City tour of Irkutsk

Irkutsk is included into the number of historical cities preserving their old planning and buildings. There are about 685 history and culture monuments in Irkutsk, 108 of them are monuments of national importance.

 

During the tour you will be able to see and get to know many historical and architectural monuments, visit the main streets and squares of the city.

 

Our tour will start at Kirov square – the largest and the oldest square of the city. This place is considered the place from where Irkutsk started. It was in this place where first wooden buildings appeared. The square was renamed more than once, at different times it was called Kremlyovskaya, Spasskaya, Bogorodskaya, Tikhvinskaya, Gostinodvorskaya. At present the square has the name of S.M. Kirov, a famous statesman. This is a favorite place of Irkutsk citizens, the biggest New Year tree is established here with ice sculptures and slides.

 

On the sides of the square there are buildings of the Central Bank of Russia, Irkutsk city hall, Irkutsk Region Administration, Irkutsk State Linguistic University, Hotel Angara. The historic center of Irkutsk is situated not far from the square: Church of the Savior, Eternal Flame Memorial, Roman Catholic Cathedral, Theophany Church.

 

After touring round Kirov Square and nearby monuments you will go to the Monastery of the Holy Sign founded in 1689. At present it is the residence of Irkutsk Archbishop. G.I. Shelikhov, one of the first explorers of Kuril Islands and Alaska, E.I. Trubetskaya and her three children were buried there. Near the monastery there is a monument to polar explorer and naval commander of genius A.V. Kolchak, who became “Russia’s Supreme Governor” after the revolution of 1917 and was shot by the Bolsheviks not far from this place.

 

Then you will be suggested going along of the old and main streets of the city – Karl Marx Street (earlier called Bolshaya). The length of the street is 2 km. There are many shops, restaurants, cafes, bars in Karl Marx Street. Most buildings were constructed in late 19th or early 20th century. Going along Karl Marx Street to the River Angara you will get to Yuri Gagarin boulevard. There is monument to Alexander III in the center of it. It was Alexander III who ordered to start the construction of Trans-Siberian Railway. On the River Angara quay near Alexander III Monument there is Yuri Gagarin Monument, Local Studies Museum, Irkutsk State University Library, Hotel Irkutsk, and a monument to policemen of the city killed while on duty in the form of arch chapel.

 

Our tour will finish by observing the monuments situated in Lenin Street. There you will see the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross famous for its collection of icons, Musical Comedy Theatre, Philharmonic Society, Truda Square, Trud Stadium, Young Spectator Theatre, V.I. Lenin Monument, Baikal Economy and Law University, Art Museum.