Yaroslav
Yaroslav is a city situated at a distance of 282 km from Moscow. The city was established by the prince of Kievan Rus Yaroslav the Wise. Yaroslav for 400 years was the capital of independent Yaroslav Principality. Today it is one of many Russian cities belonging to the so-called Golden Ring, which surrounds Moscow.
Pietushki
Pietushki is 145 km away from Moscow. The city became famous thanks to verses and poems by Wieniedikt Jerofiejew, a well-known Russian writer. The majority of long-distance trains do not stop at Pietushki .
Wlodzimiezh (Wladymir)
Wlodzimiezh is 210 km away from Moscow. The city belongs to the so-called Golden Ring and its population is about 310 thousand citizens. It is one of the oldest, the most beautiful Russian cities. Wlodzimiezh was established in 1108 by the prince Wlodzimiezh Monomach and in the middle of the 12th century it became the capital of the Wlodzimiezh - Suzdal Principality, and later on the capital of the whole Kievan Rus. Wlodzimiezh was a cultural, religious, economic and political centre of the north-eastern Rus. Today Wlodzimiezh earns its living mainly through tourism, the city as one of the few in Russia wasn't dominated by industry. To the most important historical monuments belong: The Assumption of Mary Cathedral - the so-called Dormition Cathedral (built in the years 1185-89), The Golden Gate and St. Dimitri Cathedral (built in the years 1194-97).
Nizhny Novgorod
Exactly 461 km from Moscow is situated Nizhny Novgorod . It is the fourth biggest city in The Russian Federation, after Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk and it is also one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Nizhny Novgorod was established in 1221 at the initiative of great prince wlodzimierski. At the beginning it was only a fortified city. In 1350 the city became the capital of the Suzdal Principality and from that moment it started its strong development. Its biggest prosperity falls on the 17th century. In the middle of the 19th century it became the trading centre and at the beginning of the 20th century it became one of the biggest economic centres of the country. From that period the saying was taken: Moscow is the centre of Russia, St. Petersburg is its head and Nizhny Novgorod - its wallet. Nizhny Novgorod means beautiful buildings, streets and historical monuments and the most important are: the historical centre of the city - the so-called Kremlin from the beginning of the 16th century, Arsenal, Cathedral of the Archangel, council of the Dormition and Art Gallery with over 12 thousand exhibits.
Kirov
461 km away from Moscow is Kirov. Kirov was established in 1374 and at the beginning it was called Chynow, since 1781 Vyatka , and in the thirties of the twentieth century the city was given today's name from a soviet activist - Siergiej Kirov. Kirov is in the fur industrial area. Worth seeing there are many museums and beautiful monasteries.
Perm
Perm is situated 1435 km from Moscow and it is the last railway station before Ural. In Perm you can see famous wooden cottages and an antique baroque cathedral from 1765. Perm is situated picturesquely among many hills. The city was established at the beginning of the 17th century in connection with starting first copper mines in this area. Perm was for many many years a city closed to tourists visiting Russia. This situation was, among others, connected with, located in this region, military industry and stationed army. Perm was an inspiration for Chekhov for the writing of the play Three sisters and Boris Pasternak in his famous book Doctor Zhivago followed Perm's example in describing the city, in which he was living on his own and writing his novel. In Perm for the tourists await various museums, many interesting historical monuments, beautiful Russian Orthodox Churches and a synagogue.
Tyumen
Tyumen appears just after crossing Ural and is situated 2138 km from Moscow. The city is situated on Western Siberian Plain. Tyumen was an important centre of the colonisation of Siberia - it is the first city which was established in this area. The city was established by the Cossacks in 1586, after conquering Tatar fortress Czyngi-Tura. The city started to quickly develop thanks to being situated on the trade route from Russia to China. In Tyumen it is worth paying attention to famous wooden Siberian cottages, a cathedral and an enormous monastery complex.
Omsk
One of the biggest cities of Siberia is Omsk, situated 2711 km from Moscow. There live about 1,2 million inhabitants. Omsk was established at the initiative of Peter the Great and it was to perform a function of defensive fortress. From the very beginning of the city it was developing quickly. Today it is a very important for Russia industrial area. In Omsk it is worth seeing a lovely Old Town, Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Museum, many Russian Orthodox Churches and a few theatres, from which the oldest is over 130 years-old.
