There are many beautiful buildings, natural phenomena and other unique objects in the world that delight people. And the task of each generation is to preserve this wealth and pass it on to descendants. The most valuable attractions are included in a special list.

About World Heritage Sites

It’s scary to think that descendants won’t see, for example, the Acropolis or Meanwhile, this could happen, if not in the near future, then in a few generations. That is why one of the primary tasks of humanity is to preserve and increase the cultural and natural wealth of the planet.

For this purpose, a special list was created, which includes World Heritage sites located in various countries and regions. There are many of them, they are diverse, and each is unique in its own way.

General information about the list

The idea of ​​a list of the world's most valuable sites was first implemented in 1978, after the UN Convention was adopted six years earlier, declaring a shared responsibility for the preservation of the most significant cultural and natural monuments.

At the end of 2014, the list contained 1007 items. The top ten countries for the number of World Heritage sites are Italy, China, Spain, France, Germany, Mexico, India, Great Britain, Russia and the USA. In total, there are 359 items included in the list on their territory.

There are a number of criteria according to which the list is expanded. They include the uniqueness or exclusivity of a particular place or building from different points of view: its inhabitants, construction, evidence of an important stage in the development of civilizations, etc. Therefore, sometimes you can find objects on the list that are quite unexpected for someone.

Categories and examples

The entire diversity of the World Heritage is divided into three conditional groups: cultural, natural and cultural-natural. The first category is the most numerous, it includes 779 items, for example, the building of the Opera House in Sydney. The second group contains 197 objects, including Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the Grand Canyon. The last category is the smallest - only 31 monuments, but they combine both natural beauty and human intervention: Machu Picchu, Meteora monasteries, etc.

For some reason, people are accustomed to primarily admiring buildings and creations of their own efforts, forgetting about natural beauties. But in vain, because in fact this is also a World Cultural Heritage.

In Russia

On the territory of the Russian Federation there are 26 monuments included in the UNESCO list. Of these, 15 are classified as cultural, and the remaining 11 are natural. They are located throughout the country and include truly unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Russia.

For the first time, the Russian Federation added to the list of countries on whose territory there are monuments to human and natural genius in 1990, when the list was also replenished with the Kizhi Pogost and the historical center of St. Petersburg. Subsequently, the World Heritage of Russia was regularly replenished and continues to expand. The list includes nature reserves, monasteries, geological monuments and many other objects. Thus, in 2014, the historical and archaeological complex “Bulgar”, which is located in Tatarstan, was included in the Russian World Heritage List.

Full list

Russia's World Heritage sites are mostly known to many citizens. But someone will also find unfamiliar points that they might want to visit, so it’s better to give a complete list:

• historical center and monuments of St. Petersburg;
• Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow;
• Kizhi Pogost;
• Veliky Novgorod and its surroundings;
• white monuments of Suzdal and Vladimir;
• Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye;
• Trinity-Sergius Lavra;
• Komi forests;
• Lake Baikal;
• Kamchatka volcanoes;
• Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve;
• golden Altai Mountains;
• basin of Lake Uvs-Nur;
• Western Caucasus;
• Kazan Kremlin;
• Ferapontov Monastery;
• Curonian Spit;
• old city of Derbent;
• Wrangel Island;
• Novodevichy Convent;
• historical center of Yaroslavl;
• Struve arc;
• Putorana plateau;
• Lena Pillars;
• complex "Bulgar".

Another point is related to the political events of 2014 - the ancient city of Chersonesus is located on the Crimean Peninsula, which is also included in the World Cultural Heritage. Russia actually has something to strive for, because there are many more unique objects located on the territory of the country, and each of them may eventually be included in the UNESCO list. In the meantime, it’s still worth learning more about those monuments that are already on this list. It’s not for nothing that they were included there, is it?

Natural

Russia is a huge country, the largest on the planet in terms of territory. 9 time zones, 4 climates and a huge number of different zones. It is not surprising that the World Natural Heritage of Russia is quite numerous and diverse - 11 objects. There are huge forests, clean and deep lakes, and natural phenomena of amazing beauty here.

