Tourist Attractions & Monuments en Russie - Sibérie

This lake is well known among the Russians who are pressing its black beaches of world and are covered by Soviet buildings.

A very pleasant and idyllic place, with a small beach. The locals like to find themselves in the beautiful days after work or weekend. Ideal for discovering contemporary khakassienne and relaxing.

The Khakassky Reserve, which covers an area of nearly 270,000 ha, has been established as a natural park and is a leading Siberian and world-class nature sanctuary. Extremely varied with its pure water lakes, majestic mountains and steppe areas. There are many opportunities for hiking, excursions and wildlife observation. They are organized from the park's information centre in Abakan. An eco-museum (100 RUB, from 9am to 4pm)

The Ivanovsky Lakes are located in the mountainous taiga of the Ordzhonikidze district, near the village of Priiskovy. They are distinguished by their depth (up to 140 m, at heights of 1,000 to 1,240 m), the purity of their water and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. A site, certainly protected, very popular with locals summer and winter. Ask at the tourist office in Abakan to find out about entry requirements (presentation of a permit, etc.). A must-see.

one can see, from a boat and with the help of binoculars, a memorial to the discovery of "Pallaçovo gélézo" (the Pallas iron). In October 1771, the great Russian explorer of Siberia, Peter Pallas, of German origin (1741-1811) arrived in Krasnoyarsk. He ordered his collection, all his travel diaries and completed them with archival material. In 1772, a convoy of a few trolleys loaded with collections ores, animals and birds headed from Krasnoyarsk to St. Petersburg. The convoy consisted of solid sleds with a metal block with a weight of 700 kg. This block, on the rough surface covered with a thin crust, and with the form of giant egg, was a gift from the blacksmith Jacov Medvédev, who found it on the dividing line of the waters of the rivers Oubey and Sicime, tributaries rights of the Yenisey. The blacksmith, who had transported him to his yard, attacked him with his entire heart without succeeding in forging it. For 22 years, the mysterious bloc remained in the yard. P. Pallas heard about and sent a man to buy it. But the blacksmith gave the block free and even built special sleds to move it to the capital. The enigmatic object received the name of the "Pallas iron" and its mystery was decrypted in 1794 by the Czech scientist, Ernst Chladni, who said it was a meteorite, the first found and studied in Russia. The peasant blacksmith J. Medvédev was decorated by the Russian Academy of Sciences, and his discovery is now visible at the Cabinet Cabinet in Saint Petersburg.

This resting place for families is also open to foreigners. Various excursions are organized in June, July and August: day at Tagarsky Lake, guided tour of Minoussinsk and in the mountains of the "stone town".

Geology enthusiasts will find a rich collection of minerals from all over Siberia.

In addition to Russian art, the museum presents Western European paintings including a Nicolas Chick, as well as a rich collection of masters from China, India and Japan, ancient eastern porcelain, decorative art objects. An icon of the icons is located in Epiphany Cathedral, 1 oulitsa Ioukhé Botor.

These are the temporary exhibition halls of the museum, located in the building of the church of the Saviour. Icons, national costumes, bells and… panoramic view of the clocher.

The Pribaikalsky National Park covers 418,000 hectares along the west coast of Lake Baikal, between the village of Kultuk and the Kheyrene River (it includes the island of Olkhon). The landscape is very varied and picturesque: cliffs, bays, creeks, caves, the largest of which are Aya (570 m long) and Metchta (250 m). Forests cover 70% of the territory and vary according to the altitude. Conifers (pine, larch and cedar) predominate, but deciduous trees such as birch and aspen can be found. You will observe very rare and protected species of plants, fungi and lichens. The mouth of the Angara River, which does not freeze in winter, is a unique wintering ground for water birds, of which there are up to 10,000 individuals. The area is subject to the influence of the enormous water mass of the lake: annual precipitation is very high, as is the humidity level. The average temperature in January is -18 °C, compared to 14 °C in July-August. Popular and much visited, the park is well-structured and preserved.

On the site (in Russian) you will find practical information, including how to apply for a permit. You also get various hiking routes, the list of refuges (equipped and heated) open to the public. To sleep there, you need to have reserved your bed. Finally, you will find the contact details of offices where you can get information and make enquiries (especially in Irkutsk and Listvianka).

