A menacing statue of this mythical creature can be seen at the legendary site of the monster's lair.

A huge wooden clock that is so beautiful its creator was forcibly blinded.

A tribute to the Polish insurgents who fought in the failed attempt to end their city's Nazi occupation.

St. Mary's features one of the most spectacularly decorated cathedral interiors in all of Europe.

Poland's oldest surviving university building holds a wealth of historic science instruments including some used by Copernicus.

After the famous composer died in Paris, his sister snuck his heart out of the country to honor his wish that it be buried in their native country.

This 700-year-old structure is one of the most unique architectural and historic monuments in Gdańsk.

The site of the first battle of World War II.

This Polish cave has housed a dragon, a brothel, and an enduring legend.

Real bones which are said to have belonged to a Polish dragon.

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

This effigy of Peter the Great is greatly disproportionate.

Inside the world's largest seed bank, WWII botanists elected to starve to death rather than compromise their collection.

A replica of the straw hut where Vladimir Lenin lived in hiding, disguised as a hay farmer, in 1917.

An art museum inside an active factory.

Perhaps the tiniest sculpture in Saint Petersburg is a little bronze finch inspired by a song.

A city block packed with whimsical sculptures that seem to be plucked from a tiled fantasy world.

A scale model of Russia so big visitors are offered binoculars to rent so they can see the whole thing.

An ever-growing literary collection housed in the apartment where the Russian author penned his final novel.

Once frequented by heavyweights of the Russian arts scene, this café is stuck in the 1800s.

A 250-year-old timepiece-automaton adorned with golden mechanical birds, which still sing to this day.

The oldest museum in Russia is home to a fascinating collection of nearly two million anthropological artifacts and anatomical curiosities.

Palace where the nearly un-killable Rasputin was murdered.

Home to what was once considered the largest gate in central Asia.