating
history, in which exploration and heroism are intertwined.
Health and Beauty Tourism
As an area of active volcanism, Kamchatka is home to about 150 clusters
of thermal springs, 52 of which are open to tourists. The Paratunskaya
recreation area, a favorite among tourists and local residents alike, is
located just 40 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The area
offers medical and spa treatments based on healing properties of its
thermal mineral springs, as well as convenient accommodation nearby.
Scientific Tourism
Kamchatka possesses an almost unlimited potential for scientific tourism. Its history, ethnography, culture and geology offer exciting opportunities for scientific
exploration. Kamchatka’s volcanoes and natural systems provide for activities
such as monitoring plants and animals in their natural habitat, including bird
colonies, breeding grounds of marine mammals, bears and much more.
Kronotsky Reserve. View over the Hot Springs
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Cruiseship “Silver
Shadow” at the coast
of Kamchatka
Riding Tours
Spend the winter in Kamchatka!
Kamchatka is a paradise, as ifcreated by nature for fans of winter spots.
Kamchatka’s skiiing routes are suitable for both the begin ner sand advanced skiers alike.
In Kamchatka, you will find ski resorts such as the “Red Hills”, with its stunning views of the Avachinskaya Bay (skiing trail of 585 meters), ”Edelweiss”
(732 meters) and ”Moroznaya” (975 meters).
Order an unfor gettable helicopter to urto ascend the steep mountain and
volcanoslopes of Kamchatka.
And after a couple of hours of skiing, make a trip to Paratunskiye hot
springs. After a short journey, you will find yourself in a hot pool of geothermal water, enjoying the kind of relaxation which is hard to find any
where else in the world.
Dog Sledding
Equestrian trails are made attractive by the uniqueness of the surrounding
landscape. In Kamchatka, riding routes run along scenic rivers and around
lakes, through steep mountain passes and dense forest.
Sea Cruises
Some 10 foreign cruise ships come to ports of Kamchatka every year.
Cruise tours around the peninsula are available as well, with stops on the
Commander and Kurile Islands, during which excursions are organized.
Watching sea birds and mammals is a particularly fascinating pastime
during the cruise.
Coastal Cruises around Avachinskaya Bay
A sea cruise around the area of Avachinskaya Bay is highly popular with
both tourists and Kamchatka locals. Avachinskaya is one of the most
comfortable and beautiful harbors in existence, and challenges places
like Rio de Janeiro and San Francisco for the title of the best port in the
world. The usual route lies through the Island of Starichkov, which is
frequented by sea bird colonies, and considered a natural monument.
Sea fishing is also organized during the cruise.
Dog Sledding and Snowmobiling
Dog sledding is a traditional means of transport for the indigenous population of Kamchatka. Dog sledding tours around the peninsula are readily
available, and one can even participate in the annual dog sledding race
“Beringia”, named after the grassland steppe which stretched across Eurasia
and where dog sledding is believed to have originated. Snowmobiling is
another popular way to journey through Kamchatka during winter.
Fishing Tours
Recreational “catch and release” fishing in the most picturesque areas of
Kamchatka is enjoyed by fishing enthusiasts of any level. Rainbow trout,
char, halibut, greenling, perch and different kinds of Pacific salmon are all
big game on the rivers of Kamchatka.
Sport Hunting
Hunting for the Kamchatka brown bear, which, at three meters tall, is one
of the largest subspecies of brown bears in the world, can be done in
spring and fall. Other popular game animals found in Kamchatka include
snow sheep, moose, capercaillie, wolf and wolverine. It is not unusual to
combine hunting and fishing tours during the same trip.
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Kamchatka
Snowboarding, Skiing and Trekking
Long snowy winters and spectacular high mountains make the Kamchatka Peninsula a natural destination for skiing. Off-trail, downhill
skiing accessed by a helicopter, known as heli-skiing, has become
especially in-demand in Kamchatka recently. The best time for ski tours
is considered to be from March to late May. Kamchatka offers skiing on
large volcanoes with average slopes of more than 2000 meters, and
smaller peaks of about 1000 meters. The most popular volcanoes are
Avachinsky, Kozelsky, Koryak, Aag, Arik and Vilyuchinsky.
Also available is skiing in more conventional ski resorts and cross-country
skiing. ■
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Population: 1’009’900 people
Administrative Center: Kaluga
Tourist Centers: Autonomous tourism
institution of Kaluga region “Tourism
Information Centre “Kaluga region”
Autonomous tourism institution of Tarusa
district “Tarusa Tourism Information Centre”
Local Time (UTC/GMT): +4
How to get there:
Flight London – Moscow, 4 hours
Flight Stockholm – Moscow,
2 hours 25 minutes
Moscow – Kaluga train journey
2 hours 40 minutes from Kievskiy station,
trains depart every hours,
or by bus 3 hours 40 minutes every day.
Tourist Information in English:
http://www.visit-kaluga.ru/en/
Restaurant “Usadba”, from 600 rubless
Refined cofee-bar “Plush”, from 500 rubless
Bar “Time-out”, from 700 rubless
Karaoke-bar “Mikrofon”
Nightclub «Sinatra»
Nightclub “V-Max”
Nightclub “Sumerki”
Where to stay:
Ski resort & hotel “Kvan” ****
Hotel “Kaluga” ****
Hotel “Ambassador” ****
Hotel & restaurant “Elki” ****
Situations:
Emergency - 01
Police - 02
Where to eat:
Grill-bar “Krilyia” Wingsbar, from 600 rubless
Nearest foreign consulates
are located in Moscow
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Kaluga
The Kaluga region is situated in the European center of Russia. It borders
the Moscow, Bryansk, Tula, Orel and Smolensk regions. With a total area of
29’900 sq kilometers, it has a population just over 1 million people.
The Kaluga region has a temperate continental climate with distinct
seasons, summers are usually clear and warm and winters are moderately
cold. The region has a lot of rivers, including the Oka and its tributaries
Zhizdra, Ugra and Protva. The Kaluga region has many marvelous nature
spots – the curves of the landscape, the bends of rivers, fields and meadows,
villages with churches and monasteries that are artfully inscribed in the
landscape. The National Park “Ugra”, which stretches across five administrative districts, was established to preserve these monuments of nature,
history and culture in the area.
In ancient times, the Kaluga region was inhabited by Slavic-Vyatich tribes, and
its territory still preserves much evidence of their settlements and fortifications. The history of any land is the story of its people. Patriotism, boundless
love and devotion to their motherland have always been a characteristic of
Kaluga residents. After all, it is difficult to imagine how a handful of brave
men from Kozelsk managed to resist the brutal hordes of Batu Khan for seven
weeks in 1238. It was in the land of Kaluga, where the Great battle on the
Ugra river took place in 1480, ending the nearly three hundred years of the
Mongol Yoke. In 1812 Kaluga lands saw the defeat of the Napoleon army, who
lost its invincibility title in Russia. The battles of Tarutino and Maloyaroslavets
decided the fate not only of Russia but of entire Europe. The Kaluga region
gave Russia its legendary WW2 Marshal Georgy Zhukov, as well as 146 Heroes
of the Soviet Union and 15 full knights of the Order of Glory.
The Kaluga region is home to many outstanding names in Russian history the famous mathematician Pafnuty Chebyshev, painter IllarionPryanishnikov,
prominent architect Vasily Bazhenov, Admiral Dmitry Senyavin, the legendary
explorer of the Taimyr Peninsula Vasili Pronchishchev, as well as his assistant
and successor of Semyon Chelyuskin. Kaluga is also associated with the life
and work of social philosopher Alexander Radishchev,”, Princess Ekaterina
Dashkova, Russia’s greatest poet Aleksander Pushkin, Marina Tsvetaeva,
Nikolay Gogol, Ivan Turgenev, Leo Tolstoy, Bulat Okudzhava and the groundbreaking scientists Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Aleksander Chizhevsky.
Russian dreams of spiritual development were realized in the revival of
Russian Optina elders in the first half of the 19th century. Best local thinkers, writers, philosophers, scientists and members of royalty all came to
see the elders of this famous monastery.
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The modern Kaluga region is an advanced industrial and agricultural part of
Central Russia. Among its major industries is machinery, car making, woodworking, light industry, building materials, advanced arts and crafts.
Cities in the Kaluga Region
Kaluga
The administrative center of the Kaluga Region, the city of Kaluga, is located on the banks of the Oka River, some 180 km from Moscow. It got its
first direct mention in historical chronicles in 1371. The planning and the
construction of Kaluga was completed in the late 18th - early 19th century,
turning the city into a shining example of urban Russian architecture.
Among the projects of the regional architects such as Nikitin and Yasnygina, are outstanding pieces of city architecture: the Trading Arcade, the
Ensemble of Public Places, the Trinity Cathedral, the Stone Bridge, which
is still admired by the visitors to the city.
The Kaluga region has long been the most advanced defense outpost of
the Princehood of Moscow. It was here where some of the most significant
historic battles have taken place during the invasion of Batu Khan and the
Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 against Nazi Germany. Kaluga is also the
cradle of space exploration and the place where the world’s first telephone
station was built. These achievements are attributed to scientists Tsiolkovsky
and Golubitsky Modern Kaluga is a major historical, cultural and industrial
center near Moscow, with a rich variety of tourist attractions.
The Stone Bridge is the only bridge in Russia, based on the design of
Roman aqueducts. The height of the bridge is 23 meters.
Korobovs Chambers is the oldest house of Kaluga.
The Trade Arcade (Gostiny Dvor) has been the main shopping center in
Kaluga since the 18th century to the present day.
Kaluga Drama Theatre, founded in 1777, is among the six oldest theaters in Russia. The theater regularly tours in Europe. In 2011 it gave
performances in Italy and in France at the personal invitation of the great
couturier Pierre Cardin.
The Victory Square is a memorial complex built in honor of Soviet soldiers
and Kaluga residents who died in 1941 in the battle of Kaluga.
Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to Tsiolkovsky’s life, work and his ground-breaking legacy
was opened in Kaluga under the patronage of the chief Soviet space rocket
designer Sergey Korolyov in 1967. It became the first museum in the world
dedicated entirely to space exploration. Half of the museum’s exposition is
dedicated to ideas and work of Tsiolkovksky, featuring a model of the first
rocket designed by the scientist, as well as copies of his scientific papers.
The second part of the collection is dedicated to the Sputnik launch and
space exploration in general.
Holy Trinity Cathedral. The Cathedral has a long history and was first
mentioned in 1610 in the Nikon Chronicle in connection with the funeral
of the pretender to the Russian throne False Dmitry. The temple was built in
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Kaluga
classical style and consecrated in 1819. The cathedral’s architecture is made
unique by its 17th meter dome constructed without any internal support. It is
2,5 meters larger than the dome of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
Borovsk
The town of Borovsk is one of the oldest in the region. Located on the
bank of the picturesque river Protva, it got its first mention in 1358. Borovsk
boasts a plethora of famous Russians who at various stages of their lives
called it their home. Famous philosopher Nikolay Federov worked here in
the second half of the 19th century, while Russian rocket science pioneer
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky taught mathematics in the local high-school.
