Sights of Irkutsk โ 30 most interesting places
Have you ever seen a real Nordic quilt? It is he who is reminiscent of the sights of Irkutsk, located in different urban areas. Museums, entertainment venues, historical monuments, creations of modern sculptors, enthusiasts create a special environment in which it is pleasant to be, reflect on eternal values, talk with like-minded people and just relax your soul.
130th quarter
The public space in the shape of a triangle has a second name: Irkutsk Sloboda. It was from her that the history of the city began. There are only 7 real architectural monuments on the territory of the 130th quarter. The remaining houses of the settlement were built in the 21st century according to pre-revolutionary engravings, drawings, or moved from other parts of the city, where high-rise buildings rise today.
Shopaholics, gourmets, and movie buffs adore the Modny Kvartal shopping center located on the territory of the settlement. Art lovers prefer to spend time in the neighboring building โ the DiaS art gallery, which hosts exhibitions of regional, state, and international significance. On the territory of the quarter there are 2 museums: โNoosphereโ and โWindow to Asiaโ.
Another attraction of the historic building area is the planetarium. Bronze sculptors of the Ussuri tiger and dog, the metal โCircle of Desiresโ, to which Siberians attribute magical properties, are also an important part of the amazing settlement.
Lower embankment of the Angara
The 900-meter street, whose beauty fascinates at any time of the day, is famous for its historical and cultural monuments, numerous cafes. It is considered the hallmark of the city. For several centuries, a small pier, where merchant ships moored, has turned into the main street, where major festivals, folk festivals, and various public holidays are held.
The Eternal Flame burns here, the Epiphany Cathedral and the Church of the Savior shine with golden domes, the Moscow Triumphal Gates proudly rise. Each of the sculptures installed on the embankment can be safely called a symbol of a Siberian city. Figures of the explorer Yakov Pokhabov, surveyors, surveyors, a teacher with children, Saints Feather and Fevronia, the outstanding Soviet military leader A.P. Beloborodov attract attention.
The street consists of 2 main parts: transport and pedestrian. Its tiers, buildings, sculptors, together with the majestic Angara, are a harmonious ensemble of natural and man-made monuments.
Glazkovsky bridge
The oldest 1245-meter city bridge, from where a beautiful view of the river and the banks of the Angara opens, was built in the 30s of the last century. His predecessors โ the ferry crossing and the pontoon structure โ were constantly pursued by breakdowns. Before the revolution, fundraising for the construction of a new bridge began, an engineering project was created, but the First World War, a change in power in the state stopped its implementation.
Another attempt of the townspeople to raise money in the 20s in order to build a bridge, thereby perpetuating the memory of the leader of the world proletariat V.I. Lenin, found the support of the state, but the project was again in jeopardy. Even the sculptures that could emphasize the majesty of the structure, it was decided not to install, but to leave only a temporary figure of Vladimir Ilyich.
The same architect worked on the projects of the Lenin mausoleum and the bridge. During the construction of the second structure, out of 2,000 workers, no one died. The second fact is considered no less surprising, because the construction of durable bridges over full-flowing rivers, according to popular beliefs, is always accompanied by sacrifices. The grandiose building is still active today, it is divided into zones for vehicles and pedestrians.
Monument to Yakov Pokhabov
Historians know very little about the great explorer, the founder of the city. His lifetime images have not been preserved. However, the name of Yakov Pokhabov entered the history of Siberia forever. There is a version that he was a relative of the famous Yenisei Cossack Ivan Pokhabov. The second one made a contribution to the study of Baikal, until 1902 historians mistakenly believed that it was he who founded Irkutsk.
Later documents found refuted this version, but the description of Ivan's appearance, found in one of the written sources, became an important starting point for the creation of a monument to Yakov. On the lower embankment of the Angara, the figure of the great explorer was installed relatively recently: in 2011. It looks especially realistic when twilight is gathering over the city.
Scientists know almost nothing about the Cossacks from Yakov's detachment. So we can safely say: the sculpture symbolizes both the legendary personality and free people forgotten by history. How did their fates turn out? Nobody knows. And the bronze figure reminds that there are things that are beyond time, because stories about the deeds of amazing personalities have been kept in the memory of the people for centuries.