• Virgin forests of Komi. Considered to be the largest intact forests in Europe. Included in the World Heritage of Russia in 1995. Many species of rare representatives of flora and fauna grow and live on their territory.
• Lake Baikal. Is the deepest on the planet. Entered the list in 1996. Many species living in the lake are endemic.
• Volcanoes of the Kamchatka Peninsula. They are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Included in the Russian World Heritage Sites in 1996.
• Altai. On the list since 1998. Include habitats of rare representatives of flora and fauna.
• Caucasian Nature Reserve. Located in three constituent entities of the Russian Federation: Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygea. On the list since 1999.
• Central Sikhote-Alin. A nature reserve located in the Primorsky Territory. Many rare species of animals live on its territory. Entered the UNESCO list in 2001.
• Curonian Spit. This unique object is a sand body stretching across the Baltic Sea for almost 100 kilometers. On the territory of the spit there are a large number of interesting places, for example the famous “Dancing Forest”; the seasonal migration route of many birds also lies through it. Included in the list in 2000.
• Uvsu-Nur basin. Located on the border of the Russian Federation and Mongolia. The basin was listed in 2003 according to the criteria of international scientific significance and conservation of biological and landscape diversity.
• Wrangel Island. Divided almost equally between the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Most of its territory is occupied by mountains. Rare plants grow here, which was also the reason why the site was included in the UNESCO list in 2004 under number 1023.
• It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2010. It is home to the migratory routes of large populations of reindeer and hosts a unique combination of ecosystems.
• Lena pillars. At the moment, it is the last World Natural Heritage site in Russia. Was included in the list in 2012. In addition to its aesthetic importance, this object is valuable for the uniqueness of the geological processes occurring here.

Man-made

Objects of the World Cultural Heritage of Russia, of course, include not only natural monuments, but the results of human labor.

• Historical center of St. Petersburg. Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow. The hearts of both capitals were included in the list at the same time - in 1990 - and according to four criteria at once.
• Kizhi. This unique ensemble of wooden buildings was included in the UNESCO list in 1990. This true wonder of the world not only demonstrates the genius of humanity, but also is in amazing harmony with the surrounding nature.
• In 1992, UNESCO added 3 more attractions to its list: monuments of Novgorod, Suzdal and Vladimir, as well as
• The Trinity-Sergius Lavra and the Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye, included in the list respectively in 1993 and 1994, are known to everyone for their beauty - many residents of Moscow and the Moscow region regularly visit there.
• entered the list in 2000, as did
• Monuments of the city of Derbent in Dagestan - 2003.
• in Moscow - 2004.
• Historical center of Yaroslavl - 2005.
• (2 points), which helped establish the shape, size and some other parameters of the planet - 2005.
• Architectural and historical complex Bulgar - 2014.

As you can see, the World Cultural Heritage sites of Russia are mostly concentrated in the European part, which is determined by the peculiarities of the development of the territory.

Contenders

The list of Russia's World Heritage Sites may expand significantly in the coming years. The Government of the Russian Federation regularly offers the UN new applicants, unique and beautiful in their own way. There are now 24 more sites that can be included in the main UNESCO list.

Threat of extinction

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to preserve World Heritage. Russia, fortunately, is not yet in danger of this; all of its monuments included in the list are in relative safety. UNESCO regularly edits and publishes a special list that includes unique sites that are in danger. Now it consists of 38 points. Natural and cultural monuments fall into this “alarming” list for various reasons: poaching, deforestation, construction and reconstruction projects that violate the historical appearance, climate change, etc. Moreover, the worst enemy of World Heritage is time, which is impossible win. And yet, from time to time, monuments are removed from this list, most often due to improvements in the situation. But there are also sad examples when the situation deteriorated so much that objects simply ceased to be included in the World Heritage Site. Russia has nothing to fear yet, although the environmental situation in some parts of the country may affect many natural monuments. And then, perhaps, the “alarming” list will become relevant for the Russian Federation as well.

UNESCO activities

Inclusion in the list is not only and not so much prestige, but also, first of all, increased attention to the safety and condition of certain objects on the part of a larger number of organizations. UNESCO also stimulates the development of eco-tourism and increases people's awareness of the uniqueness of monuments. Among other things, there is a special fund that finances the support of facilities.

World Heritage sites included in the UNESCO special list are of enormous interest to the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural objects make it possible to preserve those unique corners of nature and man-made monuments that demonstrate the richness of nature and the capabilities of the human mind.
As of July 1, 2009, the World Heritage List included 890 sites (including 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed) in 148 countries: individual architectural structures and ensembles - the Acropolis, cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, the historical center of Warsaw (Poland) and St. Petersburg (Russia), Moscow Kremlin and Red Square (Russia), etc.; cities - Brasilia, Venice along with the lagoon, etc.; archaeological reserves - Delphi, etc.; national parks - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Yellowstone (USA) and others. States on whose territory World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.

