Catherine the Great Monument, Ostrovsky Square, St. Petersburg

Nicholas II of Russia

Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia. He ruled from 1 November 1894 until his forced abdication on 15 March 1917. His reign saw Imperial Russian go from being one of the world’s great powers to economic and military collapse. He abdicated following the February Revolution of 1917. He and his family were executed on July 1918 by the Bolsheviks.

Putorana Plateau, Russia

Putorana Plateau is a basalt plateau at the northwestern edge of the Central Siberian Plateau, south from the Taymyr Peninsula. The highest mountain in the range is Mount Kamen which is 1 700 meters above sea level. In 2010 the Putorana Plateau was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

UNESCO WHS info

Postage: 25 Rubles (0.8 USD)

Location on Google Maps

Kazan Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan broke ground in 1801 and construction continued for ten years. It was modelled by Andrey Voronikhin after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the cathedral was closed. It opened in 1932 as the pro-Marxist Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism. In 1996 the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. The interior features numerous sculptures and icons created by the best Russian artists of the day.

Old Stock Exchange House in St. Petersburg, Russia

 

This building was constructed between 1805 and 1810. As of 2011, it houses the Central Naval Museum. It is a significant example of the Greek Revival architechture. Thanks to Mary.

Burkhan Cape in Lake Baikal

 

For those who did not know, Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world. And also the oldest! It was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Soviet Propaganda Poster

 

This card is a reproduction of a Soviet propaganda poster. It reads “On vacation with the family” and was created to encourage people to travel by train throughout the country. Thanks to Polina for this card.

The Senate Square (Decembrists’ Square) in St. Petersburg

The Decembrists Square in St. Petersburg

 

The Senate Sqaure, formerly known as Decembrists’ Square from 1925-2008 and Peter’s Sqaure before 1925 is a famous square in St. Petersburg. It is located in front of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The Bronze Horsemen statue is dedicated to Peter the Great, the pedestal is the Thunder Stone, transported by man 6 km away.

 

 

Saint Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg

 

Saint Isaac’s Cathedral is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city. Construction began in 1818 and was completed on 1858.

St. John the Baptist Church, Yaroslavl

 

This church was built between 1671 to 1687, on the bank of the Kotorosl river. It has 15 onion domes and its interior with Christian frescoes. The bell tower was built in the 1690’s, after the church was completed.