Founded in 1571, the city of Stary Oskol has a rich history. During the Time of Troubles (1598-1613), it began to be built up and expanded. However, already in 1616 it was burned by a Polish-Lithuanian detachment. Stary Oskol was attacked several times by the Crimean Tatars.
It was rebuilt again and again, until by the 18th century the city had turned from a military fortress on the border into an inland region. The Stary Oskol region also endured hard times during the Great Patriotic War. During its liberation, about 7 thousand Soviet soldiers died.
The city is attractive with an abundance of ancient buildings and architectural monuments, which are carefully maintained. The economy of Stary Oskol is actively developing, thanks to metallurgical production, which affects its general condition. Until now, the city is divided into settlements, and not into districts, which gives a walk along the streets a unique spirit of antiquity.
The Belgorod region is rich in attractions and beautiful places. Read our review to plan where you can go nearby and interestingly from Stary Oskol.
For ease of route planning, we have marked all the mentioned attractions on the city map:
Buildings and monuments
Stary Oskol Local Lore Museum
Address: st. Lenina, 50/52 Phone: ; Website: https://sokm.org.ru Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:30 Tue-Sun, 10:00 – 14:00 Fri, from June 1 to August 31 10:00 – 19:30 Thu, Mon – day off Cost: 60 rub.
The Stary Oskolka Local History Museum was created on the basis of a circle that worked at the Proletarian Club, opened in 1923. The first exhibition was assembled with the active participation of local residents, who brought gifts of things of historical value, ancient books, household items and handicrafts.
Precious exhibits were almost completely destroyed during the Great Patriotic War, but by the end of April 1945 the exhibition was reassembled. Every year the exhibitions are replenished with new items.
The main task of the museum is to preserve and popularize historical and cultural monuments that are directly related to Starooskol. Visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with the peculiarities of people's lives since ancient times by visiting seven permanent halls where the most interesting exhibits are located. The museum's complete collection numbers more than 40 thousand items.
Stary Oskol Theater for Children and Youth
Address: st. Revolutionary, 15 Phone: Website: https://teatroskol.ru Opening hours: ticket office – 11:30 – 19:00 Tue-Fri, 11:00 – 19:00 Sat-Sun, 14:00 – 15:00 break Cost : from 100 rub. up to 700 rub.
The head of the city signed the decision to open the city theater on February 1, 1996. The first acting group of the theater was created in Sevastopol by Lyudmila and Viktor Orshansky. The troupe came to Stary Oskol for a performance, but stayed here forever after the proposal of the head of the city.
Over twenty years, the actors have won many valuable awards, for example, Sergei Lysenko and Marina Kartseva received the regional award named after Mikhail Shchepkin. The theater's repertoire includes well-known and beloved fairy tales by children:
- "Mermaid";
- "The Steadfast Tin Soldier";
- "Ugly duck".
The Stary Oskol Theater has its own legend - this is the actor Evgeny Vasilyevich Baturin, who brought to life the most complex characters and appeared on stage almost until his death.
Dyakov's office
Address: st. Oktyabrskaya, 20
In the historical center of the city there is a monument of urban planning and architecture - the office of the merchant Dyakov. Once upon a time it was erected on the territory of an oil mill that belonged to a merchant.
The monument attracts attention with its architectural features and Art Nouveau style details.
Now the office is run by a local confectionery factory.
Stoilensky GOK
Address: southwestern industrial district, Fabrichnaya site, passage 4 Telephone: Website: https://sgok.nlmk.com/ru/ Opening hours: by agreement with management
In the industrial area there is the Stoilensky mining and processing plant, which is one of the main companies in Russia for the production of iron ore. The company specializes in the extraction of iron ore concentrate and iron sinter ore. The Kursk Magnetic Anomaly deposit is being developed here.
Steam locomotive "SU 211-75"
SONY DSC
Address: st. Victory
Near the railway workers' park there is a monument to labor glory in the form of a steam locomotive leaving the tunnel. The Su-211-75 was parked in 1979, when the city authorities decided to perpetuate the feat of railway workers during the Great Patriotic War.