1) Tourists examine the Buddhist sculptures of the Longmen Grottoes (Dragon Gate) near the city of Luoyang in the Chinese province of Henan. There are more than 2,300 caves in this place; 110,000 Buddhist images, more than 80 dagobas (Buddhist mausoleums) containing relics of Buddhas, as well as 2,800 inscriptions on rocks near the Yishui River, a kilometer long. Buddhism was first introduced to China in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty. (China Photos/Getty Images)

2) Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its many giant stone faces. There are more than 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, which range from nondescript piles of brick and rubble scattered among rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored. More than a million tourists visit them every year. (Voishmel/AFP - Getty Images)

3) One of the parts of the archaeological site of Al-Hijr - also known as Madain Salih. This complex, located in the northern regions of Saudi Arabia, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 6, 2008. The complex includes 111 rock burials (1st century BC - 1st century AD), as well as a system of hydraulic structures dating back to the ancient Nabatean city of Hegra, which was the center of caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the Pre-Nabatean period. (Hassan Ammar/AFP - Getty Images)

4) "Garganta del Diablo" (Devil's Throat) waterfalls are located in the Iguazu National Park in the Argentine province of Misiones. Depending on the water level in the Iguazu River, the park has from 160 to 260 waterfalls, as well as over 2000 species of plants and 400 bird species Iguazu National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984 (Christian Rizzi/AFP - Getty Images)

5) The mysterious Stonehenge is a stone megalithic structure consisting of 150 huge stones, and located on Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. This ancient monument is believed to have been built in 3000 BC. Stonehenge was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

6) Tourists stroll at the Bafang Pavilion at the Summer Palace, the famous classical imperial garden in Beijing. The Summer Palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and restored in 1886. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. (China Photos/Getty Images)

7) Statue of Liberty at sunset in New York. "Lady Liberty", which was given to the United States by France, stands at the entrance to New York Harbor. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Seth Wenig/AP)

8) "Solitario George" (Lonely George), the last living giant tortoise of this species, born on Pinta Island, lives in Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now approximately 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally included on the World Heritage List in 1978, but were listed as endangered in 2007. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP - Getty Images)

9) People skate on the ice of the canals in the area of ​​the Kinderdijk mills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk has the largest collection of historic mills in the Netherlands and is one of the top attractions in South Holland. Decorating holidays taking place here with balloons gives a certain flavor to this place. (Peter Dejong/AP)

10) View of the Perito Moreno glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park, in the southeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The site was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentine part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. (Daniel Garcia/AFP - Getty Images)

11) Terraced gardens in the northern Israeli city of Haifa surround the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab, founder of the Baha'i faith. Here is the world administrative and spiritual center of the Baha'i religion, the number of professers of which worldwide is less than six million. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008. (David Silverman/Getty Images)

12) Aerial photography of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. According to the World Heritage website, this small state is home to a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Giulio Napolitano/AFP - Getty Images)

13) Colorful underwater scenes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This thriving ecosystem is home to the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish. The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. (AFP - Getty Images)

14) Camels rest in the ancient city of Petra in front of Jordan's main monument, Al Khazneh or the treasury, believed to be the tomb of a Nabatean king carved from sandstone. This city, located between the Red and Dead Seas, is at the crossroads of Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Phenicia. Petra was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985. (Thomas Coex/AFP - Getty Images)

15) The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. The Sydney Opera House was designated a World Heritage Site in 2007. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP - Getty Images)

16) Rock paintings made by the San people in the Drakensberg Mountains, located in eastern South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg region for thousands of years until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible rock art in the Drakensberg Mountains, which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. (Alexander Joe/AFP - Getty Images)

17) General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east of Yemen in the Hadhramaut province. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. All the houses here are built of clay bricks; approximately 500 houses can be considered multi-story, as they have 5-11 floors. Often called "the world's oldest skyscraper city" or "Desert Manhattan", Shibam is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. (Khaled Fazaa/AFP - Getty Images)

18) Gondolas along the shore of the Grand Canal in Venice. The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore is visible in the background. Island Venice is a seaside resort, a center of international tourism of world importance, a venue for international film festivals, art and architectural exhibitions. Venice was included in the UNESCO World Heritage program in 1987. (AP)

19) Some of the 390 abandoned huge statues made of compressed volcanic ash (moai in Rapa Nui) at the foot of the Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island, 3,700 km off the coast of Chile. Rapa Nui National Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program since 1995. (Martin Bernetti/AFP - Getty Images)

20) Visitors walk along the Great Wall of China in the Simatai area, northeast of Beijing. This largest architectural monument was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds to defend against invading tribes from the north. The 8,851.8 km long Great Wall is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP - Getty Images)

