Irkutsk, a Siberian crossroads near Lake Baikal, delights with its wooden lace-trimmed houses and cultural pulse blending Russian heritage and the wild East. Crews flock here for dramatic winter backdrops and evocative streetscapes. Perfect for period epics or stark thrillers. Fun fact: Decembrist exiles once settled in Irkutsk, infusing the city with progressive ideas still reflected in its spirit.