When you ask visitors about associations with Tula, people often recall a samovar, gingerbread cookies and weapons. This triad is known not only to Russians, but also to residents far beyond the borders of the country. These are the most “promoted” and recognizable city brands.
But Tula is also the birthplace of Russian metallurgy, because the first ironworks appeared here. Many more are familiar with the very first Soviet Tula motorcycle.
An industrial city, where there are a lot of factories, enterprises, design bureaus ... The two largest giants - Tulachermet, which appeared in the 30s of the last century, and Kosogorsky Metallurgical Plant - operate at full capacity. Ecology, of course, suffers from this.
What are the Russians called Tula residents? As soon as they don’t say ... And Tults, and Tulans, and Tulchaks, but this is wrong and can even offend them.
History
The first mention of Tula dates back to the beginning of the XII century, when the Prince of Chernigov Svyatoslav Olegovich drove into the city on the way to Ryazan. Over the next centuries, the main trade routes passed through the territory of the Tula province. This was facilitated by its advantageous location in the center of Russia near the capital.
The Tula province itself appeared in 1777 under Tsar Alexander I, and then the governorship, which was canceled after 19 years. The province was preserved until the Stalin era. In 1929, the Tula District of the Moscow Region appeared, and in 1937 it became the region and still exists.
Area
The size of the region is relatively small and covers three natural zones. In the north and in the center - mixed forests, and in the south - a forest-steppe with open spaces. In the southeast and the territories of Kulikovo, the fields are a steppe zone.
In the Tula region there is also the border of the glacier, which stopped precisely within it.
Population
What are the inhabitants of Tula called? Despite the fact that in the Russian language there are no clear rules on the formation of ethnonyms, but still there are patterns that are why residents of the city are usually called Tula. Almost 500 thousand people live in the city of Tula, and another million in the region itself. People live mainly in cities. Urbanization of the region is associated with the intensive development of metallurgy, engineering and mechanics.
Tourism
Residents of Tula are one of the most hospitable. There are no airports in Tula, tourists get here by rail. The only station in the city, and its proximity to the capital is indicated by the Moskovsky station.
The main square of Tula is Leninskaya, festivals and celebrations devoted to confectionery art are constantly held here.
Residents of Tula and guests of the city, walking along the fairgrounds, discuss gingerbread fillings and forms, drink tea without fail with the heroes of the occasion.
How to call the residents of the city of Tula, depending on gender? Girls are called tulians or tulaks, but guys and men are called tulaks.
Kremlin
The main architectural miracle of the city is the Kremlin. Fighting Tula went down in history as a fortress on the most dangerous road to the capital from the steppes of the Golden Horde. The Tula Kremlin is located in a lowland and has no landscape advantages, but powerful walls and towers, as well as excellent defense planning and good armament make it impossible to capture it. The battlements on the walls resemble a dovetail in shape , which is typical for Italian courtyard complexes.
Initially, it was wooden, but the constant raids of the Crimean Tatars prompted the population to lay a stone city. It was a city in a city, and the inhabitants of Tula lived outside the walls of the Kremlin.
Exotarium
The specialized reptile zoo is the largest in Europe. It has about 420 species - large and small. Terrariums are inhabited by frogs, crocodiles, snakes and all kinds of lizards. And the wild representatives of the fauna became almost tame.
Residents of Tula are proud of the sights of their city, and especially museums.
Weapons museum
The only museum in the country that has collected samples from the time of the Battle of Kulikovo. Weapons production in Tula appeared immediately after the founding of the city, but officially the Weaponry Sloboda was founded in the 16th century, on the orders of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, and in 1712 there was the first Russian arms factory in Russia. It was on the orders of Peter I that the museum was opened in 1724.
And here, under the microscope, there is the famous horseshoe-shaped four horseshoe flea.
Gingerbread Museum
Finding a museum is easy. You can not only eat gingerbread, but also arrange holidays in honor of it. By treat you can study the history of the city. These are traditions and customs associated with gingerbread, and everything that happened in a person’s life was also displayed on a sweet treat. And outside the museum wall you can buy sweet products of Tula masters.
Samovar Museum
The museum opened its doors to residents of the city and guests of Tula in 1990. And since that time, it has become a kind of visiting card of the city.
The museum displays the history of arts and crafts in Russia. Part of the exposition is occupied by memorial complexes belonging to the famous samovar dynasties: Shemarin, Fomin, Batashev.
The first Tula samovar was made in 1778 by the Lisitsyn brothers for making zbitn. The most beautiful carved samovars were made for exhibitions. By the end of the XIX century, about 30 factories were operating in the city, which produced more than 150 styles of brass, copper and cupronickel beauties.
Why is it worth coming here?
It is a modern city, but you cannot name it the club capital. The relative proximity to the capital makes it an interesting tourist attraction, where foreign travelers strive to get. There is something to see and what to show. Friendly locals are always welcome new guests.
The main thing is to honor urban traditions and remember that a resident of Tula is called a tulek.