21) Temple in Hampi, near the South Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the middle of the ruins of Vijayanagara - the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi and its monuments were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP - Getty Images)

22) A Tibetan pilgrim turns prayer mills on the grounds of the Potala Palace in the capital of Tibet, Lhasa. The Potala Palace is a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex that was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum actively visited by tourists, remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. Due to its enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP - Getty Images)

23) Inca citadel Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cusco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, has become a center of mass tourism. The city is visited by 2,000 tourists per day; In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands that the number of tourists per day be reduced to 800. (Eitan Abramovich/AFP - Getty Images)

24) Kompon-daito Buddhist pagoda on Mount Koya, Wakayama Province, Japan. Mount Koya, located east of Osaka, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 819, the first Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, a branch of Japanese Buddhism, settled here. (Everett Kennedy Brown/EPA)

25) Tibetan women walk around the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu - one of the most ancient and revered Buddhist shrines. On the edges of the tower crowning it are depicted the “eyes of Buddha” inlaid with ivory. Kathmandu Valley, about 1300 m high, is a mountain valley and historical region of Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Boudhanath stupa to tiny street altars in the walls of houses. Locals say that 10 million Gods live in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

26) A bird flies over the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum-mosque located in the Indian city of Agra. It was built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The architectural marvel was also named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP - Getty Images)

27) Situated in north-eastern Wales, the 18-kilometre long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a feat of Industrial Revolution-era civil engineering, completed in the early years of the 19th century. Still in use more than 200 years after its opening, it is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkysilte Aqueduct was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a "landmark in the history of civil engineering during the Industrial Revolution". This aqueduct is one of the unusual monuments to plumbers and plumbing (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

28) A herd of elk grazes in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Mount Holmes, to the left, and Mount Dome are visible in the background. In Yellowstone National Park, which occupies almost 900 thousand hectares, there are more than 10 thousand geysers and thermal springs. The park was included in the World Heritage program in 1978. (Kevork Djansezian/AP)

29) Cubans drive an old car along the Malecon promenade in Havana. UNESCO added Old Havana and its fortifications to the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded to a population of over 2 million, its old center retains an interesting mixture of Baroque and neoclassical monuments and homogeneous ensembles of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron gates and courtyards. (Javier Galeano/AP)

This week the results of the Russia 10 competition were summed up, the purpose of which is to select the main attractions of the country. New visual symbols of Russia, chosen by popular vote (in total, almost 225 million votes were taken into account), according to the organizers of the competition, are designed to promote the image of Russia as a unique country with a rich cultural and natural heritage.

We present to you the 10 winners of the competition, selected from more than 700 objects.

(Total 10 photos)

1. Lake Baikal (Photo: Gennady Losev)

Baikal is the largest reservoir of high-quality fresh water, the deepest and one of the oldest lakes on Earth. In 2008, Baikal was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Russia.

2. Rostov Kremlin (Photo: Valery Abramov)

The Kremlin was built in the 17th century as the Rostov Metropolitanate, that is, the residence of Metropolitan Jonah. Therefore, there is no reason to formally call it a Kremlin; the stone walls were of a rather decorative nature and were not supposed to serve for the defense of the city. In total, the Kremlin has eleven towers. Inside there are several cathedrals, among which the Assumption cathedral with its four-domed bell tower stands out. The Kremlin also became famous for the fact that it was here that episodes of Gaidai’s film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession” were filmed.

3. Peterhof (Photo: Ilya Shtrom)

Peterhof is a kind of triumphal monument to the successful completion of Russia’s struggle for access to the Baltic Sea. The monument of world architecture and palace and park art includes a palace and park ensemble of the 18th-19th centuries, as well as the world's largest system of fountains and water cascades. The Peterhof Museum-Reserve unites 21 museums, including such unexpected ones as the Imperial Bicycles Museum, the Playing Cards Museum and the Collectors Museum.

4. Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin (Photo: Alexander Sinderev)

From the chronicles it is known that Nizhny Novgorod was founded in 1221 by the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich. The city's defensive fortifications - deep ditches and high ramparts - were originally built from wood and earth. The Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin became stone in 1515, when the need arose to strengthen the defense of the city - the main stronghold of the Moscow state against the Kazan Khanate. The new Kremlin was surrounded by a two-kilometer wall with 13 towers. In the 16th century, the fortress was repeatedly besieged by the enemy, but the enemy was never able to capture it.

