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Russian Travel Magazine35.

Into the Wild JO,BNDIBULB

The Price of Victory JO7PMHPHSBE

A Mystical Journey to Lake #BJLBM

1TLPW the Cradle of Russian Civilization

3VTTJBO#BOZB from a Gentleman

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2Russian Travel Magazine

ContentsRussia 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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3The 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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42011Project Otdykhay v Rossii

PublisherCENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES(Moscow, Russia)Address:Marii Ulyanovoy Street 19-41,Moscow, Russia, 119331

General Manager and EditorOlga [email protected]

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Editing & TranslationIngeborga Knutz

Creative ManagerSergey Sorokin

Advertising Department DirectorNadezhda [email protected]

ManagerElena Averkieva

We would like to express special thanks to our friends Aleksey Solomatin and Sergey Borisen-ko, without whom this project would not have been possible.

Printed by LLC Poligraphiya - Fert

Circulation 60000 copies.

The editorial o! ce holds no responsibility for the content

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with the permission of the publisher.

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Marii Ulyanovoy Street 19-41,

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Editors NoteRussian Travel Magazine

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 couldnt think of what to say to her. And then I asked myself, yes, of course, for a " rst 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 o# er? There are a lot of interesting routes, but how do you choose whats 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 tradi-tions 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 distinc-tive 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 o# er 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!

Olga Anderseditor

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5Russia

There are plans to establish a more modern tourist infrastructure, introduce measures to support the commercial sector, improve the e! ciency of how the state regulates the industry, and improve the level of professional training. All of these goals are re" ected 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 hospital-ity. 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 accessibil-ity of recreation for Russian citizens and foreign tourists alike.

Vitaly Mutko,Russias Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy

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, Russias state policy in the countrys tourism sector has undergone signi# cant 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.

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Facts and FiguresOver 11.5 million foreign tourists visited Russia in the ! rst 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 Russias GDP).

Our brands include ballet, the great compos-ers, 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 diver-sity. Hunting and ! shing attract foreign visitors, because they can no longer ! nd 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: MoscowArea: 17,075,400 km2Population: 142.5 million (UN, 2007)Major language: RussianMajor religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddism, JudaismMonetary unit: 1 rouble = 100 kopecksInternet domain: .ru, .suInternational dialing code: +7

O" cial state holidaysJanuary 1-05 New Years Day January 7 Christmas February 23 Defender of the Motherland Day March 8 International Womens Day May 1 Labour Day May 9 Victory Day June 12 Russia Day November 4 National Unity DayThe 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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7CONSULAR MISSIONS OF RUSSIAAbkhaziaEmbassy of Russia in Sukhumi Sukhum, Akirtava str., 24+7 840 [email protected] 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] UKConsulate General of the Russian Federation in Edinburgh58 Melville St., Edinburgh, EH3 7HF +44-131 225-70-98; 225-23-09; 220-17-85 [email protected] 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] FranceConsulate General of the Russian Federation in Marseille 3, av. Ambrois Pare, Marseille, 13008 + 334 91-77-15-25, 91-76-26-79 91-77-34-54, [email protected] General of the Russian Federation in Strasbourg 6,place Sbastien Brant, 67000 Strasbourg+333- 88-36-73-15, 88-36-97-85, 88-35-34-81, [email protected] information on the site of the Ministry of Foreign A" airs of Russia: http://www.mid.ru/zu_r.nsf/strawebeng Q

Russia

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Total Area: 464000 sq kmPopulation: 345000 peopleAdministrative Center: Petropavlovsk-KamchatskyTourist Centers: Nature Park Volcanoes of Kamchatka Local Time (UTC/GMT): +11How to get there:Moscow to Petropavlovsk-Kam-chatsky ! ight (9 hours)Seoul Vladivostok Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky ! ight (6 hours)Tourist Information in English: www.visitkamchatka.comWhere to stay: Hotel Petropavlovsk ***