Cathedral of the Epiphany
The Orthodox church in the historical part of the city was once the Peter and Paul Church and was โinterrogatedโ to the status of a cathedral. It is the oldest surviving stone building in the city and dates back to the 17th century. The first building did not survive: it was destroyed by fire more than 300 years ago. The newly built temple suffered from a major earthquake, but survived.
In 1746, after repairs, it was consecrated and later repeatedly destroyed by earthquakes. The construction of bell towers, aisles of the cathedral, the bishop's residence went on in different centuries. The buildings were repeatedly rebuilt and restored, but the temple complex looks very harmonious. Its snow-white walls fascinate with their power.
The architecture of the cathedral is dominated by the style of Russian classicism. The temple is called one of the pearls of Siberia. After decades of domination of atheism, services have been resumed in it. It is here that the ashes of the saint revered by many Siberians are buried: Sophronius of Irkutsk, whose imperishable relics were destroyed by fire in 1917 โ shortly before the revolution predicted by God's man.
Moscow gates
The famous triumphal arch on the embankment was erected in honor of the 10th anniversary of the reign of Russian Emperor Alexander I, a legendary and mysterious personality. The people did not believe in his death. There are versions that the real emperor took monasticism, took upon himself the spiritual exploits of eldership, hermitage, fasting, and ended his life in the Urals.
During the years of Soviet power, the dilapidated Moscow Gates were dismantled, and the unique architectural monument disappeared from the map of Irkutsk. At the beginning of this century, it was decided to restore it and transfer it to the city museum.
In 3 months, the restorers managed to recreate the appearance and layout of the building, which before the revolution had a tea room, offices of outpost caretakers, an archive, and a station of the Water Rescue Society. In essence, professionals have done the impossible: after all, all engineering, architectural documents relating to the arch mysteriously disappeared 100 years ago.
Address: Nizhnyaya Embankment street.
Kazan church
The famous temple was built in neo-Byzantine style. The architectural complex seems to be a recreated part of Constantinople โ similar church buildings could be seen on the streets of the Christian city before it became part of the Ottoman Empire. The Kazan church has been leading its history since the end of the 19th century.
This is a brick building with a very difficult fate, it was repeatedly destroyed and, like a phoenix, was reborn. Pilgrims come to the church from all over Russia to pray in front of the holy icons.
The interior of the temple is striking in its beauty and grandeur. It is surprising that despite all the historical and natural disasters, many original elements of its exterior have been preserved. Mystics believe that the building was erected on the place of power, and to prove the version they give an example that after many hours of prayers in the temple, even people with poor health do not experience fatigue.
Square named after Kirov
Public places for recreation with this name exist everywhere in Russia. The revolutionary Kirov has nothing to do with the appearance of the main city square, to which the square adjoins (it is also part of it). It's just that after 1917, the new government did everything possible to make the historical names of the unique landscape monument sink into oblivion.
Gradually, the square and the square turned into a transport hub. Only in the 21st century did they find a new life. But the traveler with the names, boundaries of architectural objects remained, because urban objects were repeatedly divided, rebuilt, renamed (12 times!). All this did not prevent the unique atmosphere of a cozy place from being preserved, where at the beginning of this century an Orthodox chapel was installed, large-scale works on landscaping and landscaping of the territory were carried out.
Volkonsky House-Museum
The attraction is part of the regional historical and memorial museum of the Decembrists. Previously, the estate was part of the local museum of local lore, but the change in status has changed little in the subject of museum expositions. Even today they are dedicated to the life, life, fate of the participants in the uprising on Senate Square exiled to Siberia.
After 1917, the new government took advantage of information about the unsuccessful palace coup attempt and, moreover, did everything possible to perpetuate the memory of the controversial historical event. The Volkonsky house-museum contains personal belongings, letters, and portraits of the Decembrists.
His rooms are filled with silence, the words of guides and visitors of the exposition literally dissolve in it. The house attracts romantics, lovers of antiquity. The fates of the participants in the uprising on Senate Square are tragic, but (if you cross out politics) there is a special light in them that attracts everyone who is interested in the true history of Russia.