5. Mamaev Kurgan and the sculpture “The Motherland Calls” (Photo: Anastasia Andreeva)

The memorial “Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad” was opened on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd in 1967. From the Square of Sorrow, the ascent to the top of the mound begins to the base of the main monument - “The Motherland Calls”. Along the serpentine road, in the hill, the remains of the soldiers who defended Stalingrad were reburied. The statue, the work of sculptor Vuchetich and engineer Nikitin, is made of 5,500 tons of concrete and 2,400 tons of metal structures. The height of the monument is 86 meters, the height of the sculpture itself is 53 meters. Moreover, the thickness of the walls of the sculpture is no more than 30 centimeters. The sword in the hand of the Motherland weighs 14 tons and has a length of 33 meters. They say that a car can easily fit in the palm of the statue. In 2008, the statue of the Motherland on Mamayev Kurgan was also recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Russia.

6. Pskov Kremlin – Krom (Photo: Valery Abramov)

Pskov Krom is the largest fortress in Europe. The length of its walls is 9 kilometers, the area is 3 hectares. Krom is located on a narrow cape at the confluence of the Pskov River and the Velikaya River. Now the Kremlin territory unites two different parts of the city: Detinets with the Trinity Cathedral, bell tower, veche square and Dovmontov city. The pride of Russian art of the 17th century is the seven-tiered iconostasis of the Trinity Cathedral. Particularly revered shrines of the temple include miraculous icons, an ark with the relics of Pskov saints and Holga’s cross. For many centuries, the threat of enemy attack constantly hung over the city, which forced the Pskovites to constantly improve their defensive structures. The Pskov Kremlin has withstood 26 sieges in its history. The fortress, which was in active military use for almost 1000 years, has reached us in almost its original form.

7. Mosque named after Akhmat Kadyrov “Heart of Chechnya” (Photo: Timur Agirov)

The “Heart of Chechnya” mosque in Grozny is considered one of the largest, most beautiful and majestic mosques in Europe and the world. It was opened on October 17, 2008 and named after Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov, the first president of the Chechen Republic. The mosque is located on the picturesque bank of the Sunzha River, in the middle of a huge park with a cascade of colored fountains and night lighting. The external and internal walls of the mosque are decorated with marble, and the 36 chandeliers installed in the mosque, with their shapes, resemble the three main shrines of Islam: 27 chandeliers imitate the Kubbatu-as-Sahra mosque in Jerusalem, 8 are modeled after the Rovzatu-Nebevi mosque in Medina and the largest, eight-meter chandelier, repeats the shape of the Kaaba shrine in Mecca. The creation of a collection of exclusive chandeliers took several tons of bronze, about three kilograms of gold, and more than one million parts and Swarovski crystals.

8. Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (Photo: Vera Ostroumova)

The Trinity Lavra of Sergius is located in the center of the city of Sergiev Posad, Moscow region, on the Konchura River. Founded in 1337 by St. Sergius of Radonezh. The earliest building of the monastery is considered to be the white stone Trinity Cathedral, erected in 1422 on the site of a wooden church and perpetuating the traditions of Moscow architecture of the 14th-15th centuries. This is a unique historical object, one of the few cathedrals where an iconostasis has been preserved, painted by the greatest icon painters - Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny. In the Trinity Cathedral lie the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, which hundreds of parishioners come to venerate every day. In 1744, the Trinity-Sergius Monastery was awarded the honorary title of Lavra. Today it is a functioning monastery, the spiritual center of Orthodox Russia. Since 1940, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra has been a state museum-reserve. Is under the protection of UNESCO.

This is a unique historical, cultural and natural complex, which is a particularly valuable object of cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia and a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. The basis of the museum collection is the ensemble of the Kizhi churchyard. It consists of two churches and a bell tower of the 18th-19th centuries, surrounded by a single fence - a reconstruction of traditional churchyard fences. The Church of the Transfiguration, rebuilt after a fire in 1714, was built from wood (including 22 domes and a cross), without nails, using an ax and a chisel. The long life of Kizhi churches is precisely explained by the fact that they were erected without the use of a saw - processing wood with an ax does not disturb its structure, so the churches are not destroyed. In 1966, on the basis of the architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost, the Kizhi State Historical and Architectural Museum was founded, where, in addition to the buildings existing in their original locations, a large number of chapels, houses and outbuildings from Zaonezhye and other regions of Karelia were brought.

