A LiveJournal blogger has recently visited Tula Region and brought back photographs, illustrating the life of a post-Soviet industrial region of Central Russia. This will be interesting for the fans of industrial tourism who enjoy discovering the remains of industrial towns and studying the process of adaptation of the town in post-industrial era.

Ipatiev House is the third place besides Ganina Yama and Verkhnaya Sinyachikha connected with the death of the Romanovs. Here the emperor Nicholas II was shot down with his wife and children. This tragic historic event became the reason for building the Church on the Blood on the same territory. The cathedral is not only a spiritual haven, but is also a museum and a spot, where everyone can try to ring the church bells during the Easter week.

There is a place in the Sverdlovsk region, that keeps memory of the Romanov dynasty. Small village not far from Alapaevsk is where Grand Duchess Yelizaveta Fyodorovna and other Romanovs were buried alive. This spot is associated with royal family as well as Ganina Yama. The Monastery of New Russian Martyrs with holy relics is a famous pilgrim destination and tourist attraction.

"So many secrets for such a small town!", these words can apply to the Ural town Nevyansk in full measure, as its history has an enormous amount of legends and mysteries, most of which related to the famous Demidov family - the most successful Russian magnates in the 18th century. This time we'll proudly tell you about the amazing Leaning Tower of Akinfiy Demidov - a unique building, which is considered Russian "Leaning Tower of Pisa".

Ganina Yama situated not far from Yekaterinburg is a historical place where Romanov family was buried in 1918. Today it is a holy place with the famous male monastery. Seven beautiful wooden churches built according to the best Russian architectural traditions symbolize each member of Nicholas II family.

One of the principal Christian centres of Moscow area, Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery has a long and rich history, related to the main events of the country.

Nilov Monastery is not just an active male monastery on the island among the waters of lake Seliger, but also one of the principal Christian sacred places, where an amazing nature beauty unites with the old architectural works. It creates a unique atmosphere of Nilov Monastery, which attracts many Orthodox piligrims here every year.

It is hard to overestimate the importance of Optina Monastery in the history of Russia. The cloister is a bright example of the process of spiritual revival, which arose in the country in the end of the 18th century.

The monastery situated on the remote islands is a real incarnation of solitude and mystery.

Sergiev Posad is a place where meditative and spiritual elements combine with industrial economics,trade,science and secular culture,which make it a very special Russian city.

A green hill, a little church under blue sky... Have you ever been to Russain convents? These are the places of peace and solitude, where you can enjoy the beauty of Russian nature, see the arcitecture of Old Russia and, perhaps, get closer to discovery of the famous mystery of Russian soul.

There is a cape on the western shore of Baikal Lake. It is a place provided with a very still bay, sheltered from storms and storm winds. Now it is a part of national park. Famous Islands of Ushkanyi where Baikal seals rookery is situated are in front of the cape, just in 30 kilometers. One of the main Baikal sights - Chivyrkui Bay is situated in 50 kilometers by water. The sinister name only contrasts with all this.

Sakhalin is not only a disputed territory but a unique island region, with beautiful nature, unhacked history and a few amusing museums. The region is getting more open now. Recently tourists from Japan have been coming by ferry, staying for 72 hours visa-free and seeing sights of the region. Hopefully this is only the beginning, and this opportunity will be available not only for the Japanese. Anyway, Sahkalin is a place where you find traces of Russian Classic literature, many birds and sea mammals, one art museum with a good collection, and a very old oil derrick.

Frantz Joseph Land is an archipelago in the Arctic sea and one of the northernmost territories of Russia. 900 kilometers away from the North Pole is the northernmost island of archipelago - the Rudolph Island. Not long ago this territory was turned into a national park.

Tyva Republic, located in southern Siberia and on the edge of Mongolia is a place with fantastic nature and culture. According to UNESCO experts, this region is one of three most ecologically clean places on the Earth, along with Amazon forests.

Peterhof park is sometimes associated with something luxury, official and a little boring. But eastern part of the Lower park is not so regular and is rich is signs of royal amusements, including fun fountains, very popular in 18th century Europe.

Small town of Kaluga in Moscow Region combines happily saved 18th century Classicist urban area with memory about scientists made first steps for outer space exploration. Here lived in late 19th-early 20th century a school teacher Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, original and dreamer, who was the first to speak about flights to open space using rockets.

Zvenigorod is a small town not far from Moscow, of the same age. It appeared approximately in 11th century on the high bank of Moscow river. It is famous with two masterpiaces of early Moscow architecture, one of them tied with name of Andrey Rublev.

What do you know about mooses? About their habits and attempts to domesticate them? Do you know why is it almost impossible? And finally wherefore did the people still raise these animals? All the answers can be found at unique moose farmm, which is situated not far from Sumarokovo village, 27 kilometers from Kostroma.

Russian Far East, discovered by Russians in 16th century is still at most an enigma for a European. Far East is a kingdom of fire breathing volcanoes and geysers, deep blue mountains and exotic animals, - white and brown bears, and of course, Amur tigers. Brown bears don’t sleep in Kamchatka, and salmon species come here for spawning even in winter. There are some big cities here, but at the same time people still live in yurts and their best transport is reindeer and dog sleds. Here are some examples of winter activities on the Russian Far East.