From 3 600 rubles per nightHotel Avacha *** Hotel Bel-Kam-Tour****Where to eat: Boulevard Restaurant Italian Restaurant Da Vinci Lounge Cafe BARAKA Cafe On-life Night Life and EntertainmentEntertainment Center Sports BarPetropavlovsk-KamchatskyPobeda Avenue 34, tel. 5-76-92Entertainment Center KosmigPetropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Karl Marx Avenue 31, tel. 9-49-90 (bowling)Night Club Nebo

Elizovo, Lenina Street 6Tel. 8 (41531) 7-27-27, 8 (4152) 444-666Safety and Emergency Situations: Kamchatkas 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 - 01Police - 02nearest consulates of European countries and the US: Germany Consular Section

Moscow, Leningradsky Prospect 95, 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 o! ers a wide range of tourism opportunities, guaranteed to satisfy even the most insatiable thirst for adventure, recreation and curiosity.

Eco-tourismKamchatka boasts a variety of outstanding wild nature spots. A number of conservation areas were created on the peninsula in order to protect na-tures resources and help develop eco-tourism. Six of Kamchatkas volcanic sites are on UNESCOs 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 o! ered 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.

Ethnographic tourismOf particular interest is the history and life of Kamchatkas indigenous peoples, including, among others, the Evens, the Koryaks and the Itelmens. Local travel agencies o! er tours to authentic ethno-cultural centers of the indigenous peoples of Kamchatka, where tourists can witness their tradi-tions and customs, arts and crafts, and sample a delicious national dish.

Health and Beauty TourismAs 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 o! ers medical and spa treatments based on healing properties of its thermal mineral springs, as well as convenient accommodation nearby.

Paratunskaya features 30 recreation centers, including sanatoriums with spas and thermal water pools.

Hiking and Volcano Climbing ToursKamchatka 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 o! er 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.

River RaftingThe Kamchatka peninsula would be interesting to lovers of river rafting adventures, thanks to its dense river system and mountainous terrain coupled with " at valleys, which make up for one of the worlds most magni# cent landscapes.

Culture, Education and SightseeingThe attractions of Kamchatka, however, are not limited to adventure tour-ism. City tours are on o! er for visits to local museums and historical monu-ments of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city with a dramatic and fascinating history, in which exploration and heroism are intertwined.

Scienti! c TourismKamchatka possesses an almost unlimited potential for scienti# c tourism. Its his-tory, ethnography, culture and geology o! er exciting opportunities for scienti# c exploration. Kamchatkas 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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Riding ToursEquestrian 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 CruisesSome 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 BayA 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 SnowmobilingDog sledding is a traditional means of transport for the indigenous popula-tion 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 ToursRecreational catch and release ! shing in the most picturesque areas of Kamchatka is enjoyed by ! shing enthusiasts of any level. Rainbow trout, char, halibut, greenling, perch and di" erent kinds of Paci! c salmon are all big game on the rivers of Kamchatka.

Sport HuntingHunting 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 ! shing tours during the same trip.

Spend the winter in Kamchatka!Kamchatka is a paradise, as ifcreated by nature for fans of winter spots. Kamchatkas skiiing routes are suitable for both the begin ner sand ad-vanced skiers alike.In Kamchatka, you will ! nd ski resorts such as the Red Hills, with its stun-ning 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 ! nd yourself in a hot pool of geo-thermal water, enjoying the kind of relaxation which is hard to ! nd any where else in the world.

Cruiseship Silver Shadow at the coast of Kamchatka

Dog Sledding

Russian Travel Magazine


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Kamchatka

Snowboarding, Skiing and TrekkingLong snowy winters and spectacular high mountains make the Kam-chatka 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. Q


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Total Area: 29800 sq km

Population: 1009900 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 hoursFlight Stockholm Moscow,

2 hours 25 minutesMoscow 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/

Where to stay: Ski resort & hotel Kvan ****Hotel Kaluga ****Hotel Ambassador **** Hotel & restaurant Elki **** Where to eat: Grill-bar Krilyia Wingsbar, from 600 rubless

Restaurant Usadba, from 600 rublessRefined cofee-bar Plush, from 500 rublessBar Time-out, from 700 rubless

