Bryansk Region

  The Bryansk Region is situated in the south-west of the Central Federal District and shares a border with both Ukraine and Belarus. The main crossing points are located at Suzemka, Konotop and Bryansk. Located on the territory of the region is the famous Bryanskie Les (Bryansk Forest) Biosphere Nature Reserve which occupies 120 square kilometres. Twenty-three types of animals which are protected in Russia's Red Book can be found in the reserve. The largest cities in the region are Bryansk (the administrative centre) and Klintsy; both of which are worth visiting.

The Svensky Monastery - one of the oldest monasteries in Russia.

  The history of the region has been influenced by it border location and over the centuries it has been part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Moscow Principality. Up to 40% of the region is taken up by forest and it was from these forests that up to 60,000 partisans operated during the Second World War. Bryansk was later awarded the title City of Military Glory for the actions of its partisans. The main memorial to the Bryanskie Forests partisan movement is located in Belye Berega, 12 kilometres from Bryansk. In the city of Dyatkovo, 55 kilometres from Bryansk, there is the Burning Bush Icon Church which, although is modern, boasts the world's only crystal iconostasis, made by a local crystal factory.  Another popular destination in the Bryansk Region is the Fyodor Tyutchev Museum-Estate which is located in the village of Ovstug, 36 kilometres from Bryansk.

Cities