Inland Visions

Out of this world: Meet the superheroes of our time

Space has always captured humanity’s imagination, but only the chosen few are able to head beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. It takes years of preparation to finally take on the final frontier. Every cosmonaut’s path starts in Zvyozdniy Gorodok or Star city, not far from Moscow. Learning to operate a spacecraft, breathing under g-forces, moving in zero gravity, working in outer space and even coping with long-term isolation – all this is taught in Zvyozdniy with the help of flying labs, centrifuges, hydrolabs and a lot more.

Space training pushes the limits of human abilities to the very edge. So, who are the superheroes of our time? Join Inland Visions to meet past and future cosmonauts and get to know a little more about one of the most important jobs in the world.

Food! North Ossetia’s fourth religion

Ossetian cuisine is legendary. Recipes are passed down unchanged from generation to generation, and should absolutely be on the menu for UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List. Food is practically a fourth religion in North Ossetia.

We uncover some family secrets of cheesemaking, learn the philosophy behind Ossetian pie and take part in the ritual performance of the traditional Ossetian feast. Get a taste of North Ossetia-Alania with Inland Visions!

Synergy of spirit & traditions: Taste of North Ossetia-Alania culture

We head to the mountainous Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. Since the beginning of time, its beautiful people have been coming together to observe ancient traditions, in a place where everything has symbolic meaning.

In this episode of Inland Visions, we discover the world of North Ossetian culture, walk through the ‘City of the Dead’, explore giant art installations hidden in the mountains, and enjoy the sounds of traditional music.

Golden Ticket: Bolshoi Theatre behind the scenes

The Bolshoi Theatre is an iconic symbol of Russia - it embodies grace, elegance and spectacles on a grandiose scale. Follow Inland Visions as we take you backstage at one of the world’s leading ballet and opera houses. It has been setting the global standard for almost 250 years - so who makes the magic happen today? We meet the Bolshoi’s prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, learn about the theatre’s mission and get an exclusive look at one the season’s big opera premieres with its star Agunda Kulaeva.

Snow whisperers: Your avalanche survival guide

Inland Visions heads to Rosa Khutor – an impressive ski resort near the sea and sun of Sochi. Riding season is in full swing, but the beautiful nature can be deceptive. Danger looms within the landscape: avalanches. Making the pistes safe is the job of a professional avalanche control squad. Every day and night they hit the slopes to analyze the snow and look for potential threats. You won’t notice their work, and that’s a sign you’re in good hands. So how do you control something as massive as an avalanche? How do you keep free-riders in check? And is it possible to survive under the snow if the worst happens? Meet Rosa Khutor’s avalanche control squad to find out.

‘Tis the season! Get to know Russia’s holiday traditions

It’s that magical time of year, when the holiday season in Russia is in full swing - and we are joining in the festivities. Even though some traditions resemble those of Western cultures, Christmas and New Year in Russia have their own twist. Inland Visions heads to Suzdal - a picturesque town about to turn 1,000 years old. With its snow-covered churches, traditional houses and true Christmas spirit, it’s the perfect setting to find out more about holiday traditions in Russia.