| Russia ((ru)Россия) | |
 | |
| Moscow, the Kremlin and the Moskva River | |
| Flag | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Capital city | Moscow |
|---|---|
| Area | 17 125 187 km² |
| Population | 146 267 288 hab. (2015) |
| Density | 8,54 inhab./km² |
| Nice | Russian |
| Form of State | representative democracy, federal republic, semi-presidential system |
| Official language | Russian |
| Cash | Russian ruble (RUB) |
| Electricity | 220 V / 50 Hz, European plug |
| Telephone prefix | 7 |
| Internet suffix | .ru, .рф, .рус, .su |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC 3 to UTC 12 |
| Location | |
 60 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 92 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ E | |
| http://gov.ru/index_en.html Official site | |
The Russia is a country that stretches fromEastern Europe to theAsia. It has a border with the China, the Mongolia, the Kazakhstan, theAzerbaijan, the Georgia, theUkraine, the Belarus, the Lithuania, the Latvia, theEstonia, the Finland and the Norway.
Understand
Geography
Russia occupies two continents: the European part extends to the west of the Ural Mountains and the Asian part to the east. Russia has several seafronts: the largest, on the Arctic Ocean to the north, is taken by the pack ice for more than half of the year.
The Pacific Ocean borders the east: the eastern coast is very indented (Chukchi Peninsula, Kamtchatka Peninsula, Chelikhov Gulf) and overlooks the Bering Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan; the southern seas are the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. Finally, Russia has access to the Baltic Sea to the west where the port of St. Petersburg is located. 37 653 km.
Weather
Russia has a humid continental and arctic climate, the main seasons are winter and summer, with spring and autumn being very short. The highlight of winter is January with very cold temperatures. In summer, the temperature can be very high especially in continental regions. Many visitors prefer the months of March to May and September to November to avoid the extreme temperatures and crowds of the summer months. However, a trip can be undertaken all year round, each season having its charm, and temperatures depend on the region visited.
History
The first traces of an organized state in Russia date back to 862. xiiie at xvie century, part of present-day Russia is called Muscovy and is ruled by a monarchy. Its territory will grow over time. In the meantime Russia becomes an empire led by a tsar, until 1917 with the overthrow of the empire by the Bolsheviks during the October Revolution, when Russia becomes a communist state and is renamed Soviet Union (abbreviated USSR). In 1991, theUSSR collapses. Russia takes the form of a more or less democratic federation and converts to a market economy, the chaotic transition favoring the development of organized crime and an oligarchy enriched by the capture of public goods.
Population
In 2012, the Russian population is approximately 143 million people. This country has experienced a significant decline in its population since the crisis of the 1990s, following the fall of theUSSR, because of a low birth rate and a short life expectancy (63 years for men).
Holidays and public holidays
Russian Orthodox Christmas, Defenders of the Fatherland Day, Victory Day (May 9), Russian Independence Day and Reconciliation Day
Regions
.png/700px-Russia_regions_map_(fr).png)
Central russia - The richest region of the country and the entry point for Europe with the capital Moscow and other towns with remarkable historic architecture. |  |
Chernozemye - "Black earth" in Russian, a region rich in humus; also the site of important battles of World War II. |  |
Northwestern Russia — Saint PETERSBOURG, the former capital of the Russian Empire known as the northern capital, the great lakes of Ladoga and Onega, the medieval fortresses ofPskov oblast, the lake region of Karelia and the gateway to the Scandinavian countries. |  |
Kaliningrad - The only exclave of Russia, the Kaliningrad oblast shares its borders with the Poland and the Lithuania. |  |
Southern russia - The hottest region in the country with seaside resorts like Sochi and the gateway to the North Caucasus Mountains. |  |
Volga - The most industrialized region with, among others, large-scale weapons production factories in cities such as Izhevsk but also a very rich culture and history. |  |
Urals - The Ural Mountains, one of the richest regions, producing most of today's Russia's resources. | _SA02.jpg/250px-Mountain_Kolpaki_(Гора_Колпаки)_SA02.jpg) |
Siberia - The largest region with varied landscapes and significant temperature differences with impressive lakes, some of the longest rivers in the world but above all swamps in the Center and the North, and the gateway to the rest of the world. 'Asia. |  |
Russian Far East - One of the coldest regions, with the coldest city in the world Yakutsk, magnificent landscapes, mountains, national parks and volcanoes of Kamchatka, the front door to the North Korea, the China and the Mongolia. |  |
Cities
- 1 Moscow ((ru)Москва) – The gigantic capital of Russia is one of the largest cities in the world and has countless attractions to offer adventurous visitors.
