Along the shore of a lake considered deeper and older than any other, there is a place some locals regard as sacred. It is here, on Lake Baikal s Olkhon Island settlement, that many of the townspeople say the cremated remains of shamans were placed inside the trees. Then, four years ago, a Russian family moved to the village and bought a plot of land within the shaman forest, now considered part of the national park. The garish pink house they built has come to represent the growing divides around Lake Baikal - about 2700 miles (4345km) east of Moscow - as it becomes an increasingly popular tourist destination among East Asians and recently, with the pandemic restricting international travel, for Russians.
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Nothing says celebration quite like champagne. The region that gives the drink its name makes a fascinating place to visit, with its corduroy-striped vineyards, endless miles of underground cellars and passageways (125 miles beneath Reims alone), and an intriguing past, dating back to Roman times.
Whether you want to focus on the fizz or add a side serving of history, we have the lowdown on which of the hundreds of champagne houses are best to visit, and how to make the most of Reims and Épernay, the champagne ‘capitals’, and their surroundings. So let’s raise a glass to the end of lockdown – and plan that celebratory trip!