Novosibirsk
After riding 3336 km and about 52 hours from Moscow, Novosibirsk appears. It is the biggest city of Siberia, situated on Western Siberian Plain and is inhabited by about 1,45 mln citizens. The inhabitants of Novosibirsk consider their city an unofficial capital of Siberia. It is a very important academic, cultural and industrial centre of Russia. Here is situated one of the most important Russian university - The University of Novosibirsk along with university campus. The city was established at the end of the 19th century as a working settlement for the construction of the Tras-Siberian Railway. The city is an example of Soviet architecture, moreover you can see Lenin's House, the monument of Lenin, Cathedral of Aleksander Nevsky, many museums and Russian Orthodox Churches. The citizens of Novosibirsk are most proud of two great bridges on the River Ob and a tiny chapel which is regarded as the centre of the tsarist empire.
Krasnoyarsk
After 4098 km you arrive at Krasnoyarsk. The city is situated in the picturesque Yenisei basin nearby the West Sayan mountains. This big city (about 930 citizens) was established in the 17th century in order to colonise Siberia. Not so long ago Krasnoyarsk was closed to foreigners because military and atomic industries are situated here. Even now some of the sectors outside the city are blockaded and are under special supervision of state care. A special place in Krasnoyarsk is a tiny chapel, which is considered to be the symbol of the city. It is also a great vantage point on the Yenisei River and the city's panorama. Places worth our attention are: hydroelectric generating station in Diwnogorsk with a dam measuring over a kilometre in width and Stolby National Park, which covers 47 thousand hectares area and protects many precious and rare species of plants.
Irkutsk
Irkutsk is one of the most both beautiful and interesting Russian cities situated 5185 km away from Moscow. The city lies on the River Irkut and was established in 1661 to protect from the invasions of the residents of Buryatia. Irkutsk lies nearby the pearl of Siberia - Lake Baikal . For many tourists Irkutsk is a perfect base for travelling to lake. Characteristic building complex of Irkutsk are beautiful colourful wooden cottages with painted and richly decorated shutters built on permafrost. Irkutsk is called ByBaikal Gate and it is also a cultural and academic centre of Eastern Siberia.
Ulan-Ude
After riding 5640 km from the beginning of our route from Moscow appears Ulan-Ude - the capital of the Buryat Republic. Here the Trans-Siberian Railway divides: you can go further to Mongolia and China or go further by the main railway route to Vladivostok. Ulan-Ude was established in the 17th century as a winter Cossack settlement. The city was a very important point on the so-called tea trail, which led from China to Russia. Since the city became the capital of the Buryat-Mongolian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, Ulan-Ude can be visited by everyone. The city is an industrial area of Buryatia (over 100 industrial plants, important academic (about 20 thousand students) and cultural (numerous higher education institutions, museums, 5 theatres, an opera and a philharmonic orchestra, Russian Orthodox churches and cathedrals). The city is first of all famous for the biggest Lenin monument in the world. The monument presents 10-metre head of the famous revolutionist.
Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk is situated 8532 km away from Moscow. The residents of Khabarovsk are both Russian and Chinese. The city started its rapid development only since establishing the railway connection with Vladivostok. Khabarovsk is an important industrial and transport centre (an international airport and a railway junction), and a religious and cultural centre of the Far East. Here you can admire well-preserved cottages from the times of the building of the city (half of the 19th century), sample traditional cuisine in numerous restaurants, and visit the Railway Museum.
Vladivostok
The last station on the route of the "great" Trans-Siberian Railway is Vladivostok, situated 9288 km away from Moscow. The city was established in 1860 and gained in meaning only after lost war with Japan. Today Vladivostok is the most important Russian port on the Pacific Ocean where also the base of the Russian Pacific fleet is placed. Vladivostok had been also closed to foreigners till 1991, as were many Russian cities during the duration of USSR. Vladivostok is increasingly visited by tourists, despite high ticket prices and long distance, the trade with China and Japan flourishes there also. Vladivostok can boast about uniquely picturesque location on the Bay of the Golden Horn. In the city there is an enormous number of museums connected with maritime theme as, among others, the Fleet Museum, the Submarine S-56 Museum and the Aquarium. In Vladivostok there is a famous in the whole world obelisk dedicated to the Trans-Siberian Railway with an inscribed on it number 9288, which shows the distance from Moscow to Vladivostok. The duty of each and every tourist is to take a souvenir photo with the obelisk.