Of course, the attraction, well established, is a bit of a summer camp (dozens of UAZs follow and cross each other), but don't miss it: you'll be amazed! Usually, the tour is organized in six main stops, interspersed with a snack (fish soup-sandwich-tea). Here are a few explanations, as the drivers are not talkative. Stage 1: Kharantsy and its fabulous bay. Stage 2: Pichianka beach. Stage 3: Cape Khoboï, with a 1 hour break. You walk towards the cape and walk through its forest, covered with offerings; you quietly meet your group for lunch. Stage 4: Cape Shunte, or Cape of Lovers. Its two rocks represent a couple. In the background, you can see the Sviatoïe Noz peninsula (Nez-Sacré, in bouriate), in the distance, on the left, the archipelago of the Ushkani islands which shelters a colony of nerpas (excursions are proposed by boat). On your right, close by, Mount Juma, home of Baikal. Stage 5: Sagaan Khushun or Cape of Three Brothers, a white marble cap covered with reddish lichen. From there, you drive through a steppe with a relief, interspersed with larch forests, deserted hamlets and hordes of semi-wild horses. Stage 6: the mystical (and extraordinary) bronze sculpture of Dashi Namdakov The Guardian of Lake Baikal (famous Buryat artist born in 1952).In Buryatia, a large dead tree embodies the spirit of an ancestor. Inhabited, it is the object of offerings, prayers and rituals, especially if it is located at the top of a hill...

Today's village, with a population of less than 100 inhabitants, was once an important fishing port. The traces of the old installations have disappeared. If Kharantsy is the first stop on the great northern tour in UAZ, it is quite possible to get there by bike (or on foot. Be careful, the road is long). You will find several accommodations: campsites (with yurts) and guesthouses. Up there, expect a 360-degree heavenly landscape, on a land peeled by the sun and wind. You can explore the coast by bike or on foot, go down to the water's edge, unpack your picnic, enjoy an unlimited space. You can also try to discover the shamano-Buddhist oratory hidden in the forest... Opposite is the small island of Kharantsy. It is very popular in winter for its superb ice cascade (accessible by boat in summer). Also, several scenes from the film In the Forests of Siberia were shot there. Continuing north towards the village of Ulan Khushin (Улан Хушин), you can admire an extraterrestrial landscape, strange shaped trees on a sandy perimeter and wild thyme fields as far as the eye can see. Be careful, uneven track and increased difficulty. It is here that Pribaïkalsky National Park opens, recognizable by its forest checkpoint: it is perfectly authorized to enter it alone, subject to paying the entrance fee (300 RUB per day and per person). Entry by vehicle is only possible if the vehicle is off-road.

The tour of the old Circum-Baikal railway by train is a collective excursion. It lasts a long day (about 10 hours) and is organised from Irkutsk (the trips are included in the ticket). If you have large luggage, charge an extra 250 RUB per piece). This is an excellent option if you are short of time, as you pass through several points of interest on the Baikalian coast.

First you reach Slioudianka (by bus or train, about 2h30). From there, after visiting the station, you climb into a steam railway convoy (Soviet period locomotive) or matanya type (a modern regional train). Direction Port-Baïkal, i. e. some 90 km on the old Circum-Baïkal railway line. The train stops at several stations, with a guided tour and exit at the station (you are walking around): in particular at the village of Angasolka, at the Kirkirei complex (one of the most difficult parts of the circumbaïkalien construction site), at Ulanovo station. During this trip, which lasts about 5 hours, you can eat. You will be offered the option to purchase the tour (breakfast 350 RUB, lunch 800 RUB, dinner 700 RUB). Arrival at Port-Baïkal station scheduled around 6:30 pm: after a short visit of the station and its surroundings, you board for Listvianka by ferry (summer) or hovercraft (winter). Disembarkation at the seaside resort around 8pm, quick visit, then departure for Irkutsk (by bus, about 1 hour drive).

This reserve (biosphere status since 1986), is located between the Bargouzine Mountains, whose summit reaches a height of 2,841 m, and Lake Baikal. It covers 374,322 ha along the northern half of the south-eastern coast, between Ust-Barguzin (260 km north of Ulan Oude) and Nizhneangarsk (northeast tip of Baikal). It is a beautiful mountainous country crossed by 14 rivers, whose clear and fast waters form powerful waterfalls. Its many mountain lakes and glaciers make this region truly enchanting. The administrative and scientific centre is located in Davcha, a small village on Lake Baikal, 450 km north of Ulan Oude. It can be reached by road, helicopter, boat or hydrofoil from Irkutsk or Ulan Oude. Here, the summers are short and quite cool. August is the hottest month; February is the coldest. The average annual temperature is -4°C.