Famous mathematician Chebyshev was also a native of Borovsk. Borovsk
today is a unique museum city, whose artists painted the city walls with
scenes from the life of Borovians and the beautiful local scenery. The largest
cultural and educational tourism center “Ethnomir” is located not far from
Borovsk on the border of the Kaluga and Moscow regions.
Ethnomir will incorporate 52 “ethnic culture neighborhoods” situated on
the 90 sq hectares. So far the tourist cluster can boast a fully operational
restaurant, cafe, a few souvenir shops and four such “neighborhoods”. The
“Russian neighborhood” has a two-story museum, designed as a traditional
rural Russian stove. Also operational are the Ukrainian, Belarusian and Siberian
neighborhoods. The neighborhood hosts are all carriers of a particular ethnic
culture. For example, the Russian Compound is home to a long-haired “Leshiy”
(russian folklore nickname for a “goblin”), who can play on a wooden pipe
shaped like a goose. Opened in July 2011, the Nepalese neighborhood is not
fully populated yet; however foundations for the Indian and Sri Lankan sites
are already being built in the neighborhood. Exploring a traditional interactive home representative of a particular ethnicity is an excellent educational
medium for school children. It is fun for adults too, as Ethnomir is a prime
spot for corporate parties, shopping and eating.
Kozelsk
Kozelsk is the oldest town in the region and was first mentioned in the
chronicles in 1146. Kozelsk earned its timeless reputation for its fierce 7-week
resistance to the army of Batu Khan in the spring of 1238. In response to such
an unheard-of audacity Batu Khan burned the city to the ground. For the
courage of its residents Kozelsk was awarded the title of the City of Military
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Glory in December 2009. In the forests on the right bank of the river Zhizdra,
shine the golden domes of reconstructed churches of the Saint-Vvedensky
Optin Monastery, which is one of the main spiritual centers in Russia. Restoration of another spiritual sanctuary, the Kazan Amvrosievskuy Convent in the
village Shamordino near Kozelsk is also in full swing.
Maloyaroslavets
Maloyaroslavets was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1402. The city played
an important role in the Great Patriotic War against Napoleon in 1812. As the
legendary Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov wrote, ‘Maloyaroslavets is the last point of
the enemy attack, the beginning of his defeat and the death of the enemy.”
There are various monuments dedicated to the heroes of the 1812 war, and
the city operates a Military History Museum. On the outskirts of the city the
magnificent Chernoostrovsky St. Nicholas Monastery is located. The monastery is a unique historical and architectural monument that is breathtaking
in its beauty. The walls of the monastery still remember the bloody battle
for Maloyaroslavets. Every year on October 24th, a colorful military-historical
reconstruction of the battle takes place in memory of the fallen.
Obninsk
Obninsk is one of the youngest towns in the Kaluga region. The world’s first
ever atomic power station was built in Obninsk, marking the beginning of
the nuclear energy era. It is no accident that in 1999 Obninsk became the
first Russian city to be officially awarded the status of the “city of science”.
The Central Seismological Observatory in Obninsk has been operating
since 1974, collecting data on the seismic pulse of the Earth.
Tarusa
Tarusa was first referenced in the chronicles in 1246. The town was a border
crossing point between the Princehood of Moscow and Lithuania, whose
armies regularly attacked Russian territories. Since the end of the 19th
century Tarusa has become a cultural center, attracting famous writers,
artists, musicians and poets, so named “the Russian Barbizon”. Russian
painter Victor Borisov-Musatov lived here, as well crystallographer George
Wulf, nature writer Konstantin Paustovsky and many others. One of the
city’s museums is an art gallery with an extensive collection of paintings
and drawings, including the works by local artists.
Meschovsk
Meschovsk was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1238 as one of the
principalities of the Seversk land. Meschovsk was home to two Russian
Tsarinas - the first and the last. A native of Meschovsk, Evdokiya Streshneva became the wife of the first Tsar in the Romanov dynasty - Mikhail
Fedorovich, while another local lady, Evdokia Lopukhina married Tsar
Peter the Great. A monument to the first Tsarina of the Romanov dynasty
was built from donations of local residents on the territory of St. George
Monastery in Meschovsk.
National Park “Ugra”
The Park was established on the territory of the Kaluga region in 1997. Its
total area is 98’623 hectares. The reserve incorporates two natural-historic
valley complexes on the rivers Ugra and Zhizdra, as well in the area near
the river Vyssy. The length of the Ugra River within the park is 152 km, while
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Kaluga
the length of river Zhizdra is 92 km. The reserve has 21 natural sights and
about 200 monuments of history and culture, 22 estates of old Russian
aristocracy and 18 churches. There are 62 human settlements on the territory of the reserves. It hosts 978 species of plants, 287 species of vertebrate
animals, including 48 mammals, 190 species of birds, 6 species of reptiles,
10 amphibians and 31 species of fish.
Rural Tourism
The Kaluga region is a perfect place for rural or agricultural tourism. Those
who would like to relax in the most picturesque areas of the Kaluga region,
will find more than 500 guest houses. Each offers comfortable accommodation, all modern conveniences and a number of “exclusive” services,
such as healing goat milk treatments, hunting, fishing, hiking, the Russian
banya, and much more. There is something to choose from for everyone.
A modest room in a cozy village or apartments with all modern conveniences, satellite TV and internet connection - you decide. However, one
thing that is certain is the home comfort, quality of service and hospitality
of the hosts. Delicious food, beautiful nature, the beauty of the Kaluga
region, heat of the Russian banya and a lot more once again confirm that
the best holiday is in your native land.
Other tourist attractions include annual festival dedicated to the work of
the great Russian pianist Svyatosval Richter in Tarusa and the “Guitar World”
festival in Kaluga, which attracts not only Russian but also international
artists. The Kaluga region is a fascinating place and many of those who
come for a visit, choose to stay here and proudly call themselves residents
of the Kaluga region. ■
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Penza Region
21
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27.10.2011 13:56:09
rkutsk is one of the largest and most visited Siberian cities and the
administrative centre of the region. A traditional habitat of aristocratic and artistic exiles in the 19th century and an intersection of
major trading routes, Irkutsk was once known as “the Paris of Siberia”.
Many foreign tourists breathe a sigh of relief when they step off
their Transsiberian train journey in Irkutsk, as this city quickly shakes off its
formidable Siberian image – its unique architecture, cultural life and friendly
people make it a rather charming place to stay in for a few days.
The Baikal Region had traditionally been a place of cultural convergence.
Regarded as a holy site for the numerous local peoples for centuries,
Baikal has become a prominent element in cultures as different as Russian and Japanese, featuring in their songs and folk tales. The remaining
stone carvings and parts of ritual buildings from thousands of years ago
evidence Baikal’s significance as an ancient praying site. The lake borders
Russia’s Republic of Buryatiya, which is home to Buddhist, Orthodox and
Shamanism believers. Every year, Buryat shamans meet at the biggest of
Baikal’s islands, Olkhon Island, to share their knowledge and experience
and to conduct rituals.
The crystal-clear breathtakingly beautiful Baikal regularly appears on various “Places to see before you die” lists for zealous tourists. Unfortunately,
for many Baikal is still the place to come to only during summer. However,
those brave enough to finally make a foray to this Pearl of Siberia during
winter, are usually shocked by how much they’ve been missing. The
giant body of water resting under a cap of ice surrounded by majestic
snow-covered Baikal Mountains is as much of a sight in January as during the summer, and perhaps provides an even more intense spiritual
experience.
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The Irkutsk Region
Total Area: 774 800 sq km
Population: 2’513’800
Administrative Center: Irkutsk
Tourist Centers: Irkutsk, Listvyanka,
Baikalsk, Baikal Railway, Maloye More
shore, the Island of Olkhon, village
Bolshoe Goloustnoye
Time Zone (UTC/GMT): GMT +08:00
How to get there:
Flight to Moscow, 3-4 hours; Flight
from Moscow to Irkutsk, 5 hours
Train Journey to Moscow, up to
36 hours, Train Journey from Moscow
to Irkutsk, approximately 3 and a half
days
Flight from New York to Moscow,
10 hours; flight from Moscow
to Irkutsk, 5 hours
Flight from New York to Beijing,
14 hours; flight from Beijing to Irkutsk,
90 minutes
Tourist websites in English:
www.baikal.ru, www.kbzd.transsib.ru
Where to stay:
In Irkutsk: Hotels “Europe”, “Star,”“Gloria,”
“Victoria”, “Mayak» more information
at www.baikalvisa.ru/
In Listvyanka: Hotel “Baikal
Business Center”, business hotel
“Delta, sanatorium “Electra,” Ski resort
«Sable Mountain”, more information
at www.grandbaikal.ru
In Baikalsk: Hotel “Irkutsk”, “Baikal”,
more information at www.eastland.ru
Where to eat:
European in Irkutsk: (500 to 3500
rubles) “Avantage» (http://grandbaikal.
ru/), “Beer House» (www.bier-haus.ru),
“Swifts» (www.strizhi.net), “Nezhniy
bulldog» (www.buldog.ru)
Japanese: “Kyoto” (www.kyoto.irk.ru),
«Kabuki» (www.kabuki.su)
Mexican: «Rio-Grande»
(www.rio-grandeirk.ru)
Russian: «Sibirskaya derevenka»
(www.restoranangara.ru)
Nightlife and Entertainment:
Entertainment center “Shark»
www.akula-club.ru
Night club “Megapolis»
www.megaclub.ru
Club-restaurant Estrada
www.estrada-club.ru
Nightclub Stratosphere
www.strata-club.com
Night Club Super Maradona
www.sma.irk.ru
Paintball Centre Action Painting
www.paintball38.ru
Safety and Emergency Situations
Baikal search and rescue team, Irkutsk
region, the village of Nikola
Telephone: +7 (3952), 70-69-80,
56-40-10.
Rescue Service of the Irkutsk region,
Irkutsk, Baikal Street 295, Telephone:
+7 (3952) 35-07-94, 23-40-51,
35-15-84, 35-32-73
Rescue Service of Irkutsk: Telephone:
+7 (3952) 56-02-46
Marshal Zhukov avenue 72 / 1
Telephone: +7 (3952) 35-85-10
Fire emergency - 01
Police - 02
Emergency Medical Service - 03
Gas emergency service - 04
Information service 09, 009
Free time reference - 223-223
Emergency call from a mobile
phone - 112, 01 *
MedLayner, medical reference service
+7 (3952) 70-23-03
Telephone code reference
service - 81-40
Nearest Foreign Consulates
Consulate General of Poland in Irkutsk
Sukhbaatar Street 18 Telephone:
7 (3952) 28-80-10 Fax: +7 (3952)
28-80-12 www.wiza.polsha.ru
Honorary Consulate of the Republic
of Lithuania
Baikal Street 259B, Telephone:
+7 (3952) 35-93-58
www.litva.irk.ru
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And let’s not forget all the fun winter pastimes on offer - dog sledding,
skiing, skating and ice driving are as obligatory in January as taking a
dip in Baikal is in the summer. Not that you need any more reasons to
come to the Irkutsk’s region, but why not time your visit to one of many
business, culture and sports events going on during winter?
