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15:00
The Valaam archipelago in winter
The Valaam Archipelago, the largest island cluster found in Lake Ladoga, is characterised by breathtaking beauty year-round. The territory’s steep, forest-covered cliffs are reminiscent of a typical fortress landscape. In winter the islands are marked by their severe, ascetic appearance. It is thus no real surprise that these isolated Ladoga islands became a type of refuge for those seeking to test themselves both physically and spiritually. No later than in in the 14th century the Valaam Monastery was founded here, becoming home to many of these religious men as well as a stronghold of Orthodoxy. During the harsh winter season the spiritual beauty of life on the islands is particularly noticeable and bright.
The vertical world of the Nefyodov mountaineers
Brothers Sergey and Andrey Nefedrov, both from St. Petersburg, are well-known among the mountain-climbing crowd. Holders of the 2009 Russian Mountain-Climbing title, they have managed to make their hobby into a successful career and have accomplished quite a lot. They were the first people to transerf (climb without the use of any artificial footholds) Kyrgyzstan's 5,217-metre Mt. Aksu. They also hold the world rope jumping record with the longest free fall. Their authority in the mountain-climbing world has helped them to widen their scope into business: Sergey opened his own climbing school while Andrey travels around the world taking part in a variety of different extreme sporting events an.d projects.
Now on air
15:00
The vertical world of the Nefyodov mountaineers
Alexandrovsky Palace
Alexander Palace were the final home of Russia’s tsars and the favourite residence of the Russian royal family. Nicholas II was born here and also taken from here into exile, where he was ultimately shot and killed. The park started out as a so-called “menagerie,” which served as the hunting grounds for the spouses of Peter the Great and Catherine I. Following the empresses wishes, the grounds were home to a wide variety of birds and animals. The forest gradually transformed into a park and the royal residence where great princes and princesses were raised. A gothic tower, artificial medieval ruins and a small house on a “children’s island” were all built for the sake of the young royals’ education. Nowadays museum exhibits and recreated interiors help to portray the history of the Romanov dynasty - from the Golden Age of Catherine II until the beginning of the 20th century.
Now on air
15:00