The 'Paris of Siberia' might just be over gilding this particular lily, but I guess if one had been sent to Siberia, there would be much worse places than Irkutsk. Wide treelined streets, some elegant buildings, and amongst the bricks and mortar, the characteristic wooden houses of Siberia. Think solid log cabins, but with gingerbread lacework on the eaves, often colourfuly painted or carved shutters gracing the windows. The ground floor windows often touch the footpaths, no doubt reflecting the raising of the street level since construction.