Night Life and EntertainmentKaraoke-bar MikrofonNightclub SinatraNightclub V-MaxNightclub Sumerki

Safety and Emergency Situations: Emergency - 01Police - 02

Nearest foreign consulates are located in Moscow


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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 29900 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, ! elds and meadows, villages with churches and monasteries that are artfully inscribed in the landscape. The National Park Ugra, which stretches across ! ve adminis-trative 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 forti! ca-tions. 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 di" cult 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, Russias greatest poet Aleksander Pushkin, Marina Tsvetaeva, Nikolay Gogol, Ivan Turgenev, Leo Tolstoy, Bulat Okudzhava and the ground-breaking scientists Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Aleksander Chizhevsky. Russian dreams of spiritual development were realized in the revival of Russian Optina elders in the ! rst half of the 19th century. Best local think-ers, writers, philosophers, scientists and members of royalty all came to see the elders of this famous monastery.

Kaluga


The modern Kaluga region is an advanced industrial and agricultural part of Central Russia. Among its major industries is machinery, car making, wood-working, light industry, building materials, advanced arts and crafts.

Cities in the Kaluga RegionKalugaThe administrative center of the Kaluga Region, the city of Kaluga, is lo-cated on the banks of the Oka River, some 180 km from Moscow. It got its ! rst 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 Yasny-gina, 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 signi! cant 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 worlds ! rst 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 the-aters 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 mu-seum dedicated to Tsiolkovskys 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 ! rst museum in the world dedicated entirely to space exploration. Half of the museums exposition is dedicated to ideas and work of Tsiolkovksky, featuring a model of the ! rst rocket designed by the scientist, as well as copies of his scienti! c 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 ! rst 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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classical style and consecrated in 1819. The cathedrals 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.

BorovskThe town of Borovsk is one of the oldest in the region. Located on the bank of the picturesque river Protva, it got its ! rst 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 interac-tive 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.

KozelskKozelsk is the oldest town in the region and was ! rst mentioned in the chronicles in 1146. Kozelsk earned its timeless reputation for its ! erce 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

Kaluga

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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. Restora-tion of another spiritual sanctuary, the Kazan Amvrosievskuy Convent in the village Shamordino near Kozelsk is also in full swing.

MaloyaroslavetsMaloyaroslavets was ! rst 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 magni! cent Chernoostrovsky St. Nicholas Monastery is located. The monas-tery 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.

ObninskObninsk is one of the youngest towns in the Kaluga region. The worlds ! rst 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 ! rst Russian city to be o" cially 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.

TarusaTarusa was ! rst 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 citys museums is an art gallery with an extensive collection of paintings and drawings, including the works by local artists.

Meschovsk Meschovsk was ! rst mentioned in the chronicles in 1238 as one of the principalities of the Seversk land. Meschovsk was home to two Russian Tsarinas - the ! rst and the last. A native of Meschovsk, Evdokiya Stresh-neva became the wife of the ! rst Tsar in the Romanov dynasty - Mikhail Fedorovich, while another local lady, Evdokia Lopukhina married Tsar Peter the Great. A monument to the ! rst Tsarina of the Romanov dynasty was built from donations of local residents on the territory of St. George Monastery in Meschovsk.

National Park UgraThe Park was established on the territory of the Kaluga region in 1997. Its total area is 98623 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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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 terri-tory 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 ! sh.

Rural TourismThe 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 ! nd more than 500 guest houses. Each o" ers comfortable accom-modation, all modern conveniences and a number of exclusive services, such as healing goat milk treatments, hunting, ! shing, 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 conve-niences, 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 con! rm 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. Q

Kaluga



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Penza Region

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rkutsk is one of the largest and most visited Siberian cities and the administrative centre of the region. A traditional habitat of aristo-cratic 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 o!

their Transsiberian train journey in Irkutsk, as this city quickly shakes o! 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 di! erent as Rus-sian and Japanese, featuring in their songs and folk tales. The remaining stone carvings and parts of ritual buildings from thousands of years ago evidence Baikals signi" cance as an ancient praying site. The lake borders Russias Republic of Buryatiya, which is home to Buddhist, Orthodox and Shamanism believers. Every year, Buryat shamans meet at the biggest of Baikals islands, Olkhon Island, to share their knowledge and experience and to conduct rituals.The crystal-clear breathtakingly beautiful Baikal regularly appears on vari-ous 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 " nally make a foray to this Pearl of Siberia during winter, are usually shocked by how much theyve 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 dur-ing the summer, and perhaps provides an even more intense spiritual experience.

