Russian Travel Guide

Winter Recreation in Dombay

In the very heart of the Caucuses, surrounded by mountains, is the village of Dombay – a favourite destination for Russian climbers, snowboarders and skiers. Everyone who comes here is looking for a hearty dose of adrenaline. Dombay, which is located in the Karachaeva-Cherkessia Republic, was developed from the beginning as a mountain resort. In the 1920s a number of hotels and ski areas popped up almost overnight on land that was before wild fields. The modern resort is still today geared toward those looking to relax and enjoy themselves by partaking in snow sports. RTG TV host Denis Golovko visited one of the most breathtaking places in Karachaeva-Cherkessia, tried his hand at snowboarding and downhill skiing and reached the very top of a frozen waterfall.

Коллекция Russian Travel Guide. Зодчество. Новгородская область

Mikhailo-Afonsky monastery

 At the end of the 19th century, there was no monastery larger than that of St. Michael’s Monastery of Mount Athos in the Northern Caucasus. In 1877 the monastery’s location on the slope of Gora Fiziabgo was decided. It was constructed with the help of many hands from people all over the world - following the suggestion of Father Martyrius, the monastery’s first abbot, each pilgrim travelling to the monastery brought a stone with him that would be used to help build the holy structure. Over ten years the monks managed to build an entire religious complex with multiple churches: The Church of the Transfiguration, of the Holy Trinity and of the Assumption as well as churches built in the name of Archangels Michael and Alexandra. A century ago thousands of pilgrims visited St. Michael’s Monastery of Mount Athos every day. After the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 however, the r...