In the most difficult conditions, they transported weapons and ammunition to soldiers who fought on the Central and Voronezh fronts. During the war, the locomotive also worked to transport passengers. This heavy truck was produced at the Sormovo plant, as indicated by the first letters in the name.
Promagro
Address: Molodezhny Ave., 12 Telephone: 8 (4725) 485702, 8 (4725) 485703 Opening hours: daily, around the clock Cost: free
There is a large Promagro stadium in Stary Oskol, open to the public. Here you can play sports, ride a bicycle or rollerblades, or play on the tennis courts.
In the past, the stadium was the home field for the Metallurg-Oskol football club.
City heart
Address: Vostochny microdistrict, 32
In the east of the city, next to the confectionery-bakery “Shu-shu”, there is a small sculptural form, which is called the “Heart of the City”. The small sculpture reminds passersby of the mining and metallurgical heritage of Stary Oskol, and also serves as a meeting place for dates and photo sessions.
Monument to Alexander Nevsky
Address: Park of Military Glory, Alley of the First Cavalry Army
In 2010, a festive opening ceremony of the monument to St. Alexander Nevsky, who lived in the thirteenth century, took place in the Park of Military Glory. He is the heavenly patron of the city. His name is recognized by everyone, thanks to his victory in the Battle of the Neva, the Battle of the Ice and successful clashes with the Mongol-Tatars. The celebration was attended by the archbishop, who consecrated the monument, as well as the author of the sculpture, Anatoly Shishkov, who resorted to a complex technique - creating beveled edges.
Copper was used to make the monument, so the weight of the figure is eight hundred kilograms. The height reaches 12 meters. The pedestal made of red granite, imported from Africa and first used in Stary Oskol, bears the phrase “God does not lie in might, but in truth.”
Memorial complex near the Ataman Forest
Address: Southern bypass road, building 1
The architectural landmark of the city belongs to the memorial buildings dedicated to the events of the Second World War. It personifies the courage of the Soviet defenders who stood unwaveringly against the fascist invaders. Thanks to their decisive actions, Stary Oskol was able to survive the war.
At the beginning of July 1942, enemy troops penetrated the city of the year and ran into confrontation between the 21st and 40th operational military formations. In the vastness of the Ataman Forest, from July 4 to July 5, a meeting was held, the main issue of which was the tactics of confronting the fascist invaders. As a result of correct tactical actions, the enemy was unable to cross the Don and capture Voronezh. The second battle was fought and successfully repelled in the Kursk direction.
The idea of erecting a memorial was proposed by the patriotic association “Poisk”. In 1986, mass graves were created for soldiers killed in battle. At the same time, it was decided to install a stele at the burial site. The memorial was opened to the public on the 35th anniversary of the Great Victory. The widow of military doctor Kozlov, who rests in a mass grave, and the Soviet government took an active part in this.
House-Museum of Vasily Eroshenko
Address: Obukhovka village, st. Eroshenko, 15 Telephone: Opening hours: 09:00-17:00, Tue-Sun Cost: 70 rub. How to get there: tram No. 1 from the city, to the stop. “Selo Obukhovka” (3.8 km from the city center)
It is part of the local history museum of the city of Stary Oskol. The attraction has been open to the public since January 12, 1990.
The life of Vasily Yakovlevich cannot be called simple. At the age of four, the boy completely lost his sight, but this did not stop him from becoming a writer-publicist, musician, poet-storyteller, ethnographer and traveler.
The museum is located on a land plot of 2.4 hectares. In the very center is the Yeroshenko house, restored to the smallest detail. Stary Oskol artist-sculptor V.N. Kolesnikov made a bust of the writer. It was installed on the territory of the museum in honor of the memorable date - 120 years since the birth of Vasily Eroshenko (January 12, 2010).
The exhibitions occupy 4 halls and operate on an ongoing basis. The total area is 65 m2. The rooms recreate the atmosphere of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, corresponding to the standard of living of wealthy peasants. The main part of household items belongs to the Eroshenko family.
