Orenburg region is the land of the most beautiful lakes located on the endless steppe plain. It is located at the confluence of two parts of the mainland - Asia and Europe. The northern regions of the region border on the Republic of Tatarstan. The history of Orenburg is very unusual and interesting. The city has numerous historical and modern attractions that will be of interest to tourists and guests.
History of the founding of Orenburg
A small city with a population of more than half a million people is located near the Kazakh border, on the Ural River. The history of the creation of Orenburg is rather unusual. On the site of the modern city, the first fortifications were built in 1735. The place for construction was chosen at the confluence of the Ori and Ural rivers. The choice for this region was not accidental. The construction of the city was associated with the further development of trade routes to the Bukhara Khanate.
In the future, a new place was chosen, located much lower along the Urals. However, it was soon abandoned because the terrain was too rocky. In addition, there were absolutely no forests and water nearby. The construction of fortifications was abandoned, and never started.
Admiral Neplyuev, who was appointed leader of the expedition, chose a new place for laying the city not far from the Krasnogorsk tract. Here once was the Berd fortress. When talking about the history of Orenburg (photos of the city are given in the article), they often use the expression "conceived three times, but born once." The phrase is fully true. Indeed, they tried to lay the city three times, and only the last attempt led to the emergence of Orenburg.
Name
The history of the name of the city of Orenburg is very mysterious. Scientists have not come to a consensus as to why the settlement was so named. There are currently several versions available. One of them says that the name is associated with the Oryu River, on the banks of which it was originally planned to build. As a result, fortifications were erected 300 kilometers from the river.
According to another version, the name was invented by one of the leaders of the expedition - Ivan Kirilov - during the development of the strategy for the expedition to Asian countries. Be that as it may, the name stuck with the city for many centuries. The order to found the city and give it a name was signed by Anna Ioannovna back in 1735. And only in 1938 Orenburg was renamed Chkalov. He had a new namealmost twenty years. The city was named after the famous pilot, whose monument can be seen on the embankment of the Uralishche River. Later, the historical name was returned to Orenburg.
Orenburg fortress
The history of the development of Orenburg can be judged by numerous historical sights. Among them, the Orenburg fortress occupies a special place. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to her. It is almost completely destroyed. Only a few fragments have survived to this day. The fortress was built in the eighteenth century. Its walls formed a closed circle. In fact, the city was closed on all sides, except for the area adjacent to the river. The fortress lost its importance in the nineteenth century and has since been gradually falling into disrepair.
In the historical part of the city, preserved to this day:
- Artillery yard.
- Val in the area of the ninth Nikolaevsky bastion.
- Part of the Water Gate.
- One of the fortress towers.
- Military hospital.
Elizabeth Gate
Elizabeth Gate is one of the historical sights of the city, which has survived to this day. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna herself granted them to the city in 1755 as a gratitude for the suppressed uprising that broke out in the Bashkir steppes.
The gate is made in the form of an arch: on the stone columns, decorated with figurines of angels, a wooden ceiling is installed, which crowns the stone bas-relief.
Caravanserai
Another attraction that has survived to this day is the Caravanserai. The architectural complex was erected in 1837-1846. for Bashkirs who came to Orenburg on business.
Caravanserai consists of a mosque, a main building, a park and a minaret. Once green spaces around the complex occupied a vast territory, but today the park has a small area. All other buildings are in good condition.
Sovetskaya Street
According to reviews, Orenburg is a very beautiful city, which is worth a stroll. Most of the sights are concentrated in the center. Sovetskaya is considered the main street of Orenburg.
Locals call it "Orenburg Arbat". Musicians play on the street in the evenings, numerous tourists and guests of the city walk around. Shops and cafes are concentrated in the promenade area.
Gostiny Dvor
In many reviews of Orenburg, you can see a recommendation to take a walk through the historical center. According to tourists, this is the most interesting part of the city. The bulk of its buildings are old mansions and merchant houses. During a walk, you should pay attention to the Gostiny Dvor, located between Pushkinskaya and Sovetskaya streets. The building was built in the nineteenth century. Not so long ago it was restored and put in order. Gostiny Dvor is an important part of the architectural composition of the historical center of Orenburg. Currently, office premises and shops, cafes and restaurants operate on the territory of the complex.
Pedestrianbridge
The sights of the city include a pedestrian bridge across the Ural River. At the same place, the first wooden structure appeared in 1835. But every year after the next flood the bridge had to be repaired. The current structure was erected only in 1982. The bridge is a kind of symbol of the city. It connects Europe and Asia. In fact, passing through it, you get from one part of the world to another.
Red Square
In Orenburg there is a Red Square street where locals like to walk. In fact, this is a block of elite new buildings on the coast of the Urals. The landscape of the area was carefully thought out during construction. Now it is a beautiful and good place for citizens to relax, as it has a playground, a beautiful embankment, cobblestone pavements and an observation deck.