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Total Area: 774 800 sq kmPopulation: 2513800Administrative Center: IrkutskTourist Centers: Irkutsk, Listvyanka, Baikalsk, Baikal Railway, Maloye More shore, the Island of Olkhon, village Bolshoe GoloustnoyeTime Zone (UTC/GMT): GMT +08:00How to get there:Flight to Moscow, 3-4 hours; Flight from Moscow to Irkutsk, 5 hoursTrain 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; ! ight from Moscow to Irkutsk, 5 hoursFlight from New York to Beijing, 14 hours; ! ight from Beijing to Irkutsk, 90 minutesTourist websites in English: www.baikal.ru, www.kbzd.transsib.ruWhere 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.ruIn Baikalsk: Hotel Irkutsk, Baikal, more information at www.eastland.ruWhere 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.ruNight club Megapolis www.megaclub.ruClub-restaurant Estrada www.estrada-club.ruNightclub Stratosphere www.strata-club.comNight Club Super Maradona www.sma.irk.ruPaintball Centre Action Painting www.paintball38.ruSafety and Emergency SituationsBaikal 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, 35-32-73Rescue Service of Irkutsk: Telephone: +7 (3952) 56-02-46Marshal Zhukov avenue 72 / 1 Telephone: +7 (3952) 35-85-10Fire emergency - 01Police - 02Emergency Medical Service - 03Gas emergency service - 04Information service 09, 009Free time reference - 223-223Emergency call from a mobile phone - 112, 01 *MedLayner, medical reference service +7 (3952) 70-23-03Telephone code reference service - 81-40Nearest Foreign ConsulatesConsulate General of Poland in IrkutskSukhbaatar Street 18 Telephone: 7 (3952) 28-80-10 Fax: +7 (3952) 28-80-12 www.wiza.polsha.ruHonorary Consulate of the Republic of LithuaniaBaikal Street 259B, Telephone: +7 (3952) 35-93-58www.litva.irk.ru

The Irkutsk Region


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And lets not forget all the fun winter pastimes on o! er - 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 Irkutsks 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 Feb-ruary around Irkutsk and incorporates several cultural, business and sports events. This years 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 years 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 govern-ment. 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 dis-tance of over 150 kilometers, Snow Leopard is a race, which tests some " fteen 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 years event aimed to promote eco-friendly causes, and was titled Keep the water clean. With a distance of 42 kilom-eters and a rather chilly air, the marathon gathered 80 daring athletes from 14 countries. The intense conditions didnt, however, deter 69-year old Wilfried Fischer from Germany and 16-year old Russian girl Daria Manzii from participating in 2011. This years winner also set a record, " nishing the ice race in 6 hours 30 minutes. The Ice Marathon, being a uniquely exciting and extreme undertak-ing, was included in the 2007 Guinness Book of Records for being the worlds only marathon to be run entirely on the ice surface. Finally, also in March, is when the mountain skiing race for the Governors 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 rec-reation on Baikal that are o! the o# cial 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 " shing contests and dog sledge expeditions across Baikal. Q

Ice Sculpture Contest Crystal Miracle

Skiing at Baikal Shore

Ice Sculpture Contest Soul of Lake Baikal

Sled Dog Racing


News

Kuban Cossacks get into the Guinness Book of RecordsOctober 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 worlds largest Cossack Choir, consisting of more than two thousand artists. The con-cert 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 2020The Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, located in the Moscow region, announced its plans to build ! rst ever commercial accommodation in space. The space hotel could admit its ! rst 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 Kryuch-kov, 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 ! rst, but we expect the number of guests to grow to a dozen. Tour-ists will be transported to the space hotel in so-called charter space shuttles. The ! rst ever space tourist was American millionaire Dennis Tito, who visited the ISS in 2001. His " ight took place on board of the Russian spacecraft Soyuz.

