Founded on bloodshed, a crossroads for exiles and a crucible of the Civil War, this Siberian city is now a model of diversity and perserverence.

We went to this provincial town, just 80 km from Moscow, to visit the last residence of Tchaikovsky. We found several surprises.

Many cities grew up along Siberia's rivers as Russia expanded eastward. Here we look at two very provincial cities as part of our six part journey East Across Siberia.

Our trek east across Siberia takes us to Russia's fourth largest city--an industrial powerhouse with some surprises in its environs.

In this, the first of a six part series where we trek east across Siberia, William Brumfield gives us a tour of Europe's Easternmost Town: Perm. Also includes a long sidebar on Khokhlovka.

The river town of Torzhok has weathered the centuries amazingly well. William Brumfield takes us on a tour.

A popular stopover for river cruises, Kizhi island in Karelia is an astonishingly beautiful preserve of some of Russia's best wooden architecture.

Pskov region's three estates associated with Pushkin were more than a quiet place for the poet to create; they also offered material for his muse.

A jewel in the Golden Ring, Rostov Veliky remains little touched by the tumultuous tides of this century's history.

The Stroganov family built a fortune on salt and pelts in Russia's northern town of Solvychegodsk. They also left behind some cultural treasures.

Kargopol is one of the richest settlements in the Russian North. William Brumfield takes us on a visit.

Over 1000 years old, Novgorod was the birthplace of a strain of Russian democracy that was not destined to survive. But its architectural heritage has survived, at least in part.