Trubetskoy House-Museum
The famous estate is part of the regional museum of the Decembrists, is one of the most sites of literary and musical holidays. In the house you can see the authentic things of the princely family, close to the imperial Romanov dynasty. The Trubetskoys were famous for their loyalty to their principles.
It was this quality that pushed the representatives of a famous noble family to military exploits, crazy romantic deeds, hopeless adventures. The uprising on Senate Square Trubetskoy considered their chance to come to power, but fate decreed otherwise. Instead of balls and privileges, the rebels were expected to go to hard labor in Siberia.
The wives did not follow all the exiles. If children were born in legal marriages to spouses in the north, the latter were given the status of serfs by the state. The house-museum contains a lot of interesting documents reminiscent of those terrible years, and unique letters, exhibits that testify that the spirit of the Decembrists was not broken.
Monument to Peter and Fevronia
Sculptures of ancient Russian saints are found in different parts of the country. The love story of Prince Peter and the commoner Fevronia has long turned into a fairy tale, a legend, a myth. The summer holiday in honor of the spouses is often called โour answer to St. Valentine.โ In patriarchal Russia, an ideal marriage was associated with marital fidelity to the grave.
Today, this view of relationships seems naive to many, but it was he who helped maintain the institution of the family in spite of all the trials. The monument was erected in 2010 near the walls of the Church of the Savior. Bronze figures on a granite pedestal turned out to be very touching.
The saints hold doves in their hands, a bronze bunny lurks next to them. At the feet of Peter and Fevronia at any time of the year you can see burning candles, fresh flowers. And next to the bunny, numerous pilgrims leave coins. Many believe that touching the nose of an animal brings good luck. That is why it is polished by guests, residents to a mirror shine.
Museum โAt the landfillโ
The exposition of the solid waste landfill is considered one of the most popular attractions in the region. It is open daily. Moreover: contrary to all SanPiNam, the museum operates on the territory of a real dump. Amateur historian Alexander Rastorguev suggested an interesting idea to the employees of the solid waste landfill: to perpetuate the garbage, from which you can create a lot of interesting things. This is how the great project began.
For museum visitors, a special area has been organized separately from the garbage collection site. On the territory of the museum complex you can see live bears, real scenery created from solid waste for filming a film about the Great Patriotic War, giant sculptures, reduced copies of world-famous monuments, strange abstract compositions made of metal, plastic, wood. Unique museum expositions are mainly devoted to environmental protection, waste recycling, and nature protection.
Actor's House
The building is a place of attraction for creative personalities, admirers and ministers of muses. The actor's house was opened 40 years ago. It is located next to the drama theater and does not attract attention with its scale. But still there is a special magic in it. She makes you slow down next to the building to admire the harmonious bizarre exterior, and he (to be honest) could use professional restoration.
The house houses a branch of a public organization: the Union of Theater Workers. Even travelers who are far from fascinated by hypocrisy seek to see the famous building. Outside and inside, it is decorated with magnificent carvings that you can look at for hours. Cultural events are regularly held in the Actor's House, the nostalgic spirit of the 80s reigns.
Circus
The state entertainment center traces its history back to the 60s of the last century. It includes not only the largest circus venue in Siberia. The center has a 5-storey cozy hotel. It works around the clock and is very popular with artists due to the European quality of its services, convenient location. At the same time, more than 1,600 spectators can watch the performance in the circus building.
It has a traditional arena diameter: 13 meters, because it is this number that is considered the happiest among actors. The entertainment center regularly hosts festivals of Russian and international levels. The cost of children's and adult tickets to the circus is the same. In the near future, he will have a loyalty program, it will allow you to purchase tickets with discounts.
Museum of Local Lore
It would be more correct to call the regional cultural institution a museum complex. Every year it is visited by 300 thousand guests. The institution consists of 7 departments, it has its own tour desk and vehicle fleet. The museum was created by local nobles about 250 years ago in order to pass on to descendants evidence of the glorious deeds of their ancestors. Before the revolution, it was private, and then the state nationalized the building and the exhibits placed in it.
