Russia is a huge country with many unique places and attractions. Its territory starts from the majestic snow voids and up to the beautiful high and strong mountains. In our time, holidays in the Russian Federation have become popular. The country is rich in green forests and sandy beaches. Rest in it can be for every taste. And every place in Russia keeps a great and great history. Since ancient times, Russia has attracted the attention of many conquerors and generals.
Kaluga
Kaluga is one of the tourist cities in Russia, which is located in its central part. The historical city contains many ancient artifacts, the sights of Kaluga cannot be seen in 1 day, as there are a lot of them. The main places of interest are: cathedrals of the 17th-18th centuries, noble buildings, former merchant mansions, which were converted into museums with a pleasant homely atmosphere.
Kaluga is one of the main cities of cosmonautics. The scientist and inventor Konstantin lived and worked in it. Tsiolkovsky. Many historical objects and attractions in Kaluga are associated with the name of the inventor. It is unique that every person will be interested in the subject of astronautics, because the depths of space are almost unknown, and they beckon with their secrets to any person in the world. And having arrived in Kaluga, there is an opportunity to visit the birthplace of astronautics in Russia. In Kaluga, the ideas of traveling through the depths of space were born.
Kaluga city history
In ancient times, the Kaluga lands could not always be divided between the Principality of Lithuania and the Principality of Moscow. The Lithuanian Tsar Olgerd complained to the patriarch in Constantinople that the Moscow principality had taken their lands away from them. It was from this complaint that in 1371 the foundation of the city began to be dated. However, the fortress of Kaluga stood before that.
Before Kaluga became a city of cosmonautics, it often suffered from various wars and problems:
- battles with the Tatar-Mongols, who were defeated in the Kaluga region;
- fire, after which almost all of Kaluga burned down;
- there was a "pestilence", and about a thousand people survived in Kaluga.
Climate and ecology
Kaluga is located in the central part of Russia. That is why all seasons are pronounced. Winters are cold and snowy, autumn sometimes drags on, but remains just as golden and beautiful for the townspeople and guests of the city. Spring is blooming and vital, and summer is hot and dry.
The city is very lucky with the environment. Kaluga pine forests surround almostthe whole city. That is why, sitting in the city park, you can hear the singing of nightingales, just like in the forest.
Description of the sights of Kaluga is inexhaustible, as the city keeps an ancient history.
Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky
This is the main and one of the largest space museums in Russia. Such famous people as the great scientist Korolev and cosmonaut Gagarin participated in its creation. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin laid the first cobblestone in the foundation of the building. The museum was opened for guests after 6 years. The building contains many interesting artifacts related to space.
If you wonder what sights to see in Kaluga, then the museum should be the first place to visit. Its most famous exhibits:
- Mir space station model;
- Original parts of the ship "Vostok";
- a collection of various rocket engines made in Russia.
Here reflects the history that the museum keeps in itself, from the times of the USSR in 1920 to our modern world.
Stone Bridge
One of the historical and ancient sights of the city of Kaluga is a stone bridge. This bridge has a very interesting shape of the structure. In architecture, there is the concept of "viaduct". This is a bridge in which all the arches are of different heights. This type of bridge was actively used by the ancient Romans, but their bridges connected not only roads, but also performedplumbing duties, and were called "aqueducts".
For a long time, these bridges were hardly used in buildings, as they were financially expensive buildings. This landmark of Kaluga was built in 1780. This is one of the oldest and largest bridges in the world. And people interested in architecture and history will be interested to see him in life. The height of the bridge in the center reaches twenty meters and the width is more than 8 meters. City buses, cars and pedestrians move along the bridge. In ancient times, trading tents stood on the territory of the bridge. Since ancient times, Kaluga has been a merchant city.
The arches of the bridge, white as the first snow, blend well with the green trees around it. Previously, a stream ran nearby, which in our time has already turned into thickets. Nearby is the Beruzeisky ravine, which in the 18th century was a feature of Kaluga. The bridge connected the city with other villages and cities and facilitated trade travel to neighboring settlements. Near the bridge there is an important market square in history.
The ancient sights of Kaluga and the region are very diverse and almost all are connected with the trade area of Kaluga in the past.
Places of presence
The construction of Kaluga according to the project developed by Pyotr Nikitin began with the creation of several large interconnected houses. The building was given the name "Public Places". As planned, the buildings became the main part of the city. The building takes the place of an old ruined fortress, which for a long time held backthe attack of the invaders. The buildings are of federal cultural heritage significance. They are located on the left bank of the Oka, and the building looks like the letter P with large arches for passage.
The buildings were erected by order of Governor M. Krechetnikov. Buildings that were built in 1780 look quite rich compared to the surrounding buildings. The construction of this building cost Kaluga a large capital in ancient times - more than 150 thousand rubles. The image of the building reflects the construction of the wooden Kremlin, which existed until the 18th century. The buildings housed the main branches of city administration: a secular court, an indication of the contempt of society, rooms for the gathering of society. In 1812, a military hospital was created in part of the building.