- 2 Saint PETERSBOURG (formerly Petrograd or Leningrad - (ru)Санкт-Петербург) – City of art and history, former political and cultural capital of Russia, there is the Hermitage Museum, one of the most beautiful museums in the world, while the city center is a living museum in full air, which makes this city one of the great tourist destinations in the world.
- 3 Yekaterinburg ((ru)Катеринбург) – Center of the regionUrals, it is one of the main cultural centers of Russia, a stopover on the railway Trans-Siberian and a starting point for visitors to the Urals. The city is the second Russian financial center.
- 4 Irkutsk ((ru)Иркутск)
- 5 Kazan ((ru)Казань)
- 6 Samara (formerly Kuybyshev - (ru)Самара) – Sixth largest city in Russia. It is an industrial city that participated in the history of the Russian space conquest.
- 7 Nizhny Novgorod ((ru)Нижний Новгород)
- 8 Sochi ((ru)Сочи)
- 9 Vladivostok ((ru)Владивосток) – Final destination of the Trans-Siberian
- 10 Volgograd (formerly Tsaritsyn then Stalingrad (ru)Волгоград) – Theater of the Battle of Stalingrad
Other destinations
To go
Formalities
Requests for visas Russian must in general be made before departure, in his country of residence. This visa is often complicated to obtain because of the many documents required to obtain it. It is therefore necessary to allow time to make this visa and not to do it at the last minute! The list below contains the documents generally necessary for a visa application in a European country but it may vary according to the consulates.
- The original of passport
- A photocopy of it (which can sometimes be made at the consulate for 1 €)
- The visa application form completed with a color identity photograph. This form must be completed online on the website of Russian foreign ministry and then printed.
- A certificate of medical, accident and repatriation insurance proving their validity on Russian territory for the duration of the stay. These certificates must include the name of the insured, the contract number and the original insurer's stamp. This insurance is often included with a bank card and can therefore be obtained free of charge.
- An invitation (voucher) from a Russian hotel or travel agency. Invitations can easily, and generally without risk, be purchased over the internet for less than 15 €. For example, via https://www.anouslarussie.fr/ for 13 €
- For stays longer than 15 days, it is necessary to have a detailed itinerary issued by a travel agency approved by the Russian government. This document can also be purchased on the internet at the same time as the invitation, or separately, for around twenty euros. Not all consulates seem to ask for this document and some do not include it in the list of necessary documents on their website but ask for it afterwards (which is the case of the Russian consulate in Geneva).
- If you do not have the nationality of your country of residence, it is also necessary to bring your card or residence permit.
Russian Embassies and Consulates General have very limited processing capacities. This is why the visa application is generally submitted without an appointment at a partner visa center of the Embassy or Consulate General of Russia. In Paris, it is VFS Global.
Foreign embassies are located at Moscow. Some large cities have general or honorary consulates.
Russia maintains embassies in almost all the capitals of the world including, among others, Brussels, Ottawa, Brazzaville, Paris, Luxembourg, Kigali, Bern, Tunis as well as consulates in Antwerp, Marseilles, Strasbourg and a branch of the Consulate General of Marseille in Nice.
- Russia
- Unlimited visa exemption
- Visa exemption for 90 days
- Visa exemption for 90 days without commercial activity
- Visa exemption for 60 days without commercial activity
- Visa exemption for 30 days without commercial activity
- Visa exemption for 14 days without commercial activity
By plane
By bus
The Eurolines company [1] serves Russia. It offers prices among the lowest on the market and in any case often cheaper than airlines.
On a boat
By train
There is a line Nice - Moscow, Paris - Moscow and a line Basel - Minsk - Moscow (Belarusian transit visa required) Several daily trains connect Helsinki at Saint PETERSBOURG and cost 86 € (sometimes there are discounts of up to 50% for the first morning train) for 4 h 30 path. It is necessary to bring your passport with the Russian visa to book train tickets since customs controls are done on the train during the journey.