The International Winter Game Festival “Zimniada” takes place in February around Irkutsk and incorporates several cultural, business and
sports events. This year’s festival was launched in the ski resort “the
Sable Mountain” in the town of Baikalsk. The games were opened with
a game of a tug of war, a skiing race and a weight lifting competition.
In 2011, the Festival attracted over 1500 participants from 17 countries
and over 40 000 people came to watch.
Baikal Tourist Fair, the Baikaltour, was first organised 15 years ago as
a way to facilitate business relations with foreign tourist companies
and promote the region as a lucrative tourist destination. Last year’s
fair brought together over 60 companies from Russia, as well as China,
Korea, Mongolia and Japan. The fair incorporated several business
conferences, seminars and roundtables, attended by regional and
international investors and representatives of the federal government. The entertainment part of the fair included a master class in
ice sculpting, which, of course is equally invaluable for fostering those
business links in a more informal setting.
Then there is a festival dedicated to the quintessential Siberian art form –
the ice sculpture. The ice sculpting competition “Ice Seal” takes place on
Baikal near the village of Listvyanka. The winners of the contest, which
attracts artists from all over Siberia, are then chosen for the team, which
represents entire Russia at the Ice Alaska World Ice Art Championship in
Fairbanks, USA.
Snowmobile races “Snow Leopard” between Irkutsk, Listvyanka and the
town of Baikalks also usually take place in the end of February. With a distance of over 150 kilometers, “Snow Leopard” is a race, which tests some
fifteen of its participants to the extreme.
Moving on to March, this is when an ice marathon on the frozen surface
of Baikal is organized. This year’s event aimed to promote eco-friendly
causes, and was titled “Keep the water clean”. With a distance of 42 kilometers and a rather chilly air, the marathon gathered 80 daring athletes from
14 countries. The intense conditions didn’t, however, deter 69-year old
Wilfried Fischer from Germany and 16-year old Russian girl Daria Manzii
from participating in 2011. This year’s winner also set a record, finishing
the ice race in 6 hours 30 minutes.
The Ice Marathon, being a uniquely exciting and extreme undertaking, was included in the 2007 Guinness Book of Records for being the
world’s only marathon to be run entirely on the ice surface. Finally,
also in March, is when the mountain skiing race for the Governor’s
Cup is organized. Over 120 skiing lovers from twelve age groups
come to the Sable Mountain ski resort to try their skills at Alpine
skiing and slalom.
Of course, there are plenty of other opportunities for fun and active recreation on Baikal that are off the official program. We are talking about
winter trekking across the lake, the Buryat national holiday Sagaaglan,
the taiga hunting festival, the Maslenitsa pancake week, and the less
conventional sports, like snow volleyball and ice football. For others, there
are ice fishing contests and dog sledge expeditions across Baikal. ■
Ice Sculpture Contest
“Crystal Miracle”
Skiing at Baikal Shore
Ice Sculpture Contest
“Soul of Lake Baikal”
Sled Dog Racing
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News
Kuban Cossacks get into
the Guinness Book of Records
October 2011 marked the 200-year anniversary of the
State Academic Kuban Cossack Choir. The celebration
culminated in a performance of famous Cossack songs
by what constituted the world’s largest Cossack Choir,
consisting of more than two thousand artists. The concert was attended by thousands of locals and members
of the special committee of the Russian Book of Records
and the Guinness Book of Records. Astronauts from the
International Space Station watched the performance
from space, and even got to sing along the traditional
Cossack song, “Unhitch the horses, boys.”
Russians to build a hotel
in space by 2020
The Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, located
in the Moscow region, announced its plans to build
first ever commercial accommodation in space. The
space hotel could admit its first guests as early as 2020.
They, of course, should be fearless in the face of great
heights, fast travel and strong acceleration. According
to the head of the Gagarin training centre Boris Kryuchkov, Russia has long been paying special attention to
commercial space travel, and 10 tourists have already
travelled to space. Kryuchkov added, “The hotel will be
able to accommodate only a few people at first, but we
expect the number of guests to grow to a dozen”. Tourists will be transported to the space hotel in so-called
“charter” space shuttles.
The first ever space tourist was American millionaire
Dennis Tito, who visited the ISS in 2001. His flight took
place on board of the Russian spacecraft “Soyuz”.
In vino salus
Wine tourism is thriving In the Krasnodar region of
southern Russia. Especially popular among tourists is the
Temryukskiy district, whose winemaking tradition goes
back to ancient Greece. Private wineries also have mini
hotels and wine cellars for wine production and ageing.
Here you will find unique health centers, located in quiet
picturesque vineyards, where visitors can not only appreciate the taste and quality of home-made wine, but
also to experience its healing properties.
FYI
Russia has the longest motorway in the world, which
links Beijing, Moscow and St. Petersburg. The project for
the highway, which passes through areas with permafrost, was first developed in 1966, and the work began in
1978. The project, whose estimated cost was 6,5 billion
dollars, was finally completed in September 2011.
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The Leningrad Region
Total Area: 85 908,8 sq km
Tourist Centers:
Shlisselburg
Ivangorod
Tikhvin
Vyborg
Staraya ladoga
Time Zone (UTC/GMT): + 4
How to get
to Leningrad region
Daily flight from London, journey
time 3 hours 30 minutes, tickets
from 10,600 rubles.
Daily flight from Amsterdam, jour-
ney time 1 hour 25 minutes,
tickets from 5800 rubles.
Daily flight from Hamburg, journey
time 2 hours 30 minutes, tickets
from 5800 rubles
Official Tourist Website:
www.lentravel.ru
Where to stay:
Guest House “Stary Dom», Tikhvin,
from 3000 rubles per night
Hotel «Dobriy Los’», Losevo village,
from 2200 rubles per night
Hotel “Petrovskaya”, Shlisselburg
town, from 3500 rubles per night
Where to eat: Staraya Ladoga
village, Volkhovskoe Shosse
Restraurant «Amsterdam»,
European couisine,
Vsevolozhsk town
Restaurant «Ivanych», Russian
cuisine, Ivanovo village,
Priozersky district
Restraurant «Prince Rurik»
Nightlife and Entertainment:
Night club, «Vyborg Palace»,
Vyborg town
Night club «Matrix»,
Kingisepp town
Night club «Pelikan», Kirishi town
Situations:
For Police, dial 02
State Department for Emergency
Situations of Leningrad Region
Tel. (812) 640-21-60
Nearest consular offices:
Consulate General
of the United States of America
191028, St. Petersburg,
Furshtatskaya Street 15
Tel. +7 (812) 331-26-00
British Consulate
in St. Petersburg
Proletarskaya Diktatura Street 5
Consulate General of France
191186, St. Petersburg, Moika
Embankment 15
Tel. (812) 332-22-70
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Leningrad Region
Rural - Village Tourism
Staying a few nights in a Russian village might not sound like the most
luxurious way to spend your vacation, but it sure provides for one of
the most unassuming and environmentally friendly holidays, which
has its share of fans. Leningrad region boasts abundant opportunities
for fun village stays that will surely prove to be very revealing of the
authentic Russian lifestyle
For a picturesque view, pick a cottage like the “Sorochye Gnezdo” at
the Gulf of Finland, the “Ryabinka” cottages near Narva river or the
“Zaklepye” guesthouse with its access to the charming Dolgoe lake.
For those who want to test a traditional Russian village home, book a
stay at Voronye Gorki village. There will be plenty of opportunities to
engage with the village life, including berry and mushroom picking in
the forest, hunting, fishing, horse riding and, of course, the cathartic
experience of a Russian banya.
For a taste of old-school high-life, visit one of the former estates of
Russian nobility, which still retained their history and beauty, with
an added plus of modern comforts. Check out “Mishkina Dacha” and
“Yegerskaya Sloboda Estates”.
Industrial Tourism
Industrial tourism is a relatively new but increasingly fashionable tourist trend. Many people believe it is impossible to truly get to know a
country without exploring how its industries function and how the
local people make a living. If you share this view, why not book an
individual tour farms and factories of Leningrad region, or perhaps
even to a hydroelectic plant in the town of Volkhov?
Event Tourism
No matter the time of the year, something fun or fascinating is always
going on in Leningrad region. The summer season in particular offers
many occasions for celebration.
“Tree of Life” is a traditional folk festival of the Vepsian culture and way of
life through music, games and performances. It is held every June in the
village of Vinnity of Podporozhsky district. “Tree of Life” combines elements
of a mysterious pagan holiday with contemporary outdoor celebration.
The festival also serves as a meeting point for indigenous peoples of the
Leningrad Region, including the Veps, the Finns and the Karelians.
“Sabantuy” is a traditional holiday of the Tatar people, celebrated on
the last Sunday of June. Come to Kuzmolovo village of the Vsevolozhsk
district to take part in costmary open-air games, compete in weight
lifting and pole climbing, and, of course, get a taste of ethnic Tatar and
Bashkir cuisine.
The cycle of historical festivals “Living legends of Leningrad Region”
attracts a lot of fans of military history every year. Visitors can feel the
atmosphere of past centuries – enjoy the costume dramas, see the
historical battles, try on the historical clothes, eat the national dishes.
“Кnight’s castle” is a July festival held at the Vyborg Castle in the Vyborgsky
district. The fest involves several medieval music concerts, as well as a theatrical performance during which knights, clad in armor and chain mail,
dressed in caftans and camisoles, compete in re-enacted tournaments.
“Russian Fortress” is a military and historical festival, hosted at the Korella
fortress in the town of Priozersk. Come for a visit and join the numerous
military and historic reproduction games, including an assault of the
Korella citadel. Or, of you prefer the role of an observer, watch one of
the professional fencing tournaments or just walk through the cozy
medieval streets of Priozersk.
