Rock-hewn monastery complex with hundreds of cave structures tucked away into the mountainside.

What once claimed to be the world's tallest single-family wooden structure house.

One of the largest collections of socialist realist art shows the surprising depth of the official art of the Soviet Union.

This small museum is basically a time capsule of daily life in the Soviet Union.

This memorial complex contains several mass graves for victims of the Siege of Leningrad.

These limestone cliffs are associated with the Greek myth of Prometheus.

During the Soviet era, the medieval capital of Volga Bulgaria served as a substitute for Mecca.

Propped high atop the peak of Mount Gamsutlmeer, this abandoned village is one of the oldest settlements in the region.

An abandoned mansion is now a haven for urban explorers.

Located along Lysaya Mountain, this monastery is home to the largest statue of Buddha in Russia.

The last stop in southeast Russia.

A solemn, monumental, kitschy palace of worship honoring victory in the Great Patriotic War.

A Russian museum dedicated to the household staple, the samovar.

A tea party concludes each visit to this Russian spice cookie sanctum.

A collection of iconic Soviet car models on display.

A tiny park off the beaten path covered in ingenious scrap metal sculptures.

One of the most well-preserved mammoth specimens in the world.

Pictures tacked onto trees remember the more than 40,000 of Stalin's victims buried here in mass graves.

The largest Buddhist city in Europe is a haven for chess fanatics.

A magnificent, Disneyesque chateau built for 150 lucky kindergarteners.

You'll find rocket launchers, not rollercoasters, at Russia's “military Disneyland.”

Fascinating early attempt at a Jewish autonomous settlement.

A self-taught Siberian craftsman creates a fantastical and personal design for his 19th century village house.

Intricate wood carvings on an island in Siberia.