Pushkin

Founded in 1710 as an imperial residence called Tsarskoye Selo, Pushkin is a town south of St. Petersburg whose centrepiece is the 18th-century palace-and-park ensemble of the same name — a UNESCO-listed complex that includes the Catherine Palace and Alexander Palace set within expansive landscaped grounds. Russia's first public railway, opened in 1837, connected the town to St. Petersburg, and a direct rail link still makes it an easy day trip from the city. The town was renamed in 1937 to mark the centenary of the poet Alexander Pushkin's death.

• Population92,889
• Nearest water from center 0.2 km0.1 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 45 km28 mi