Finally, in October the magical “Light a Heart” event takes place in the
village of Izvara in Volosovskiy district. Izvara was a family-estate of the
legendary Nobel-nominated Russian painter, traveler, philosopher and
scientist Nicholas Rerich. “Light a Heart” gathers visitors from all over the
world who join followers of Rerich’s genius vision, including artists from
the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Several musical performances are
organized, as well as exhibitions of Rerich’s paintings, many of which are
never showcased anywhere else. ■
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Total Area: 144,900 sq km
Population: 836,700
Administrative Center: Murmansk
Tourist Centers: Kandalaksha,
Kirovsk, Lovozersky district
Time Zone (UTC/GMT):
+3 (Moscow Time)
How to get there:
The Murmansk region is situated
some 230 kim from the borders
of Finland and Norway, a journey
which takes 3,5 hours in a car
Flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg, 2 hours 20 minutes
Flight from St. Petersburg
to Murmansk, 1 hours 50 minutes
Distance between Moscow
and Murmansk, 2250 km.
Between St. Peterburg
and Murmansk, 1500 km
Toursit Websites in English:
www.murmantourism.ru
Where to stay:
Hotel Park Inn Polyarnye Zoru,
from 2500 rubles www.nwhotel.ru
Congress Hotel Meridian, from
3000 rubles, www.meridian-hotel.ru
Hotel 69th Parallel, from
1800 rubles, www.69parallel.ru
Restaurants
and Entertainemnt:
All information
can be found on
www.murmantourism.ru
Situations
Emergency service, dial 112
Nearest consular offices
Consulate General of Norway
in Murmansk
Fax: +7 (815 2) 457 451 (reception)
+7 (815 2) 456 871 (reception)
+7 (815 2) 476 178 (visa section)
+7 (815 2) 457 959
(officer of the Police and Customs)
Murmansk office of Consulate
General of Finland
Phone: +7 8152 445382
Fax: +7 8152 448341
+358 9 578 56116
Official Representative
of Iceland in Murmansk
Phone: +7 (8152) 476 443
Fax: +7 (8152) 454 268,
+7 (8152) 465 488
Official Representative
of France in Murmansk
Tel: (8152) 445-382
Fax: (8152) 448-341
Honorary Consulate
of the Netherlands in Murmansk
Telephone: (8152) 40-06-00
(reception), (8152) 20/06/40
(visa section, from 14.00 to 16.00)
Fax: (8152) 45-74-51,
47-61-78, 45-68-71 (24 hours)
Honorary Consulate of Sweden
in Murmansk
Tel: (8152) 400 620 (14.00 - 16.00)
Fax (hours): (8152) 457 451,
476, 178 456 871
Telephone from Norway:
00 75 12 95 10 342
Phones: (8152) 400 600 (reception)
400 620 (visa section), 400 610
(attaché for police and customs)
Fax: (8152) 457 451 (reception)
456 871 (reception) 476 178 (visa
section) 457 959 (officer of the
Police and Customs)
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Mur.indd 28
27.10.2011 12:52:37
Murmansk
Interview with Minister of Economic Development of the Murmansk
Region Sergey Agarkov for the Russian Travel Magazine
Sergey, the Governor and the Government of the Murmansk region
started paying considerable attention to the development of its
tourism industry. Could you tell us why?
The Murmansk Region is the northernmost region of Russia, and is located
entirely on the Kola Peninsula. Those who were fortunate enough to discover all its secrets often call the region a “Treasure Peninsula.” According
to the research by the World Tourism Organization, the modern tourism
industry is one of the most profitable industries in the global economy.
Growth rates of revenues from tourism are far ahead of most other industries. It has a stimulating effect on trade, construction, transport, heavy
industry and agriculture. Rational use of our vast tourism and recreational
potential should be one of the most effective ways of restructuring the
regional economy.
How did the development of tourism impact the socio-economic
development of the region?
We formed a realistic approach to tourism and its meaning for the economy,
as well as to its beneficial role for the socio-economic development of the
region. Each year, the Murmansk Region attracts more than 300’000 tourists,
who come both in groups and alone. We are developing different types
of tourism - sightseeing, fishing, hunting, water sports, environmental,
ethnographical, mountain climbing, skiing and snowmobiling. The list is
endless. Just take the crab safari!
Also, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Murmansk region continues to work on cruise and ferry tourism based at the Murmansk seaport, that
are funded from the federal budget. This in turn should have a positive impact
on the number of tourists in the region and tax revenues as well.
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27.10.2011 12:52:58
Where do your guests come from?
According to independent sources, in 2010, the number of foreign tourists
increased by 12.5 percent to 36’000 compared to 2009 figures. The largest share of visitors come from outside the CIS, most of them citizens of
Norway, Finland, Sweden, the US, the UK and Germany.
Which investment projects would you recommend foreign businessmen to pay attention to?
The Murmansk region is very promising for the foreign investor because
of its position on the global market as a strategic hub of the Arctic. Hightech investment projects such as the development of the Shtokman gas
field and the Murmansk transport hub arouses a lot of interest from both
Russian and major international companies alike.
We are bidding on our potential in the tourism sector and we are focusing
on attracting tourists to the region. The regional tourism cluster “Russian
Lapland” is a radical step towards transformation of the tourist sector of
the Murmansk economy. It includes a number of investment projects, a
detailed description of which you will find in the Investment directory of
the Murmansk region.We have already developed an economic and technical plan of “Russian Lapland”, in particular the investment project in the
territorial single-industry formation of Revda. We’ve prepared investment
sites for six infrastructure projects, and finally we have received 150 million
dollars in co-financing for projects from the regional budget.
Let’s go back to tourism in the Murmansk region. Why should
people come here? What is there to see? Where should they stay?
There are very few places on the map of Russia, where you would find
such a variety in nature. Here, the Arctic tundra borders thick forest, the
sun never sets on the horizon in the summer, and in the winter the sky is
splashed in fantastic colors of the aurora. The number of lakes and rivers
of the Kola Peninsula is truly incalculable: there are over 111 000 lakes and
more than 20 000 rivers with the purest water full of fish. In the fast currents
of ours rivers, you could catch a truly royal fish, the “Atlantic salmon”. High
mountains with steep slopes, mountain passes, gorges and plateau-like
tops - all this leaves quite an impression on people who come here for
the first time.
What, in your opinion, is of particular interest in the region?
The real hallmark of the Kola Peninsula is fishing. The names of Kola rivers,
such as Rynda, Kharlovka, Varzina, Yokanga, Ponoi, Varzuga, Umba and Kola
are all well-known outside Russia. And all the lakes we have, with crystal
clear water! Salmon fishing is allowed during the course of its spawning
in 74 rivers. However, the “catch and release” type of fishing is usually used.
Some trophies weigh more than 20kg. Tourists from 35 countries, as well as
Russia come here to enter the battle with the beautiful and strong fish – the
wild Atlantic salmon. This royal fish! The region has more than 30 comfortable bases and camps on offer. At the same time, many of them, except for
the bases on the river Kola, are located in remote places. We transport the
fishermen there by helicopter. The wilderness, the pristine beauty... Nevertheless, it is a developed industrial region, and the only northern port in Russia
that stays ice-free all year. The North is interesting and unusual in all of its
aspects, it is this uniqueness that keeps on attracting tourists and makes
them return again and again to the Kola Peninsula. For more information
on the Murmansk region and its accommodation facilities, visit our website
at www.murmantourism.ru. Welcome to the Kola Peninsula!
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Murmansk
Investing in the Murmansk Region
With its convenient location near the Barents Sea, an all-year round accessible seaport, proximity to Scandinavia and a wealth of natural and
human resources, the region’s tourist industry is an attractive option for
long-term investment.
The most notable investment project in the Murmansk Region is the
international innovative tourist cluster “Russian Lapland”, which has
already attracted a combined investment of 4,8 billion roubles. As
part of the “Russian Lapland” project, 4 ski bases, two hotels, a tourist
camp, a recreation centre and a sanatorium will be built in the areas of
Lovozerye and Khibiny. The project is due for completion in 2016 and
has an expected return on investment time of 7 years.
Following the opening of the Russian Lapland, the annual tourist inflow in
the region is expected to rise from the current 65 000 to 265 000, and thanks
to the new accommodation, the maximum tourist intake capacity of the
area is set to increase from 4343 to 18 000 people. The Net Present Value
of the “Russian Lapland” project is estimated at 846,34 million roubles, with
the internal rate of return of 13,12 %. The development, which is expected
to create 2362 local jobs, is a joint initiative of a private tourism company
Nord and the Federal government of the Murmansk Region.
Russian Lapland
While the Kola Peninsula is full of places to be seen and mountain slopes to
be enjoyed, the modern infrastructure, which would allow doing all these
things with style, safety and comfort just wasn’t there in many cases. “Russian Lapland”, one of the most exciting tourist developments in the region,
is about to change that. The 24.4 million dollar project is designed to put
favourite regional tourist spots like the Khibiny Mountains and the sacred
Saami lake Seidozero on the radar of international tourist routes.
The main objects of the “Russian Lapland”
development will be based in the town of
Kirovsk at the spurs of the Khibiny Massif,
which is set to become the main skiing
destination, and in the Lovozersky district,
which will focus on ethnographic, ecological and wildlife tourism.
The first stage of the project will see the development of tourist infrastructure in the village of Redna, including the building of a skiresort “Alluaiv”, and a tourist complex called
“Museum under open sky”. Also planned is
the construction of a year-round business
complex near the lake Krovoe, setting up
tourist facilities with a focus on water sports
at the Umbozero lake, and the reconstruction of sanatorium “Northern Light”.
The tourist complex will make the various opportunities for active recreation in
the region much more comfortable and easily accessible. These are just a
few things you could do during your stay in “Russian Lapland” – skiing and
snowboarding, hiking through the tundra, rafting, ice fishing and hunting,
snowmobiling and mountain biking. You can learn how to build a real igloo
and how to survive in the forest.
“Russian Lapland” will draw its inspiration from the culture and heritage of
the Saami people, about 300 of whom still live in the Kirovsk area. “Saami village” is a designed to be an ethnographic, educational, as well as recreational
tourist hub. The exterior of the buildings in the village will be modelled on
traditional Saami dwellings, while guests will be offered authentic Saami
cuisine in the restaurants of the complex.
Lovozero also hosts the Museum of the Saami Language and Literature,
which highlights the work of the Saami writers and poets, and showcases
their traditional singing and other aspects of the traditional Saami culture.
Anyone interested in the life of these Nordic people, should visit the Kola
Saami Museum in Lovozero, which boasts a uniquely rich collection of
ethnographic material, from ancient stone carvings to more contemporary
arts and crafts pieces.
The second stage of the project will focus on the construction of two
world-class ski resorts - “Vudyavrchorr” and “Lovchorr”, as well as building of a gondola-type ski lift on the 1095 meters high Aykuayvenchorr
mountain in Kirovsk. The ski lift seats 8 people and is expected to be
completed as early as 2012.
