Kursk region

• Kursk region was founded on June 13, 1934

• Regional centre –city of Kursk.

• Region's area – 29,800 sq. km (0.17% of Russia's total area)

• Density of population – 45.2 p./sq. km.

• Cities of regional subordination – 5

• Population of the largest cities: Kursk – 438,100; Zheleznogorsk – 94,900; Kurchatov – 47,400

History and Culture

The position of Kursk region in the centre of Russia, with convenient water-links and overland roads have made the region one of the shopping centres of the country. Korennaja Fair was the third in Russia in size, and Kursk merchants wrote many famous pages in the history of our state. They traded widely with Europe and America. The profit was disposed of skilfully. Much money was spent on building temples and monasteries, stalls and houses. Rylsk is a monument of architecture, which represents the image of a merchant town of 17th-18th century. Merchants represented more than a half of the population of Rylsk. The town is the birthplace of the famous Russian navigator and researcher of Alaska, merchant Grigoriy Shelehov. One of his ships was named “Joann Rylskiy” after the patron saint of the town. The mountain “Ivan Rylskiy”, which towers above the town is an archaeological reserve. It has historical relics from 6-5 BC. Since the ancient part of the town remained almost unchanged you will find yourself in olden times as soon as you get there.

The steppe is especially beautiful in spring and in summer. You can see a marvelous multicoloured carpet of grass and flowers, which stretches to the horizon. The Central-Black-Soil-Biosphere reserve “Streletskaya steppe” unites species of virgin steppe flora. The scientists of the reserve carry out researches under the program “Interkos-mos”. There is a special track, which allows the tourists to see the world of nature without human interference. A great variety of flora makes the main colour of the steppe change every ten days during the flowering period (from May to September). The steppes and meadows are broken intermittently by woods and rivers. More than 900 rivers flow in Kursk region, Seim being the main of them. The animal world of the partially wooded steppe is very rich .You can see elks, roe deer, wild boars, beavers, larks and nightingales there.

Many different routes will help you to see the beauty of Russian nature. Its endless fields, green hills, century-old oak forests will produce a strong impression on you.

The steppe always used to be an endless home for nomadic tribes. There were plenty of them — Skythians, Mongolo — Tartars and others. Burial-mounds retain the memory of old times. You can participate in archaeological excavations and touch the secrets of multi-century history. Kursk dwellers had been protecting the southern boundaries of Russia for more than a thousand years. Only after the Azov campaign of Peter I did the territory become a peaceful place. Many famous people admired the beauty of the region. For example, Katherine II called Kursk “A Russian Venice”; in 1903 the last Russian emperor Nikolai II made allocations for opening Kursk Regional Museum. Now it contains rich collections, representing the history of Kursk region.

Kursk region abounds in generous nature and historical events. Kursk nightingales with their unique trillings, the aroma of and juicy Kursk apples, the Kursk magnetic anomaly, and the great Kursk battle, which determined the outcome of World war II are known all over the country. This booklet invites you to take a trip choosing any direction you like.

Kursk is connected with Moscow, St-Petersburg, Kiev, and cities in the Crimea and the Caucasus by railroads. International and local airflights are made from Kursk air station: the Moscow — Simpferopol highway passes through Kursk; bus routes connect all regional centers of the area. You can stay in hotels or camps, go on excursions by bus or by bicycle, on foot or by ski or by water transport.

Thousands of Russian manors disappeared during the last century. The most famous Russian families such as the Sheremetievs, the Yusupovs, the Dolgorukiys, the Golovins, the Raevskiys, the Tolstoys, the Nelidovs and the Baryatinskiys were all owners of Kursk estates.

We managed to save only the manors which were declared state monuments of history. Now the museums or guesthouses are situated in the manors. The most famous of Kursk’s manors are those of the Nelidovs in Mokwa and the Baryatinskiys in Marjino. The manor in Mokwa is connected with the name of the 1st Kursk General — Governor A.Nelidov. The palace reminds us of the romantic image of a knightly castle. Towers, battlements, and look-holes strengthen the effect. The palace is surrounded by a park, which has a 200 — year-old oak-forest. It is a pleasure to see its beauty and to feel the coolness.

“Marjino” is a genuine pearl of Russia’s manors. Prince Baryatinskiy with his refined sense of beauty and European education managed to build a magnificent palace in the style of classicism, and to lay out a marvellous huge park with ponds. Being real connaisseurs of art, the Baryatinskiys gathered the most valuable collections of painting, sculpture, weapons and china. There was a rich library in Marijino. Performances were staged, and musical evenings were conducted there rather often.