Today the museum contributes to the protection of nature, actively conducts scientific and educational activities. It includes a library with rare books, a popular children's center, a studio, a museum of V.G. Rasputin, icebreaker Angara. The cultural institution regularly holds events in an interactive format, is a platform for traveling exhibitions. The expositions of the museum are designed for different age groups of visitors.
Monument to Alexander III
The emperor did a lot for the development of Siberia. Before the revolution, the monument erected to him was the hallmark of the city. The figure of Alexander III stood on a pedestal for 18 years and then was destroyed by representatives of the new government, more precisely: melted down into a monument to V.I. Lenin.
The stone pedestal remained in its original place, after 40 years a concrete spire was added to it and the strange creation was called a monument to the pioneers of Siberia. At the beginning of this century, the city authorities decided to restore the pre-revolutionary version of the monument. A grandiose work was done to create a 4-ton sculpture of the emperor, dressed in a Cossack ataman uniform, the pedestal of the monument (whose height is more than 5 meters) was decorated with the emblems of tsarist Russia, Siberia, its provinces and the Yakutsk region, portrait images of Yermak, Speransky, Muravyov- Amursky.
However, the happy ending for the monument was far away. The monument constantly suffers from vandals, and restorers regularly have to return it to its original appearance.
Baikal seal aquarium
The first nerpinaria appeared in the city at the end of the last century thanks to the famous scientist, ecologist Yevgeny Baranov. The entertainment venue was incredibly popular, so it was decided to open another similar institution. Both nerpinaria (in Irkutsk and the village of Listvyanka) are functioning today and receive guests from all over the world.
The institution puts on performances weekly from Thursday to Sunday. At the show, you can admire the closest relatives of seals, take pictures with them. Performances with seals last for 45 minutes. All artists are animals rescued from poachers, which the nerpinary creates conditions close to their natural habitat.
Museum-icebreaker โAngaraโ
The legendary ship was built before the revolution. All parts of the boat are made in the UK. Russian specialists could only assemble the parts of the ship into a single whole and launch the ship into the water. The content of the icebreaker for private companies turned out to be very unprofitable. After the revolution, the state nationalized the ship and equipped it with military weapons.
During the Great Patriotic War, the icebreaker paved the way for barges with fish and then continued to perform similar tasks until 1960. The ship had only one fate: to be cut into metal one day. But social activists proposed to create a branch of the local history museum in it.
So the icebreaker found a new life filled with exhibitions, concerts, holidays. Its cabins contain unique exhibits dedicated to the development of Siberia. The ship was put on eternal parking in the Irkutsk reservoir.
Holy Cross Church
Author: Rafael (fotokto.ru/id112965)
The Orthodox church on Sedova Street was built in the Siberian baroque style. This unique art direction is a mix of Italian and Russian architectural traditions. Stone temples in the Siberian Baroque style were built in the provinces before the 1917 revolution. Most of the buildings, alas, have not been preserved, because religious buildings did not fit into the framework of the atheistic ideology prevailing in the USSR.
Initially, the church was wooden, then a stone temple was erected in its place. It has been leading its history since 1717. The construction of the temple complex took more than 40 years. The building looks especially graceful due to its unique exterior. Its outer walls are decorated with numerous ornaments.
The interior decoration of the temple has remained unchanged for centuries. This is the only case in Siberia when the interior of the church did not suffer from vandalism, re-planning, rebuilding for household needs, and the removal of religious objects by the Soviet authorities.
Art Museum. V.P. Sukachev
The regional museum is often compared to a Siberian treasury. The institution dates back to a private art gallery, which was created in the 19th century by the mayor, an outstanding Russian public figure Vladimir Platonovich Sukachev. Today the museum occupies several buildings: 2 mansions and 2 estates. In his collection there are samples of Neolithic images, works of outstanding Russian and foreign artists.
In the museum halls you can learn a lot of new, interesting things about the art of the countries of the East and the mysterious culture of the indigenous Siberian peoples, get acquainted with the peculiarities of the northern noble life, admire the paintings of Shishkin, Repin, Levitsky, Rotary, Tropinin, decorative and applied art products created in single copies, original graphic images, oriental dishes. The total number of items stored in the museum: more than 23 thousand items.