The initiative hopes not only to kick-start a new wave of tourism in the
region and generate revenue, but also to support the local indigenous
people, help sustain and strengthen their cultural and ethnic identity
and give economic incentives to the population of the Murmansk region
as a whole. ■
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You wouldn’t believe,
but our 20-meter “gefilte fish”
broke all records
Chefs of the Jewish religious community In Birobidzhan,
the capital of the Jewish Autonomous Region, located
in eastern Russia, prepared the world’s largest stuffed
pike. Before getting a chance to taste this culinary masterpiece, guests had to answer a little quiz. They had to
guess in particular, what ingredients and in what quantities were added to the record-breaking fish. It turned
out that the “gefilte fish” needed many kilograms of fish,
vegetable oil, and flour among other things. The “Gefilte Fish” is considered a symbol of the Jewish national
cuisine. International Festival of Jewish Culture and the
Arts takes place in the Jewish Autonomous Region once
every two years in September. It gathers well-known
Russian and foreign artists from the US, Israel, Ukraine,
Austria and China.
The world’s oldest Slavic city
in the Southern Urals
A Russian version of the British Stonehenge called Arkaim
can be found in the Chelyabinsk region in the Southern
Ural Mountains. Many years after its discovery, Arkaim
remains a mystery for scientists who argue whether
the mysterious structure is remains of an ancient city,
or an observatory. Arkaim has a ring structure which
is clearly focused on the stars. Scientists determined
that the city is almost a thousand years older than the
legendary Troy.
Arkaim’s huge five-meter walls consisted of a wooden
frame filled with ground-brick. The ruins are shrouded
in numerous legends. According to one version, Arkaim
is where the Zoroastrian prophet Zarathustra ended his
life. However, local ladies are sure of one thing - if you
wash your face and hands in the river Karaganka on
whose bank the ancient city is situated, you can regain
youth and beauty. Arkaim has over time turned into a
kind of Mecca for esoteric believers from around the
world. Here they find a place of mystical power and
regularly visit the ruins of Arkaim. Not far from this place,
in the Bredinskiy district of the Chelyabinsk region, archeologists found the most ancient chariot on earth. The
chariot, discovered in the excavation site of Sintasha, is
much older than its Chinese counterparts, having been
built around two thousand years before our era.
FYI
Siberia is a region in Russia stretching some 10 million sq
km from the Urals in the west to the mountain ranges of
the Pacific Ocean in the east and from the shores of the
Arctic Ocean in the north to the steppes of Kazakhstan
in the south. Landlocked within Siberia is the Republic
of Buryatia, Tuva and Yakutia, as well as Russian regions
of Altai, Krasnoyarsk, Tyumen, Kurgan, Omsk, Novosibirsk,
Tomsk, Kemerovo, Irkutsk and Chita regions. Historically,
Siberia incorporated the Russian Far East as well.
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The Banya
ur car raced towards Krasnaya Polyana. We were late for an appointment.
It seemed that the avalanche of rain would wash away the paint on our
car, and the sudden hail would smash it into pieces. Apparently, we
were going through a purgatory – we were meeting with the Master
of Purity after all.
His name is James, he a subject of Her Majesty the Queen. And his unusual
business is called «BRITISH-BANYA." Of course, the “BRITISH-BANYA” is not a
simple banya, just as its boss is not just a London dandy. With the blessing
of the official representative of the Dalai Lamain Russia, James became the
chairman of the Buddhist Society "Amitabha" in the Krasnodar Region and
the South of Russia. He is now building a hotel, where seminars on physical
therapy, special training on the physical and spiritual detoxification and
free lectures on Buddhism will be organized.
Why did you choose to come to Russia and open a business in Krasnaya Polyana, so far from home? How did it all begin?
I came here once with a friend to ski, so began my love affair with this wonderful region. I came here three times since, and I had the idea of creating
an area of alternative tourism and recreation. Doing business in Russia is
bound with a lot of problems. We started at a difficult time, and lost a lot of
money. But these difficulties were a lesson to us. There was an old banya,
and we decided to try to launch a banya business, which was popular at
the time and now as well. I am an engineer, and I have read a lot on this
subject. Now I know a lot about banyas and here is the result of my work,
the «BRITISH-BANYA." Of course, we changed a lot since then.
Is “BRITISH-BANYA" a brand name, or you are using British technology which is unknown in Russia?
Britain is known for collecting everything that is the best in the world,
and then pretend it is a British invention. For example, the English tea is,
in fact, from India. Or take the British Museum, which is filled with artifacts
from Egypt. My big passion is environmentally-friendly construction. Here
I have a role of a scientist as well. I learned and tried many things in life,
and I use all my knowledge and skills here at Krasnaya Polyana. I make
money doing what I like.
Did you have to give up any comforts in England for the opportunity
to realize your creative potential in Russia?
When I was at university in England, I did not like the social life. I was bored
with my classmates. The teachers prepared me to enter the business industry, and this was probably not quite my thing. Now I am doing what I
am supposed to do. Here I am on top of the situation, and I do not want
to be a cog in someone’s business machine.
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How do you reconcile Buddhism as your religion and
banya as your business?
I went through many stages during my eight years in the
business. What the «BRITISH-BANYA" represents is the result
of my journey, both spiritual and material. The Buddhist
seminars and psychotherapeutic practice of my wife Tatiana
in many ways transformed the original business scheme, and
now we practice the symbiosis of spirituality and practicality
of mind and body. This is our way to get to know the world
and ourselves in it. This is a search for harmony. When we
visited the Dalai Lama, he told us something wise: "When you
are asked who you are - a Buddhist or Christian or whatever
your religion is, reply, my religion is kindness." In our view,
Buddhism is not just an instruction on how to live. The man
himself then determines if he is ready to live by these rules
or not. It's his choice.
Russian banya has a lot of their traditions, and, probably, not
all your customers understand the essence of your spiritual and
ecological approach. What do you do when people disagree with
your philosophy?
We decided early on that our creative and spiritual ideas apply to our family.
Those who disagree with us, accept it. And we do not impose anything
on anyone who is not interested. Making a choice is their legal right. For
us, banya is a way to give people an understanding of the meaning of
sobriety, joy and happiness. At the same time it's a nice source of income
of which we are not ashamed. We took our fate into our own hands and
offered our vision. You have a chance to try it, and afterwards you can see
whether it’s right for you or not.
How do you adapt to the Russian rules? And did the Russian banya
help you with that?
Philosopher Schumacher said that everything in nature happens harmoniously, albeit slowly, and we have to learn from nature. We live and work
here, so we’re already at home. I used many Russian banya principles in the
production - to heat the banya “in black”, to pour ice water, and many other
things. But along with this, we offer Native American ways of steaming and
Eastern herbal tea. I'm half Irish and one day I got to know a half-Native
Indian, half-Irish on the internet. He was a shaman of his tribe and helped
me learn the Indian technique of steaming, the sweat lounge, which we
offer here. I had to change the size of the clay steam tent four times, as a
difference of just 3 to 4 centimeters can change the quality of the service. I
constructed this banya like a musical instrument. Now it sounds brilliant!
James, you're an Irish Briton who lives with his family in Krasnaya
Polyana. Tell us, what is an English gentleman?
Oh yeah, I'm still an English gentleman! I live in the Caucasus and could
start telling you fairy-tales ... But I'm still holding on. I like to live and work
here. I'm curious. I live in harmony with nature, which is just beautiful. I do
not look down on people and invite everyone with whom I could share
joy and happiness. I am a happy person and a gentleman! ■
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The Banya
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Total Area: 43 200 sq km
Administrative Center: Penza
Tourist Centers: Tarkhany village
(birthplace of the poet Mikhail
Lermontov), mineral waters springs,
mud-therapy resorts, Zolotarevskiy
excavation site
Time Zone (UTC/GMT): GMT + 4
How to get there:
Flight London – Moscow, 4
hours. Plus a car journey to Veliky
Novgorod, 4,5 hours
Flight Stockholm – Moscow, 2
hours 25 minutes
Moscow –Penza train journey
13 to 15 hours from Kazanskiy
or Kurskiy Train, train departs
every hours
Where to stay:
Hotel ‘London – Paris’
www.pnz-lp.ru, from 2000 rubles
Hotel ‘Penza’ www.hotel-penza.ru,
from 2300 rubles
Where to eat:
Russian: Restaurant Slavyanskiy,
average bill 850 rubles
European: Restaurant Evropeyskiy,
Nightlife and Entertainment
Entertainment comlex
‘Dostoyevskiy’
Situations
Rescue Service 01 (dial 112 from
mobile phone)
Police 02
Ambulance 03
Nearest foreign consulates are
located in Moscow
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Penza Region
The city of Penza is a fascinating concoction of historical and architectural
monuments from 18th and 19th centuries, set against Soviet buildings and
contemporary high-rises. The first ever Drama Theater in Russia was built
in Penza in 1793 and the city came to be known as the “New Athens” for
the variety of educational and cultural establishment that appeared later.
The Nikitin Brothers also built the first provincial circus in Penza in 1873,
which after more than a century later remains second only to circuses in
Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Penza boasts a plethora of traditional Russian churches, some of the most
remarkable and best preserved of which are the 17th century Trinity
Convent, the Protection Monastery, the Peter and Paul Cathedral and the
Transfiguration Monastery. The Trinity-Skanov Monastery in Narovchatovsky
district near Penza is an important architectural monument and a pilgrimage site for Orthodox believers from all over Russia, who come to pray to
its Trubchevsk icon of the Mother of God.
Being the hometown of one of the fathers of Russian Futurism, Vsevolod
Meyerhold, Penza could rightly be called the birthplace of the movement
in Russia. Penza Art Institute was the alma mater of one of the most prominent avant-garde figures in the world, painter and architect Vladimir Tatlin.
Boyeva Gora Street hosts the famous House of the Futurists, which was the
usual hang out place of Tatlin, famous cubist painter Aristrakh Lentulov
and legendary revolutionary poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. The House of the
Futurists is also where Mayakovsky met his muse Tatiana Yakovleva, who
many would argue has led the poet to his tragically early death.
Penza’s main pedestrian street Moskovksaya features a variety of interesting architecture, such as the 19th century Meat Arcade, which looks rather
regal, but is in fact the place where meat used to be sold. Moskovskaya
Street is now more suitable for a relaxing stroll, a coffee and a place to
do some shopping for local art and souvenirs. And if you find yourself in
need for a refreshing swim, head to the Penza open swimming pool, also
operational in winter for a more intense experience.
The historic role of the city as a 17th century fortress, built to defend
Penza against hostile nomadic tribes, is still echoed in its medieval shooting club where you can practice shooting with a crossbow or a mini
catapult. And once you’ve honed your skills, head out into the forest to
join the members of one of Penza’s medieval clubs in a reconstruction
of an ancient battle. Dense forest, which occupies some 20 percent of
the region’s territory, is also a major magnet for hunters. Penza forest is
home to wild boar, roe deer, moose and even wolves. There is pine marten, foxes, weasels, rabbits, ferrets, as well as game like the black grouse,
hazel and wood grouse.
