About the author of the Tchorski website

The Tchorski website was created in 1996, during the very early days of the internet, in a version that was quite archaic—the site originally began as an activity based on the Minitel. The site’s design has always remained minimalist, prioritizing informative content over aesthetics. This explains its very basic structure, which persists even today. I prefer providing you with authentic content, which requires a considerable amount of research.

This "About" page was created to describe that authenticity. In the age of AI, where almost everything can be called into question, this description is written to explain that everything here is based on real, human reporting.

Originally, at the turn of the millennium, this site was developed around the theme of urbex, also known as urban exploration. For a long time, it was known under the domains tchorski.morkitu.org and tchorski.be; following some difficult transitions, the site became tchorski.fr in 2023.

Its mission is to document abandoned factories, derelict houses and castles, as well as underground mines and quarries. In 2007, a large section on the heritage of bells and bell towers was added. These locations are beautiful, often highly inaccessible, and unusual. In 2025, a tourism section dedicated to "Unusual Ardèche" (l'Ardèche insolite) was also introduced.

Some articles do not come from my own visits. I receive photos from visitors and enthusiasts. Based on these photos and videos, I conduct the historical research myself and publish the life stories. This is done to highlight people's personal journeys. For the sake of clarity, all such documentaries are noted in the header: "We received these photos from a traveler and conducted the historical research."

Why list an address in Russia?

Tchorski has two identities. The website and all its related activities are based in Kemerovo, Russia. Documentary and professional activities continue in Lablachère, Ardèche (France). This means you can request my services in both Russia and France. I am deeply saddened to have moved the vast majority of my activities away from France. France is self-destructing and offers a sense of immense pessimism. My choice of Russia is not political; I simply have precious personal ties there.