10. Kolomna Kremlin (Photo: Alexey Ustal)

The Kremlin in Kolomna is one of the most powerful fortresses of the Moscow state, built in 1525-1531 during the reign of Vasily III. The Kremlin is located at the confluence of the Moscow and Kolomenka rivers. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to the Kremlin - only a few towers and a couple of fragments of the fortress walls remain from the fortress. Despite this, the Kremlin still amazes us with its grandeur and power. The most interesting of the seven surviving towers is the Marinkina or Kolomenskaya Tower. There is a legend associated with this tower: the wife of False Dmitry, Marina Mnishek, was supposedly imprisoned here. Currently, a military-historical sports and cultural complex is located on the territory of the Kremlin. Knightly tournaments and games of knights, competitions of fighters, wrestlers and shooters, ancient rituals, folk festivals and fairs are held here.

The 30 finalists of the competition also included the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni Temple, Kungur Cave, Solovetsky Archipelago, Curonian Spit, Valley of Geysers, Cable-stayed bridges in Vladivostok and other attractions.

The Tver region has extraordinary natural, historical and cultural potential. This is one of the most popular regions of Russia among tourists. Its historical heritage is unique. The natural beauty of the region is amazing, and the abundance of historical and cultural monuments make it interesting and attractive. The sights of the Tver region are directly related to the history of the region, with its outstanding and famous people who lived on this land at different times.

On the way “from the Varangians to the Greeks”

The Tver region has always occupied an advantageous geographical position. The most ancient trade routes passed through its territory: the Volga-Baltic and “from the Varangians to the Greeks,” and its location between the two capitals greatly contributed to the possession of the richest cultural, historical, and architectural components. The main tourist centers on its territory are Lake Seliger, Tverskoye Poozerie, the system of lakes in the Upper Volga region, Bezhetsky Verkh, and Toropetsky Territory. Particularly interesting cities are Tver, Vyshny Volochek, Staritsa, Torzhok, Toropets, Kalyazin, Rzhev and others. A number of ancient villages stand out: Ivanishchi, Gorodnya, Bernovo, Mednoye, Kushalino, Vydropuzhsk, Rogozha.

Historical background

It is not for nothing that the Tver region is called the heart of Russia. One of the most ancient Russian cities - Tver - has been known since 1135. The emerging Great Principality of Tver, being the main center for the creation of the Russian state, existed as an independent state entity until the end of the 15th century. The region’s rather rich and glorious historical past and the modern life of the region, full of interesting events, are reflected in numerous historical and cultural monuments. Despite the significant variability of urban and rural landscapes, among the new life, ancient sights of the Tver region remain as living islands of history, revealing their beauty. These are wooden churches, Slavic mounds dating from the 12th-14th centuries, and many others.

Historical monuments

The national shrine of the Tver land is considered to be Nilova Pustyn. This is the most famous monastery in the region, founded in the 16th century. The region is also famous for its monuments of manor culture. So, having visited Torzhok, it is worth visiting the estates of Mitino, Nikolskoye, Raek, recognized as masterpieces of Russian provincial classicism. Noble nests of various sizes and architecture are also represented in other areas of the region. These are the estates of Podgorodnee, Kuropatkina and Mikhailovskoye in the Toropetsk district, the estate of the architect A. S. Khrenov in the Bologovsky district and others. The Gornitsy estate, located in a small village in the Kuvshinovsky district, is interesting to visit. Here you can see a well-preserved unique stone Vladimir Church.

In Tver itself, among the architectural masterpieces, it is worth highlighting the Tver Imperial Travel Palace, built in the 18th century and designed in the style of classicism with the inclusion of baroque elements. Its main purpose was to provide rest for members of the emperor's family along their route from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Now the palace houses what is called the main treasury of the city.

The Travel Palace is located on the territory of the former historical center of the city - the Tver Kremlin. In the City Garden you can see the preserved ruins of the fortress moat. The Kremlin itself was never rebuilt after the last fire in 1763.

Among the majority of regional centers in the Tver region, the pretty town of Kimry especially stands out for its architectural appearance. This is the most striking example of a “town of provincial Russian modernism”.

Temples of the Tver region

In any, even the smallest, town in the region you can find genuine historical attractions, among which churches in the Tver region occupy a significant place. Thus, Red Hill is interesting for its preserved shopping arcades of the 19th century and churches of the 18th-19th centuries. The Anthony Monastery, built in the 15th century, is also located here.

