In the late 1970s, after the closure of the Soviet lunar program and work on the super-heavy carrier rocket N1, the development of a new super-heavy rocket called “Energy” began.

The first launch was made in 1987, and, in 1988, the rocket put into orbit the Soviet space shuttle “Buran.” Photos by: Ralph Mirebs.

abandoned rocket

Tags: Abandoned · Soviet past

The Hermitage is a park pavilion built in the Baroque style in the Catherine’s Park in Tsarskoye Selo, the former Russian imperial country residence located near St. Petersburg.

The pavilion, constructed in 1744-1754, served for entertainment meetings of the courtiers. The Hermitage combines white columns, pilasters, architraves, pale turquoise walls and a number of gold-plated elements. Sixty-four decorative columns, stucco garlands, masks, lush window frames don’t leave smooth surfaces. Photos by: deletant.

explore this unique place

Tags: Leningrad oblast · Russian Empire · Saint Petersburg city

July 6, in the middle of summer, heating season will be resumed in Vorkuta because of a sharp drop in temperature. Next week, weather forecasters predict rain and snow and the air temperature around plus 5 degrees Celsius.

On Sunday, July 5, the snow fell in the city. Vorkuta is located in the north of Komi Republic in the permafrost zone. It is the third largest city in the Arctic Circle. And here’s a video from the scene – summer snow in Vorkuta.

Tags: Komi Republic · Vorkuta city

Just look at this beautiful summer scenery found on the territory of Smolensk region located in the western part of European Russia – misty morning and afternoon on a field of lupine on the Ugra River. Photos by: Petr Ushanov.

beautiful nature views

Tags: landscapes · smolensk oblast

Great video about the changes in the style of women living in Russia since the 1910s to the 2010s.

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St. John the Baptist Convent, founded in 1536, is located in the small town of Vyazma (population about 50,000), in the east of Smolensk region, 210 km from Moscow.

The convent itself is small, on its territory there are two churches: Church of the Ascension with a bell tower and Church of the Icon of the Holy Mother “Hodegetria.”

Church of the Ascension

the beauty of the second church

Tags: churches · smolensk oblast

Lipetsk region is located in the central part of European Russia, about 370 km south of Moscow.

In the region, there are many interesting abandoned churches and manors that have architectural and historical value. Photos by: deni spiri.

Muromtsev’s Manor and church in Balovnevo village. Vladimir Church (1797-1823) is an outstanding example of religious architecture of early classicism.

a trip to Lipetsk region

Tags: churches · Lipetsk oblast

June 2, 2015, Baikonur Cosmodrome, the cradle of space exploration and the largest Russian spaceport, celebrated its 60th anniversary. Over the years, a lot of different space vehicles were tested on its territory, the apex of which was the system of “Energy-Buran”. But history has chosen its path and the project died in infancy.

More than two decades ago, heavy sliding doors of an assembling and filling complex were closed cutting off two orbiting spacecraft from the sky. How ironic that the birthplace of these spaceships became their burial place.

the remnants of the Soviet shuttles

Tags: Abandoned · Soviet past

Smolensk is a city with a population of about 330 thousand people; administrative, industrial and cultural center of Smolensk region. It is one of the oldest cities in Russia celebrated its 1150th anniversary in 2013.

The city is located about 400 km west of Moscow, in the upper reaches of the Dnieper River. It has a favorable geographical position on the ways from Moscow to Belarus, Baltic States, Central and Western Europe.

scenic views of Smolensk

Tags: Smolensk city

St. Isaac’s Cathedral (the Cathedral of St. Isaac of Dalmatia) is the largest Orthodox church in St. Petersburg, located on St. Isaac’s Square.

It is an outstanding example of late classicism with a number of new directions (neo-Renaissance, Byzantine style, eclecticism). This unique architectural structure is a high-altitude dominant of the central part of the city.

architectural masterpiece

Tags: churches · Saint Petersburg city