In vino salusWine 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 ! nd unique health centers, located in quiet picturesque vineyards, where visitors can not only ap-preciate 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 perma-frost, was ! rst developed in 1966, and the work began in 1978. The project, whose estimated cost was 6,5 billion dollars, was ! nally completed in September 2011.

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The Leningrad RegionTotal Area: 85 908,8 sq kmPopulation: 1704400 Tourist Centers:ShlisselburgIvangorodTikhvinVyborgStaraya ladogaTime Zone (UTC/GMT): + 4How to get to Leningrad regionDaily ! ight from London, journey time 3 hours 30 minutes, tickets from 10,600 rubles.Daily ! ight from Amsterdam, jour-

ney time 1 hour 25 minutes, tickets from 5800 rubles.Daily ! ight from Hamburg, journey time 2 hours 30 minutes, tickets from 5800 rublesO! cial Tourist Website: www.lentravel.ruWhere to stay:Guest House Stary Dom, Tikhvin, from 3000 rubles per nightHotel Dobriy Los, Losevo village, from 2200 rubles per nightHotel Petrovskaya, Shlisselburg town, from 3500 rubles per nightWhere to eat: Staraya Ladoga village, Volkhovskoe Shosse

Restraurant Amsterdam, European couisine, Vsevolozhsk townRestaurant Ivanych, Russian cuisine, Ivanovo village, Priozersky districtRestraurant Prince RurikNightlife and Entertainment:Night club, Vyborg Palace, Vyborg townNight club Matrix, Kingisepp townNight club Pelikan, Kirishi townSafety and Emergency Situations: For Police, dial 02

State Department for Emergency Situations of Leningrad Region Tel. (812) 640-21-60Nearest consular o! ces:Consulate General of the United States of America191028, St. Petersburg, Furshtatskaya Street 15 Tel. +7 (812) 331-26-00British Consulate in St. PetersburgProletarskaya Diktatura Street 5Consulate General of France191186, St. Petersburg, Moika Embankment 15Tel. (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 lifestyleFor 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 TourismIndustrial tourism is a relatively new but increasingly fashionable tour-ist 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 TourismNo 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.nights 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 the-atrical 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 Rerichs genius vision, including artists from the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Several musical performances are organized, as well as exhibitions of Rerichs paintings, many of which are never showcased anywhere else. Q

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Total Area: 144,900 sq kmPopulation: 836,700Administrative Center: MurmanskTourist 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. Peters-burg, 2 hours 20 minutesFlight from St. Petersburg to Murmansk, 1 hours 50 minutesDistance between Moscow and Murmansk, 2250 km. Between St. Peterburg and Murmansk, 1500 km

Toursit Websites in English: www.murmantourism.ruWhere to stay:Hotel Park Inn Polyarnye Zoru, from 2500 rubles www.nwhotel.ruCongress Hotel Meridian, from 3000 rubles, www.meridian-hotel.ruHotel 69th Parallel, from 1800 rubles, www.69parallel.ruRestaurants and Entertainemnt:All information can be found on www.murmantourism.ruSafety and Emergency SituationsEmergency service, dial 112Nearest consular o! ces 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 (o! cer of the Police and Customs)Murmansk o! ce of Consulate General of Finland Phone: +7 8152 445382Fax: +7 8152 448341+358 9 578 56116O! cial Representative of Iceland in MurmanskPhone: +7 (8152) 476 443Fax: +7 (8152) 454 268, +7 (8152) 465 488O! cial Representative of France in MurmanskTel: (8152) 445-382Fax: (8152) 448-341Honorary Consulate

of the Netherlands in MurmanskTelephone: (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 MurmanskTel: (8152) 400 620 (14.00 - 16.00)Fax (hours): (8152) 457 451, 476, 178 456 871Telephone from Norway: 00 75 12 95 10 342Phones: (8152) 400 600 (reception) 400 620 (visa section), 400 610 (attach for police and customs)Fax: (8152) 457 451 (reception) 456 871 (reception) 476 178 (visa section) 457 959 (o! cer of the Police and Customs)

