Irkutsk Region

The main attraction of Irkutsk Region is, of course, the great Lake Baikal. The largest freshwater lake on the planet has a length of 636 km! Baikal boasts an abundance of unique flora and fauna, as well as the land of mysticism, shamans and ancient customs (you have to get to the sacred Olkhon Island to find them). Baikal in winter is an adventure completely different from Baikal in the summer. When the ice is thicker than 30 cm, you can drive a car on it and see the most incredible kinds of ice.

In addition, Irkutsk is famous as the place of exile of the ‘Decembrists’. There is even a museum devoted to them. In the city, you can also observe unusual church architecture - Siberian baroque, which combines European baroque with Eastern ornaments and motifs.