3 Best Sights in Petropavlovsk, Russia

If you walk down Leninskaya Street, you'll find two monuments commemorating historical occurrences: one is dedicated to the return of the Kurile Islands to Russia by the Japanese; and the other honors Captain Charles Clerke (1741–79), a leader in three James Cook expeditions, who is buried here. There are also statues paying homage to the most prolific explorers of the area, Vitus Bering (1681–1741) and Jean-François Galaup de La Pérouse (1741–88).

Walking down Leninskaya Street, you can see the Memorial Complex honoring those who died in the Crimean War in 1854. Some of the city's oldest buildings are located next to the monument and are now used by local businesses. There is a hope that they will be renovated and restored in the future.

Behind the Memorial Complex is a path leading up to Nikolskaya Hill, where, in 1854, the English and French navies were barred from landing in the city. The view from the top of the hill is beautiful, and it's easy to understand why this hill was the focal point of the city's defense. Nearby are more memorials, including one for the soldiers who died in the siege of Petropavlovsk during the Crimean War in August 1854 and a monument erected on the 25th anniversary of the Kamchatka victory to pay homage to its victims. Nikolskaya Hills is a favorite place for lovers to meet or families to have a picnic.