Kaluga region

• The Kaluga region was founded on July 5, 1944

• Regional centre – city of Kaluga

• Region's area – 29,900 sq. km (0.18% of Russia's total area)

• Region's population (c 1.01.2000) – 1,090,000 people (0.74% of Russia's population)

• Density of population – 36.6 p./sq. km

• Administrative regions – 24

• Cities of regional subordination – 4

• Population of the largest cities: Kaluga – 363,100; Obninsk – 108,800; Ludinovo – 44,800

History and Culture

The territory of Kaluga region has been inhabited since ancient times. Starting from the 6th century Slavs – Vyatiches – settled here. The first records of towns appear in connection with the events of the 12th century (Kozelsk – 1146, Serensk – 1147, Vorotinsk – 1155, Tarusa – 1215, Mosalsk – 1231, Meshyovsk – 1238, Peremyshl – 1328, Borovsk – 1356, Maloyaroslavets – 1402. ) The towns became fortified centres of minor principalities, which in the 13th century Kaluga land split into. At that time, weakened by princely clashes, the region fell prey to the devastating march of Batiy, and Kozelsk, destroyed by Tatars, became famous for its 7-week defence (1238).

In the 14th century several Kaluga lands more under the dominition of Moscow. The border between Lithuania and Moscow was set on the Oka and Ugra Rivers. Lithuanian feudal lord under the prince Olgerd sought to maintain their rights to some lands of the Moscow State including Kaluga. In connection with these events the town was first mentioned in 1371.

During the government of Vasily I the return of lost towns and the acquisition of others. In 1480-1481 under Ivan III a memorable and important event took place in the history of Kaluga region which gained the name of “Standing at the Ugra River” and caused Russia`s liberation from the Tatar Yoke and Moscow`s transformation into a sovereign state.

During the Time of Troubles, at the beginning of the 17th century, Kaluga played a notable role, the local population supporting Ivan Bolotnikov and False Dmitry II. The frontier of Kaluga region keept being attacked, first by Lithuanians and then by Poles. But in the period of the 16-17th centuries Kaluga was not only a military defensive fortress – trade and handicrafts also developed here. Sources prove that in the rich part of town the art of fretwork and jeweller`s art were developed. By the middle of the 17th century the population doubled and the town itself by its size and beauty greatly impressed travellers. After the reunion of Russia and Ukraine in 1654, Kaluga became an intermediary in trade between Moscow and Ukraine which to a significant extent favoured its further economic development.

On the decree of Catherine-II oh 24th August 1776 Kaluga was established as governor ship. Kretchetnikov was the first governor, actively indulged in arrangement of Kaluga and district towns. The centre of the area assumed a new air: to the present day the lay-out and building of Kaluga represents a brilliant achievement of the Russian town-building art of the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. The end of the 18th and the first thirty years of the 19th century was a time of economic stability in the region. Kaluga went on playing an intermediary role, trading with Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Ukraine, Siberia, Poland and German towns.

Episodes of the Patriotic War of 1812 should be mentioned among the historical events of this period, when Kaluga was the principal rear base of the Russian army. The Kaluga government came to be “the border of the enemies` invasion”; march-maneuver of Tarutino was accomplished here and the battle near Tarutino and the battle for Maloyaroslavets occurred here, after which the retreat of Napoleon's great army began.

By the end of the 19th century Kaluga became a quiet province with a handicraft industry. The social life of the region was a marked by a stay by Gogol, Aksakov, Dostoievsky, Tolstoy and others. Under the governor Artsimovitch (September 1858 – 10th of December 1862) Decembrists Batienkov, Obolensky, Svistunov and Kashkin, who sympathized or actively contributed to liberal reform, lived in Kaluga.

A serious soco-historic study of the region began. The Province Historical Museum was opened on 20th April 1897 after the endeavours of the Kaluga Scientific Archives Commission. The provincial theatre founded in 1777 kept on operating. During that period among the cloisters of Russia the Kozelsk Saint-Vvedensky Optin Hermitage, known for its institution of elderliness, takes on special significance.

In 1892 teacher of physics and mathematics Tsiolkovsky, later to become a world famous scientist in the field of aerodynamics and rocket dynamics and the founder of cosmonautics, settled down in Kaluga.