By car
From Paris, you can reach Russia by passing mainly through Belgium, Holland, Germany via Berlin and then Poland. You must first cross the Belarusian border in Brest by the M1 road, possibility of stopping in Minsk or avoiding this city by a detour, then you finally arrive in Russia near Smolensk by this same axis. It should be noted that in Belarus and Russia, we alternate between ordinary roads and motorways (free in Russia! ...).
No alcohol level is tolerated in Russia and no more in Belarus. As they say in France: “The one who drives is the one who does not drink. »Motorways are limited to 110 km / h on average and 100 km / h for Belarus then the national ones to 90 km / h. In town you should not exceed 60 (nor 30 in some areas in Moscow).
The international car insurance green card is now valid in Russia.
Circulate
By plane
The airports are not all equipped withTHEY, some connections can be interrupted (permanently) in bad weather.
Plan the purchase of tickets well in advance. Private companies similar to our travel agencies have reservation kiosks in frequented places (airports, train stations, town centers).
Buying the ticket well in advance is no longer really necessary. If there is room, you can easily buy your ticket for the same day.
We hear that some small companies tend to use obsolete or poorly maintained equipment. The larger ones are relatively safe.
By train
- See as well: Trans-Siberian
In Russia, passenger trains are divided into two main classes: "suburban" trains, called "Elektrichka", similar to ours (although sometimes running more than 100 km, with direct sections), and mainline trains. In large stations, they leave from different places. Elektrichka tickets can be purchased at the last minute, and seats are not numbered. A controller runs the train constantly ... as well as many street vendors.
Mainline Russian trains are significantly less frequent than in France, one every two days on certain routes, but also significantly more comfortable. In view of the distances, the main part is made up of sleeping cars. There are 3 types: by decreasing cost (inversely proportional to the number of seats per wagon), compartments of 2 with reinforced service ("luxury" or "SV"), compartments of 4 ("coupé"), the same without doors with berths along the corridor ("platzkarte"). Ultimately, some convoys have seated "obshchiy" wagons, to be avoided.
There is no controller in these trains, but, under the authority of the conductor ("brigadir"), a conductor ("provodnik") and a deputy in each car, who control tickets at the train. entry (and warn of the approach of the destination if necessary), distribute sheets and blankets, ensure hygiene, comfort and tranquility. They maintain a hot water samovar, available to travelers, and they can always be contacted if needed. Generally, a friendly relationship is quickly established with other passengers, we share the food brought with other travelers.
The train making the connection Moscow-Vladivostok, called "Trans-Siberian"takes a week to go through the 9 500 km of tracks.
- RŽD – Timetable and online ticket purchase on the Russian Railways website
By car
Driving in Russia assumes a good adaptation to local habits, which are sometimes very different from those in Western Europe.
In the event of an accident, it is in principle necessary to call the traffic police (GIBDD-GAI) to have the report established. See "Security" section.
Please note: you can only drive a car in Russia that you do not own unless you have a notarized power of attorney with your name.
The main and secondary axes in Europe are of very good quality; but small roads, or those in areas further from Moscow, can be unpaved - that is, either dirt (gruntovka) or covered with gravel. In the latter case, it is advisable to drive slowly: in fact, over time the gravel forms "waves" perpendicular to the direction of the traffic, which cause jerks that are harmful to the mechanics.
Gasoline sold in Russia is exclusively unleaded. In particularly sparsely populated areas, the stations may be distant: it may be advisable to provide an emergency gasoline container. Once again, in the event of great distress, we can count on the solidarity of other drivers ... depending on revenge!
The road signs are roughly identical to those in the rest of Europe. Be careful, however: a dotted line does not always allow overtaking, so keep an eye on the vertical signage, which prevails. On the main roads the signs are transcribed in the Latin alphabet. Outside built-up areas, it is compulsory to use dipped beam headlights.
The authorized blood alcohol level is zero. We are also required to carry an emergency pharmacy, a fire extinguisher ... In the event of an infringement, it is unfortunately often possible to negotiate a bribe, the amount of which varies greatly depending on the region (eg: 500 RUB in the Saratov region, 50 RUB in Orenburg). That said, no problem if you respect the code.
By taxi
Taxis are recognizable with the doors and the painted checkerboard roof.
Do not take a taxi in tourist places, you will have very little chance to haggle and the price may be high. Take public transport or a taxi stopped a few blocks away. Before riding, negotiate the price of the ride.
