Sightseeing in Novosibirsk - what to see. Complete travel guide
The first references to the foundation of the village at the site of modern Novosibirsk date back to the end of the 16th century. It is likely that exactly the village located at the site of Novosibirsk became one of the first Russian non-military settlements. Its settlers were Russian peasants who established a village with one street on the left bank of the Oka River. Exactly they were the first to trade with the locals, the Kalmyks. Military conflicts often arose here, as these lands did not belong to the Grand Duchy of Moscow. However, there are several peace treaties with local tribes.
The settlement had been full of life and had all the conditions for mutual trade until the 18th century, so it was flourishing and actively developing. At the beginning of the 18th century, all the local tribes of the Kalmyks went to the territory of present Mongolia. At that time, the Krivoschekovskaya Village was not Russian because the population was always mixed. On the other bank of the Oka River, opposite the village, there was the mighty Tsattyr Fortress. It belonged to Chattian tribes that had already been the part of the Russian Empire.
By chance, Novo-Nikolaevsk became one of the largest transport hubs of Altay fast. The road to Semipalatinsk was build here, which contributed much to the rapid city development. In 1915, 7 banks were opened here although only 70 thousand people lived here. Newly-built St. Nicholas Church became a new symbol of the city. Novo-Nikolaevsk couldn't flourish further because the revolution and the Civil War had an impact on the city life. When Marshal Tuhachevsky visited the city, the first military plant manufacturing fighters was built here. During the war, about 17 fighters were manufactured per day although 16-year-old boys worked here and received salaries in 800 g of bread per day. Their labor exploit was the true legend in the period of the Great Patriotic War.
Novosibirsk is not distinguished by a diversity of historical monuments but each of them deserved tourists’ attention. The main temple in the city is the Cathedral of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky built in the 19th-20th centuries. The cathedral was built according to the best traditions in the Byzantium style. When it was finished, it was one of few stone constructions in Novosibirsk. After the Revolution of 1917, the temple was closed and new authorities wanted to blow it up. However, the historical monument has managed to survive. Now, the cathedral is surrounded by modern constructions.
Another valuable venue from an architectural point of view is the Cathedral of the Ascension founded in 1913. Initially, the church was wooden. It was reconstructed completely only in the late 70s of the last century. It was finished only in 1988. Today, the church attracts with the collection of old icons stored here.
One of the most beautiful historical building serves as the Local History Museum opened in 1986. It was constructed in 1910 and initially served as the City Trade Center. Now, its spacious halls present thousands of exhibits telling about the history and culture of the indigenous people of Siberia. In total, the museum collection includes over 230 000 exhibits.
The Novosibirsk Art Museum will impress not only connoisseurs of painting. Its collection includes the paintings of the famous Russian artists living in the 18-19th centuries. The separate room presents the paintings of the early 20th century. The special collection of icons presented here has a special value. Now, a lot of interesting scientific studies based on the museum exposure are conducted.
Fans of unusual excursions should definitely visit the Sun Museum. It is dedicated to the solar system exploration, to be exact, to ancient civilization’s conceptions of it. In total, the museum houses over 2 000 exhibits, including very valuable historical artifacts. The museum was founded by V. I. Lipenkov who collected a quarter of the museum exhibits himself.
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Novosibirsk and surroundings
Sightseeing in Russia: things to see
The city of Saint Petersburg remains the cultural capital of Russia. Nearly every street in this city is an important historic and architectural place of interest. Travelers are recommended to visit Peterhof, a famous series of palaces and gardens, which is located not far away from the center of the city. Peterhof was built by initiative and under control of Russian tsar Peter the Great. Nowadays, the palace exhibits numerous historic documents, plans and drafts. The Smolny Cathedral is one more famous attraction of the city that is also recommended to visit. The beautiful cathedral is made in best traditions of baroque style. Its height is 94 metres; its halls and the facade are decorated with gilding, and blue walls of the cathedral feature skillfully made fretwork. Inner premises of the Smolny are no less beautiful and amaze visitors with stunning frescoes and carvings.
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All about Novosibirsk, Russia - sightseeings, attractions, touristic spots, architecture, history, culture and cuisine. Prepare your trip together with OrangeSmile.com - find out the 'must see' things in Novosibirsk, which places to visit, which excursions to take, where the breathtaking views are waiting for you. Planning your trip with this travel guide will help your to get the most out of Novosibirsk in few days.
