The most beautiful railway stations in Russia

The train station is a special place for travelers, even those who are not inclined to sentiment. Arriving in a new city by train, a person will definitely look at its "gate". Perhaps beauty is not the most important quality for the station, but it will definitely not be superfluous. The external attractiveness of the infrastructure gives a pleasant impression to the passenger. In total, there are more than 270 railway stations in Russia, and many of them can safely claim the status of the most beautiful, convenient and functional, so it is simply impossible to make an objective top 5, 10 or 20. But you can get acquainted with the most interesting architectural solutions. 

Fabulous Slyudyanka station on Lake Baikal

There are no analogues of this small train station in the whole world. The station building is constructed of a tandem of pink and white marble. These stones are not used for the construction of any railway station in Russia or other countries of the world. 

It is known that Italian architects worked on the project. Alas, the name of the chief specialist has not been preserved.The construction of this station was personally supervised at the beginning of the XX century by Mikhail Khilkov. He was then responsible for the development of communication routes.

The choice of the stone was not accidental at all. There was a marble incision not far from the Slyudyanka station. Therefore, it was decided to build the station from the local stone. It was practical, and the marble coped perfectly with decorative functions. That is why here you can often see tourists taking dozens of photos against the background of an amazing station-castle with a green roof. 

The oldest railway station in the country ― Vitebsk 

The first railway in the Russian Empire was opened at the beginning of the XIX century. The tracks connected St. Petersburg with Tsarskoye Selo. The first railway station, which is now called Vitebsk, was opened in 1832 and it was built of wood. 

A lot has changed since then. The railway developed and expanded, approaches to the functionality of railway stations and their organization changed. Once a tiny wooden building turned into a huge and more functional structure. The architects decided to design it in the Art Nouveau style.

For the first time, the Vitebsk railway station was rebuilt back in 1852. Moreover, the project was made by the then famous architect Konstantin Ton. The building became more luxurious after the reconstruction of 1904. It was then that elements of modernism were added to him. They still impress passengers who have a desire to stay longer in the station building. 

«A night tale» or the beauty of the main station in Kazan 

The symmetrical two-storey station building was built in 1894. Then Kazan was connected to Moscow by rail. The central part of the building was crowned with a spire. During the day, this beautiful structure looks quite attractive, but you can enjoy the special beauty only in the light of night lights.

At that time, the chief architect of Kazan was Henry Rusch. He drew up the project of the station. The architect decided to focus on a durable, but rather elegant material ― red brick. It was from him that the building was eventually built. 

Gothic with Art Nouveau elements in Yaroslavsky railway station

The capital, as one of the most popular settlements, boasts not only the number, but also the beauty of railway stations. The area of "Three railway stations" attracts special attention. Moreover, many passengers are sure that the most interesting and pretentious of them is Yaroslavl.

The building combines strict towers and elegant, but sharp canopies characteristic of neo-Russian Gothic. They are complemented by "modern" ornaments with animalistic and plant elements. This station is the embodiment of the imagination of architect Fyodor Shekhtel.

Sochi railway station with Italian charm

The popular resort welcomes passengers with a huge three-terminal station with a slender tower, the height of which reaches 55 meters. The latter is worth paying attention to to anyone who is interested in astrology. There is an interesting clock at the top of the tower, imitating the zodiac circle. But there is not a classical arrangement, the zodiac signs are mixed up and are not in their places. It was the initiative of the creator of the project, architect Alexey Dushkin.

The station building is made in pseudo-Italian style. Today, visitors can enjoy the beauty of architecture and tropical plants, but initially there was also a small but cozy courtyard. Walking in it, you could feel this amazing and almost weightless Italian chic. There was also a fountain there, but it is no longer at the modern railway station.

Steam train station: what will surprise «Novosibirsk-The First»  

Passengers arriving in Novosibirsk, first of all pay attention to the huge green building. The modern project of the railway station, which has gone through several renaming and rebuilding over its history, was designed by architect Nikolai Voloshinov. 

In the 1930s, he introduced his colleagues to his vision of the station. He called the drawing "Novosibirsk-the First". The architect proposed to make the building as simple as possible, with straight lines, avoiding any frills. This idea was also in the spirit of his colleague Andrey Kryachkov, who finalized the project.

Important! If you look at the station building "Novosibirsk" from above, then you can see a steam locomotive in it.   

One of the most beautiful railway stations in the capital is Kazansky

Many passengers who were lucky enough to visit here assure that this is a real architectural masterpiece, and its beauty cannot be underestimated. There is something to compare with, because it is located on the square of "Three railway stations". 

Kazan Railway Station acquired its modern appearance only in 1940. It took more than three decades to choose the best architectural and design solution, although not everything was implemented. A group of specialists worked on the project, headed by Alexey Shchusev. 

The station consists of several buildings that differ in area and height. But they are united by one concept, and visually they are connected by a slender tower in the corner. Therefore, all these buildings are quite harmoniously visually perceived.

Astrology lovers should pay attention to the "zodiac clock" on the second chapel tower. Shchusev made the sketch himself. 

Samara railway station as a successful tandem of beauty and functionality

The building was built back in 2001. The modern railway station in Samara surprises not only with its beauty. On the one hand, it is quite comfortable and stylish, and on the other ― without much frills. 

The station has a building with a spire, the height of which reaches 101 meters. This makes it one of the highest not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The capacity of Samara railway station is 12 thousand passengers per day, which is also impressive. 

See the most beautiful train stations in the country ― it is an honor for every traveler. Another good reason to choose a train trip.