And in our time, "Public Places" continue to carry their significance. At the moment, in one of the parts there is a theological seminary. In the other part is the "State Kaluga branch of the Moscow Technical University. Bauman". Other parts are occupied by various state-owned companies.
Gostiny Dvor
Walking through the sights of Kaluga, one should not forget about the merchant's chambers, which retain the memory of the 17th-18th centuries. The streets of Kutuzov, Lenin, Voskresenskaya are instantly transferred to the distant past. Many merchants' houses, the beauty of ancient pear trees, simple small churches - all this contributes to a wonderful ensemble of urban beauty.
Gostiny Dvor is the historical trade center of Kaluga. The restored building, as in ancient times, meetsguests of all its social events and city celebrations. The courtyard is a huge complex that occupies a large area, almost a whole block. The construction of the structure was delayed for 45 years due to the greed and stinginess of the merchants. They already had wooden tents, and they did not want to move and build a single complex. The architectural monument was often rebuilt and modified. The rows are opposite the "White House", where the administration of the Kaluga Region works.
In their current form, the buildings are an ensemble of breathtaking beauty and luxury. Plaster molding of floral branched ornaments, low towers and arches, which are located throughout the courtyard, represent a kind of "gingerbread house". Gostiny Dvor is a vivid example of the style of architecture in Russia in the 17th-18th centuries. Inside, the entire building is laid with tiles that resemble wooden paving stones; wooden tents and benches are placed throughout the territory. In them you can buy products of the creators of the city. Pottery, toys, wood and weaving, felting and knitting - any goods made by the masters themselves and representing the folk art of the city in all its glory.
It is pleasant to walk and relax around the territory. Gostiny Dvor is a landmark of Kaluga, a must-see when traveling on the very first day. The color of culture fills with its we alth, grandeur and beauty when visiting this place. Above is an early photo of Kaluga sights - Gostiny Dvor.
Kirov Street
In ancient times, the street bore the title Sennaya, as earlier carts with horses loaded with hay often passed through it. The street is the center of the city, which stores many sights of Kaluga. The former houses of merchants were bought out for offices, shops and various city institutions. On the street there are many art and local history museums and galleries. There are enough memorable places in the city, but if you want to see all the most interesting things in one day, the sight of Kaluga, which is definitely worth a visit, is Kirov Street.
Regional Drama Theater
Governor M. Krechetnikov was a lover of theatrical art. And the construction of the theater in this area was his idea. The building was destroyed by fire twice. The third time was under fire in the Great Patriotic War. After the war, restoration and repairs were carried out, and this building has survived to this day.
Museum of Fine Arts
The museum is one of the main parts of the culture of the Kaluga region. He keeps a huge number of paintings in himself, which were donated from his collection by the doctor N. I. Vasiliev. Here you can see paintings by Russian artists and European artists. Famous exhibits are paintings by Aivazovsky, Voila, Mokritsky, Rubens, Dillens.
Shamorda Monastery
The stunning nunnery delights with its grandeur and beauty. The construction occupies a vast territory and is located near the village of Shamordino. More than three hundred servants of God lived in it, a hospital and an orphanage worked.
Yachinsky reservoir
If you are thinking what to see in Kaluga from the sights, then the reservoir is the right place. A place that combines unity with nature, its beauty and richness. This is an artificial reservoir created by people in the 20th century. It is called the Kaluga Sea. The reservoir became popular due to an interesting phenomenon: when there is a thunderstorm in the Kaluga region, lightning strikes on the lake constantly in the same place. A strange natural phenomenon has interested many tourists and scientists. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that a high-voltage charge passes over the water, and it is he who attracts lightning.
Sights of Kaluga. What to see in 1 day?
Locals advise a must visit:
- Tsiolkovsky Museum of the History of Cosmonautics.
- Stone bridge.
- Places of presence.
- Gostiny Dvor.
- Kirov Street.
- Kaluga Regional Drama Theatre.
- Kaluga Regional Museum of Local Lore.
- Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts.
- Museum of K. E. Tsiolkovsky.
- Museum of A. L. Chizhevsky.
- Building masters.
- Merchant's chambers of the Korobovs.
- Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity.
- Temple of Cosmas and Damian.
- Church of the Protection of the Holy Mother of God.
- St. George Church.
- Cathedral of John the Baptist.
- Shamorda Monastery.
- SquareWins.
- Peace Square.
- Monument to the 600th anniversary of Kaluga.
- Park named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky.
- Park of Culture and Leisure.
- Golden Alley Square.
- Yachinsky reservoir.
It will be great if you can still visit these objects in Kaluga!