House-Museum of Eroshenko
The museum is open in the house where the Soviet writer, musician and popularizer of the artificial language Esperanto was born and spent his youth.
Now the name of Vasily Yakovlevich Eroshenko, one of the most famous natives of Stary Oskol, is practically unknown to anyone. But this man, who lost his sight at only 9 years old, was an example of courage and determination. Despite his illness, he learned Esperanto, studied at the Royal School for the Blind in Great Britain, and then at the School for the Blind in Tokyo (Japan). He traveled a lot, wrote poetry, essays and fairy tales in Esperanto and Japanese, performed translations, and was seriously interested in music. The museum, opened in 1968, is dedicated to Vasily Yakovlevich. The exhibition is interesting not only for its acquaintance with the life and work of Eroshenko, but also for the general way of life of the Stary Oskol district at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Parks and streets
Lenin Street
The main street of the historical district of Stary Oskol is Lenin Street. It divides the entire city into almost two identical parts. On one side are the southwestern residential neighborhoods, and on the other are the northwestern ones, united under the name “New City.”
During the development of the city plan at the end of the 18th century, the street was named Kurskaya in honor of the Kursk province. It received its modern name in the year of Lenin’s ninetieth birthday.
Before the revolution, on the main street there were six churches, numerous beer establishments, houses and shops that belonged to merchants. Now there are shops, catering establishments, various private offices and reception rooms of government officials. There are also two city museums - local history and art.
Stary Oskol Zoo
Address: Belgorod region, Starooskolsky district, Chumaki village Telephone: , Website: https://oskol-zoo.ru Opening hours: summer (from April 1) 10:00 – 19:00, winter (from November 1) 10 :00 – 17:00, seven days a week Cost: adult ticket – 150 rubles, children’s ticket – 50 rubles. How to get there: bus routes 333 and 110 from Stary Oskol
The Stary Oskol Zoo was created in 2008 on the territory of the Chumaki farm. The animals are kept on a large area of nine hectares, among water meadows, forests and hills, next to the river.
Visitors to the zoo can get acquainted with a large number of animals - almost eighty species live here:
- rhinoceroses;
- tigers;
- lions;
- servals;
- bison;
- caracals;
- the Bears;
- zebras;
- leopards;
- deer;
- camels;
- monkey;
- storks;
- peacocks.
Rare breeds of pheasants live here: blue eared, brown eared, and Elliott's pheasants. At different times, lion cubs, lynx cubs, deer and puma cubs were born at the zoo.
On the territory of the natural “museum” you can not only meet the animals and feed them, but also ride a pony and have a good time in the Glade of Fairy Tales, where wooden animal figurines are installed.
Military Glory Park
Address: st. Lenin
Between Lenin and Proletarskaya streets there is a Military Glory Park. On the territory of the park there is a majestic monument dedicated to Alexander Nevsky. The park composition consists of memorial plaques with engraved names of people who died during the war.
In 1985, a composition called “Grieving Mother” was installed in the park, dedicated to the residents of Stary Oskol who fell victims of fascism. It was installed on the very spot where during the Great Patriotic War the Nazis shot civilians. At the foot of the monument, which embodies the image of a crying mother, the Eternal Flame burns around the clock.
Dendrological Park "Ilyiny"
Address: Belgorod region, Stary Oskolsky district, Iliny village, Kotovsky rural area Opening hours: 10:00-16:00 daily Cost: free How to get there: bus No. 333
The Ilyiny Dendrological Park is spread over a large area of almost three hectares, which has become home to 70 species of shrubs and trees, as well as 60 varieties of herbaceous plants and flowers. Work is being carried out on the territory of the park to study, preserve and create collections and nurseries of plants.
Visitors to the arboretum get acquainted with the flora characteristic of the region, as well as with exotic specimens brought from other climatic zones. Within the park there is an 800-meter-long ecological trail equipped with themed parking lots. There are wooden gazebos for relaxation.