The same forest reveals one of the best-preserved and fascinating archeological sites in Russia – the Zolotarevsky excavation. Discovered in 1882, Zolotarevsky conceals three archeological layers – Gorodetsky level from the
3rd century BC, Mordovsky level from the 9th century and Burtasskiy
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from the 11th to 12th centuries. The territory of Zolotarevsky was once the
spot of fierce battles between the Russian defenders of the fortress and
the Mongol-Tatar tribes, who were on their way to conquer Russia. This
fact is still evidenced by a variety of artifacts found in Zolotarevsky, which
makes it a truly precious site.
The region’s many sanatoriums, spas and health resorts make it a prime
destination for health tourists. Kuvaka Springs is an underground mineral
water source bottled in the Penza region. Famous for its virginal pureness
and healing properties, Kuvaka was the mineral water delivered to the
court of Tsar Nicholas the Second. The Kuvaka mineral water plant has
since branched out in delicious, albeit less health-conscious soda drinks.
Penza is of the most dynamic and fastest-developing regions in Russia, and
has recently become a site of several major investment projects, including
the folk village Ustinovo, Bekovo and Vladimirovka recreation zones and
village tourism enclaves in Neverkinski district.
And if you find yourself yearning for something truly otherworldy, you
are in the right place, as the Penza Region is a true hot spot for mystical
and paranormal tourism in Russia. The village of Belogorka in the Moksha
district of the Penza region is a prime location for ghost watching. Restless
apparitions are often seen in the ruins of the old church. Local researchers
of the paranormal also detected plasmoids emerging sporadically between
the church and the old cemetery. According to residents of the village,
every May, a cloud-like UFO appears over the river Sura.
Equally creepy is the 300-year old white willow, known as the Witch Tree,
which grows between the villages of Skripitsyn and Cherkassk. According
to a local legend, the tree was an 18th century meeting spot for members
of a secret satanic cult. Even now, local people prefer not to pass by the
tree at night, afraid of the groans and cries emanating from it. The territory
itself is also unusual, as UFOs in the form of mysterious falling balls are also
regularly seen in the area.
Another highly mysterious place is the Golodyaevsky pond, located some
20 km from the town of Mokshan. Every summer, local residents witness
an anomalous cloud, which emerges at about the same time every year
and pours rain. In the 1990s red “fireballs” were regularly seen near the old
airport in the area. The strange objects nevertheless behaved relatively
logically, trying to hide from the eyes of people, appearing in the way of
lone travelers, as if to scare them. One such fireball was caught on camera
in 1997. UFOs are also a regular sight in the night sky over Mokshan area.
Local residents believe that these anomalies have something to do with
the local oil pipeline, as UFOs are known to be attracted to electricity, gas
and oil pipelines.
The Penza region boasts its very own anomalous zone, known as the
Issinsky Triangle. The Triangle was formed in the area between the
villages Uvarovo, Nikolayevka and Anuchino, near the abandoned village of Kresty. In the 1930s and 40s before the village died out, it was
a settlement of molokans, religious castaways who later immigrated
to Canada. Unidentified flying objects were a regular sight back then,
and mysterious happenings can be witnessed near the extinct village
to this day. Bizarre wandering lights emerge every other week over the
nearby swamp, as well as what locals describe as “conscious fog”, which
appears as if from nowhere, instantly encircling a casual passer-by. In
July 2011, locals noted the appearance of crop circles on the fields of
the Issinsky Triangle. Specialists link these occurrences with a fossil site
nearby, which boats natural fossilized remains from Cretaceous, Jurassic
and Triassic periods. ■
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Penza Region
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The Volgograd Region
Volgograd
Tourist Centers: State “Agency
for Tourism Development” of the
Committee on Youth Affairs
at Administration of the
Volgograd Region
Time Zone: (UTC/GMT):
UTC/GMT+4
How to get there:
Flight Munich – Volgograd, journey
time 2 hours 30 minutes
Flight Moscow – Volgograd, journey
time 1 hour 10 minutes
By train: Moscow – Volgograd,
journey time 18 hours 51 minutes
Tourist websites
in English:
Volgograd State Panoramic Museum “The Battle of Stalingrad”
www.panorama.volgadmin.ru
Where to stay:
• Hotel Volgograd
(www.hotelvolgograd.ru)
• Hotel Inturist Volgograd
(www.volgograd-intourist.ru)
• Hotel Yuzhnaya
(www.stoliya.ru)
Where to eat
• European Cuisine: Moliere,
Volgograd, Dolya Angelov, Mayak,
Fasol, average bill 1000 rubles
• American Cuisine: Texas,
• Japanese cuisine: Yakitorya, Sakura
average bill 500 rubles;
Georgian: Na Aleye, average bill
1000 rubles;
Czech: Cheshskiy Dvor, 700 rubles;
Italian: Rimini,
700 rubles; Arabic: Shafran,
800 rubles; German: Bamberg,
800 rubles; Ukrainian: Gulyai Pole,
600 rubles; Russian:
Staryi Stalingrad, 500 rubles.
Nightlife
and Entertainment
Night Club / Restaurants:
Mojo, Vosk, News Pub
Night Clubs: Amsterdam
Karaoke: Labyrinth
Situations
Russian Ministry for Emergencies:
+7 (8442) 39-99-99; Rescue Service:
089 (dial 112 from mobile phones.
Nearest Foreign Consulates
Consulate General of Romania
Rostov –on-Don,
+7 (863) 230-29-15 ,
+7 (863) 223-62-93
Consulate General of Slovaki
Rostov-on-Don,
+7 (863) 221-39-73,
+7 (863) 221-39-73
Nearest consulates of other
countries are located in Moscow
Marshal Kliment Voroshilov holding the sword with the
inscription:“To the steel-hearted citizens of Stalingrad - the gift
of King George VI - in token of the homage of the British people”,
at the Tehran Conference November 28 - December 1, 1943
Tom Beasley forges a sword blade with the inscription“ To the steelhearted citizens of Stalingrad - the gift of King George VI - in token
of the homage of the British people”
“The Memory Square” in the
German military cemetery in
the village of Rossoshka
Stalingrad, as the city was known until 1961, became the most potent
symbol of heroism, sacrifice and defiance of the Soviet people in the
Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany. As the site of the Battle of
Stalingrad, Volgograd is a magnet for anyone with a serious interest
in war history and the history of Russia. The battle, waged between
the forces of Nazi Germany, its allies and the Soviet Union, took place
between 23rd of August 1942 and 2nd of February 1943. Not only
was it one of the largest and longest battles of the Second World
War, it became notorious for the highest death toll of any battle in
human history. According to various estimates, just under 2 million
people lost their lives in the battle.
Adolf Hitler considered Stalingrad a strategically vital area, as it was
a major industrial center of the Soviet Union and held access to the
vast oil reserves of the Caucuses, which Germany was so starved for.
Supported by intensive aerial bombing, which turned much of the
city into ruins and burnt rubble, the German offensive ensured that at
an early stage, the Wehrmacht controlled much of the city, except a
defiant Soviet army cluster on the West Bank of the river Volga.
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Volgograd State Panoramic Museum “The
Battle of Stalingrad”. The ruins of the Grudinin
Mill, monument to the Battle of Stalingrad
In November 1942, the Soviet Army’s Operation Uranus commenced,
destroying Romanian and Italian forces and surrounding the German 6th
army inside Stalingrad. Cut off from its sources of supply and with brutal
Russian “General Frost” on the offensive, 290’000 German, Romanian and
Croatian troops starved and froze to death under unwavering Soviet attacks. By February 1943, much of the 6th Army has surrendered or was
destroyed, prompting German General Siegfried von Westphal to say,
“The disaster of Stalingrad profoundly shocked the German people and
armed forces alike...Never before in Germany’s history had so large a body
of troops come to so dreadful an end.”
The Battle of Stalingrad, for its giant human sacrifice, became a decisive
turning point of the entire war, having to a large extent crippled the Nazi
war machine and convinced 10 countries to enter into war with Germany.
Soviet victory at Stalingrad was universally acclaimed as an act of ultimate
heroism, with the city being award the Hero City status in 1945. To congratulate Joseph Stalin with turning the tide of the war in his favor, US
President D. Franklin Roosevelt wrote in a telegram, “The one hundred and
sixty-two days of epic battle for the city which has for ever honored your
name and the decisive result which all Americans are celebrating today
will remain one of the proudest chapters in this war of the peoples united
against Nazism and its emulators.”
King of the United Kingdom George the 6th gave the city of Stalingrad
a bejeweled ceremonial longsword, known as the Sword of Stalingrad,
which was a token of gratitude and homage from the British people to
the Soviet defenders of the city. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
presented the sword to Joseph Stalin during the Tehran conference in
November 1943, with Roosevelt observing the ceremony. Before Tehran,
the sword was showcased like a religious relic all around Great Britain,
including the Westminster Abbey. It is currently exhibited at the Battle of
Stalingrad Museum in Volgograd.
A giant memorial complex was constructed at Mamayev Kurgan, the site of
the most merciless fighting during the battle. Both Marshall Vasily Chuikov,
who led the Soviet troops in the battle, and the legendary sniper Vasily
Zaitsev are buried at Mamayev Kurgan. The complex, built between 1959
and 1967, is dominated by the giant allegorical statue of the Motherland,
also knows as “The Motherland Calls!”. With the height of 82 meters from
the feet to the tip of her sword, “The Motherland Calls!” was the largest
statue in the world at the time of its construction in 1967, and continues
to hold the power to inspire awe in observers.
The multi-level memorial ensemble for the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad
is the largest World War Two monument in the world, while the Museum
of the Battle of Stalingrad remains the most visited museum in Russia. In
a separate building, the museum showcases the grandiose 120-meter
long panoramic painting of the battle, while its collection boasts a huge
number of war artifacts, including Vasily Zaitsev’s rifle.
The city of Volgograd and its surroundings are still rich in evidence of
the events, which constitute, perhaps, the greatest chapter in its history.
The Pavlov Building in the center of Volgograd was named after Junior
Sergeant Jakov Pavlov, whose 30-man unit survived the Nazi assault for 58
days, keeping with Stalin’s Order Number 227 to “not take one step back”.
Marshall Chuikov would later say, that “the Germans lost more men trying
to capture Pavlov’s house than they did taking Paris”.
Another legendary cluster of Soviet resistance is the Lyudnikov Island,
“Square of Grief”, monument to the
heroes of The Battle of Stalingrad
on Mamaev Kurgan
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which was the last point of the defense of the Red October district in
the Battle of Stalingrad. With an area of just 700 by 400 meters, the small
piece of land became known as the “Fire Island”, for Lyudnikov’s 138th
Rifle Division, cut off from the main army and surrounded by Nazi forces,
defended the plot of land for 40 days. Lyudnikov Island today is now a quiet
picturesque spot, whose last line of defense is marked by tank pedestals
and monuments indicating mass graves.
