Filming in Samara region of Russia

Samara a major millionaire city in the center of the Volga region and the heart of Russian car manufacturing.

Geography and Climate

The region has a total area of 53,000 km²  (32,900 mi² ). Climate in Samara is humid and continental. The warmest month is July with an average of 21 ˚C (69.8˚F) and the coolest time is January with the average of -12 ˚C (9.8˚F)

Nature

One of the most famous places in Samara region is the Samarskaya Luka national park which was formed by a U-turn of Volga river.

History and Culture

The area of Samara became a part of Russia in the 16th century, when the fortress of Samara was established in 1586.

Samara has been growing rapidly since the 18th century due to its important location on the Volga river. In 1851, it was officially declared a region of Russia. Samara produced more wheat than any other Russian region at the time.

During World War II, the Soviet government and the Bolshoi theater were evacuated to Samara. It served as a reserve capital in case Nazis take Moscow.

Cities

The biggest city and the capital of the region is Samara with over 1.1 million people. Tolyatti comes next with the population of 719,300. Both cities stand on Volga river and are located just 90 km (55 mi) away from each other.

How to get there

Samara is located 855 km (531 mi) east of Moscow. Kurumoch International Airport has flights to Moscow that take about an hour and 45 minutes.

Population

Total population is over 3.2 million people, 85% of which are Russians. Mordovians are the largest group of indigenous people, making up 2% of the population.

Interesting Facts

- Samara is a birthplace of Maxim Gorkiy, an early Soviet novelist and playright and the father of socialist realism;

- During WWII, Samara was a workplace for Dmitri Shostakovich, a Soviet pianist and composer, considered to be one of the classics of the 20th century;

- Yuri Gagarin has landed from the Earth orbit in Engels, a city 414 km from Samara;

- From 1935 to 1991, Samara was called Kuybyshev, after Valerian Kuybyshev, a local revolution leader;

- One of the most mysterious places in Samara is Stalin's bunker, built personally for the dictator in case Moscow gets occupied and the capital has to be moved to Samara. It was disclosed to the public only in 1990;

- Another former resident of Samara is Alexey Tolstoy, and early Soviet sci-fi writer and the author of Buratino, a Russian adaptation of the Pinocchio story;

- The city of Tolyatti hosts Russia's biggest car manufather "AVTOVAZ", the company behind the notorious Lada cars;

- Samara is one of 11 host cities of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

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Cave for mining of limestone in Samara region

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The Garibaldi Castle

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The Garibaldi Castle
One of the most popular tourist spots, an entertainment center built just in 2006

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Garibaldi Castle

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The Garibaldi Castle

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Bridge in abandoned limestone mine in Samara Region

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Samara

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Hotel in Samara Region

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Lada 2107
One of the most common cars in the post-Communist world is produced in Tolyatti, Samara Region

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Cave for mining of limestone in Samara region

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The Garibaldi Castle

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The Garibaldi Castle
One of the most popular tourist spots, an entertainment center built just in 2006

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Garibaldi Castle

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The Garibaldi Castle

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Bridge in abandoned limestone mine in Samara Region

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Samara

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Hotel in Samara Region

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Lada 2107
One of the most common cars in the post-Communist world is produced in Tolyatti, Samara Region