To call a private driver you can use one of the Uber, Gett or Yandex.taxi applications (Яндекс.такси) indicating starting point, destination, type of taxi (ranging from economy to minivan), preferences and phone number. (service available in English).
There are also private French-speaking taxis that you can find on the website ofAlexander of Russia.
Some individuals play the role of taxi for a more attractive price. Avoid this type of mode of travel if you are alone, as well as if there are several people in the car. A tourist's money often attracts a lot of bad situations.
By public transport
If you are in St. Petersburg or Moscow, take the metro. The oars are regular, fast, and the stations built in the Stalinist era are true works of art: paintings, decorations, marble, chandeliers, statues, etc. In order to be able to move around in the metro, since there is no indication in English, it is very useful and strongly recommended to be able to read the Russian alphabet (only the pronunciation): if not not the case, you will have to count the number of stations to be traversed beforehand.
The bus network, public or private, is very developed, both within cities and interurban - in which case they leave from centralized bus stations (автовокзал / "avtovokzal"). Bus connections are even cheaper than the train, but several hundred sitting miles can be a strain for some, despite regular stops to stretch their legs. Still for long distance travel, it is strongly recommended to plan at least a few hours in advance to purchase tickets, and to arrive for boarding half an hour in advance. very advantageous to buy the bus tickets in advance. Provide for the two types currently in force: "electronic" (for buses with a turnstile (!)) Or not.
There are also charter minibuses with around fifteen seats ("march'rout'ka" in urban areas, "gazelle" in interurban). Faster (and a little more expensive) than the bus, but less comfortable, because it is cramped.
For marchroutka and city buses in the provinces, you often pay on the descent.
Speak
- See as well: Russian language guide
The language common to the whole country is Russian.
Buy
The currency is the ruble (рубль, ₽) divided into 100 kopeks (копейка). It is a currency that cannot be changed outside Russian territory.
On site, euros (or dollars) are sometimes accepted (in large cities) but it is possible to withdraw rubles directly from ATMs (банкомат). Each time, a commission must be paid for withdrawals outside the EU (of the order of 3 € plus 2% of the amount withdrawn). It will all depend on your financial institution.
Eat
Russian cuisine is very diverse. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of what you can find on site:
- пельмени (piélmiémi): specialty of Siberia. These are seasoned meat ravioli, served with tomato sauce. Excellent drizzled with vodka.
- каша (kasha): sweet buckwheat porridge to accompany a dessert or salty to accompany a dish
- котлеты (katliéty): minced meat, grilled or breaded, served with rice or vegetables.
- котлеты по-киевски (katliety pa-kievski): seasoned breaded chicken to which is traditionally added a chicken bone
- чебурек (tchébourek): Tatar specialty made of a fried dough filled with beef, pork, mutton or with cheese and mushrooms
- : Khirghiz specialty. Kind of kebab (roasted mutton and pancake) served drowned in broth.
- Various varieties of супы (soups) served as a starter, most often with a dab of crème fraîche:
- солянка (salianka): tomato, onion soup with pieces of pork.
- борщ (borch '): tomato soup, cabbage, beetroot, potatoes, carrots, and sometimes with a little beef, originating in Ukraine.
- фрикаделли (fricadelli): of Italian origin, it is a soup of meat, potatoes and beetroot.
Drinks
Is it necessary to present the famous "little water" for which Russia is partly famous? You can find водка (vodka) everywhere. You can find good quality bottles at around 6-7 €. It is generally drunk pure, often accompanied by fruit, vegetables, cold meats and / or cheese. Tradition has it that the glass is not put back until it is finished ... to be refilled immediately! There are also other alcoholic beverages. While Armenian cognac is popular, Russia produces excellent beers, the best known of which is Baltika, which exists in varying degrees of alcohol, and Ivanovo beer. These are the two most famous beers in Russia. Kvass is also a popular soft drink, especially in summer when temperatures can easily rise to 30 ° or more in many areas! It is a drink made from fermented bread, low in alcohol, which tastes somewhere between cola and coffee. Kompot is a kind of syrup. It is actually a set of fruit boiled in sweetened water (part of the drink), which is kept in large jars, and which has a slightly sweet fruity taste. It is mostly eaten at breakfast, however tea is the most widely consumed and appreciated drink of the Russians, who make their country the world's leading importer! Usually black or gray, it is rightly known to be quite strong. It is sometimes flavored with bergamot. We drink it at any time of the day, and with every meal. Some generally elderly Russians drink up to a cup every half hour! Good Russian tea is prepared using a samovar (a kind of kettle).