The Russian estate is a specific world, and you are welcome to get acquainted with it.

Kursk inhabitants remember those who defended the freedom and independence of our Motherland in the Great Patriotic War in 1941 — 1945. In the territory of Kursk region there is a number of places commemorating the extremely difficult, but outstanding pages of our history. They are the Historical Museum of the Kursk Battle (Kursk, Ponyri), the memorial complex “The quarters of the Central front” (v. Svoboda), and many others. But the most impressive of them is the memorial complex “The Arch of Triumph” in Kursk, which was built to honor the most significant periods of World war II, which passed on Kursk land.

Sights

Temples are the monuments of history, architecture and spiritual culture. Russian saints such as Pheodosiy Pecherski, Seraphim Sarovski, Iosaf of Belgorod prayed in them. The sound of church bells was heard all over the city. They used to call the cathedral bells “velvet”. Sergievo-Kazanski Cathedral is one of Rastrelli's masterpieces of architecture. In the centre of the city you can see the huge silver dome of Znamenski Cathedral. The golden cross on its top looks as if blesses our city. It is one of the largest in the country. In this cathedral the Korennaja icon was kept. Now it is the most sacred thing of the Russian Foreign Orthodox Church. The icon was found more than 700 years ago at the roots of a tree on the bank of the River Tuskar. The Monastery Korennaja Pustin was built in this place more than 400 years ago. Now this monastery with its wonderful springs is a place of pilgrimage for religious people.

There is a Lutheran Church and a Catholic Church in Kursk (in the latter K. Malevich's children were christened) and the Uspenski Old-ritual Christian Church.

Other temples and monasteries of Kursk region have a rich and interesting history. The international festival “Solovjinaja Trel” traditionally took place on the bank of the river Seim at Dichnja. Every year since May 1989 15,000 people put up tents on the hill of the festival.

The jury of the festival consists of famous singers: V. Jegorov, U. Kukin, A. Gorodnitskiy, V. Turiyanskiy, A. Sofronov, L. Sergeev, O. Mityaev, K. Tarasov, Sh. Husainov, S. Kaplanov, M. Konoplev and Mishuks brother.

The international festival “Solovjinaja Trel” is the largest in our region. People from all over the country come to it.

Thus, the 10th anniversary festival of “Solovjinaja Trel” should become one of the brightest events in the cultural life of Russia. There are museums and exhibition halls, theatres and concert halls in Kursk and towns of the area. We await you at folk holidays, at concerts of organ music or symphonic orchestras. We shall help you to get acquainted with and to love the ancient and beautiful region of nightingales.

Monuments of architecture, the collection of the painting of Kursk Deineka picture gallery, exhibits of the museums of astronomer F.A. Semenov, the writers N.N. Aseev, A.P. Gaidar, the military — historical museum of Kursk Battle and Kursk temples will tell you about the events and the people.

Sites of pilgrimage tourism

Znamensky Monastery

Address: Kursk, Lunacharskogo St., 4

Erected in 1826 at the place of the temple of the miracle-working icon of Our Lady of Kursk. The name is firmly connected to the miracle-working icon of the Sign of Our Lady, which according to legend was found at the roots of a tree on the bank of River Tuskar. There is the one-domed Voskresenskaya Church. Services begin at 8-00 am and 6-00 pm.

Sergievo-Kazansky Cathedral

Address: Kursk, Gorkogo St., 27

Built in 1778 in memory of St. Sergiy of Radonezh and the icon of “Our Lady of Kazan”. One of the temple's side-chapels is dedicated to saint Serafim Sarovski, a native of Kursk. There is the building of the Kursk theological seminary and Sunday school for children situated in the cathedral yard. Services begin at 8-00 am and 6-00 pm

Sviato-Troitsky Convent

Address: Kursk, Gorkogo St., 13

There is no precise data about the date of the convent's foundation. In the scribes' documents it is mentioned in 1631. Closed in 1923, re-opened after a decision by the Saint Synod of All-Russia in 1994.

Sviato-Nikolaevskiy Monastery

Address: Kursk region, city of Rylsk

First mentioned in written sources in 1505. There are three one-domed churches situated on its territory: Nikolaevskiy (built in 1753 by merchant Ivan Shelikhov, father of Russian seafarer Grigoriy Shelikhov), Vozdvizhenskiy (1733), Troitskiy (1747) and a bell tower. Services begin at 7-00 am and 5-00 pm

Nizhne-Troitsky Temple

Address: Kursk, Gaidara St. 30

Built in 1734 at the place of the initial city of Kursk. There are iconographic workshops of the Kursk theological seminary attached to the temple. Services begin at 7-00 am and 5-00 pm.

