This issue is devoted to Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk in Soviet time) and its surroundings - the city on the famous Transib route - that can be reached both by train and plane. The border of Europe and Asia, the tragic place related to the last days of the Romanovs, Falling tower in Nebyansk, picturesque landscapes of the region attract numerous tourits to the city.

Sincerely,
Helen Isaeva

The Ural Region

The Urals is a common geographical name of the area of Russia around the Ural Mountains that divide Russia into 2 parts: Europe and Asia. That's why people usually say - Ural mountains are the natural border line. Length of the Ural mountains more than 2,500 miles - from the Arctic Ocean to Kazakhstan. The highest mountain in the Urals - Mountain Narodnaya. The Urals industrial area (751,100 sq km), a major Russia metallurgical region, is in the central and South Urals and the adjacent lowlands.

West and east foothills of Urals and neighbor plains often have deep river valleys. Urals has a lot of rivers and lakes. Several hundreds of ponds and water storage basins are created on rivers. The composition of mountains, forests, rivers and lakes makes Urals one of the most beautiful regions in Russia. Main cities of the Region: Ufa, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Tchelyabinsk, Kurgan, Tyumen, Tobolsk, Khanty-Mansiysk, Salekhard..

How to get by train: Moscow – Yekaterinburg (the duration of the trip is 25 h 20 min) Moscow – Perm (the duration of the trip is 20 h 40 min) Moscow - Chelyabinsk (the duration of the trip is 34 h 12 min) Moscow – Tyumen (the duration of the trip is 32 h 20 min) Moscow – Ufa (the duration of the trip is 25 h)

How to get by plane: Koltsovo international airport (the duration of the flight from Moscow to Yekaterinburg is 2 hours). Companies which fly: Fly Dubai, Alitalia, Aeroflot, Turkish airlines and others.

Some special excursions and master-classes in Yekaterinburg

City Tour in Yekaterinburg Yekaterinburg is situated in the central part of the continent, on the border of two parts of the world, Europe and Asia, at the latitude 56°50 North and the longitude 60°36 East. The city is located on the Eastern slope of the Middle Ural Mountains and covers the area of 490 square km. The official date of city birth is November 18, 1723.

At the time of a city tour there will be a good chance to stroll through the historical center (The Dam) and Geological Alley (where you will see boulders and stones brought from all over the Urals). The “Ural Craftsman Lane” is very magnetic place for tourists, `cause everyone can buy hand-made souvenirs. The “Black Tulip” monument is set up to memorize soldiers perished in Afghan and Chechen wars. The guide also acquaints with the magnificent architectural ensemble named Rastorguev-Haritonov’s House and its unique (and even terrible) legends. At the end of the excursion, you visit the place where the last Russian tsar was shot; nowadays the Cathedral on the Blood is situated on the site.

Visiting Stone museum The unique collection has more than 1,000 exhibits. The founder of the museum is one of the largest collectors of stones in Russia, Vladimir Pelepenko, who has been collecting samples for over 50 years. The museum presents unique stones from Latin America, Africa, Asia. For example, here you can see a special kind of calcite, there are only 3 such specimens in the world - and they all are represented there. A separate room is dedicated to Russia. Malachite, jasper, rhinestone. In addition to the untreated samples, examples of stone carving works are exhibited here: figurines, caskets, stone paintings and even stone pieces of furniture. A special place in the museum is occupied by a collection of coins, issued by the Yekaterinburg Mint. As well as a commemorative collection of medals, produced there. The exposition of these treasures was made possible through participation in the project of the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore. The paleontological exhibition deserves special attention. The collection includes samples of petrified animal remains over 400 million years old (ammonites and fragments of dinosaur skeletons).

Studying of the Ural traditions with home-made lunch in the estate of the 19th century In the downtown there is a small quiet corner where the interior of the 19th century is. You may have a good rest from city noise and to taste unique varieties of apples which were brought, about 100 years ago, Dmitry Ivanovich Kazantsev. The garden demonstrates how suburban areas of residents look like. At the degustation you can try Russian snacks and desserts with tea from samovar. For example - pickles, traditional salads, jam, Charlotte, gingerbread, pies, shanezhki.