During the Great Patriotic War the territory of Kaluga region was occupied from October 1941 until 17th September 1943, and the town of Kaluga – from 12th October until 30th December 1941. The region was liberated by units of the 10th, 16th, 33rd, 43rd, 50th, 61st Armies, the 20th Tank Brigade, the 1st Air Army, the 1st Cavalry Corps, “Normandie-Neman” French air squadron.

On 4th July 1944 Kaluga region was formed once again. The establishment of the region favoured not only the restoration of the ruined national economy, but also further economic, cultural and social development. A large scientific-industrial sector was set up, represented by enterprises of the engineering complex, instrument-making industry, metal-working and woodworking, chemical, light and food industry, and by scientific-research institutes.

After the liquidation of the USSR Kaluga region became a unit of the Russian Federation. The Charter of Kaluga region was passed on 27th May 1996, the Law of the Kaluga region “about the local government in Kaluga region” – on 6th June 1996. The first gubernatorial election of the region took place on 9th November 1996, when Sudarenkov took the post of a governor. As a result of the election held in 2000 Artamonov became a governor of Kaluga region

Sights

Museums and Country Estates
The Kaluga State United Museum of local lore is one of the oldest in Russia. It was founded by members of the Scientific Archives Commission and opened for visitors in 1897 in an architectural memorial of the 17th century – the Korobov merchants' mansion.

Since 1922, the museum has been placed in the former town estate of merchant Zolotoriov that was built in 1805-1808. The remaining wall and ceiling murals, highly artistic bas-reliefs, and encrusted floor are the work of the first-class painters, architects and marble-masters in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century who worked in the workshop of S.P. Campioni. Two expositions on of history and the nature of the land of Kaluga, are arranged in the museum's halls. Topic “Events of the Great Patriotic War on the Territory of the Land” represents recent history. The museum unites 10 subsidiaries, situated in the region's districts.

The memorial historical-architectural and natural museum-estate “Polotniany Zavod”, that was opened in 1999 in honour the 200th birthday of A.S. Pushkin, is interesting for guests and the region's citizens. The museum occupies two floors of the main house of the Gontcharovs` country estate. The unique estate factory architectural complex, appeared in the 18th century. Polotniany Zavod remembers most events in our history: linen and paper producing factories were built here according to the order of Peter I; in 1775 Katherine II visited the estate; in October of 1812 the Staff of the Russian Army was arranged here and M.I. Kutuzov lived in the estate. In 1830 and in 1834 A.S. Pushkin visited Polotniany Zavod, first as the fiance of N.N.Gontcharova and in August of 1834 he spent two weeks on the estate together with his wife and children – Maria and Alexander.

In 1936, the house, where Great Russian scientist K.E. Tsiolkovsky had been working for almost 30 years, became a museum. Visitors enter the working study and workshop in the memorial house-museum, to unpretentious furniture, simple tools and devices, made by the scientist's own hands.

Tsiolkovsky and cosmonautics... These notions are inseparable from each other. Yu.A. Gagarin, doing justice both to the scientist and the city, where he lived, said: “There will be many flights to the space in the future, and all our cosmonauts will come to this city, close to their hearts doing justice to the first man, who blazed trails to the stars for us in his daring plans and drawings”. On 3rd October of 1967, the Museum of History of Cosmonautics by K.E. Tsiolkovsky was opened in Kaluga. Schoolchildren and students, scientists and cosmonauts as well as numerous guests from abroad come here to worship the great son of the Earth.

Kaluga’s most precious possesions are the private residences of the first decades of the 19th century. Projects by famous architects P.R. Nikitin and I.D. Yasnygin gave the town: the Gostiny Dvor (Merchants` Yard) – (1784-1821), the Work-Places (1780-1787), the Troitsky Cathedral (1786-1818), the Stone Bridge (1777-1780), the Drama Theatre (1777), the Noble School and others.

The Kaluga Regional Art Museum is arranged in one of these buildings, the most beautiful private residence of the Bilibin (Tchistokletov) merchants – an architectural monument of the beginning of the 19th century. The oldest and most significant collection of works of art is exhibited in the museum. At present the museum contains about 7000 paintings, graphics, architecture and decorative pieces of art. Over 200 of them are exhibited in the halls of ancient Russian (16th – 19th centuries), Russian (18th –20th centuries) and West-European (16th – 19th centuries) art. Works of painters, such as Tropinin, Levitsky, Aivasovsky, Shishkin, Polenov, Yaroshenko, Surikov, Savrasov, Korin, Grigoriev, Fonvizin and others are exhibited in the museum. The museum has two subsidiaries: the Tarusa and Ulianovo picture galleries.