House of merchant Likhushin
Tourists who are interested in where to go in Stary Oskol in the evening should definitely just take a walk around the city. At nightfall, beautiful ancient buildings, illuminated by special spotlights, acquire picturesque beauty and mystery. One of these beauties is the former house of the merchant Likhushin, inside of which the Museum of Local Lore is currently located. The exact year of construction of this beautiful mansion is unknown, but it is believed to have been built between 1905 and 1910. The owner of the building until 1917 was the famous Stary Oskol merchant Panteleimon Likhushin. After the revolution, the house was taken away and nationalized. The Stary Oskol Local History Museum, founded back in 1923, moved to the former Likhushin mansion in 1995. Until that time, it housed a communications center, a post office, and a radio center.
Temples and churches
Temple of St. Sergei of Radonezh
Address: Mr. Dubrava, 32A Telephone: Website: https://hram-oskol.ru Opening hours: 07:00 – 19:00, daily Cost: free
The Temple of Sergei of Radonezh was built quite recently. The foundation stone was consecrated in 2007, and the built shrine began to fully function in 2016. At each stage, more and more new parts of the temple were consecrated. On July 21, 2010, bells cast specifically for this shrine were installed.
Inside the temple is decorated with paintings, mosaics and icons, which seemed to come to life after the consecration. The lower church was consecrated in honor of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, which was especially revered in the family of Alexander Nevsky, the heavenly patron of Stary Oskol.
Church of the Ascension of the Lord
Address: st. Mira, 24 Telephone: Opening hours: 08:00 – 14:00, daily Cost: free
The oldest temple was founded in 1870, and it was consecrated twelve years later in honor of the Archangel Michael and the healer Panteleimon. In the first half of the twentieth century, when the authorities fought against the Orthodox Church, Father Andrei, who served in the church, was arrested. Because of this, the temple suspended its activities; in those days, the church premises were used for storing grain.
In the 1980s, restoration of the temple began, and in 2011 the church was crowned with new bells, purchased with funds from an unknown donor. Currently, the architectural monument has been completely restored and is functioning.
Temple of Princess Olga and Anastasia
Address: st. Tokareva, 4/1
Construction of the small church began in 2007 and ended in August 2008, when it was fully consecrated by Archbishop John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol.
When creating the temple, only wood was used: the building itself was built from larch, and the domes with crosses were made from aspen. Oak was used to make the altar and iconostasis. All trees were brought from Arkhangelsk forests.
The building has a small refectory and a tented bell tower. The church often hosts services, which are attended by students from Orthodox gymnasiums.
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House of Crafts in Stary Oskol
Stary Oskol House of Crafts (or “museum of crafts”, as many people ask Yandex) is a wonderful place for the whole family. Tested personally, we confirm!
It will be interesting here for both adults and children.
The House of Crafts is also a museum.
And a creative workshop. Folk art master classes are regularly organized here. Designer doll, beadwork, patchwork, lace weaving, artistic felt, Russian rag doll, traditional weaving, Stary Oskol clay toy.
Weaving on a handloom.
Do you know what a reed is? The eldest daughter tries herself in business.
Patchwork sewing.
Clay toy.
We planned to come here for half an hour, but made a mistake with our calculations. The guides and masters of the craft house did not let us go for almost 2 hours! We are sure that the fascinating stories and master classes will not leave anyone indifferent! We recommend! Come here with your children, you won’t regret it, it will be interesting!
Address of the House of Crafts: Stary Oskol, st. Mira, 32 Contact phone number: Official website of the House of Crafts in Stary Oskol: https://stoskol-domremesel.ru/ VKontakte group: https://vk.com/club95114705 Email:
By the way, opposite the House of Crafts is the Ascension Church in Stary Oskol.
