City of craftsmen, city of warriors, city of workers are just a few names people have called Tula for a long time. Its outstanding feat during the Great Patriotic War received the highest award of the Motherland. On the city flag there's a Golden Star beside the order of Lenin evidence of the great Tula people's military and work share in the historic victory of the Soviet people against fascism.
Throughout its history, which counts since 1146, Tula has always been a guardian city. The main fortress of the Abatis line the strong medieval border line of thousands of kilometers Tula was a reliable defender of the heart of Russia Moscow. Many times Tula land became a battlefield in wars with foreigners, but throughout its whole history, no conqueror ever seized the city. Neither the army of the Golden Horde's leader Mamai, defeated in 1380 on Koulikovo battlefield, nor the 30,000 army of the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girei, who unsuccessfully besieged the Tula Kremlin in 1552, nor the army of Napoleon, who was eager to seize Russia's main shield and arsenal city succeeded.
The fate of the warrior city influenced its economic development. To defend, one needs good arms. Tula people always knew how to make arms.
Even after it lost its fortress borderline position, it remained for a long time the country's arsenal. Tula arms were used to win in Narva and Poltava, Ismail, and Borodino, in the battles in the Black Sea and the Pacific. Some names of the streets reflect the former specialization of their inhabitants: Dulnaya (Gunpoint St.), Stvolnaya (Barrel St.), Kurkovaya (Trigger St.), Shtykovaya (Bayonet St.), Porohovaya (Gunpowder St.), Arsenalnaya (Arsenal St.) and many more.
In the ferocious year of 1941, when fascist staked everything to seize Moscow, Tula without the frantic attacks of the forces of the enemy many times superior to them.
The decades that separate us from these exciting events of the war time have changed the city's face. Tula has the right to be considered a unique city, with its specific historical and cultural trend as a city of armourers, ironware masters, samovar and accordion industries and many other traditional and modern specialties in industrial production and cultural life. Worthy successors of the legendary Levsha continue and augment the working glory and traditions of wonderful mastery.
Tula has been since a long time ago famous for its cultural traditions. Here many Russian writers lived and created their masterpieces. Among them are Leo Tolstoy, Vikentiy Veresaiev and Gleb Uspenskiy, national folk culture researcher Ivan Sakharov, painter Grigoriy Myasoiedov, inventor of chromatic accordion Nikolai Beloborodov, and many more.
The Tula Kremlin with its unique arms museum is a symbol of Tula history. Alongside there is a museum of Tula's peaceful produce samovars. In the little but very cozy Tula spice-cake museum one can become acquainted with the history of cake production in Tula, see cake boards, cake samples and taste the freshly-baked delicious cakes. In the Art Museum together with an interesting collection of Russian and European art, there are unique exhibitions of Russian traditional crafts. The Kremlin Garden, one of the most beautiful in Russia called Belo'usovskiy park, theatres, a stadium with the oldest cycle track in Europe, monuments of architecture all these add to the peculiarity of Tula.
Sights
Belev
Belev is one of the oldest Russian cities and former centre of the Belev princedom. The city played a large part in the fight of the Russian people for its freedom and independence.
The precise time of the city's foundation is unknown. It was first mentioned in the Ipatievskaya chronicle of 1147 A.D.
Belev is included in the list of historical cities of the country, having precious monuments of history, culture and architecture. More than 100 buildings of historical and architectural importance are listed. The Complex of Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy Monastery, founded in the 16th century, Krestovozdvizhenskaya Church (1866-1869), the House of Merchant Erofeev and some other architectural constructions are of special interest. City visitors are always very much impressed by the Art and Local Lore Museum, as well as Zhabynskaya Vvedenskaya Hermitage.
Belev land has been homeland of the famous Russian poet Vassiliy Andreevich Zhukovskiy (29.01.1773-12.04.1852). Impressions that the poet had of his homeland, he reflected in his poetic works and drawings that retained these places dear to the poet's heart.
Since long ago Belev has been famous with for laces and pastilles. Belev laces are highly competitive with those from Vologda and Elets. As for the pastilles, it is still even now the best side dish to the Tula cake at a traditional Russian tea-drinknig ceremony.
