Having recently indulged in my inner Petrograd local in #SaintPetersburg, I stumbled upon an incredible museum I had never heard of or read about before — 📌 The Museum of Political History of Russia.

You might roll your eyes at the name, but in reality, this place is a must-visit for anyone interested in history. Housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau mansion originally built for ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska — and later used by Lenin himself — it’s the only museum in Russia that holds original artifacts from pivotal moments like the abolition of serfdom and the 1917 Revolution.

You don’t just learn history here — you fall into it. You’ll see the actual Manifesto abolishing serfdom signed by Alexander II, a brutally scathing newspaper article about Nicholas II (check photo 2), handwritten letters from Civil War participants, and even the actual noose used to hang Sophia Perovskaya (photo in comments), along with bombs used by underground revolutionaries. You can listen to courtroom speeches by revolutionaries and walk across the creaky floor of Lenin’s office — the same floor the leader himself once walked.

One visit isn’t nearly enough to take in all the knowledge this place has to offer. If I really lived in Petrogradsky District, I’d probably spend my weekends here instead of watching historical documentaries.

🏙️ Beyond Moscow 🏔️

— To enjoy views like this, you don’t need to go to the Maldives — head to Northern Baikal instead!

Photo: @Photo_geographic

📍Coordinates: Yandex Maps
#Republic_of_Buryatia

🏙️ Beyond Moscow 🏔️

Samara is just out of this world!

Photo: Slava Stepanov

🏙️ Beyond Moscow 🏔️

One of the finest churches in the Russian countryside

In the 18th century, in the Staritsa district, lived opera singer and State Councillor Mark Poltoratsky, who decided to build a church “like in St. Petersburg.” He based it on the recently built Chesme Church and erected a copy near his estate.

The pseudo-Gothic Transfiguration Church in the village of Krasnoye was completed in 1790. Since then, its crenellated parapet and pointed turrets have given a unique charm to the rural landscape.

Today, the church is active, you can climb the bell tower for 100 rubles, and storks live nearby. A stunning place!

🏙️ Beyond Moscow 🏔️