Traveler’s Pick: 5 UNESCO Heritage Sites in Russia Worth Seeing
Vladimir Vinogradov July 30, 2023, 11:15 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
The author of this article has personally been to each of these places.
president of Pro-Vision, author of the Vinogradov.story community
There are places in the world that require special treatment. They represent an exceptional cultural or natural value for humanity and are protected by UNESCO, a special unit of the United Nations that deals with education, science and culture. But nevertheless open to travelers and tourists. In Russia, there are 30 objects on the UNESCO list at once. I will tell you about the most interesting and impressive, which I know firsthand.
To see a selection of places in the north that would be great to go in summer, look for the link:
Orientation North: 5 best travel destinations in the tundra and polar seas
Lake Baikal
The deepest freshwater lake in the world stores about 20% of its drinking water, but this is not what attracts tourists. People come to Baikal in search of protected nature, acquaintance with the unique local culture and familiarization with the “places of power” in the heart of mainland Asia.
In summer, the legendary lake will meet the traveler with a journey to Olkhon, a pilgrimage to Shamanka and a ride on the Circum-Baikal Railway, recognized without exaggeration as a miracle of engineering. And in winter, it will invite you to touch the hundreds of shades of Baikal ice and ride to the Khivus ice caves. And finally, try Buryat buuzas, following the “three O’s” rule: bite from the top, drink the liquid, and be amazed.
Baikal
Photo: www.istockphoto.com
Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye, Moscow
The first stone temple of Rus, the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, was erected in honor of the birth of Ivan IV, the future Ivan the Terrible. It’s hard to believe, but its history spans some 500 years, many of which were anything but uneventful.
However, the temple has survived and continues to amaze with the organic interweaving of typically Russian kokoshniks and braids with “Western” pilasters, a ring gallery and pointed vimpergs. Against the background of the surrounding landscape, the white-stone Church of the Ascension of the Lord seems weightless and seems to be directed upwards, where there is no place for worldly fuss and extraneous thoughts.
Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye
Photo: www.istockphoto.com
Altai Golden Mountains
Under this poetic name, three sections of the Altai Mountains are included in the UNESCO heritage list: the Altai Reserve and Lake Teletskoye, the Katunsky Reserve and Belukha Mountain, as well as the Ukok Plateau. But it is better not to divide Altai into some formal zones, but to perceive it as a single whole: with fragrant herbs, the changeable mood of the Katun and Blue Lakes, which appear only in the cold season, snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows. In the end, in translation from the Turkic languages, Altai is translated as “golden mountains”, and it is worth enjoying the trip to these places to the fullest.
altai mountains
Photo: www.istockphoto.com
Kamchatka volcanoes
It would be more accurate to say “geysers and volcanoes” – in Kamchatka one without the other is simply impossible. There are more than 300 volcanoes on the peninsula, of which about 30 are active, including the legendary Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest active volcano in Eurasia. It is impossible to count how many geysers there are, and it is not worth it: it is better to enjoy the natural power from afar, which fascinates and scares.
Kliuchevskaya Sopka
Photo: www.istockphoto.com
Kazan Kremlin and Sviyazhsk, Tatarstan
Formally, the Kremlin in Kazan and the island-city of Sviyazhsk, 30 km away, are two different UNESCO sites, but due to their geographical proximity, they can easily be combined in one trip. Starting from the Kremlin – monumental, impregnable, but at the same time very “lively” and touristy, with views of the walls and towers, the domes of the Cathedral of the Annunciation and the Kul-Sharif minaret, as well as the obligatory photo of the Syuyumbike falling down.
And continue with a boat trip to Sviyazhsk, to the old monasteries and estates of the previous century. And do not deny yourself the pleasure of trying something of the national cuisine. I recommend peremyach (meat pie), which, by the way, is also included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage, but already intangible.
Kazan Kremlin
Photo: www.istockphoto.com
They told what you can see in Kazan on weekends, at the link:
Football Super Cup in Kazan: where to stay, what to eat and see at the weekend
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