“The most important thing that the North cannot help but do is touch the heart of every Russian,  namely because it is the most Russian of all. It is Russian not only in terms of its soul, but it is Russian by virtue of the fact that it played a great role Russian culture. It rescued from oblivion Russian epos, ancient customs, Russian wooden architecture, Russian musical culture, Russian great lyrical power – melodious and verbal, Russian labor traditions – peasant, handcraft, seafaring…” – these words by Dmitry Likhachev most aptly capture the significance the North had in preserving Russian culture. And nowadays all of these treasures kept in the Russian North are available to everyone coming to Arkhangelsk. The sights along this route include cultural institutions of Arkhangelsk that will give visitors the opportunity to acquainted themselves with unique materials representing the power and richness of Russian culture in all its diversity.

This is the Oblast Regional History Museum. It tells us about the nature and history of the region, but it is worth noting two things: the Arkhangelsk Regional History Museum is one of the oldest in Russia – it has been in existence since 1837 and its historical exhibits are located in the oldest building in Arkhangelsk – the Merchant Yard, an architectural memorial to the 17^th century. The Fine Arts museum is also an integral part of the regional centre but over the last decades it has become a museum association. Every single museum that is a part of the association is unique and interesting. A brilliant collection of icons including carved ones is located in a central hall on Lenina square. The North, the White Sea, Novaya Zemlya – the land of eternal cold and ice is shown in works of authentic such northern artists as Borisov, Pisakhov and Tyko-Vylki in the Artistic Development of Arctic Museum.

Works by Russian painters from the 18^th-20^th centuries are displayed in the  E. Plotnikova Residence. Not only art, but also the interior itself  is an art exhibit is called "A Portrait into an antique Interior". By the way, natives have a shorter name for it: “The Ancient Residence”. The Northern Seafaring Museum greets visitors with a new exhibition: models of ships, shipping equipment, instruments and utensils tell stories about how seafaring emerged and developed in the North. There are several professional theatres in Arkhangelsk and each of them has got its own repertoire and audience. To those who like classical and organ music we recommend a visit to the former Protestant church – now the Philharmonic Concert Hall.