Interesting places for visiting near with Yekaterinburg

DAY 2 – Arrive Kazan railway station at 08.00 The «Europe-Asia» Border near Yekaterinburg There is a tradition in the Urals: to visit the cultural and historical complex “Europe-Asia”- the synthesis of the two parts of the world. It is situated on the 17th km from Yekaterinburg. This place, on the watershed of the rivers Iset and Chusovaya, is the very borderline between the two continents. Our tourists have an opportunity to put one foot in Europe and the other one in Asia. It is also possible to take a sip of champagne at first in one and in a minute - in the other part of the world. While going to the “Europe-Asia” border tourists can make a stop at the “GULAG Memorial”. The memorial is dedicated to victims of Stalin’s mass repressions. About 18 500 names are marked on the gravestones. The complex includes religious symbols: Orthodox and Catholic Christianity, Judaism, Islam. Since 1991 and every year, on the Trinity Saturday, thousands of people visit the complex on the occasion of the Memorial Days.

Ganina Yama The Monastery “Ganina Yama” in the honor of Saint Royal Matyrs was built to commemorate the place of horrible tragedy. After the execution on the night of 17 July 1918, the bodies of the last tsar family were taken away on the lorry to the remote mine, burned and thrown down to the old pit named Ganina Yama.

It is situated 20 km away from Yekaterinburg. Now there are 7 chapels in the Monastery one for each member of the royal family. They were built according to the Old Russian technology - without a nail. The monastery became the place of spiritual attraction for the orthodox Christians of the world, especially on the so-called “Sorrow Days” – days devoted to the Romanovs last days.

Nevyansk Nevyansk is a town in Sverdlovsk Oblast located on the eastern slope of the Middle Urals some 97 km north of Yekaterinburg. The town was founded in the early 18th century due to building of an iron factory. The erection of the Tower is connected with famous Russian manufacturer and owner of mines and metallurgical works Akinfiy Demidov. The height of the Tower is 57.5 m from the ground. The recent measurements make it clear that deviation of the top part of the tower from a right angle is currently 2.20 m. It is strange, but it is impossible to ascertain the exactly date of it construction. Moreover, there are several theories about the exact purpose of the Nevyansk Tower.

Some historians say that Demidov used as bank safe, others suppose it was a prison or chemical laboratory producing counterfeit coins. There are unique clock with bell music made by an English master Richard Phelps on the seventh and the eight floors of the Tower – the clock is still working device. There is one mysterious room in the tower called “Acoustic room”. The originality of the room lies in interesting phenomenon: if a person stands in one corner of this room, he or she can whisper words to another person in the opposite corner and they will be clearly audible sound and speech. The Nevyansk falling tower is still a mystery to the scientists. This is the symbol of the Ural manufacturers’ power. The tourists will learn about the history of the mining industry in the Urals that was the basis of its fame and prosperity.

Sinjachiha – The Ural village This trip will give you the opportunity to see the everyday life of the Russian peasants. You will visit exciting folk art exhibitions, Tchaikovsky’s museum and the old mine where the Romanovs (grand duchess) were shot. The excursion acquaint with the history of Ural land development, built-up areas, wood architecture, family life of Ural peasantry and mill-hands.

In Alapaevsk city you can visit Tchaikovsky’s museum where the rare collection of musical instrument is displayed. There are marvelous examples of wood architecture of the 17th – 19th centuries in Sinjachiha: peasant farmstead, stockade town, watchtower, and wood chapel. The excursion includes visiting of the place where grand dukes and duchesses were in exile.

Bazhov places The natural park "Bazhovskie Places" is a specially protected natural area in the Sysert urban district of the Sverdlovsk region (60 km south of the city of Yekaterinburg). Park is named after the famous Ural writer Pavel Petrovich Bazhov. Deep in the forest a unique hand-made lake is hidden. It is one of the most beautiful places in the Urals. Being cut down in a rock the lake has a lot of legends. It can take your breath away. While walking along the path you will visit more other interesting places of the park.