Kursk eparchial administration

Address: Kursk, Lenin Sq. 55, Tel. (0712) 56-48-63

The Kursk-Belgorod eparchial administration was in the city of Belgorod till 1833. First it was headed by Metropolitan Feodosiy. Since 1984 the eparchy has been headed by the archbishop of Kursk and Rylsk Juvenaliy. Working hours: weekdays 9-00 am to 5-00 pm

Monastery of the Birth of Our Lady in Korennaya Hermitage

Address: Kursk region, Zolotuhinsky area, village of Svoboda, Sovietskaya St., 17

The monastery was opened at the decree of the Tsar Fiodor Ioannovich in 1597 and dedicated to the icon of the Sign of Our Lady of Kursk-Korennoy, which the tsar ordered returned from Moscow to the hermitage where it had been found in 1292 according to legend. Copies of the miracle-working icon were with the Russian army during military campaigns (the battle of Poltava, the battle of Borodino, the Crimean campaign). Religious processions has been performed here since 1618. A copy of the icon is transported from Znamensky cathedral in the city of Kursk on the 9th Friday after the Easter and is returned after September 12th. At present the icon is in the Sviato-Troitkiy Temple of the Russian Orthodox Church Overseas (in New York).

HOTELS
¹	Hotel	Address	Tel./Fax
1	Tsentralnaya	Kursk, Lenina St., 2	Tel.: (0712)56-77-91, 56-77-82 Fax: (0712)56-68-31
2	Oktyabrskaya	Kursk, Lenina St., 72	Tel.: (0712)56-80-32, 56-80-10
3	Diana	Kursk, 1-ya Pushkarnaya St., 26	Tel.: (0712)56-92-16
4	Hotel of the Circus of Kursk	Kursk, Sovetskaya St., 26-à	Tel.: (07122)2-51-98
5	Hotel of the Central Market	Kursk, Lugovaya St., 13	Tel.: (07122)2-69-22
6	Kursk	Kursk, Lenina St., 24	Tel.: (07122)2-97-11, 2-05-76
7	Solovinaya roscha	Kursk, Engelsa St., 142-à	Tel.: (07122)2-97-11, 35-92-12

RESTAURANTS
¹	Restaurant	Address	Tel
1	pub "Absolut"	Kursk, Sumskaya St., 37-a	(0712)35-16-51
2	pub "Avlabar"	Kursk, K. Libkhneta St., 31	(0712)2-04-01
3	Alladin	Kursk, Sonina St., 4	(0712)56-69-71
4	Bogdanna	Kursk, K. Libkhneta, 2	(0712)56-09-96
5	pub "Brigantina"	Kursk, Belgorodskaya St., 19	(0712)37-27-67
6	pub "Bunker"	Kursk, Lenina St., 17	(0712)51-48-84
7	Kolizey	Kursk, Lenina St., 72	(0712)55-65-20, 2-11-95
8	Greenn	Kursk, Zelenko St., 6-v	(0712) 2-17-80
9	Beschettvetnikh S.V.	Kursk, 50 let Oktyabrya St., 1	(0712) 2-36-48
10	Kabriolet	Kursk, Zelenko St., 6-v	(0712)2-17-80
11	Kursk	Kursk, Lenina St., 24	(0712)2-17-53
12	Night flight	Kursk, Krasnaya Ploschad, 6	(0712)51-21-46, 51-37-77
13	Okolitsa	Kursk, Soyuznaya St., 28	(0712)53-59-94, 50-21-51
14	Orbita	Kursk, Deineiki St., 21/13	(0712)35-26-11
15	Sever	Kursk, Magistralniy pr, 11-a	(0712)37-91-17
16	pub "Severniy"	Kursk, Karla Marxa St., 8	(0712)55-43-23
17	Snezhana	Kursk, Kharkovskaya St., 10/1	(0712)37-06-95
18	Solovyinaya roscha	Kursk, Engelsa St., 142-a	(0712)50-40-05
19	pub "Soyuz"	Kursk, Karla Marxa St., 53	(0712)53-59-93
20	pub "Stadion"	Kursk, Lenina St., 58	(0712)56-72-13
21	pub "Stariy dom"	Kursk, Lenina St., 95	(0712)2-13-22
22	pub "Stariy klen"	Kursk, Lenina St., 58	(0712)51-26-35

COMMITTEE FOR YOUTH AND TOURISM OF KURSK REGION Lenin St., 24 Tel.: (0712)56-62-68