Novokuznetsk is a large ancient city in the Kemerovo region of the Russian Federation. It has an interesting history, which is largely related to the development of the metallurgical industry. The architectural sights of the city of Novokuznetsk, which are usually shown to tourists, were built mostly in the Soviet period. There are several interesting museums in the village, which are also worth a visit.
Main attractions of Novokuznetsk: Kuznetsk fortress
In the 20s of the 19th century, a fort was built near the banks of the Tom River on the orders of Paul the First. It was intended to be protected in the event of an invasion by China. The fortification, having a plan of the rectangle and fenced with stone walls, was called the Kuznetsk fortress. It occupied an area of 20 hectares, which housed barracks, warehouses, workshops and various outbuildings. 20 years after the construction, it turned out that there was no longer any need for military strengthening in this region. The fortress was taken off balance and transferred first to a hostel for the military, and later it was converted into a prison. The fortification was badly damaged in 1919 when the red partisans burned it. The fortress (or rather, what was left of it) became the object of state protection in the middle of the 20th century. Large-scale restoration work was carried out and the building of the guardhouse was restored.
Today on the territory of the fortress there is a museum (1 Fortress passage), which will be interesting to visit for everyone who is interested in the history of their country. In addition, reviews of tourists indicate that from the observation deck located there, the best view of the city of Novokuznetsk opens.
Transfiguration Cathedral
This is one of the oldest temples of Novokuznetsk. It was built in the 18th century in the late Siberian Baroque style with elements of classicism, since the construction of it lasted about 43 years. It is known that in 1620 there was a wooden chapel on the site of the cathedral, which was visited by the first inhabitants of the Kuznetsk prison. In the Soviet period, the temple was closed; it was returned to believers only in 1989. Temple address: st. Waterfall, 18.
House of Dostoevsky
If this is your first visit to Novokuznetsk, it is best to look for sights in the historical center. For example, on the street Dostoevsky (building 29) is the house where the great Russian writer lived in 1857. Moreover, it was there that he brought his wife, Maria Dmitrievna Isaeva, after the wedding in the Hodegetria Church. Since 1980, the writer’s memorial museum has been operating in the house, which contains exhibits telling about Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky and his work “Writer's Diary”, written in Kuznetsk. According to reviews of tourists, a visit to the museum will be especially interesting for those who are interested in Russian literature.
Distillery
Unfortunately, Novokuznetsk, the sights of which were mostly destroyed during the Soviet period, cannot boast of the samples of ancient architecture that have survived to this day. Among the few civil buildings that are more than a century old, one can note the building of the distillery. This is the first food industry enterprise that was commissioned in 1898. Despite its venerable age, it continues to operate today. Moreover, the products of the Novokuznetsk distillery have repeatedly won various prestigious prizes at various competitions, which only confirms its high quality.
House of Merchant Fonarev
Want to know how Novokuznetsk looked 150 years ago? Sights that allow you to form an opinion about this period in the history of the village, unfortunately, are almost not preserved. Only on the street Waterfall you can see several ancient structures. For example, the House of Fonarev. It turns out that in the middle of the 19th century, Nicholas I approved the layout of the city and allocated a place for the construction of two-story merchant mansions. One of the famous merchants in Kuznetsk at that time was A. Fonarev. He acquired one of the plots of land and erected a solid mansion on it, which still stands today.
Memorial Museum of Military and Labor Glory of Metallurgists
In 1985, the fortieth anniversary of the Great Victory was celebrated on a grand scale in Novokuznetsk. One of the main events was the grand opening of the museum on Victory Square, dedicated to the combat and labor exploits of the city’s metallurgists. In front of his building, an eternal flame burns , lit from the first open-hearth furnace, which began to produce metal for the front in 1941. The museum houses 2,500 exhibits that tell about the soldiers who fell in the battles for their homeland, and those who literally forged a victory, while in the rear. According to visitors' reviews, excursions to this cultural institution are not only interesting, but also informative.
Sights of the Zavodsky district of Novokuznetsk
Metallurgy is what the city has been famous for since its inception. The main industrial attraction of Novokuznetsk is one of the largest iron smelting plants in Russia. The facilities of the West Siberian Thermal Power Station and the largest of the city's shopping centers, the Market on Sadovaya, are also located there.
Monuments and sculptural compositions
Are you going to Novokuznetsk? The sights of the city will delight you with its diversity. For example, along with serious monuments erected in honor of famous heroes of various wars and artists, there are also comic sculptural compositions. For example, while walking along Bardin Avenue, you will see the composition “Friendship Sausage” with the characters of the famous cartoon about a kitten named Gav. Interestingly, it is a gift to the city from the workers of one of the local industrial enterprises, and its local artist Konstantin Zinich created it.
The monument immediately won the love of citizens and tourists, and in the photo albums of most of the young residents of Novokuznetsk there were pictures on its background. According to travelers, “Friendship Sausage” is the city’s cutest attraction, and you just can't help but visit it.
Theatre of Drama
Now you know where the main attractions of Novokuznetsk are. What to see more? Go to the theaters of the city. For example, in the local Drama Theater - it is located in a beautiful building erected in a neoclassical style.
The sights of Novokuznetsk, the description of which is presented above, are only part of those architectural, sculptural and historical monuments that tourists can see in the village, where they appreciate honest work and are always glad to welcome guests.