Housing
Learn
To work
Communicate
Manage the day-to-day
Time zones
.svg/300px-Map_of_Russia_-_Time_Zones_(2018).svg.png)
Russia covers eleven time zones, and daylight saving time is not used.
- Kaliningrad Time (UTC 2): Kaliningrad Oblast
- Moscow time (GMT 3): Central russia, Chernozemye, Northwestern Russia, Southern russia, Volga region (except Astrakhan oblast , Samara oblast, Udmurtia, Ulyanovsk Oblast and Volgograd oblast). In addition, all railways in Russia operate on time. Moscow.
- Samara time (GMT 4): Astrakhan oblast , Samara oblast, Udmurtia, Ulyanovsk Oblast and Volgograd oblast.
- Yekaterinburg Time (GMT 5): Urals
- Omsk time (GMT 6): Omsk, Novosibirsk Oblast and Tomsk oblast
- Krasnoyarsk Time (GMT 7): Altai Krai, Altai Republic, Kemerovo OblastKhakassiaKrasnoyarsk Krai and Tuva
- Irkutsk time (GMT 8): Eastern Siberia, except Tuva and Transbaikalian Krai
- Yakutsk Time (GMT 9): West of Yakutia, Love oblast
- Vladivostok Time (GMT 10): Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Khabarovsk Krai, Magadan Oblast, Primitive Krai, Sakhalin, Yakutia central
- Srednekolymsk Time (GMT 11): East of Yakutia, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin
- Kamchatka Time (GMT 12): Chukotka, Kamchatka
security
 | Emergency telephone number: Police :102 Ambulance:103 Firefighter :101 Gas :104 Anti-terrorism:105 |
It is important to avoid as much as possible all the regions of the North Caucasus, where the degraded socio-economic situation has particularly favored the development of banditry and corruption - not to mention inter-ethnic conflicts.
In the event of an automobile accident, it is in principle necessary to call the road police (GIBDD-GAI) to have the report established. A judicial information can be opened on this occasion in order to determine the responsibilities. Russian drivers are subject to compulsory "civil liability" insurance, but which does not work as in France: reimbursement is not automatic, there is no general agreement between companies; some are even bankrupt. Getting informed can avoid disappointments. An amicable settlement is sometimes preferable. It is therefore necessary, as in any field in this country, to show human solidarity. Be careful, however, not to find yourself a victim of racketeering: some bands specialize in false accidents followed by extortion. Better to spot the dangerous maneuver beforehand, as these groups usually operate in a situation of force.
Consider groups of idle young people with caution, especially at nightclubs or bars. With alcohol, they can behave unpleasantly unpredictably.
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Respect
The Russians attach particular importance to the memory of the Great Patriotic War (Second World War) which marked them enormously, with more than 25 million dead, the siege of Saint PETERSBOURG (Leningrad at the time) and the taking of Berlin. Suffice to say that every family has been affected by this war, considered a disaster, but also as the most glorious episode in their history, and it should not be joked with that.
When you arrive at a host's house, it is customary to take off your shoes. Hospitality being a point of honor for a Russian who welcomes you, it is frowned upon or even rude to refuse a drink or food. A Russian will give you food and drink until you really can't take it anymore. Likewise, it is customary to bring gifts to the people who invite you, flowers, food, perfume, etc., and it is better to have too much than not enough.
As for politics, there is no point in conflicting with the Russians. You should know that they are very proud to be Russians, and the majority of them support its president and prime minister for the changes in living standards of recent years. In any case, they will avoid talking about politics with complete strangers. Likewise, for the Russians, the Chechnya is, has always been and always will be Russian territory.
Most Russians are Orthodox, but there are other religions (Islam, Buddhism, Judaism) it is customary to observe a number of rites before entering a place of worship. It is good to know that women must wear a veil, shawl, or even a scarf to enter an Orthodox church. A foreign woman will not be looked down upon, however this is the custom. Likewise, women are not expected to wear trousers in these places of worship, although the Russians themselves do not always follow this practice.
Finally, most Russians don't speak English or German well enough, so knowing a bit of Russian. Even a few words said with difficulty will guarantee you a broad smile and warm hospitality, as few French or English speaking foreigners do!
