Kursk Oblast

• — the capital of the region is a major iron ore production center and houses several baroque cathedrals
• — this "town-museum" has more than its fair share of fine 19th century Russian architecture, including two impressive cathedrals; there are also two important and interesting country manors just outside the town
• - with a very impressive gigantic open-air site nearby (Mikhailovsky iron open cut), where iron ore has been mined

Although Kursk Oblast is most famously associated with the Battle of Kursk—the biggest tank battle in history—the heart of the battle actually took place to the south of Kursk, in the north of Belgorod Oblast. Kursk Oblast is a center for iron ore mining in Russia.

Without any knowledge of Russian it's hard to get around in this region.