Based on a system of canals and islands, such famous sights of the Tver region as the Transfiguration Church and the Kazan Convent are presented. The most famous cathedral in Torzhok

From a tourism point of view, the picturesque town on the Volga Staritsa is interesting. The Tver region presents attractions here in all its ancient glory. Numerous church ensembles and individual temples are distinguished by some kind of unique architecture that clearly does not correspond to the established canons. Among the stone architectural monuments in Staritsa, the Assumption Monastery, founded in 1297, stands out. The shrine, surrounded by a solid stone wall, has been preserved with all its buildings. The city's architectural monuments of the 18th century also deserve attention: the Pyatnitskaya Church with elegant rotunda chapels, located at the foot of the old settlement, the Baroque Ilyinskaya Church, and the St. Nicholas Church, which fits perfectly into the coastal panorama of the Volga. A special attraction of the town is also Aptekarsky Lane, a unique street that cannot be found anywhere else in Russia.

“The city of the Russian heart”, the exact silhouette of which is formed by the local river meandering around a small ancient town, is called Kashin. The Tver region's attractions are demonstrated here in a vibrant variety. The famous resort has preserved many architectural monuments. Among them are the Ilyinsko-Preobrazhenskaya (1778), Frolo-Lavrovskaya (1751), Peter and Paul (1782) churches and others. The “Cathedral House”, which served as the house of priests of the Resurrection Cathedral in the 18th-19th centuries, the Gostiny Dvor and the former Public Offices dating back to the 19th century, also stands out.

The most ancient temple on the territory of Tver is the White Trinity Church, consecrated in 1564. The temple once belonged to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery and was exempt from paying taxes to the local bishop, for which it allegedly received its name.

The Assumption Cathedral, built in 1722, is interesting. This is the only building in Tver that has survived from the ancient Otroch-Uspensky Monastery, founded in the 13th century. St. Catherine's Church (1774-1781), made in the Baroque style with original extensions in the classicist style, is considered one of the unique masterpieces of Tver's religious architecture.

Museums of the Tver region

You can visit many interesting museums while traveling around the region. In Tver itself, this is the M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin Museum, opened on the 150th anniversary of the satirical writer in the mansion where he lived while serving as vice-governor of the city. This and opened in 1866. Its unique exhibitions tell about the history of the region. As well as the Museum of Tver Life and the Museum of Military Traditions, the exhibitions of which include collections of ancient Russian weapons of the 4th-16th centuries.

The only natural history museum in the region is the Museum of Nature of the Seliger Region, opened in 1986.

In the village of Emmaus, not far from Tver, there is the Memorial Art Museum of V. A. Serov, a representative of the art of socialist realism. The basis of the exhibitions are original works of the master, telling about his life and creative path.

In Torzhok, the Open Air Architectural and Ethnographic Museum and the All-Russian Historical and Ethnographic Museum deserve special attention.

Natural monuments

When thinking about what to see in the Tver region, what else this region can attract, do not forget that this is a land of numerous lakes, rivers and picturesque forests. This is where the Volga originates. Its source is a unique natural monument of global significance. In the Volgoverkhovye you can visit the Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya Hermitage, founded in 1849, a museum dedicated to the great Volga.

The natural attractions of the Tver region are unique and irreplaceable. There is a lot to admire here. The incredible beauty of the region’s nature inspired the artist I. I. Shishkin to paint the famous paintings “Morning in a Pine Forest” and “Ship Forest”.

One of the most beautiful and famous natural attractions of the region is Lake Seliger. This is a whole system of lakes, forming reaches and numerous bays. A beautiful view of the lake opens from the bell tower of the Nilova Monastery.

The largest island of Seliger is Khachin. This protected area is covered by a network of inland lakes. In autumn, a real miracle of nature is called the rowan grove, located on another island of Seliger - Klichen.

The Tver land will leave pleasant memories for a long time. No wonder she has always attracted the creative intelligentsia of Russia with her charm.

37 chosen

At the end of March, the multimedia project “Russia 10” was launched. The country chooses its main symbols - the most striking and significant cultural and architectural monuments, as well as natural attractions. As a result of the voting, which will last six months, the top ten main symbols of Russia should be obtained.

This competition, it seems to me, should raise interest in the history and culture of our country, help us learn about the sights in the regions, about the unique natural landscapes of our vast Motherland. The project can spur tourists, not only foreign ones, but also ourselves, to travel more and explore not only well-known attractions, but also the outback.

So, I offer you a version of the Top 10 main attractions of Russia.

No. 1. Novgorod Kremlin

The Novgorod Kremlin is the oldest surviving Kremlin in Russia. The first mentions date back to the mid-19th century. However, the uniqueness of the ensemble, in my opinion, is not even in its age or architectural features, but in the fact that it is the spiritual center in which Russian statehood was born, where the Novgorod veche gathered, which became a unique experience of ancient democracy. This is the first fortification built under Ivan the Third, who united the Russian lands under the rule of Moscow. The Moscow Kremlin was built only a year later.

