FX.co ★ Top 10 Russian cities with unusual museums

Museums in Saint-Petersburg

Saint-Petersburg is considered by many as the center of the best museums in Russia. The most popular museums in St. Petersburg are the Peterhof Palace, the Hermitage, and the Russian Museum. The historical center of the city and the surrounding monuments are included in the UNESCO world heritage list. Saint-Petersburg is one of the most popular tourist centers in Russia. The Kunstkamera, the Mariinsky Theatre, the Peter and Paul fortress, and St. Isaac's Cathedral are among the most important cultural and tourist objects.

Museums in Moscow

Moscow museums take second place among the Russian museums. The Pushkin Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Moscow Kremlin museums, including the Armoury chamber are one of the most interesting museums in Moscow. Moscow is the largest cultural and tourist center of Europe and the world. There are many curious places in the Russian capital such as historical, cultural and architectural monuments, and modern entertainment infrastructure. Overall, Moscow has more than 60 museums.

Museums in Nizhny Novgorod

Museums in Nizhny Novgorod hold third place in our ranking. Nizhny Novgorod is one of the leading river tourism destinations in Russia. The historical part of the city is full of places of interest. There are about 200 cultural buildings in Nizhny Novgorod including 14 theatres, 97 libraries, 25 kids' clubs, 17 cinemas, 8 museums, and a digital planetarium. The Nizhny Novgorod State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve is the most famous of the city's museums.

Museums in Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl is the fourth in our list of Russian cities with original museums. The Yaroslavl State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve is the main place of cultural interest in the city. This museum includes the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the Church of Elijah the Prophet and other Orthodox churches as well as the Memorial House-Museum of L. V. Sobinov, and the Museum of Military Glory. The Museum of the Yaroslavl City History, the Yaroslavl Art Museum, which includes the Governor's House and the Metropolitan's chambers, are also located there. The city has private museums such as Music and Time and House of the Muses.

Museum in Vladimir

Vladimir holds the fifth place in our list. This city is one of the largest tourist centers of the European part of Russia. Vladimir is included in the famous Golden Ring route. The Historical Museum is one of the most popular museums in the city. It is a unique monument of history and architecture. It was built at the beginning of the twentieth century on public donations. The Museum was built in the Pseudo-Russian style and looks very attractive for tourists.

Museums in Veliky Novgorod

Veliky Novgorod and its cultural heritage take sixth place in our rating. Unique monuments of ancient Russian architecture of the pre-Mongol period have been preserved in the city. Many tourists are keen to see such attractions as historical and art museums, theaters, picturesque parks, and magnificent lake Ilmen.

Museums in Pskov

Pskow museums are in seventh place on our list. Pskov is one of the oldest cities in Russia and an important tourist center. Many sights of Pskov such the Trinity Cathedral, the Pskov fortress, the Mirozhsky monastery, the Pogankin’s chamber, and a number of ancient churches are included in the register of the national cultural heritage of Russia.

Museums in Kazan

The eighth place in the list of the most interesting museums in Russia is occupied by Kazan. The city is considered one of the largest cultural centers of Russia. It harmoniously combines traditional and modern architecture as well as the avant-garde buildings. The capital of Tatarstan is a multicultural city where Russians and Tatars live peacefully with each other. With the UNESCO support, the world's first Institute for the Culture of Peace has appeared in Kazan. The city has many museums such as the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan and other 34 state museums, and private galleries.

Museums in Yekaterinburg

The museums of Yekaterinburg are in ninth place among the most popular Russian museums. There are about 50 museums in the city. Remarkably, Yekaterinburg has unique museum collections; the Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts has samples of the Nevyansk icon. Additionally, in this museum, you can see the original Kasli Cast Iron Pavilion which was marked at the Paris Exhibition Universelle in 1900. The city's museums demonstrate a rich collection of jewelry. In the Local Lore Museum, you can see a unique exhibit – the Shigir idol.

Museums in Sevastopol

The museums of Sevastopol close the top 10 most interesting Russian museums list. Sevastopol is replete with tourist attractions. The city has a rich history and many museums. The most ancient sights of Sevastopol are the Tauric Chersonesos Reserve, the medieval city of Inkerman and the Genoese fortress. The Panorama Museum demonstrating the Siege of Sevastopol in 1854-1855 is one of the most popular places in the city. The giant canvas of the museum depicts the battle on the Malakhov mound where the Russian army repelled the onslaught of the Anglo-French troops, far superior in strength.