Odoiev
One of the regional centres of Tula region, Odoiev is listed with the historical cities of Russia. From the 14th century it was a centre of Odoiev princedom.
Odoiev was first mentioned in 1380, the year of Koulikovo battle, with which Odoiev is directly connected the Odoiev army participated in Koulikovo battle. Also, the army of Lithuanian prince Yagailo, while going to help Mamai in Koulikovo, was stopped in the outskirts of Odoiev.
The oldest historical and cultural monuments of Odoiev land are two sites from the first half of the 1st milliennium A.D. In Odoiev itself there is a site dated 16th-17th century. On the right bank of the river Upa one can see the remains of the Anastasov Monastery, wonderful monument of Russian architecture of the 17th century. The village of Filimonovo is one of the oldest centres of pottery and birthplace of the famous Filimonovo toys.
MUSEUMS
Tula Historic-Architectural and Literary Museum Union
Tula, Sovietskaya St., 68
Tel. (0872) 36-22-08, 36-13-73, 31-21-71
Tula Samovars Museum
Tula, Mendeleevskaya St., 8
Tel. (0872) 31-25-38, 36-10-46, 31-22-92
Open for visits from 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM
Closed Monday, Tuesday, last Wednesday of a month. Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last Friday of the month
V. V. Veresaiev House Museum
Tula, Gogolevskaya St., 82
Tel. (0872) 27-77-31
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed Monday, Sunday
Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last Friday of a month
Tula Region Nature Exhibition
Tula, Sovietskaya St., 68
Tel. (0872) 36-22-08, 36-13-73, 31-21-71
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am to 14.00 pm
Closed Sunday. Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last Friday of a month
Demidovs Necropolis Museum
Tula, Demidovskaya St., 9
Tel.(0872) 39-37-74
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed Monday, Sunday. Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last Friday of a month
N.I. Beloborodov Memorial Museum
Tula, Lenin Av., 16
Tel. (0872) 36-18-85
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed Monday, Sunday. Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last Friday of a month
Dubna Museum of History and Local Lore
Tula region, village of Dubna, Chekalina St., 1
Tel. (08732) 2-18-70
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed Monday, Sunday. Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last Friday of a month
Tula Metal Exhibition Hall
Tula, Demidovskaya lotina St., 13
Tel. (0872) 42-78-31
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed Monday, Sunday, last Wednesday of the month
Tula Region Museum of Fine Arts Union
Tula, F. Engels St., 64
Tel. (0872) 35-40-53, 35-40-96, 35-42-72
Open for visits from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm
Closed Monday
Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last day of the month
Exhibition hall
Tula, Krasnoarmeyskiy Av., 16
Tel. (0872) 27-09-92
Open for visits from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm
Closed Sunday
P.N. Krylov Museum
Tula, Kutuzov St., 10
Tel. (0872) 41-04-60, 41-07-01
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed Sunday
Tula Cake Museum
Tula, Oktiabrskaya St., 45-ΰ
Tel. (0872) 77-73-90
Open for visits from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
excursions from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (orders taken 14 days in advance)
Tula State Arms Museum
Tula, Kremlin
Tel. (0872) 31-25-77, 36-46-86
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 4.45 pm, lunch break from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday, last Thursday of the month
Tula Kremlin Museum
Tula, Kremlin
Tel. (0872) 36-27-45, 36-74-87, 31-24-58
Open for visits from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed Monday, last Tuesday of the month
Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last Friday of the month
Tula Regional Exotarium
Tula, Oktiabrskaya St., 26
Tel. (0872) 77-53-92.