HOTELS
¹ Hotel Location Accommodation Facilities
1 Priokskaya (***) It is situated in the very centre of Kaluga. One can see the whole panorama of the historic centre of Kaluga from the windows of the upper floors of the 9-storied building. Former hotel of the Regional Committee of C.P.S.U., it was built in 1988. 73 cosy rooms: 7 suites and luxury rooms, 36 double and 30 single bedrooms equipped with a telephone, radio, TV, a minibar and other conveniences. Cafe, parking, conference-hall, safe at the reception, beauty salon Secretarial services: banquet hall.
2 Tashir (****)
Chillout for sophisticated guests 		It is located in the centre of Kaluga, not far from the Kaluga Drama Theatre. It is a modern hotel complex with up-to-date interior, built in 2002. 16 rooms: 10 single rooms, 3 suites and 3 luxury rooms. All rooms are fitted out with a telephone, TV and a fridge, a minibar and all necessary conveniences. 2 bars, restaurant with a wide selection of dishes, disco, sauna with a big swimming-pool, karaoke, billiards, room service, conference-hall, 2 banquet halls with dress circles (for banquets, weddings and anniversaries).
3 Kaluga It is a hotel complex situated in the central part of Kaluga. 220 rooms (single and double bedrooms, 16 superior rooms, 5 suites and 1 luxury room) with wonderful interior and provided with a telephone, TV and satellite channels. Bar, beauty salon, cafe, hairdressing (barber's) salon, 3 banquet halls, meeting room, room service, safe at the reception, restaurant with a wide assortment of dishes, chargeable parking.
4 Intermashotel It is situated in the outskirts of Kaluga, within 20 minutes by car from the centre. This modest cosy departmental hotel was opened in 1998. With modern furnishings, it is attractive for those who would like to relax far away from the noise of the town. 20 rooms: 5 single and 4 double rooms, 5 luxury rooms and 7 suites. Cafe, conference hall, hydro massage, guarded parking, billiards.
5 Ugra (***) This modern 3-storied hotel complex is located in the forest, 16 km away from Kaluga, not far from the Moscow – Kiev motorway. 25 comfortable and cosy rooms include single and double bedrooms, 2- and 3-room suites and superior rooms equipped with a telephone, a fridge, TV with satellite channels and all necessary conveniences. A 3-room luxury suite with sophisticated furniture, modern shower and air-conditioning is also available. Bar, restaurant (24-hour 1st class service), sauna, room service, swimming-pool, dance hall with a projection screen (disco), billiards, guarded parking, gym, petrol station, karaoke, auto shop, banquet hall for weddings, anniversaries and parties.
6 Baden-Baden
Chillout for sophisticated guests 		This modern hotel and cultural-sanitary complex is situated in the centre of the town. Comfortable hotel rooms provide guests with all the necessary conveniences including a telephone, TV with satellite channels, a fridge and a minibar. Swimming-pool, bar, luxury sauna, live music, health club, karaoke, beauty salon, restaurant offering exquisite cuisine, solarium, banquets, weddings, parties, anniversaries.


TRAVEL AGENCIES
¹ Agency Tel./Fax
1 Êàluga Land Tel./fax (0842)56-25-78, 56-58-98
2 Park “Ugra” Tel. (0842)12-57-91
3 Vedomstvennye zdravnitsy Tel. (0842)56-19-84
4 Visit Tel./fax (0842)57-63-49, 57-46-10
5 Liberty Tel./fax (0842)59-76-20, 59-76-19
6 Rostour-Meridian Tel./fax (0842)56-51-04, 57-46-20


RESTAURANTS
¹ Restaurant Address Tel./Fax
1 Baden-Baden Kaluga, Plekhanova St., 4-a Tel./Fax (0842)74-93-92, 74-16-42
2 Visavi Kaluga, Proletarskaya St., 21 Tel. (0842)74-52-89
3 Kofeynya Kaluga, Teatralnaya St., 7 Tel. (0842)57-65-09
4 pub "Russkoe Pivo" Kaluga, Lenina st., S3 Tel. (0842)74-65-01


DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FOR KALUGA
REGION
Tel.: (0842)57-56-90