National Village
If you take into account the reviews about Orenburg, you can choose for yourself the most interesting places to visit. Numerous guests of the city recommend visiting the National Village complex.
In their opinion, this is one of the most interesting sights of Orenburg, which is a park divided between national-ethnic groups. Restaurants and cafes of all nationalities function on the territory of the complex: Armenian, Tatar, Ukrainian, Mordovian, German, Kazakh, Belarusian and Russian.
Monuments of the city
Guests of the city will be interested to see not only the monumentshistory of Orenburg, but also more modern works of interest. The streets of the city are decorated with works of sculptors dedicated to famous personalities who had something to do with the region. One of them is the monument to Pushkin and Dahl. The monument was erected in 1998 on the day of the celebration of the next anniversary of the city. The sculptors decided to place two famous literary figures on one pedestal, whose work and creativity served as a powerful impetus to the development of the Russian language. Pushkin wrote his "Captain's Daughter" after visiting Orenburg. Dal served in the city for several years as an official under the governor.
In Orenburg you can see a monument to the famous cosmonaut - Yuri Gagarin. The future pilot studied at the local flight school. A memorial monument in his honor was erected in 1986 on Cosmonautics Day. The sculptural composition consists of a full-length bronze figure of the first cosmonaut of the Earth, in protective overalls, with arms outstretched to the sky, mounted on a one and a half meter rectangular pedestal, and two vertical stelae of different heights behind the conqueror of space.
Not far from St. Nicholas Cathedral is a monument to the Orenburg Cossacks. It is located on the territory of the city square. He appeared in the city not so long ago, in 2007. The sculpture is dedicated to the Cossacks, who played an important role in the defense of the southern borders of the Russian Empire during its active expansion. The monument is made in the form of a figure of a brave warrior riding a horse.
Monument to Chkalov can be called the most famous monument in the city. After the death of the test pilotOrenburg was even renamed in his honor. The monument was erected on the banks of the Ural River in 1953. The sculpture is made of bronze and is 13 meters high. It is located on the embankment and is its decoration.
There are many monuments in the Urals, symbolizing the conditional border between Europe and Asia. But the very first obelisk was erected in 1981. It is a tall pillar decorated with a round structure. An alley with flower beds and benches leads to the monument.
Parks and gardens of Orenburg
Guest reviews characterize the city as very green and beautiful. On its territory there are numerous gardens and parks, which are a favorite vacation spot for local residents.
The Frunze Garden could claim the title of the oldest in Orenburg. It was founded in the 1930s of the last century. But during the Patriotic War, all its plantings perished. The garden was revived again only in 1948. A little later, in 1973, a complete reconstruction of the square was carried out. In fact, a new one was laid out on the site of the old park.
In 2005, an open-air museum was opened on its territory, which presents samples of military equipment and weapons. All exhibits are open to the public. Each of them can be touched. After the opening of the museum, the park found a new life. Now guests of the city and citizens spend time in it.
If you want to have fun with children, then go to the central park of Orenburg. Guest reviews characterize it asa great place for a family vacation in nature. The park has children's attractions, cafes with summer verandas, concert venues and a cinema. For the convenience of guests, Parking "Topolya" is equipped with parking.
The Zauralskaya grove is no less interesting for guests. You can get to the park by crossing the Urals by funicular or by walking along the bridge. In the grove you can take a walk along the shady alleys, the embankment and visit the water rides.
In Perovsky Park you can go in for extreme sports. On its territory there are special areas for skateboarding, rollerblading and bicycles.
Cafes and restaurants in the city
If you decide to visit the city, then you will certainly be interested in eating places in Orenburg. Reviews of tourists and citizens will help us navigate this issue. In Orenburg you will find cafes for every taste and budget. Guests of Orenburg should definitely try chak-chak. An amazing dessert will be appreciated by all the sweet tooth. The delicacy is made from pieces of dough fried in oil and glued with honey syrup. Marmalade, nuts and dried fruits are added to the dessert. Delicious sweets can be purchased as a souvenir for loved ones.
Thanks to the multinational composition of the local population, many national dishes have become part of the usual diet of residents. In each establishment you can taste pilaf, lagman, barbecue and other dishes.
The food industry in the city is quite diverse, as evidenced by numerous reviews. Orenburg cafes offer dishes of national, Japanese and European cuisines. The choice of establishments is quite familiar. On the menu of eachthey are a mix of different dishes: rolls, pizza, barbecue, pasta, lagman and more.
If you want to find a cafe in Orenburg that is suitable for eating, visitor reviews will help you do it. Citizens recommend paying attention to the network of Japanese cuisine establishments called "Green Mustard". An extensive menu of restaurants consists of European, Thai and Japanese dishes. This network operates throughout the city. In addition, they provide overnight delivery of food. Locals recommend Green Mustard as a worthy place.