Fax (0872) 77-95-77
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Closed Monday
Tuesday groups only visiting
Yasnaya Poliana State Leo Tolstoy's Memorial Estate and Natural Preserve
Tula region, Shekinskiy area, village of Yasnaya Poliana
Tel. (08751) 3-54-25, 3-54-10, 33-91-18, 33-98-32
Tourist Dept
Tula,Oktiabrskaya St., 14
Tel. (0872) 39-35-99
Open for visits from 10.30 am to 6.00 pm, in winter time till 3.00 pm
Closed Monday, last Wednesday of the month in the Tolstoy House
Kulikovo Battle Museum
Tula region, Kurkinskiy area, village of Ivanovka, Shahovskoie district
Tel. (08743) 3-12-44, 36-16-63
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, lunch break from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm
Closed Tuesday, last Monday of the month
Historical and Ethnographical Exposition in the Village of Epifan'
Tula region, Kimovskiy area, village of Epifan', Kimovskaya St., 8
Tel. (08735) 2-29-65, 36-16-63
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, break from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm
Closed Tuesday, last Monday of the month
Museum and Memorial Complex in the Village of Monastyrschina
Tula region, Kimovskiy area, village of Monastyrschina
Tel. (08735) 3-15-46
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, lunch break from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm
Closed Tuesday, last Monday of the month
Tula Antiquities Museum and Exhibition Centre
Tula, Lenin Av. 47
Tel. (0872) 36-16-63, 36-28-34
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, break from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm
Open daily
Bogoroditskiy Palace Museum and Park
Bogoroditsk, Palace museum
Tel. (08761) 2-25-32
Open for visits from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm
Closed Monday, last Thursday of the month. Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last Sunday of the month
October, 1 pensioners day
Belev Art and Loal Lore Museum Named After P.V. Zhukovskiy
Tula region, city of Belev, K. Marx St., 114
Tel. (08742) 4-32-95, 4-15-85
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Closed Monday, Sunday. Free visit day (till 18 y/o) last Wednesday of the month
Odoiev Local Lore Museum
Tula region, city of Odoiev, Karl Marx St., 39
Tel. (08736) 4-16-81
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Closed Monday, last Friday of the month
Dvorianinovo A.T. Bolotov's Memorial Estate
Tula region, Zaokskiy area, village of Dvorianinovo
Tel. (08734) 2-22-27
Open for visits from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Closed Monday
Museum of Rear-Admiral V.F. Roudnev
Tula region, Zaokskiy area, village of Rousiatino
Tel. (08734) 2-65-34, 2-66-12
Open for visits from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm
Closed Saturday, Sunday
Chern History and Local lLore Museum Named After M.A. Voznesenskiy
Tula region, village of Chern' Voznesenskogo St., 19
Tel. (08756) 2-11-26, 2-12-68
Open for visits from 8.00 am to 17.00 pm, break from 12.00 am to 1.00 pm
Closed Saturday, Sunday
State Memorial Historical and Art Museum and Natural Preserve of V.D. Polenov
Tula region, Zaokskiy area, village of Strakhovo, V.D. Polenov museum
Tel. (08734) 3-38-27
Fax (08734) 2-11-80
Open for visits from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday, last Thursday of themonth. Free visit day (till 18 y/o) first Thursday of the month
HOTELS
| Ή
| Hotel
| Address
| Tel./Fax
|
| 1
| Moskva (Moscow)
| Tula, Moscow Railway Station Sq.
| Tel.: (0872) 20-89-52Br> Fax :20-89-36
|
| 2
| Tula
| Tula, Lenin Av., 98
| Tel.: (0872) 35-23-12, 35-35-41
|
| 3
| State institution of the Tula region Administration
Hotel complex Bogoucharovo
| Tula region, Leninskiy area, village of Oktiabrskiy
| Tel.: (0872) 36-75-46, 36-40-85
|
| 4
| Demidovskiy Stil (Demidov Style)
| Tula, M. Torrez st., 1
| Tel.: (0872) 31-07-21
|
| 5
| Victoria-Sport
| Tula, Lenin Av., 87
| Tel./Fax: (0872) 32-96-86
|
| 6
| EdViS-Fortuna
| Tula region, city of Chern', Voznesenskogo St.12
| Tel.: (08756) 2-12-89
|
| 7
| Grumant preventorium
| Tula region, Shekinskiy area
| Tel.: (0872) 32-96-81, 32-96-11
|
COMMITTEE FOR TOURISM
OF TULA REGION
Tel.: (0872) 311-224
Fax: (0872) 277-313
|
Tula region
