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RUSSIA: INLAND VISION. Peterhof. The Kingdom of Fountains and Gardens

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Peterhof Palace is often called the ‘Kingdom of Fountains’, yet behind its beauty lies the immense labor of its creators and a history spanning three centuries. The fountains are still operated manually, much as they were in the time of Peter the Great. This is a unique monument to engineering: no pumps are used – water flows from a higher elevation, naturally building pressure and rising into the fountains. The streams form intricate water bouquets, while Peter’s famous trick fountains suddenly spray unsuspecting visitors. From this ‘Kingdom of Fountains’, you can step into lush green gardens that Peter the Great personally designed: strict alleys stood alongside vegetable beds, fruit trees, and ponds stocked with fish for the imperial table. Inside the palace, visitors enter halls decorated in a lavish golden Baroque style that were once the setting for grand balls and opulent receptions. In the latest episode, discover how this St. Petersburg suburb survived near-total destruction during World War II and was brought back to life.

Добавить в избранное RUSSIA: INLAND VISION. The Treasures of Ancient Suzdal 37:34 Suzdal, a city with a 1,000-year history, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Russia. Building houses taller than three stories is prohibited here, so the city has retained its ancient charm – the entire city unfolds before your eyes from any viewpoint! When Moscow was just a small fortress, Suzdal was already part of the Silk Road and served as the capital of a principality. The ancient kremlin, or fortress, still stands here, and it looks nothing like the one in Red Square. In earlier times, kremlins were created as island cities. They consisted of an earthen rampart with a wooden framework inside and a fortress built along a river, which served as extra protection. Today, the Suzdal Kremlin is a museum complex where visitors can explore the city's rich history. Suzdal is also brimming with treasures: archaeologists frequently discover medieval coins, jewellery, and fragments of ancient wine amphorae here. You can also admire 13th-century frescoes in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, whose oldest bells date back to the time of Ivan the Terrible! What other traditions does this city in Russia’s Golden Ring preserve? Find out in the latest episode of Inland Visions.

Добавить в избранное RUSSIA: INLAND VISION. Game of the Elements 25:34 In the latest episode, Peter explores sport across three elements — on land, in the air, and on water. He rises above Moscow in a hot air balloon and learns firsthand how flight works, discovering why a pilot must know not only how to fly, but also when to refuse take-off. A calm dawn flight turns into a conversation about risk and responsibility. Peter Scott then heads to the Maxima Park equestrian centre – a place that feels like a hotel for champions. He meets the people who spend years breeding and training valuable sport horses. A trainer explains how the partnership between rider and horse is formed, and why there can be no victory without trust between them. In the final part of the programme, Peter joins a Moscow regatta and watches yachts cut through the wind. He learns to tie knots and listen to the captain’s commands. On board, the crew works as one to complete the course, vying for the lead, and later shares stories about this captivating sport back on shore. The programme shows that real sport is not only about excitement and respect for the elements, but also about teamwork.

Добавить в избранное RUSSIA: INLAND VISION. The Nature of Kenozero 22:21 Kenozero National Park in Russia’s Arkhangelsk Region is home to the Great Watershed of Two Oceans. Here, through a system of rivers, water from one lake flows into the Arctic Ocean, while water from another makes its way to the Atlantic. According to legend, the two lakes were separated by a Water Spirit, as two suitors sought the hand of his daughter, one spirit from the north and the other from the south. They were always bickering with each other, so the Water Spirit refused to marry his daughter to either of them. He divided the lakes to prevent their rivalry from summoning a storm. In reality, however, the lakes were formed naturally over twelve thousand years ago, as the Scandinavian glacier was receding. Today, Kenozero Park is a strikingly beautiful and vibrant ecosystem, with its untouched landscape, pristine waters — once even harvested for river pearls — and dense forests crisscrossed by ant trails. The people of Kenozero live in harmony with nature and pass down the traditions of the Russian North from generation to generation.

Добавить в избранное RUSSIA: INLAND VISION. Khakassia: A journey through Russia’s Land of Five Elements 26:45 The Yenisei, taiga, and ancient stone sanctuaries – in this episode, Peter Scott travels to Khakassia. This region is known as the land of five elements and a place of spiritual power. The journey begins on the Yenisei, which the locals call the ‘Father of Rivers’. Peter learns how it crosses the whole of Siberia before reaching the Kara Sea. This is also where the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant stands – one of the most powerful in Russia. The dam is 242 metres tall. A unique microclimate has formed around it, making it possible to grow apples, pears, apricots, and grapes… even in Siberia! Peter also visits one of the most unusual places in Khakassia – the Sunduki Ridge, whose five mountains resemble enormous stone chests. The site is closely tied to ancient beliefs and rituals. To this day, shamans gather here to mark the summer solstice. In the final part of the journey, Peter heads north across Khakassia. He visits a former settlement from the gold rush era, crosses wild mountain terrain, and reaches the Ivanov Lakes with their bright emerald waters. In winter, this landscape is transformed into a world of deep snow and freeriding. Snowdrifts here can reach a height of up to ten metres, and it can feel as if you’ve lived through all four seasons in a single day.

Добавить в избранное Art & Culture. Mirrors of Gold: Sketches by Manuel Izquiredo 1:01:10 From Leningrad’s Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture to the streets of Huaquillas, Ecuador – artist Manuel Izquierdo paints by the ocean and teaches children to see the world through an artist’s eyes.

Добавить в избранное RUSSIA: INLAND VISION. Kalmykia 22:28 Buddhist pagodas, prayer wheels, and monks in masks portraying various deities and spirits — no, not Tibet. This is Kalmykia, the only Buddhist region in Europe, set in southern Russia’s vast steppe. In Kalmykia, host Peter Scott witnesses the ritual Tsam dance — an ancient Buddhist ceremony in which dancers ‘become’ protective deities and drive evil spirits away. The region’s main Buddhist temple is the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni. Its name was given by the Dalai Lama himself. 108 prayer wheels, thousands of multicoloured flags flutter in the wind. Eight golden symbols adorn the walls, each carrying deep spiritual meaning. Out on the steppe, warmed by fire, Peter learns to make Kalmyk tea, brewed with salt, butter, milk, bay leaf, and nutmeg, then stirred exactly 99 times: 55 for the good spirits, 44 for the evil ones. The first cup is for Buddha, and the second for the guest. Peter also meets the band Hagrin on the steppe: electro-punk rooted in Kalmyk folklore, throat singing over synthesizers, and the story of a warrior’s journey outside of time. Experience the preparation for a ritual dance that demands purity of thought, and see how Buddhist tradition is preserved here in European Russia.

Добавить в избранное Sasha meets Russia. Flavors of the East. Murmansk: Life at the Edge of the World 28:24 Beyond the Arctic Circle, it’s cold — but incredibly delicious. An American with Russian roots discovers the Arctic through fish soup, a nuclear icebreaker, and sea urchins.

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Добавить в избранное Religion. Jordanville: The Heart of Russian Orthodoxy Abroad. Part 3 51:11 1 Relics of the Russian diaspora and centuries-old Orthodox traditions – the final part of the trilogy about Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville

Добавить в избранное Religion. Jordanville: The Heart of Russian Orthodoxy Abroad. Part 2 50:12 Why don’t monks have smartphones? And how does the monastery prepare for Easter? The second episode of the trilogy about the Orthodox monastery in Jordanville.