If you want to visit Russia on one of your next vacations, here are some fascinating facts that could make your trip even more interesting.

Did you know that Russia has a museum that is guarded by around 70 cats? St. Petersburg’s The Hermitage has a long tradition of using cats to protect its treasures from rats, which was initially part of a 1745 decree.

If you’re looking for places to stay in Moscow, be careful if you visit during the winter. There are huge icicles that dangle from the city’s guttering. They are so large that they have to close the pavement underneath to prevent them from falling on people passing by and killing them.

Russia does like its statues of dogs, among other animal monuments. The bronze sculpture that is positioned at Ploshchad Revolyutsii metro station has a shiny-nosed dog because people believe touching it brings them good luck. They also have a monument for the dog that entered space in 1957, Laika.

If you really want to get confused while you?re eating, The Twin Stars restaurant in Moscow has waitresses that are sets of twins.

It is well worth spending some of your vacation in the city of Sochi, which is home to what is possibly the longest and most terrifying walkway in the world. The SkyBridge sits 207 meters above a valley and is 439 meters long. There are two observation platforms where you can take a break and enjoy a panoramic view across the area.

These weird and wonderful sights are just some of the delights that are waiting for you on a visit to Russia.