“Uniting the Two Fronts” is another monument by the legendary sculptor Yevgeni Vuchetich, who also designed “The Motherland Calls!”. The
monument commemorates the completion of encirclement of the
330’000-strong German army, which had broken through to the Volga
River. Over 4000 Soviet soldiers are buried in 32 mass graves around the
site near the town of Kalach-on-Don.
“Remembrance Museum”at TSUM is one of the newer museums in Volgograd.
Opened in 2003, it is located in the basement of the Central Department Store
(TSUM) at the Square of Fallen Soldiers. TSUM is the oldest store in the city and
one of the few buildings that survived the Battle of Stalingrad. The exposition of
the museum focuses on the final events of the battle. It was in the basement
of TSUM, where General-Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus, who led the 6th Army
assault, was captured by the Soviet troops on the 31st of January 1943, just
two days before the end of the battle. Despite Hitler’s expectations, Paulus
chose surrender over suicide. He later said in captivity, “I have no intention of
shooting myself for this Bohemian private”, referring to Hitler.
Rossoshka reconciliation memorial, located some 25 km outside of Volgograd, is perhaps one of the more optimistic historic sites. Opened in 1997,
the memorial marks a cemetery where more than 50’000 German soldiers
are buried, along with fallen Soviet troops. The Soviet cemetery is crowned
by a 6-meter high concrete sculpture of a woman holding a tongue-less
bell over her head, designed to symbolize all mourning mothers of the
war. In a sign of solidarity with victims of Stalingrad, a bronze replica of the
Architectural Composition “Fight to
Death”, monument
to the heroes of The
Battle of Stalingrad
on Mamaev Kurgan
Monument “Uniting
Fronts” in the village
Pyatimorsk
statue was erected in London in 1999, while a statue with a “working” bell
was placed in Berlin. The cemetery also features a granite cube, inscribed
with names of 120’000 soldiers who are considered missing.
As a further symbol of reconciliation, another monument dedicated to
victims of the Battle of Stalingrad both from the Nazi and the Soviet side,
was inaugurated in the city of Peschanka in 1996. The monument, which
was funded by Russian and Austrian civil groups, is unusual, as it expressed
in a form of a two-dimensional pyramid, whose shadow side hosts a
memorial space. It is not unusual for the visiting German and Austrian
delegations to plan their trip along the former front lines that still conceal
many disturbing relics of the past.
One of the most important war sites in the city is Lysaya Gora, or “Bald
Mountain”, named so for the fact that it is almost completely deprived of
flora. For it significance as a strategic object in the Battle of Stalingrad, the
140-meter hill is second only to Mamayev Kurgan. Bald Mountain saw one
of the fiercest, longest and bloodiest fighting spells of the battle, involving
up to 50’000 troops and hundreds of tanks at the same time. Thousands
of mine splinters, pieces of bombs and projectiles lie buried in this land
to this day. An impressive 20-meter obelisk was installed on Lysaya Gora
in 1973 to commemorate the fighters.
As far as future development is concerned, the city of Volgograd has some
exciting plans. As part of the efforts to strengthen its tourist industry and
education sector, the city plans to build a tourist cluster, incorporating five
historic museums, which include an interactive park of war-era armoured
vehicles and flight combat equipment, a museum of Russian victories, the
museum of intelligent sports and the ethnographic museum “Live History.
The Land of Freedom”. ■
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Total Area: 55’000 sq. km
Population: 725’000 people.
Administrative Center: Pskov
Tourist centers: State-funded
organization “Tourist Information
Center”, located inside the building
of the “October” cinema, in front
of the entrance to the Kremlin.
Address: Pskov, Lenin Square 3
Telephone: +7(8112) 72-25-32,
+7 953 242 57 00
ICQ: 611656810
Official inKontakt Page:
http://vkontakte.ru/infopunktpskov
E-mail: [email protected].
Opening hours:
10am to 8pm daily
Local Time (UTC / GMT): UTC +4
Distance and journey time from
European cities;
• Riga - 300 km (3 hours)
• Tallinn - 360 km (4 hours)
• Stockholm - 860 km (9 hours)
• Helsinki - 700 km (7 hours)
Distance and journey
time from the US:
Plane journey to Moscow
(10 to 12 hours)
To St. Petersburg (10 to 12 hours)
Car or bus journey
from Moscow - 689 km
From St. Petersburg - 280 km
Travel websites in English:
www.tourism.pskov.ru
Where to stay
1. “Old Estate”
Location: Pskov
Price per night: 4150 rubles
2. “Dvor Podznoeva”
Location: Pskov
Price per night: 2750 rubles
Where to eat;
1. Grafin
Location: Pskov
Average bill for one: 300 rubles
2. Restaurant & Beer hall Dvor
Podznoeva
Location: Pskov
Average bill for one: Restaurant
1200-1500 rubles, Beer hall
600-700 rubles, Pirogi hall
150 rubles; Coffee House
200-300 rubles.
• Blues Cafe “Vinyl”
Location: Pskov
Hours:
09:00 – till the last customer
2. Entertainment complex “LEADER”
Hours: 12:00 - 06:00
Safety and Emergency Situations:
Ministry for Emergency situations
of the Pskov Region is responsible
for tourist safety
Emergency numbers
from a landline:
Emergency - 01, 911
Officer for Civil Defense and
Emergency situations - 051
Safety and Security
Department of Internal
Affairs of Pskov - 02
Officer on Duty +7(8112) 66-94-77
Department of Internal Affairs
of the Pskov region
Officer on duty +7(8112) 66-16-49
Health and Medical Services
Regional hospital № 1 44-09-49
Malyasova Street 2
Emergency station - 46-86-05
Kommunalnya Street, 23
24 hour Pharmacy - 72-32-51
October Avenue, 14
Nearest Consular offices
of the EU:
Consulate General of the
Republic of Estonia
Address: Narodnaya Street., 25,
Pskov, Tel. 8 (8112) 72-53-80
Consulate of the Republic
of Latvia in Pskov:
Address: Narodnaya Street 25, Pskov,
Tel. 8 (8112) 72-53-90
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Pskov
Education and Sightseeing
The first thing that comes to mind whenever someone mentions the
Pskov region is the sheer weight and drama of its history. The region has
often been described as the place where Russia itself has originated, and
rightfully so. The city of Pskov was first mentioned in the Russian Primary
Chronicles in 903, almost 500 years before Moscow. It was in that year when
a Varangian ruler of Kievan Rus, Igor of Kiev married a local girl Olga, who
later became known as Princess Olga, Olga the Beuitful and Saint Olga for
her efforts to establish Christianity in the Kingdom of Great Rus.
According to a beautiful ancient legend, Princess Olga was once stunned by
a miraculous vision while travelling through her lands. She saw three rays of
lights in the sky crossing on a stone, as if pointing to the confluence of two
rivers – the Velikaya and the Pskova. It was at that spot where Princess Olga
predicted the construction of the Trinity Cathedral, which, as she foretold,
would give rise to a glorious city around it.
Pskov was also made remarkable by its medieval citadel known as the
Kremlin, which was unique for Europe at that time, as it was designed to
protect not only the ruling elite but also all of the city’s ordinary citizens.
Because of its role as the most western outpost of Russia, Pskov had to
build up its defenses over time. The length of Pskov’s defense walls is
over 9.5 kilometers, which makes it one of the most fortified cities in
Europe.
The most impressive building in the Pskov fortress is by far the tower of
Intercession. With circumference of over 90 meters, height of over 50
meters and walls that are almost 6 meters thick, the Intercession tower
is a true symbol of Pskov’s historical invulnerability. Although Pskov went
through numerous wars and battles, it was never captured or besieged
by foreign troops.
Many other towns and villages in the Pskov region also revoke the
country’s dramatic past. One example is the village of Izborsk, some 30
kilometers to the west of Pskov, and which, according to the Russian
Primary Chronicles, was the seat of one of Varangian Princes, Truvor, who,
along with his two brothers, was summoned to rule over Rus in the 7th
century. Izborsk, being crucial for the defense of the kingdom from the
West, was also one of the first Russian towns to build a stone citadel. The
citadel was so impressive in its invincibility that Izborsk became known
as the “Iron City” across Europe.
The Pskov region is also home to the Pushkin Hills, an area that once
belonged to the noble Pushkin-Hannibal family, and was thus inexorably intertwined with the life of Russia’s most recognised poetic genius
– Aleksander Sergeevich Pushkin. The Pushkin Hills house Trigorskoe,
Petrovskoe and Mikhailovkoye estates. The latter was where the poet
spent his exile and where he completed many of his most famous works,
including Eugene Onegin.
Finally, not to be missed are region’s numerous churches and monasteries, notable for their outstanding architecture, as well as their religious
significance for Russian Orthodoxy. The Pskov-Pechory Holy Dormition
Monastery, located some 50 kilometers from Pskov, is one of the oldest
and largest monasteries in Russia. Over 10 thousand monks are buried
in its famous cave necropolis, a one-time dwelling of the legendary
hermit reverend Mark. Other prominent religious sites include Eliazarovsky Nunnery of Our Savior and Krypetsky Male Monastery of Saint
John the Evangelist in the Pskov district, Church of Archangel Michael
in the Devovichy district and St. Nikandr and Theophilus’s Hermitages,
among many others.
Auto Sport in the Pskov Region
Thanks to its picturesque landscapes, highly developed infrastructure and
proximity to the Baltic states, Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Pskov region
has become a host to a number of auto rallies and has rightfully earned
the title of the auto rally capital of Russia. 13 stages of prestigious Russian
Cup and 3 stages of the Russian Auto Rally Championship were held in
the region in the last ten years, and this was only the beginning.
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Every year, from 2011 onwards, the Pskov region will host its own regional auto rally “The Alexander Nevsky Trophy”. With a total distance
of over 400 kilometres, the rally is made up of four stages. They include
the Pskov Winter stage in February, the Blue Lakes stage held in the
early May, while July will see the Strugy Krasnie stage. The final part
of the rally happens in September, when the actual trophy is awarded
to the winner. Both Russian and international teams participate, and
even ordinary viewers can sometimes become judges. Auto Rallies is
probably the most exciting recent development in the region, and is
already a major reason to come to Pskov for any auto rallying fan or
professional.
Ethnographic Tourism
Although the Pskov Region is for many reasons considered the heart
of Russian culture and identity, it has managed to retain some of the
smaller ethnicities that historically inhabited the area. Setos are a tiny
linguistic and ethnic minority, still living in south-eastern Estonia and in
the Pechorsky district of the Pskov region. Setos speak in a dialect, which
many consider a separate language – the Seto language, and along with
Orthodox Christianity, practice their own traditional folk religion.
