Arsenal Museum

Sightseeing:

Izhevsk, from 1985 to 1987 ? Ustinov, after Dmitry Ustinov, is the capital city of the Udmurt Republic, Russia (founded in 1760). During Soviet times Izhevsk was a closed city, with restricted access for foreign people, due to the large amount of military manufacturing that was done there.

In Udmurtia, there are eight professional theaters, the Philharmonic Society, and more than ten state and numerous public museums which tell about history and culture of Udmurtia and its people, like the Museum of history and culture in Sarapul, or the Tchaikovsky Museum in Votkinsk. One of the oldest arms museums is located in Izhevsk. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union a new, pan-Finno-Ugric cultural movement has evolved called "Ethnofuturism".

A look at the map of Russia shows that Udmurtia, a land of thousand silver springs and woods - is ideally located in the picturesque parts between the Kama and the Viatka rivers, in the heart of Russia.

The Udmurt Republic is proud of its culture and achievements. Udmurtia is the birthplace of the world-wide known Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky who was born and spent most of his childhood in the city of Votkinsk; the legendary small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov lives and works in Izhevsk.

Izhevsk`s most notable museums include the Kalashnikov Museum (weapons), the Arsenal Museum (history of Izhevsk), the Galina Kulakova Museum, the Gallery of National Arts (paintings), the "Galeria" Arts Center, the Izhmash Museum, the National Kuzebai Gerd Museum (part of the Arsenal), and the Gennadiy Krasilnikov Apartment-Museum. The Presidential Palace is also popular with tourists.

Remarkable buildings and structures:

Architectural monuments of the beginning of 19th century in the classicist style (architect Semen Dudin): Zherekhov house (1807-1810); Lyatushevich house (1807); building of the gun works (1809-1844); Troitskaya Tserkov` (Trinity Church, 1814), Aleksandro-Nevsky Sobor (Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, 1820-1823), Arsenal (1823-1825). A dam and a pond (1760-1763). Krestovozdvizhenskaya Chasovnya (Chapel of the Erection of the Cross, 1885, architect Kokovikhin); Uspenskaya Tserkov` (Assumption Church, 1916, architect Charushin).

Pesochnaya TV Mast ( 195 m tall guyed tubular steel mast built in 1962, which is equipped with 6 crossbars running in 2 levels from the mast structure to the guys)

Presidential Palace of Udmurt Republic, located in Izhevsk

Eternal Flame Monument for WWII Victims

Memorial Bust of Alexandr Deryabin in front of Izhmash Factory

Theatres:

State Opera and Ballet Theater of the Udmurt Republic

V.G. Korolenko State Russian Drama Theater

"Young Man" Alternative Theater

State Puppet Theater of the Udmurt Republic

National State Theater of the Udmurt Republic

Academic Choir Chapel

State Philharmonic of the Udmurt Republic

Circus

Zoo

The Izhevsk pond is now one of the favorite places for recreation. The monument and square ?Friendship of Nations?, celebrating 400 years since Udmurt Republic became part of Russian Federation, is a focal point of the esplanade and a hip place for youth recreation. A popular summer boat ride goes from Izhevsk to the village of Volozhka. The trip takes about an hour.

In 2001-2004 a beautiful new auditorium was built in the center of town to serve as a permanent home for the city circus. Today circus acts from Izhevsk and other Russian and European cities entertain visitors at the Izhevsk Circus.

Alnashi United Museum of Art and Literature, featuring Udmurt ethnography; Museum-houses of poet Ahalchi Oki and author Gennady Krasil`nikov.

Balezino ? architectural monuments: office of the government of Balezino municipality (1780-1820); buildings of the railway station from the end of 19th century. Regional museum - history of the district and ethnography.

Kamennoe-Zadel`e ? wooden Trifonovskaya Tserkov` (St. Triphon Church, 1909-1913).

Glazov ?Architectural monuments of 19th-20th centuries: merchants` houses and administrative buildings; buildings of alcohol plant. Sobornaya ploshchad` (currently ploshchad` Svobody). Fan-like planning of the town center (1784) is preserved. Glazov Regional museum: history of the town; archaeology; Udmurt life and culture; astronomy; an exposition featuring Cheptsa Mechanical Plant (the principal industrial enterprise in the town).

Idnakar Museum-Reserve of history and culture ? an uncovered settlement belonging to Cheptsa culture (8th-13th centuries); expositions featuring medieval life and crafts.

Pyshket ? Museum of Besermyan culture; Predtechenskaya Tserkov` (Church of John the Baptist, 1902).

Yukamenskoe ? the dam and the administrative building of former Yukamensky works (18th-19th centuries); folk art museum.

Igra ? Regional museum of Igra district: Nature, history, ethnography; center of Udmurt culture in the village of Sundur; Tserkov` Ioanna Bogoslova (Church of John the Chrysostome, 1907).

Bachkeevo ? Museum "Stage Point".

Debesy ? Museum of History of Siberian Highway: casern building and a restored piece of the highway.

Ust`-Bel`sk Natural Park ? lower Kama landscapes. Cheganda caves.

Mozhga ? ethnographical museum "Udmurt Folk Art".

Nechkino National Park ? protects conifer and mixed (conifer and broad-leaved) forests and swamps of the right bank of River Kama.

Sarapul ?Before the 1917 October revolution ? a wealthy merchant town. Historical building of the town center is preserved almost without changes from 19th - beginning of 20th century. Ensembles of the following streets: Bogoyavlenskaya ulitsa (currently ulitsa Gor`kogo); Pokrovskaya ulitsa (currently ulitsa Truda); Sarapul`skaya ulitsa (currently Pervomayskaya ulitsa); Vyatskaya ulitsa (currently ulitsa Raskol`nikova). Many buildings of the beginning of 20th century in the modern style. Pokrovskaya Tserkov` (Intercession Church, 1782); Voskresenskaya Tserkov` (Resurrection Church, 1817); Blagoveshchenskaya Tserkov` (Annunciation Church, 1873-1881); Predtechenskaya Tserkov` (Church of John the Baptist, 1882-1894); Uspenskaya Tserkov` (Assumption Church, 1889); Nikol`skaya Tserkov` (Nicholas Church, 1895); Tserkov` Ksenii Peterburgskoy (Church of Ksenia of Saint-Petersburg, 1911). Merchants` houses of 19th century. Middle Kama History and Culture Museum. The oldest museum in Udmurtia (founded 1909). Exhibition and art hall ? former dacha of mayor merchant Bashenin.

Votkinsk (formerly Votkinsky Zavod) ? preserved features of an industrial settlement; wooden and stone buildings; town pond from 18th century. The most remarkable are the following streets: Gospodskaya ulitsa (currently ulitsa Tchaikovskogo), Popovskaya ulitsa (currently ulitsa Lenina), and Kontorskaya ulitsa (currently ulitsa Kirova). Blagoveshchensky sobor (Annunciation Cathedral, 1828); Panteleymonovskaya Tserkov` (Panteleimon church, 1889); Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya Tserkov` (Church of Transfiguration of Our Saviour, 1901); Tartar mosque (1892). Museum-estate of Pyotr Il`ich Tchaikovsky: an ensemble of buildings dating from the beginning of 19th century, where the future composer was born and spent his childhood. Museum of History and Culture of Votkinsk: urban culture; natural exhibits.

Sharkan ? Sharkan Regional and Historical Museum: exposition on the life of Udmurt ethnographer and poet Grigory Egorovich Vereshchagin.