Nikolo-Innokentievsky Church
Built on a hill. It is believed: the saint patronizes travelers. Therefore, it is very symbolic that train passengers see the church first at the entrance to the city from the side of the Angara. The building in the style of classicism was erected with donations from the local merchant Malkov. In 1943, the temple was closed to the public, and services in it were banned. The building found its second life only at the end of the last century, when it was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Multi-ton temple bells, luxurious original old interiors have not been preserved. A lot of work has been done to restore the appearance of the shrine. All church paintings and icons were created by modern masters in compliance with ancient church canons. Outwardly, the temple looks very strict, its design combines 2 primary colors: white and yellow. They symbolize purity and sunshine.
Museum-estate of V.P. Sukacheva
The architectural monument is part of the Vladimir Platonovich Sukachev Regional Art Museum. The homestead is located in the city park. Its buildings look impressive even today. It is hard to imagine that the object had practically no chance to survive to this day.
The local authorities planned to completely demolish the wooden houses of the estate, and it was here that the history of one of the most famous collections of works by Russian and Siberian artists began. Sukachev made a huge contribution to the development of the city and the region, but the good memory of him was at odds with the state Soviet ideology.
Ignoring the requests of the public for the restoration of the estate by the local authorities was its natural manifestation. At the turn of the century, the situation changed dramatically, and the philanthropist's possessions again became the center of cultural life. Relatively recently, the restorers managed to completely restore the main house, the buildings adjacent to it, and gazebos. The estate regularly hosts concerts, exhibitions, creative meetings.
Kai grove
Relic forest is a unique natural monument located on land between rivers. Taiga trees grow on the territory of the grove, tame squirrels live, which gladly accept treats from people. The forest area is compared with the lungs of Irkutsk. In essence, it is a miraculously surviving piece of taiga. The main treasure of the Kai Grove: century-old pines.
The forest between the rivers is considered a mysterious, mystical place. Here is the famous Glazkovsky necropolis with burials of the remains of ancient people. There are versions that the distant ancestors of modern Asian peoples lived in this place and, after a sharp change in climate, switched to a nomadic lifestyle.
The Kai grove, alas, is now under threat of extinction. Illegal cutting of trees is changing the ecosystem, rare plant species are beginning to disappear. The public is sounding the alarm, but it is beyond its power to stop the process of destroying the natural monument.
Tank โIrkutsk Komsomoletsโ
The memory of the Great Patriotic War is kept in the streets and squares of the Siberian city. 200 thousand inhabitants of the Irkutsk region went to the front. More than 100 thousand of them did not return from the battlefields. 30,000 people died from injuries and serious illnesses after the war. Many monuments in Siberia were built not with state funds, but with donations from those who survived those fiery years.
The monument โIrkutsk Komsomoletsโ is a silent witness of the people's memory of the first tank column. People worked in the rear, they were starving, but they collected money for the construction of military equipment. This is exactly what the Komsomol members of the heavy engineering plant and millions of Soviet citizens did.
Boys and girls managed to raise money for military equipment for two columns. The tank mounted on a pedestal is real. He participated in military battles. The car was not part of the Irkutsk column, however, according to local historians, it was also built on donations from citizens.
Fire Department Museum
The unique collection was created thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts and employees of the Russian Emergencies Ministry. The idea of โโopening such a museum in the city was repeatedly voiced by representatives of various organizations. In 2014, the exhibition halls received their first visitors. The building where the meeting is located is an architectural monument.
It was in it that the fire and police unit was located before the revolution. Near the fire station, a real tower has been preserved, from where firefighters monitored the city. Until the 90s of the last century, Soviet firefighters served in the old building, and the very first team of firefighters was created more than 200 years ago.
It was only in this century that the architectural monument was restored and a fire protection museum placed in it. Today, the museum includes samples of ancient inventory, pre-revolutionary equipment, a collection of fire trucks and many other rarities. In the museum, you can learn a lot about modern firefighting technologies and the heroes who gave their lives to save people in fires.