No. 2. Petrodvorets

Petrodvorets is located 30 km from St. Petersburg and is one of the most famous palace and park ensembles in our country and, perhaps, the whole world.

I would call it the main decoration of the “pearl necklace” of the city on the Neva, as the suburbs of St. Petersburg are called.

The history of Petrodvorets is inextricably linked with the name of Peter the Great, who in the mid-20s of the 18th century ordered the creation of a country residence that would not be inferior to the residence of the French kings - Versailles. Peter himself took an active part in the design and construction of this complex.

In my opinion, the unique difference between Petrodvorets and other palace and park ensembles are the dozens of fountains, varied in appearance and design, included in the stunningly beautiful complex.

No. 3. St. Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil's Cathedral is considered one of the most striking and famous monuments of ancient Russian architecture. This is the main temple of Red Square and all of Moscow. It was built in the mid-16th century by decree of Ivan the Terrible in honor of the capture of the Kazan and Astrakhan Khanates. Later, the holy fool St. Basil the Blessed was buried in one of the premises of the temple, which is why the cathedral received this name. For us Russians, he is a symbol of our national history and national character.

No. 4. Mamaev kurgan

Mamayev Kurgan is rightfully considered the main height of Russia; the monument erected on it is a unique composition dedicated to the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad. It captures the great epic of the courage and heroism of the defenders of Stalingrad. Mamaev Kurgan received its name during the Tatar-Mongol invasion, when the outpost of Khan Mamai was located on its top.

No. 5. Cathedral of Christ the Savior

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is the cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow. The existing structure, which was erected in 1994-1997, is a recreation of the temple of the same name, created in the 19th century. The cathedral was erected in memory of the Napoleonic invasion. The names of Russian army officers who died in the War of 1812 were carved on its walls. The temple was built according to the design of the architect Konstantin Ton, and its construction lasted 44 years.

No. 6. Solovetsky Archipelago

The uniqueness of the Solovetsky archipelago, in my opinion, is that millennia of Russian history have miraculously merged here. These are sites of ancient people, monastic shrines, and the memory of the Soviet past, combined with a stunning natural landscape.

In 1992, the historical and cultural ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands was included in the World Heritage List.

No. 7. Kizhi

Kizhi is a state historical, architectural and ethnographic museum-reserve located in Karelia. The name of the museum is given after the island of Kizhi in Lake Onega, 68 km from Petrozavodsk. This is one of the largest open-air museums in Russia, a historical, cultural and natural complex, which is an object of cultural heritage of our country.

No. 8. Smolensk fortress wall

The Smolensk fortress wall is a defensive structure erected in 1595-1602, during the reign of Tsars Fyodor Ioannovich and Boris Godunov. It is also called the Smolensk Kremlin, the length of which is 6.5 km. It amazes me that even the part of the wall that has survived at present (about half of the fortification built at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries) demonstrates the grandeur and historical significance of the structure designed by the architect Fyodor Savelyevich Kon.

No. 9. Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is located almost in the center of Eurasia, in the Baikal mountain region, which is surrounded on all sides by high ridges. It stretches 636 kilometers long and about 80 kilometers wide. 336 rivers and streams flow into Baikal, half of the volume of water entering the lake is brought by the Selenga. The only river that flows out of Baikal is the Angara. The surface area of ​​the lake is 31,470 square kilometers, the maximum depth reaches

1637 m. Baikal is the deepest lake in the world, which has 30 islands, the largest of them is Olkhon Island.

No. 10. Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka

The word "geyser" means gushing. In Kamchatka, this amazing natural phenomenon was discovered in 1941 by T.I. Ustinova. The most active section is located in the lower reaches of the Geysernaya River and stretches 3.5 km upstream. The uniqueness of the Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka is that all known geysers, constantly operating and pulsating boiling springs, and steam jets are concentrated here. There are about forty of them in total. The largest of them, “Giant,” is located on the left bank of the Geysernaya River.

So, I have brought to your attention a version of the Top 10 new symbols of Russia. What symbols of Russia would you suggest?

Natalie Stewart , especially for Etoya.ru

Photo: solovki.orthonord.ru, turinfo.ru, gid-spb.ru, spp.lfond.ru, novgorod.ru, vip-volga.narod.ru, liveangarsk.ru, hramy.ru, svali.ru, cultcalend. ru