In 1799 and 1814, a number of Russian settlements were renamed in honor of european regions, liberated from Napoleon by russian soldiers. That's how in South Ural appeared villages called Paris, Berlin, Leipzig, Warsaw, Balkans, and others – 34 villages in total. Over the last 200 years, territories of Russia and Europe, alike their interests to each other, frequently united and fell apart, got separated and intersected again. Author visited 17 small settlements, bearing foreign names, in search of "window to Europe". This research digs into the depths of contemporary Russia, at the same time spreading past its borders.
In 1799 and 1814, a number of Russian settlements were renamed in honor of european regions, liberated from Napoleon by russian soldiers. That's how in South Ural appeared villages called Paris, Berlin, Leipzig, Warsaw, Balkans, and others – 34 villages in total.
Over the last 200 years, territories of Russia and Europe, alike their interests to each other, frequently united and fell apart, got separated and intersected again.
Author visited 17 small settlements, bearing foreign names, in search of "window to Europe". This research digs into the depths of contemporary Russia, at the same time spreading past its borders.