Zoo
Open daily for adults and children. The entertainment establishment was founded 10 years ago. The history of living corners in the city begins much earlier, but private collections have not been able to grow to the level of zoos (as happened in many Russian regional centers).
There are small petting zoos in the city, and there is only one full-fledged zoo. It is open on the basis of the botanical garden. At the institution there are: a recreation area, educational centers, a station for young naturalists, an interactive games club. Every year the zoo is visited by 50 thousand Siberians and guests of the regional center. The zoo is home to 50 species of representatives of the animal world.
In it you can see domestic and wild animals. There are few birds and reptiles here, but among the inhabitants of the zoo: white peacock, ostrich, Nile fruit bat, genet. Representatives of the animal world are quite friendly to people, and ostriches are recognized as the most contact inhabitants of the zoo.
Museum Experimentarium
The attraction is loved by adults and children. It is in this museum that you can touch the exhibits, make real experiments, study the laws of physics, find out how the world works. The first interactive science museum opened in 2005.
Its growing popularity among local residents and guests of the regional center led to the fact that the project organizers needed an additional second site. Today the Experimentarium has 2 branches: in Academgorodok and in the 130th quarter. The museum collection includes 300 exhibits. Interactive technologies allow big and small visitors to feel like real pioneers.
Most of the educational programs of the museum are designed for schoolchildren. The experimenter takes an active part in career guidance, scientific events for young Siberians are held on its basis, children's circles operate, special areas for shows, holidays, and quests have been created.
Drama Theater named after N.P. Okhlopkova
The cultural institution dates back to 1850. It is considered one of the oldest in Russia. It is housed in a majestic stone building. But once fate simply smiled at the wandering troupe of actors, whose performance was liked by the first persons of the city.
The theater was immediately given the status of โprofessionalโ, a temporary wooden structure was built for it. Not every acting troupe was so lucky! This status made it possible to say goodbye to the nomadic half-starved life and to focus the efforts of the actors on their professional growth. The stage of the theater beckoned and beckoning celebrities of European, world size.
Legendary personalities contributed to its development: the choreographer Petipa, the brilliant Komissarzhevskaya, the playwright Yuzhin, the film director Gaidai, the writers Vampilov and Rasputin, a huge number of people's, honored artists of the USSR and the RSFSR. The theater remains the heart of the city's culture to this day. Its repertoire covers the works of classics and contemporaries, and there are practically no empty seats in the auditorium.
Art-factory โDorenbergโ
The energy of the cultural center is difficult to compare with something specific. Such institutions are super popular in Germany, Austria, German-speaking communities, the cantons of Switzerland, Luxembourg. The fashion for turning the buildings of old breweries into art spaces came to Russia from Europe.
The residents of the regional center were enthusiastic about the new project, especially since the buildings of the old brewery were just perfect for the new cultural project. On the territory of โDorenbergโ there was a place for art workshops, office spaces, showrooms, where access is open 24 hours a day, a cafe, a cinema, a walking street.
There are quite a few open-air sites designed specifically for picnics, meetings with friends, concerts, gastronomic festivals, and romantic confessions. At the art factory, everyone finds classes to their liking. The creators of the complex do not forget about the pressing problems of creative people. They support developers, participants in various projects, help organize creative businesses, promote non-standard interesting ideas and concepts.
Puppet Theater โStorkโ
The State Theater was opened in 1935. If you look, the artists did the impossible: they put on just one performance and found a resounding success. The puppeteers got their lucky ticket: representatives of the Soviet Union supported the idea of โโcreating a puppet theater, calling it โRed Petrushkaโ. There were no such entertainment facilities in the USSR at that time.
Performances on a revolutionary theme occupied a special place in his repertoire. And then the war began. The actors of โRed Petrushkaโ performed in front of soldiers and children, supported the morale of their audience. Later, the theater changed its name, but the actors of new generations were also characterized by special cheerfulness, openness, and love of life.
It was these qualities that helped โAistenkaโ to survive in a difficult time for Russian art. Today the theater is a permanent participant of national and international festivals. The local authorities gave him the cinema building, inside of which there is no traditional zoning. The foyer, stage, auditorium are combined into one space where children communicate with the characters of performances and actors.