Irkutsk, Russia

Irkutsk, Russia

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About Irkutsk

About Irkutsk

Why Go to Russia's Irkutsk

The cold icy Irkutsk is renown for being the city from which Russia's great explorers traditionally set off for their expeditions. It was founded in the mid-17th century as the winter quarters for traders and tax collectors.

Located about 70 kilometers from Lake Baikal not far from China and Mongolia, Irkutsk of today is among the region's largest towns with a population of more than 500,000 people.

In the early 19th century many participants in the Decembrist revolution against Tsar Nicholas I were sent into exile to Siberia. Among them were many officers, nobles and artists who turned Irkutsk into a thriving cultural and educational center, the hive of Russia's intellectual and social life.

Many universities, wooden houses with hand-carved decorations still stand today side by side with the city's multiple historic churches and museums.

Among the main highlights to see during Irkutsk tours are the Volkonsky House and the Trubetskoy House, two buildings where the largest salons and social gatherings of the era were held.

Irkutsk tragically burnt down almost completely in 1879, but it was rebuilt right away. The city developed so quickly and greatly that already by the year 1900 it was referred to "The Paris of Siberia".

Irkutsk's other landmarks include the House of Europe, the Sukachev Art Museum, the icebreaker Angara, and the Museum of Geology.

As for religious sites to add to your Irkutsk itinerary, check out the historic Epiphany Cathedral as well as the Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral.

Best Things to Do in Irkutsk, Russia

  • Stop by the Volkonsky and Trubetskoy Houses
  • Check out the icebreaker Angara
  • Enjoy the beauty of traditional Russian wooden architecture
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