Native Spaces: 5 beautiful Russian cities that are a must-see

Closed international borders are an additional motivation for traveling in Russia. The country is rich not only in beautiful nature, but also in unique cities. And, contrary to the stereotypical view, the list is not limited to Moscow and St. Petersburg. We have prepared a selection of not so popular, but at the same time no less beautiful Russian cities for traveling.

Kazan

Why go: to see how Eastern culture is intertwined with Western culture.

Kazan is a city with a rich historical heritage. Here, Tatar culture is closely intertwined with Russian culture. For example, the Kul Sharif Mosque is located across the street from the Annunciation Cathedral – both buildings are incredibly beautiful. And in the national museum you can simultaneously see the tarhan yarlyk (special grant) of the times of the Kazan Khanate, and the carriage of Catherine the Great.

In addition to historical objects in Kazan there are many new attractions. For example, the Palace of Farmers: its highlight is a bronze tree located inside the arch under the dome. And after viewing the beauty you can get acquainted with the national Tatar cuisine and try echpochmaki, chak-chak or pilaf.

Kaliningrad

Why go: to visit Europe without crossing borders.

Kaliningrad is the westernmost point of Russia. Here you can see Gothic architecture, which is not so common in the country. Up until 1945, the city was called Koenigsberg and was part of Germany. Therefore, many buildings have been preserved from the pre-war period: Catholic cathedrals, buildings in Jugendstil, gates and forts.

In addition to the city itself it is worth visiting the national park “Curonian Spit”. It is a strip of land almost 100 kilometers long between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Bay. The Dancing Forest is also located there: pine trees in it seem to be frozen in graceful pas.

Veliky Novgorod

Why go: to see an ancient city of Russia.

Veliky Novgorod is a rather small city, but very beautiful. It has about 50 monuments of architecture of XI-XVII centuries, many temples and ancient frescoes. Also in the local Kremlin Museum is kept the oldest Slavonic book – Psalter XI century. In the city you can get acquainted with the original Russian cuisine. In addition, Veliky Novgorod is an inexpensive travel destination, which makes it even more attractive to visit.

Not far from Novgorod is the small town of Staraya Russa. This is Dostoevsky’s favorite place, where he wrote “Besov” and “The Brothers Karamazov”. In Staraya Russa you can see the writer’s house, where he created.

Yaroslavl

Why go: to relax from the hustle and bustle.

Yaroslavl is a city with a thousand-year history, and one of the oldest. There are many churches and temples here, but the most famous is the Transfiguration Cathedral. It was here that the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, lived during the Troubles. The tsar’s cell has been preserved to this day.

It is worth walking along the Volga embankment and reach Strelka – the embankment, where the history of the city once began. There you can see the house-hospital for wounded officers during the Patriotic War of 1812. And it was here, according to Tolstoy’s plan, that the last meeting of the heroes of the novel “War and Peace” – Natasha Rostova and Andrei Bolkonsky – took place.

Vyborg

Why go: to get into the Middle Ages without a time machine.

Vyborg is unlike any other Russian city. The Old Quarter can be completely crossed in half an hour, but it’s easy to get lost for a whole day among the narrow streets with Northern European buildings.

St. Olaf’s Tower offers an incredible view of the Vyborg Bay. It is located on the territory of the castle, which was founded back in 1293. In the city you can plunge into the medieval atmosphere and feel yourself in a fairy tale about brave knights and beautiful princesses.