An abandoned 14th-century castle and prison complex on a small island in the Neva River.

Monastery, army base, and infamous Soviet Gulag in the far Russian north.

This 15th-century cave complex is one of the very few monasteries to stay open throughout World War II and the Soviet regime.

An unusual collection of self-made musical instruments and unique noises.

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

A homemade anatomical collection of medical anomalies and accidental catastrophes.

The coldest city in the world.

A small part of Russia that does not touch any other part of Russia.

Abandoned castle was once a grand example of Russian privilege, built exclusively to win a frivolous bet between noblemen.

The villagers of the coldest inhabited place on Earth adjust to unique challenges presented by day-to-day living.

The reason for the strange contortions in the trunks of these "drunken" pine trees in Russia is still a mystery.

Legends of time travel and magical woodland creatures bolster the natural charm of this verdant sanctuary in the midst of Moscow.

An 18th century wonder of the world, lost in WWII, re-created at the Catherine Palace.

Stunning examples of Russia's 18th-century wooden architecture.

It's hard to believe the dizzying patterns covering this abandoned mine are completely natural.

This ancient village and its adjoining cemetery have a beautiful history of death and remembrance.

Estonia's largest creative city is a vibrant bohemian hub located within a former industrial complex.

This collection of 80 polarizing foods aims to challenge your subjective notions of repulsion.

Sweden's "good old days" painstakingly re-created in a model village.

A rare surviving Victorian greenhouse designed specifically to house giant water lilies.

This Stockholm light tower can be controlled by anyone with a smartphone.

This ornate church has survived Nazi and Soviet occupation, including a short stint as a Soviet-era gymnasium and cinema.

The widest waterfall in Europe is a natural wonder and one of the only places where fish are caught in the air.

Latvia's symbolic mountain-shaped national library is home to millions of cultural tomes.