Founded in 2001, this museum is devoted to showing the rise and fall of the labor camp system in Russia called Gulag. Here you can find both permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as concerts and events.

The Old Town Hall, an elegant example of Bavarian Gothic, serves as a focal point at the eastern end of the Marienplatz. The tower houses the Toy Museum, and the ballroom on the second floor. The building stands out for its architectural design and wooden ceilings.

Matsuyama Castle stands on a large, wooded hill right in the middle of town, with an extensive moat and earth ramparts that dominate the city centre. Unlike many Japanese castles that were destroyed and rebuilt of concrete, Matsuyama Castle remains in its original state of wood and plaster. The castle offers spectacular views of the city, mountains and sea, particularly from the top of the keep. Matsuyama Castle houses a fascinating collection of samurai weapons and armour, and information about the history and structure of the castle.

If you yearn for gold, velvet and precious stones, you must visit the Armoury. The treasures that have been collected over the centuries by the Russian tsars and princes can be found here. Some magnificent examples are the Fabergé egg and Catherine the Great’s coronation dress.