Founded in 1916, the reserve's mission was to protect and study the precious and endangered sable of Bargouzine. Thanks to the activities of zoologists and forest rangers, the population has increased considerably. Access to the reserve is strictly regulated; some of it is strictly prohibited to the public. You can enter it through excursions organized by professionals. Contact the tourist agencies in Irkutsk and Ulan Oude, who will offer you a programme with a French-speaking guide if necessary.

Exhibition of regional painters. Children's drawings.

Once a haven of nature and peace off the coast of Vladivostok (Empress Eugenie Archipelago, Gulf of Peter the Great), Russkiy Island served until the end of the 20th century as a large military station protecting the Russian border from Japanese invasions. In Soviet times, as a closed territory, it was home to several naval training/training units. Then, in 1992, four soldiers on duty, forgotten by their officers, died of hunger there (one of the biggest military scandals after the USSR). The military installations were destroyed.
Charming and forested, Russkiy Island is one of Vladivostok's favourite summer resorts. It is also home to the former gigantic business complex, built to host the 2012 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Forum) summit at high speed. A building whose faults have been denounced time and time again... After the forum, the decision was taken to convert it into a "Federal University of the Far East" and to develop the island's tourism potential. Since then, it has been inviting travellers to laze on its beaches and explore its forests. In 2016, Russia's largest aquarium, the Oceanarium, was inaugurated there. Also since 2012, the island is connected to the continent by the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It will always be interesting to borrow the structure, at least to photograph it. Its tricolour stays are in the colours of the Russian flag.

Extending over 50 ha, the park offers, in the centre of the city, an area of calm and freshness but also of attractions, games, sleigh rides and sports activities. There are cafés, a video games room, the Cosmos sports stadium, the ski jumping and the oldest railway in the country, which still operates in the park's territory for the greatest joy of children.

Forming the most southerly part of the Magadan region, the Koni peninsula belongs to the Magadansky Reserve where live, protected by law, bears, foxes, rare species of marmots and many other animals. During the spawning season (end June-August), Pacific salmon go back to Koni rivers. In coastal areas, seals are numerous, and the baleinoptères sometimes approaching the coast can be observed. Koni also retains interesting remains of human habitation of the stone age.

Kamchatka has over 150 thermal springs, the most abundant of which are in the Paratounka region. Ideal for a rest or treatment stay, the stations are located on the axis of the main Elisovo-Paratounka road, not far from Petropavlovsk, in the river valley of the same name.

It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful natural and protected sites in the world. And it deserves it: accessing it can indeed be difficult, especially in wet weather (all-terrain vehicle). The cape "Giant" overlooks the Sea of Okhotsk, to the south-east of the island. You will be amazed by these arches and mineral columns sculpted by the wind and sea waves. The lucky ones will witness the spawning of wild salmon, which attracts many brown bears. A must-see.

The Usurysky Nature Reserve occupies mountainous terrain south of the Sikhoté-Alin Mountains, in the upper part of the Komarovka and Artiomovka river basins. Flora: hard juniper, ginseng, red pine and Japanese yew. The reserve has become a place for growing ginseng, the root of which is useful in pharmacy and cosmetics. Fauna: the Amur tiger, the East Siberian leopard, the tangerine and the black stork.

After crossing the Katun bridge, you can walk three kilometres on the left side of the bridge to the crossroads where the signs indicate Beriozka (birch) and Ozero Aya (Lake Aya): 1 kilometre away, there is a beautiful lake surrounded by forest.

The blue pearl of the Altai is located in one of the three overhanging mountain hollows on the left bank of the Katoune, 280 meters above sea level and 75 meters above river level. Famous for its warm waters (25°C from mid-June), Lake Aya is a very popular holiday destination. There are several peat bogs (Russian-style leisure centres), equipped beaches, pedal boat and rowing boat rental points all around. In the centre of the lake, a small island with a romantic pavilion serves as a place to relax in the sun.