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Murmansk

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 dis-cover 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 pro! table industries in the global economy. Growth rates of revenues from tourism are far ahead of most other indus-tries. It has a stimulating e" ect on trade, construction, transport, heavy industry and agriculture. Rational use of our vast tourism and recreational potential should be one of the most e" ective 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 bene! cial role for the socio-economic development of the region. Each year, the Murmansk Region attracts more than 300000 tourists, who come both in groups and alone. We are developing di" erent types of tourism - sightseeing, ! shing, 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 contin-ues 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.

Interview with Minister of Economic Development of the Murmansk Region Sergey Agarkov for the Russian Travel Magazine

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Where do your guests come from?According to independent sources, in 2010, the number of foreign tourists increased by 12.5 percent to 36000 compared to 2009 ! gures. The larg-est 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 busi-nessmen 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. High-tech investment projects such as the development of the Shtokman gas ! eld 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 ! nd in the Investment directory of the Murmansk region.We have already developed an economic and tech-nical plan of Russian Lapland, in particular the investment project in the territorial single-industry formation of Revda. Weve prepared investment sites for six infrastructure projects, and ! nally we have received 150 million dollars in co-! nancing for projects from the regional budget.Lets 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 ! nd 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 ! sh. In the fast currents of ours rivers, you could catch a truly royal ! sh, 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 ! rst time. What, in your opinion, is of particular interest in the region?The real hallmark of the Kola Peninsula is ! shing. 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 ! shing is allowed during the course of its spawning in 74 rivers. However, the catch and release type of ! shing 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 ! sh the

wild Atlantic salmon. This royal ! sh! The region has more than 30 comfort-able bases and camps on o" er. At the same time, many of them, except for the bases on the river Kola, are located in remote places. We transport the ! shermen there by helicopter. The wilderness, the pristine beauty... Neverthe-less, 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 RegionWith its convenient location near the Barents Sea, an all-year round ac-cessible seaport, proximity to Scandinavia and a wealth of natural and human resources, the regions 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 in! ow 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 LaplandWhile 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 wasnt there in many cases. Rus-sian 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 inter-national 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, ecologi-cal and wildlife tourism. The " rst stage of the project will see the de-velopment of tourist infrastructure in the vil-lage of Redna, including the building of a ski-resort 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 reconstruc-tion of sanatorium Northern Light. The tourist complex will make the vari-ous 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 " shing 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 vil-lage 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 o# ered 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 build-ing 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. Q

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You wouldnt believe, but our 20-meter ge! lte ! sh broke all recordsChefs of the Jewish religious community In Birobidzhan, the capital of the Jewish Autonomous Region, located in eastern Russia, prepared the worlds largest stu! ed pike. Before getting a chance to taste this culinary mas-terpiece, guests had to answer a little quiz. They had to guess in particular, what ingredients and in what quan-tities were added to the record-breaking " sh. It turned out that the ge" lte " sh needed many kilograms of " sh, vegetable oil, and # our among other things. The Ge-" lte 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 worlds oldest Slavic city in the Southern UralsA 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. Arkaims huge " ve-meter walls consisted of a wooden frame " lled 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 " nd 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, ar-cheologists 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.