They are a recognized and protected ethnic minority in Russia, whose
total number in the region, according to the Society for Seto Congress,
amounts to just 337 people. Being one of the last remaining traditional
folk cultures in Europe, Setos struggled to preserve their identity through
their own unique traditions, such as singing ancient runic verse and
worshipping pagan deities and their ancestors.
The Museum of the Seto people is located in the village of Segov, which
itself is a part of the Kulaots family estate. The museum aims to showcase
the authentic Seto way of life of the beginning of the 20th century. The
exposition includes tools for spinning and weaving of tradition Seto
clothes, a variety of work and domestic tools, including a unique device
for processing flax.
Ethnography enthusiasts Tatiana Ogareva set up a small private museum
dedicated to the Seto culture in an old barn, which used to belong to
a Seto family. The exposition, including unique tapes of traditional
Seto singing and touching hand-made dolls make it well worth a visit.
Anyone interested in ethnography of the region should also come to
the “Setomaa. Family meetings” festival, which takes place annually
between the 27th and 29th of August in the village of Sigovo and
provides an opportunity for Setos from Russia and Estonia alike to meet
and celebrate their traditions.
Event Tourism
The event calendar of the Pskov Region is packed with interesting happenings, too numerous to write here in their entirety.
The “Snow Castle” holiday takes place between the 1st and 10th of
January in Pskov’s Pushkin Park. The holiday provides for lots of outdoor
fun from riding ice roller coasters to sledging, skating, horse riding and
building ice sculptures.
The All-Russian Pushkin Theatre Festival takes place every year in the
middle of January. The festival, during which various works of Pushkin
are performed in the theatres across the region, has long become a
tradition in Pskov.
Maslenitsa Festival is a week between the 20th and 26th of February,
when Russians bid farewell to winter. It is one of favorite holidays among
the Pskovites, which culminates with burning of giant symbolic effigies.
Eating hearty pancakes is a must.
Historical military Festival “Battle of the Ice” happens every year in the
end of April near the Samolva village of the Gdovsky district. During the
festival, the legendary medieval battle of 1242 between the Republic of
Novgorod and the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Knights is re-enacted,
a spectacle which is guaranteed to take anyone’s breathe away.
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The All Russian Pushkin
Festival is traditionally
celebrated in Pushkin’s
Mikhailovskoe estate
on the 4th, 5th and 6th
June. The special days
attract thousands of
admirers of Pushkin’s
genius, who gather for
poetry recitals, literary
evenings and vigils at
the poet’s grave.
The International air
balloonists competition is a must-see for
all lovers of the sport.
It takes place in June in
the town of Velikie Luki,
attracting participants
from all over the world.
The City Days of Pskov happen every year between the 22nd and 24th
of July. An excellent time to visit the city, have a good time at fairs,
concerts and exhibitions and get a taste of what it’s like to be a real
Pskovite.
The medieval “Iron City” of Izborsk is reconstructed every year on the
7th and 8th of August. The event is accompanied by a musical festival,
a medieval crafts fair, reconstruction of battles and knight fights, as well
as archery and horse-riding competitions.
International Classical Musical Festival Crescendo habitually gathers best
Russian performers in the end of September in Pskov. Under the helm of
its brilliant art director Denis Matsuev, globally recognized pianist and
composer, over the past 7 years the festival has turned into a cultural
event of a national scale. ■
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to
se
th
ost
Total Area: 55’ 300 sq km
Population: 695’000
Veliky Novgorod
Tourist Centers: Veliky Novgorod,
Valdai, Staraya Russa, Lyubytino,
Borovichi
Time Zone (UTC/GMT):
GMT + 3
How to get there:
Flight London – St. Petersburg,
4 hours. Plus a car journey to Veliky
Novgorod, 3 hours
Flight Stockholm – St. Petersburg,
1 hour 25 minutes
Tourist websites in English:
www.visitnovgorod.com/
catalogue/novgorod
Where to stay:
Hotel Volkhov, 2900 rubles per
night, www.hotel-volkhov.ru/en/
Park Inn by Radisson, Veliky
Novgorod, 4200 rubles per night,
www.parkinn.com/
hotel-velikynovgorod
Where to eat:
Russian: Restaurant
Yurievskoe Podvorye,
Restaurant Dom Berga,
European: Khoroshie Lyudi café,
Nightlife and Entertainment
Entertainment Complex,
«Casa del mar»
Situations
Rescue Service 01
(dial 112 from mobile phone)
Police 02
Ambulance 03
Nearest foreign consulates
are located in St. Petersburg
52
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Velikiy Novgorod
F
ounded in the 9th or 10th century, it quickly became the second city in
the Kievan Rus. Novgorod was also the first city to be governed by an
elected mayor, which earned it a title of the cradle of Russian democracy.
Novgorod’s relative emancipation ensured it was also the place where a first
coin was minted in Russia. To this day, the Museum of Velikiy Novgorod holds
the world’s biggest collection of Russian Orthodox icons, while its archaeological sites are one of the most significant ones in the country. The Troitskiy
excavation site produced artefacts from more than 20 urban estates from 10th
to 15th century and over 400 birch bark documents. All of these archaeological
treasures are now on display in Novgorod’s history museum.
Novgorod Kremlin, traditionally known as Detinets, is situated in the
historical centre of the city, and is officially the oldest fortification in Russia. Built around the Saint Sofia Cathedral in 1050, it boasts the country’s
best-preserved 11th century churches and is probably the oldest building
complex still in use in Russia. On the other side of the river Vokhov, the
commercial part of the city was situated around the Court of Yaroslav the
Wise, where the prince’s court was transferred in the early 11th century.
Anyone can plunge into the atmosphere of ancient Kievan Russia by visiting
the Slavic Village – a settlement recreated on the basis of a 10th century
Slavic settlement. The complex is an exact copy of an ancient Slavic village
consisting of wooden houses, built without nails: a barn, outbuildings,
houses equipped with bread ovens, cellars and much more. Not only
can you see exactly how a Russian family lived 1000 years ago, but you’re
allowed to participate too. Twist the mill, climb up to the loft, and learn
to bake bread in the oven, try on a chainmail and throw a javelin – in one
word, feel like an ancient Slav.
Staraya Russa
The second oldest town in the region is Staraya Russa, located some 99
kilometers south of Velikiy Novgorod. Founded in the early 10th century,
Staraya Russa retains many of its idyllic medieval charms, including the
Transfiguration monastery, with a cathedral built in 70 days in 1198 and
the principal city cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ
Fyodor Dostoevsky spent summers in Staraya Russa and wrote many of his
works there, which later became staples of classic Russian literature, such
as The Brothers Karamazov and The Possessed. The Dostoyevsky House on
the small Pererititsa River is still a magnet for literary enthusiasts from all
over the world. Staraya Russa is also a balneologic resort, well known for
its mineral springs and medicinal silt mud of the Lake Verkhneye and Lake
Sredneye, which are celebrated for their healing and relaxing properties.
Valdai
A small charming town of Valdai is nevertheless one of the most popular
tourist destinations in all of Russia, not least because of its location in the
middle of beautiful Valdai Hills national park. Valdai Hills boasts over 70 lakes,
20 rivers and about 500 archeological monuments, as well as numerous spas
and health resorts. In Russia, Valdai is primarily associated with bells, for the
local bell masters have been known for their exemplary skill for centuries.
The 13th century church of Catherine the Great houses Russia’s only Bells
Museum. The island off the shore of lake Valdai is the location of one of the
greatest examples of stone architecture in Russia – the Reverend Iver Svyatoozersky Virgin Monastery. The monastery was a major educational center
in the 17th century, and had Russia’s only church printing press. ■
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The Taste
of Russia
The Penza Region
Penza Fish Cutlets
Ingredients: 500 g freshwater fish fillet, 80 g white bread, 1/2 cup milk, 3
tbsp breadcrumbs, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 egg
Instructions: cut the stale white bread into pieces and soak them in milk.
Pass the fish fillets twice through a meat grinder, mix with bread, add
salt, pepper, raw egg and mix until smooth. Add finely chopped green
onions. Shape the cutlets and roll them in breadcrumbs. Put in one layer
in a heat-resistant bowl, drizzle with butter and bake at 200 degrees for
8 to 10 minutes.
The Novgorod Region
Velikiy Novgorod Honey Wine
Mead, also known as honey wine, is an ancient alcohol drink made of
honey that is somewhat of a “Business Card” of Velikiy Novgorod. This
classic honey drink has been known since the times of Sadko Sytinich, an
epic hero symbolic the city.
Ingredients: 150 g honey, 1 liter water, 30 g yeast, 1 g citric acid or lemon
juice
Instructions: Dissolve the honey in boiling water, cool to 40 to 50 ° C, add
the yeast and leave to ferment for 24 hours. Strain the liquid, add citric acid
or lemon juice and serve cold.
Instructions: heat the milk, add butter, sugar, salt and yeast, and mix well.
Add flour and knead the dough. Place the dough in a warm place for 2
hours. Punch out the dough. Boil the mushrooms and chop finely. Clean
the onion. Cut it in small pieces and fry in vegetable oil. Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook for 10 minutes, add chopped eggs and
greens. Put the stuffing inside the dough and shape the pies, place on
the baking sheet greased with vegetable oil. Bake in an over preheated
to 180 degrees.
The Leningrad Region
Kalitki, a traditional Vepsian dish
Instructions: Pour salted milk in a bowl, mix with salt and sprinkle with rye
flower. Knead the dough and roll it in a shape of a sausage. Cut the shaped
dough into pieces. Roll out each piece into thin layers. Place the stuffing
of mashed potatoes, millet, barley porridge and oatmeal on top and bend
inwards, so that the stuffing is sealed. Bake until the appearance of brown
crust. Serve with melted butter.
The Irkutsk Region
Irkutsk Sturgeon
Ingredients: 400 g sturgeon fillet, 1 tbsp flower, ½ of bell pepper, a quarter
of a lemon, 50 g of shrimp, 1/2 onion, 50 g lettuce, 2tbsp basil, 2tbsp soy
sauce, 1 egg, 2 tbsp olive oil, salt.
Volgograd Salted Watermelon
Instructions: Take small and medium-sized ripe watermelons, wash them, put
them in a barrel or another non-aluminum dish, cover with the salt solution
(dissolve 600 to 800 grams of salt in 10 liters of water, depending on the size
of watermelons) and soak for two days. To speed up the fermentation process,
pierce the watermelon in several places with a sharp wooden stick. Add the
salt solution in the bowl with watermelon, close with a tight lid and place in
a cellar. Storage Store at + 1 C to - 10 ° C for 15 to 20 days.
Kamchatka
Kamchatka-style Mushroom Pirozhki
Ingredients: 60 g butter, 250 ml milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 pinch salt, 30 g
fresh yeast 400 g, flour, vegetable oil for baking, 300 g mushrooms, 1 onion,
2 boiled eggs, fresh herbs, salt, pepper, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
55
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