UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia during the Trans-Siberian Railway tour
Probably every person on the planet wanted to visit Russia at least once in his or her life. Everyone knows about this country due to its huge territory, rich long history, and celebrated culture. But how can you plan a trip to Russia if you want to see more than one city? There are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Vladivostok and more. How can you plan such a long and eventful journey? The answer is the Trans-Siberian Railway Tour. Through riding this unique railway, you can discover and enjoy the best UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia.
Just like this country is the biggest on our planet, this railroad is the longest you can find. Its length is 9288 km, running across almost the whole continent. Riding this train is among the top popular activities for visitors. Cozy environment of a train trip, picturesque nature flashing behind the window – everything is magical in this experience.
After deciding to ride this train, the time has come to fill up your checklist for places of interest. Russia has plenty of cities to explore, and each of them has a lot to offer. It is better to choose the most interesting spots beforehand. Now let us see fascinating and scenic stops during this rail journey.
Moscow
The first thing you are absolutely bound to do as a tourist is to see around Moscow. The metropolis is the greatest, extremely diverse and stunning city lying on the West of such an enormous country. Here you can find an abundance of touristic spots, including widely popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia. Everyone can find something to suit their taste. Art galleries, scenic parks, historical buildings, modern malls packed with fun activities, you name it!
As for the highly recommended places to stop by, a few of them definitely need to be in your checklist. The chief city of this stunning country offers three places that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia.
Moscow Kremlin
Located near the megacity’s core called Red Square, there is the glorious Kremlin. Such a remarkable structure consists of countless churches, palaces, and fortifications. It is all surrounded by a tall and strong wall. Tourists have access to pretty much the entire territory with only a few exceptions. You can wander around and admire the sights or buy another ticket if you fancy attending the museum.
Novodevichy Convent
It is spread out on a panoramic bank of the Moskva River. Once it belonged to defenses of this territory. This is an exceptional place, as people of royal descent are entombed here within a local necropolis.
The Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye
This outstanding place lies to the south of downtown Moscow. The sanctuary was constructed as an act of celebration upon the birth of the heir and soon-to-be ruler Ivan the Terrible. Its gorgeous tent-shaped structure became a substantial milestone in Russian architecture and had an immense impact on the ecclesiastic style.
Irkutsk and Buryatia
Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal always was and will be among other impressive and utterly beautiful heritage sites in Russia. This gigantic lake is just breathtaking. Can you imagine that this deepest lake on Earth is the oldest as well? About 25 million years ago, it appeared on the surface of our planet. Scientists say that it might become a new ocean in about twenty million years from now. But we will not see it, unfortunately.
The ecosystem in this area is virtually unique. Not only are there rare flowers and trees, but also endemic Siberian animals. On the coasts of Baikal, you can see nerpas – the only kind of truly freshwater seals existing on the planet.
Regardless of the season, there are plenty of activities to engage in. You can visit this landmark in summer or during winter, in the middle of spring or in late autumn. Either way, it will be different and magical every time. Among all those incredibly stunning and diverse natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia, it is one-of-a-kind.
The train does not actually stop near the lake. However, it stops in the city of Irkutsk. This place has a lot to offer as well. But do not worry – it takes less than an hour to get to Baikal by bus. The majority of tourists take this route anyway, so you will not have any trouble.
Even during summer, the crystal-clear water of the lake is too cold to go swimming. There are some brave souls who take the plunge and go for a dip, however, not many. Still, the major part of visitors enjoys themselves while sunbathing on the beach. The fresh air is healing in this precious heart of nature.
Kazan
Kazan is a very special and unique city. It is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. The majority of Tatar people are Muslims, which reflects on their rich culture. Russia truly is a country of diversity. You can visit many cities, but Kazan will still surprise you.
Kazan Kremlin
– a mighty and majestic fortified construction. It is one of the most multicultural landmarks listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia. The uniqueness of the place comes from its origin. This is a stunning and powerful architectural complex, which is a singular Tatar fortress in the whole world. Turkic people built it many centuries ago, in the time of the Mongol Empire, and it survived through the number of eras. However, the first Tsar of Russia vanquished it in the middle of the sixteenth century and turned it into a Christian site.
The Assumption Cathedral of Sviyazhsk
– the oldest church is a male monastery also created by Ivan IV. This amazing house of worship is an integral component of a lovely town-island. It sits nicely on three rivers, including the world-famous Volga. The frescoes presented at the monastery are among the most extraordinary in the religious tradition. The scenery here is breathtaking, and the design of structures offers a lot to admire.
Hopefully, this guide was helpful for you. Planning a journey can be overwhelming but still exciting. Book your Trans-Siberian Tour and enjoy your stay in Russia!