FYISiberia is a region in Russia stretching some 10 million sq km from the Urals in the west to the mountain ranges of the Paci" c 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 o! cial 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 detoxi" cation and free lectures on Buddhism will be organized.Why did you choose to come to Russia and open a business in Kras-naya Polyana, so far from home? How did it all begin?I came here once with a friend to ski, so began my love a# air with this won-derful 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 di! cult time, and lost a lot of money. But these di! culties 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 technol-ogy 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 " lled 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 in-dustry, 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 someones 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 o! ered our vision. You have a chance to try it, and afterwards you can see whether its 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 harmoni-ously, albeit slowly, and we have to learn from nature. We live and work

here, so were 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 o! er 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 o! er here. I had to change the size of the clay steam tent four times, as a di! erence 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! Q



The Banya

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Total Area: 43 200 sq kmPopulation: 1388000Administrative Center: PenzaTourist 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 hoursFlight Stockholm Moscow, 2 hours 25 minutesMoscow Penza train journey 13 to 15 hours from Kazanskiy or Kurskiy Train, train departs every hoursWhere to stay:

Hotel London Paris www.pnz-lp.ru, from 2000 rublesHotel Penza www.hotel-penza.ru, from 2300 rublesWhere to eat:Russian: Restaurant Slavyanskiy, average bill 850 rublesEuropean: Restaurant Evropeyskiy, average bill 600 rublesNightlife and Entertainment

Entertainment comlex DostoyevskiySafety and Emergency SituationsRescue Service 01 (dial 112 from mobile phone)Police 02Ambulance 03Nearest 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 ! rst 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 ! rst 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 Trans! guration Monastery. The Trinity-Skanov Monastery in Narovchatovsky district near Penza is an important architectural monument and a pilgrim-age 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 promi-nent avant-garde ! gures 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. Penzas main pedestrian street Moskovksaya features a variety of interest-ing 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 co" ee and a place to do some shopping for local art and souvenirs. And if you ! nd 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 shoot-ing club where you can practice shooting with a crossbow or a mini

catapult. And once youve honed your skills, head out into the forest to join the members of one of Penzas medieval clubs in a reconstruction of an ancient battle. Dense forest, which occupies some 20 percent of the regions territory, is also a major magnet for hunters. Penza forest is home to wild boar, roe deer, moose and even wolves. There is pine mar-ten, 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 archeo-logical sites in Russia the Zolotarevsky excavation. Discovered in 1882, Zo-lotarevsky 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 ! erce 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 regions 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 ! nd 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 ! reballs 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 ! reball 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 vil-lage 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. Unidenti! ed " ying 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 ! elds of the Issinsky Triangle. Specialists link these occurrences with a fossil site nearby, which boats natural fossilized remains from Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods. Q


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The Volgograd Region

Total Area: 112900 sq km

Population: 2608500

Administrative Center: Volgograd

Tourist Centers: State Agency for Tourism Development of the Committee on Youth A! airs 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 minutesFlight Moscow Volgograd, journey

time 1 hour 10 minutesBy train: Moscow Volgograd, journey time 18 hours 51 minutes

Tourist websites in English: Volgograd State Panoramic Mu-seum The Battle of Stalingradwww.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, average bill 500 rubles 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: AmsterdamKaraoke: Labyrinth

Safety and Emergency SituationsRussian Ministry for Emergencies: +7 (8442) 39-99-99; Rescue Service: 089 (dial 112 from mobile phones.

Nearest Foreign ConsulatesConsulate General of RomaniaRostov on-Don, +7 (863) 230-29-15 , +7 (863) 223-62-93Consulate General of SlovakiRostov-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 steel-hearted citizens of Stalingrad - the gift of King George VI - in token of the homage of the British people

Stalingrad, as the city was known until 1961, became the most potent symbol of heroism, sacri" ce and de" ance 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 o! ensive ensured that at an early stage, the Wehrmacht controlled much of the city, except a de" ant Soviet army cluster on the West Bank of the river Volga.

The Memory Square in the German military cemetery in the village of Rossoshka

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In November 1942, the Soviet Armys Operation Uranus commenced, destroying Romanian and Italian forces and surrounding the German 6th army inside Stalingrad. Cut o! from its sources of supply and with brutal Russian General Frost on the o! ensive, 290000 German, Romanian and Croatian troops starved and froze to death under unwavering Soviet at-tacks. 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 Germanys history had so large a body of troops come to so dreadful an end. The Battle of Stalingrad, for its giant human sacri" ce, 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 con-gratulate 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 " ghting 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 Zaitsevs ri# e. 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-m