The lake also attracts many fishing enthusiasts: here you can catch perch, carassins, pike and even sterlets and monkfish. Lake Aya freezes over from November. When the ice is caught, in December-January, it is therefore possible to skate on the snow-cleared (and secured) areas. In order to protect the environment of the lake, the Aya Natural Park was delimited and classified in October 2003 by decision of the Altai Territorial Administration.

In the high summer and winter seasons (July-August; January-March) expect hordes of holidaymakers coming to enjoy the fresh air. This is one of the great holiday resorts of the Altai.

This rocky island is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the district of Chemal. And rightly so, since the place is breathtakingly beautiful. Located in the middle of the Katoune River, the island is connected to the shore by a suspended pedestrian bridge. An Orthodox wooden convent was built there, associated with the women's monastery of Notre-Dame-du-Signe de Barnaoul. It owes its name to the eponymous Greek island, known as the place of exile of the evangelist John, who wrote the Apocalypse there.

The Altai Nature Reserve was established on 16 April 1932 to protect the exceptional nature of the golden Altai Mountains. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List since 1998, it covers an area of more than 881,000 hectares in the northeastern part of the Altai Republic (administrative territories of Turochak and Ulaanbaatar), of which 11,410 hectares lie on the right bank of Lake Teletskoye. The mountains are dotted with springs from which pure and refreshing water gushes forth. There are numerous streams, rivers and waterfalls (the highest - 60 m - is on the Tchoultcha River), high-altitude lakes (including the 10 km long Djulukul) and natural areas where a multitude of rare species thrive. It is also a popular place for botanists: the rich and diverse flora of the reserve includes more than 1,500 species of vascular plants, 111 species of fungi, 272 species of lichens. The most common trees are cedar, fir, larch, spruce, pine and birch. The virgin cedar forests are the pride of the reserve: 400-450 years old, they sometimes reach 180 cm in diameter.
Entrance to the reserve is free; only certain areas are accessible to the public, mostly around Teletskoe Lake. However, you must obtain a permit (at the reception desk). Several audioguide applications are available on the website.

The largest lake in the Golden Mountains of the Altai, the second largest freshwater reserve in Russia after the Great Baikal, Teletskoy is located at 434 m above sea level, between the Korbou and Al-tyntou ridges where the Saïan and Saïliouguem mountains meet. With its 78 km long and 5 km wide, and an exceptional depth of 325 m (it is in the top 25 of the deepest lakes on the planet), its fresh and clear water allows you to see up to 14 m deep. In the Altaic language, Teletskoe means "golden lake". Its eastern bank is part of the Altai nature reserve inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. More than 70 rivers and numerous streams flow into this lake, the largest being the Chulychman. Only one river emerges from it: the Biya, in the north, becoming, after its confluence with the Katun, one of Russia's most important rivers, the Ob. It is one of the most popular destinations in the Altai. Every year, thousands of tourists come to discover this magnificent natural setting, an ideal playground for lovers of outdoor sports: rafting, diving or hiking in the mountains. Lazier travellers can rest assured that the surrounding and surprisingly varied mountain scenery is self-sufficient. You can laze around on its pebble beaches and take an occasional dip. If it is crowded, especially in the summer, Teletskoe Lake loses none of its magic. A place where it's nice to relax.

Lakes Izmentchivoye and Tunya, two saltwater lakes of 12.9 km2 and 174 km2, are located in the Korsakov district, southeast of Sakhalin Island. They are ideal for bathing, fishing, bird watching at bird colonies resting on their shores, hiking and kayaking. Lake Izmentchivoye is also rich in marine sulphide mud, which has therapeutic virtues (skin and gynaecological diseases).

The Bouriates take its precious mineral water, rich in trace elements, as well as the mud, which is also medicinal (joints, skin). Visitors swim here all summer long because the lake is shallow and the water is quite warm. Breathtaking natural beauty, between characteristic marshland landscapes and the Baikalian shoreline. You admire the still snow-covered peaks of the Bargouzine mountains. Very popular in summer, the lake will be all yours at the end of August.

On the right, the ruins of a luxury hotel built and destroyed in the aftermath of a fire in 1989 (allegedly started by a disgruntled fisherman who laid his hut on the foundations). Next, the starting point of the trail leading to the top of the Markov. You come to one of the most beautiful beaches of the lake. Pebbled, wild and battered by the surf. The roar of the waves and the driftwood will remind you of the ocean. Between shore and forest, you are alone in the world!