The 10 Best Things to do Adventurous in Northwestern District, Russia

The submarine is one of the most popular objects of the Museum of the World Ocean. The B-413 was built in Leningrad and was launched in September, 1968. During 30 years it had been serving in the North and Baltic Fleets. The submarine was moored at the museum quay in June, 2000. It is the only one in the country and a few in the world belonging to pre-atomic period of undersea fleet. Moreover, it is preserved in its original state. Firm and light hulls, superstructure, all the major and auxiliary mechanisms, equipment and weapons are the same as they were after the submarine was excluded from the Navy. What strikes you most as you walk along the narrow corridors and squeeze through the seemingly miniscule portholes that protect each section, is the incredible mechanical complexity. This 1960s technology required pipes, cumbersome and hard wearing switches and large well worn wheels to keep the submarine either afloat or submerged, as needs dictated.

Vologda Open Air Museum of Architecture and Ethnography (Semenkovo) welcomes you to the world of northern Russian village of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here you can get the first-hand experience of Russian traditions, attitudes and cultural background.

The center of musical antiquities executes the scientific program for detection and restoration in forms and sounding of ancient music instruments of the 10-15th centuries, evidence of which archaeologists discover in the old part of Veliky Novgorod. The cultural and educational program of the Center includes exhibitions, tours, consulting, lecture-demonstrations dedicated to the musical culture of ancient Novgorod.

Fort XI Donhoff is the fortified structure built in 1877-1882. It is one of 12 forts composing the outer fortification ring of former Fortress Koenigsberg previously called "Night feather-bed of Konigsberg". In the end of the Second World War on April 7, 1945 the garrison located in Fort XI capitulated practically without fight. On this reason it is the most undisturbed and well-preserved fort among other Kaliningrad forts. Nowadays guests visiting Fort XI Donhoff have possibility to touch pure history and see with their own eyes the part of Koenigsberg defensive system that existed before 1945. There are such interesting exhibits and objects as original German gate, iron spiral staircases, barracks corridors, an observation post, the operating lifting mechanism for a raising of ammunition, etc. Now it is under the management of a private company that preserves its identity and develops the fort as a museum, touristic, cultural and artisan center.

In the mysterious Karelian forests, not far from Vyborg, as if carried through the centuries, lies the medieval town of Svargas – the Capital of the Norman lands, with all its buildings and inhabitants, a real city of the Baltic Slavs the Viking age. The history of the build with their own hands the people of Svargas, his warriors, artisans, and lovers of history, enthusiasts to be reminded of the culture of the Baltic Slavs, obodrites, Wegrow, Ruyan, lutici, wends ... In the story of the life of Svargas, as in flowing river streams, join the fate of each guest coming for the holidays who curious tourists, who have a wedding to celebrate, and all of them carry away a piece of Sunny sky in your heart.

"Shadow Museum" is a unique art space where modern art objects in the style of shadow art are represented. All the art works are connected in a unified exposition, the excursion "St. Petersburg of shadows" is provided in Russian and English. The museum also has a creative kitchen where all the visitors have a chance to enjoy a cup of tea and share their impressions or create their own art works.