If you love Caucasian cuisine, be sure to visit Baklava, which is recommended by many customers in their reviews. There are many restaurants in Orenburg, but not all of them are equally good. In Baklava, you are guaranteed the best combination of price and quality. In addition, delicious Armenian and Georgian food will not leave anyone indifferent.
Walking in the city center along Sovetskaya Street, you can look into the restaurant "Amore". According to the townspeople, the local chef offers the best pasta and risotto in all of Orenburg. Fans of French dishes can be recommended to visit "La vie de Chateau" and "Nostalgia".
There are many coffee houses in Orenburg, among which it is worth highlighting the On Coffee, Flowers of Coffee and Travelers Coffee chains. Fans of fast food will not be bored: the city has establishments of all fast food chains, as well as traditional pancake houses - "Blinburg" and "Russian pancakes". If not everyone likes fast food, then the pancake shop is definitely worth a visit. According to the guests, the institutionthis format can be a great meal.
Nightlife
There are several nightclubs in Orenburg: Malina, Chicago, Rasputin, Infiniti. Such institutions will interest young people. Entrance to any club is paid. On certain days, an exception is made for girls. According to reviews, Orenburg clubs are empty on weekdays. Interesting programs are usually held from Thursday to Friday. Of particular interest are theme parties that require compliance with a certain dress code. With the right outfit, on such days you can enter the club for free.
Waterpark
If you come to the city with the whole family and want to relax, you can have fun in the Orenburg water park. According to visitors' opinions, interesting water entertainments are collected on its territory. The institution provides a system of discounts for children and pensioners. On weekdays, there are significantly fewer visitors to the park, as evidenced by the reviews. In the water park of Orenburg, you can not only visit the attractions, but also organize a children's party or look into the spa. According to guests, the park is a great place for families.
Museums of Orenburg
If you want to learn more about the city itself and the history of its founding and development, visit local museums. According to tourists, three of them are the most interesting. All of them are located in the historical center, near Sovetskaya Street.
Museum of the history of the city of Orenburg deserves the most attention from tourists. He appeared in 1983. The reason for its appearance was the 240th anniversary of the city. The institution has a stationary exposition. Big herpart is devoted to the history of the city of Orenburg. In the museum you can learn about the stages of development of the city from ancient times to the present. During the tour, visitors are told about the most outstanding events in the history of the city, as well as about famous people whose lives at a certain stage were connected with it. Of no less interest is the building itself, made in the late Gothic style. From the outside, the museum resembles a medieval fortress.
Locals also recommend visiting the Local History Museum, which is considered one of the oldest in Russia. The exposition of the institution is dedicated to the history of the region, culture, fauna and flora. In addition, stock exhibitions are held within the walls of the museum.
Painting lovers should go to the Museum of Fine Arts. There are not only stationary expositions, but also author's works from private collections. Therefore, in the walls of the building you can see the work of famous and not so masters.
What to see around Orenburg?
One of the sights of the region - S alt Lake, located in the area of Sol-Iletsk. The natural reservoir has a unique s alt composition, which, according to experts, is not inferior to the famous Dead Sea. People from all regions of the country come to the reservoir to be treated and relax. In addition, the famous melons and watermelons are grown here.
Only 90 kilometers from Orenburg, near the village of Chesnokovka, there is an unusual mountain formation - the Chalk Mountains. Rare plants grow here and the remains of an ancientfauna.
Temples of Orenburg
Temples occupy a special place among the sights of the city. In the very center of Orenburg is St. Nicholas Cathedral, or the temple of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. In 1883 it was founded by the Cossacks. In 1936 it was closed for some time. It was opened for parishioners in 1944. Now the temple is the most visited in the city. Within its walls is the icon of the Mother of God of Tabyn.
In the pre-revolutionary period, about 20 churches were built in the city. But only 4 of them have survived to this day: the Church of St. Demetrius, the Church of the Intercession, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church of St. John the Theologian.
Reviews of tourists
Orenburg is a small but very green city. If you plan to visit it, then you should think over the excursion route in advance. The city with a rich history has numerous historical sights. There are many parks and squares in Orenburg, so there are places to take a walk with children. Tourists highly recommend visiting Central Park and the water park.
Extreme lovers will not be bored in Orenburg. There are places in the city where you can go in for extreme sports: hang-gliding, parachuting, and more. For children of senior school age, several rope parks are equipped in the squares. The city has a school of mountaineering and a climbing wall.
Tourists leave the warmest reviews about Orenburg. According to the guests, the city is incredibly interesting, it has many attractions and entertainment venues. Activepeople will definitely not be bored. For sightseeing holidays, tourists recommend coming to Orenburg in the summer or in May and September. If you like skiing, then it is better to postpone the trip for the cold season. In winter, the Dolina ski base will be happy to welcome you.