Holy Trinity Church
Where to go in Stary Oskol for lovers of architectural monuments? Holy Trinity Church, built back in 1730, would definitely be the place to be. A beautiful three-altar building, made in the Baroque and late classicism styles, with a unique sculptural crown located under the main dome, will certainly interest lovers of antiquity. And religious visitors will certainly feel the peace on the territory of the temple, characteristic of all churches and holy places with a rich history. In addition to its antiquity, the Holy Trinity Church is one of the few Russian churches that was not damaged during the revolution. Despite the frequent change of priests, both during the Civil War and during the Great Patriotic War, services continued to be held in the temple. During the defense of Stary Oskol from the Nazis, the temple even had strategic significance.
The post-war renovation of the temple was carried out only in the 90s - the Soviet authorities did not allocate funds for the renovation of the church building, despite the fact that church services were never stopped held here. The restoration of the interior paintings of the temple was carried out from 2003 to 2005, and by 2006 the bell tower, upper dome and courtyard were repaired.
"Belaya Vezha", Krasnogvardeisky district
The sports and entertainment center opened in December 2016 in the village of Malobykovo, Krasnogvardeisky district.
Directions to , illustration vezha-ski.ru
Skating time in the center is divided into two sessions: morning (on weekdays from 13 to 17 hours, and on weekends - from 10 to 16 hours - editor's note) and evening (from 18 until 22 o'clock - editor's note). Belaya Vezha is closed on Mondays.
The center has a café and a children's playroom. For skiing, there are two 300-meter tracks, a ski slope for children and a slope for inflatable sleds. The lift is only a rope tow (equipment for towing skiers and snowboarders uphill, which is a cable passing “in a circle” through special supports - editor's note).
If you are a beginner, you can hire an instructor: you can study individually or in groups. It’s worth going here only if you have your own skis: rental is provided only for employees and their families.
Photo vezha-ski.ru/photo
One skating session costs 500 rubles for adults and 300 rubles for children under 13 years old. All information is on the website. There you can watch the tracks via a webcam.
"Alpika", Belgorod district
The Alpika sports and fitness complex has been operating since January 2014. It is located in the village of Dubovoe.
Directions to Alpika, illustration alpika-complex.ru
On weekdays it is open from 2 pm to 9 pm, on weekends from 10 am to 9 pm.
The complex has a parking lot, a hotel and a restaurant. You can rent ski equipment at the rental point. It includes skis, poles, bindings and boots. There are five tracks in Alpika, the longest of which is 300 meters. There are training trails for children, and you can practice with an instructor. Of all the resorts in the region, only Alpika has a chair lift.
You can also go snowboarding and snow tubing here. There is a separate slide for “cheesecakes” (as snow tubes are usually called - editor's note).
Scheme of the Alpika base, illustration alpika-complex.ru
You need to pay separately for ski rental and separately for lifts. Prices vary depending on ski days. So on weekends, for example, you need to pay 400 rubles for an hour, for two hours - 500 rubles , for three hours - 600 rubles , and for the whole day - 800 rubles . On weekdays, skiing is cheaper.
An hour of operation of the lift costs from 350 rubles , two hours - from 600 rubles . The editors have found out that the information on the Alpika website is out of date, so it is better to check with the administrator for details by calling +7 (4722) 402-470 .
“Alpika”, photo by Dmitry Romanenko
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Another church-historical attraction that is definitely worth visiting in Stary Oskol is the Cathedral of Prince Alexander Nevsky. Built in 1903, the temple amazes with its beauty: the building is built of dark brick, decorated with black domes with stars, and the external gilded iconostasis is made of carved wood. The cathedral is a truly majestic architectural monument of the beginning of the last century, combining Greek and Old Russian styles.
Unlike the Holy Trinity Church, this cathedral was closed after the revolution, in 1930. But after the Great Patriotic War, by the end of 1945, his parish was restored. In 1995, the cathedral became a cathedral - the second in the recently recreated dioceses of Belgorod and Stary Oskol. In 1999, new icons were painted for the iconostasis. They were made by masters of icon painting of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in the style of Andrei Rublev in compliance with modern standards of the Orthodox icon painting canon, revealing an independent landmark of the temple.
