A well-designed plan for visiting Ulyanovsk will save time, budget and effort. Ulyanovsk attractions include cultural and natural monuments, an abundance of cafes and bars, parks and beaches. In this article you will learn about how a tourist can spend a day in Ulyanovsk.
Your time in Ulyanovsk is limited, but you want to see a lot? Today I will tell you about the tourist route of Ulyanovsk: what to see, where to go on your own. In just 1 day you will experience the culture and nature of the city, take a walk through iconic and atypical places. And these are not only monuments to Lenin!
Main street of the city
Regardless of their interests, all tourists begin their acquaintance with the city from the center. You can get here by minibuses, city and country buses and trams. All of them pass through the main street of the city - Goncharova Street (formerly Bolshaya Saratovskaya). In the 18th century, it housed the largest revenue and public buildings, the first theater, and golden-domed cathedrals. The road to Saratov passed right there.
The street originates from the 30th Anniversary of Victory Square, where the 47-meter Obelisk of Glory and the memorial complex are located. Head to the intersection of Goncharova and Minaev streets to see a stele topped with a five-pointed star and a majestic view of the Volga banks. You will get beautiful photos here. The overview opens to the opposite banks of the Volga, the Imperial Bridge, ships coming from the River Station. Some tourists come here early in the morning to see the sunrise.
Take a stroll along Goncharova Street on foot. Along the way, you can stop by one of the food establishments to refresh yourself. The Asian restaurant “Haruku” is open to visitors every day, with an inexpensive business lunch on weekdays. Restaurant "Miruku" - its brother in the chain, is located on Minaev Street. Opposite “Haruku” there is a canteen with affordable prices “Scarlet Sails”. My personal recommendation for fast food lovers: near Torgovy you will find stalls serving the best shawarma in the city. Near Goncharov Square there are several cozy cafes where you can drink coffee, work and sit in a pleasant place on Lenin Street, the Volsov coffee shop, named after the famous Ulyanovsk architect. Nearby is a good establishment with Georgian cuisine, “Mezzanine”. Closer to TSUM there are Dodo-Pizza, McDonald's, KFC, Burger King and others. I would like to note that the catering business is well developed in Ulyanovsk. Here you will find bakeries and kiosks with baked goods, bars and canteens for every taste and budget.
Continuing along Goncharova Street, visit the Puppet Theater named after V.M. Leontieva, where you can watch a performance and a puppet museum.
Facade of the puppet theater.
After 80 meters there is a small book and stationery store in the building of the Ulyanovsk Printing House. I love buying books and printed materials here - very cheap. Walking further you will see a long red-brown brick building with a tower and a clock. This is the house of the great Russian writer I.A. Goncharov, where he spent his youth. Visit the House-Museum of I.A. Goncharova stands to look into the rooms with 19th-century furnishings, go down into the merchant cellars and go up to the very heart of the building - the clock mechanism.
Ulyanovsk has lost the features of old Simbirsk: in the 30s, the communists violently destroyed cathedrals and churches that they had protected for centuries. On the site of the Ascension Cathedral now stands Goncharov Square with the famous Oblomov sofa.
"Goncharovka" in the summer.
Goncharova Street ends with the Central Bank building. You can turn to the Lenin Memorial through Plastov Square or walk through Dvortsovaya Street, at the same time admiring the new reconstruction of the Spassky Monastery.
Fire Department Museum of Simbirsk-Ulyanovsk
The museum opened in the Fire Convoy building. It contains many exhibits telling about the development of firefighting from the 19th century to the present day.
A separate part of the exhibition consists of stables where horses used for fire protection were located. The organizers presented documents and materials of those times, as well as extinguishing agents, to the general attention.
In the section dedicated to the Soviet period, the visitor will become acquainted with the equipment and preventive measures practiced at that time. Specialized fire fighting equipment is of particular interest.
For fans of the Soviet era
Ulyanovsk is strongly associated with the name of the leader of the revolution, V.I. Lenin (Ulyanov). Driving across the bridge from the left bank, on the slope of the People's Friendship Park there is an inscription made from green spaces “LENIN”. The Lenin Memorial has always attracted the attention of tourists. Nowadays excursions, concerts and exhibitions take place here. Inside the complex is located one of the houses of the Ulyanov family. You can continue your walk in the Peoples' Friendship Park.
On the main square of the city, recently renamed Cathedral Square, there has been a monument to Vladimir Ilyich for 80 years. The entire cultural and mass life of the city is concentrated here. Young people skateboard and play basketball, while older people move chess pieces on a huge chessboard. Not far from the square, during the warmer months of the city, evenings of the Soviet era are organized: exhibitions of old equipment and cars, photo zones.
Imperial Bridge and the left bank. This view opens from New Venets Boulevard, not far from Cathedral Square.
A museum of the Soviet era has recently opened, located in the youth affairs department at 15 Karl Marx Street. For Soviet nostalgia, come here! I also can’t help but recommend the museum “Safe Apartment of the Simbirsk RSDLP Group.” It is a 3-5 minute walk from the Victory Obelisk.
Historical and architectural complex “Simbirskaya Zasechnaya Line”
Visitors are presented with a reconstruction of the watchtower, based on the historical evidence found. The tower was used to defend Ulyanovsk, which in ancient times was called Simbirsk.
The complex contains a lot of documentary materials that reveal the topic of the construction of such structures. A separate part of the exhibition is occupied by elements of Russian weapons and uniforms. The reconstruction was created in 2001 based on real historical sources.
Standing apart is the exhibition composition, which tells about the development of mills in Russia, about methods of flour production and the formation of industry in this area.
Cultural inspiration
All cultural life takes place in the city center. I recommend turning left from Goncharova Street and walking along Lev Tolstoy Street. There are ancient merchant mansions and various museums here: “Simbirsk Meteorological Station. Planetarium”, “Exhibition Hall on Pokrovskaya” and others.
A collection of paintings and architectural models can be seen in the following museums:
- Art Nouveau architecture in Simbirsk (Lva Tolstoy St., 43)
- House-Studio of architect F.O. Livchak (Architect Livchak St., 4)
- Museum of Contemporary Fine Arts. Plastova (Lva Tolstoy St., 51)
Climbing higher along Iron Division Street, you will see a stunning Gothic building in architecture - the Catholic Church of St. Mary. If you're lucky, you can catch an organ concert, which is usually held on weekends.
On Lenin Street and nearby you can visit:
- Museum "Lenin's Motherland" (Lenin St. 98/17)
- Museum of Urban Life "Simbirsk late XIX - early XX centuries" (Lenin St., 90)
- Fire Museum (Lenin St., 43)
- Museum of Simbirsk Photography (Engelsa St., 1B)
- Museum "Zasechnaya Cherta" (Lva Tolstoy St., 43A)
- Creative space “Kvartal” (conferences, photo zone, exhibitions)
I would like to mention the Ulyanovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, located on Novy Venets Boulevard. The building is unusual in architectural beauty; it has several floors. 1st floor - exhibitions of animals, insects, minerals with an interactive in the form of excavations of a prehistoric animal, WWII museum, history museum, photographs. 2nd floor - art museum exposition.
Local history museum and snow-covered fir trees.
The Museum of Local Lore is located close to the Lenin Memorial, on the Ulyanovsk embankment. In summer, here you can cool off in the shade of the trees and take photos against the backdrop of the bridge and the Volga, and in winter you can go ice skating. Don't forget to grab a bite to eat in the block near Cathedral Square and visit the Vladimir Garden.
"Fountain at the Museum of Local Lore." One day, young “city thinkers” added detergent to it and had a foam party.
You can get acquainted with theatrical art at the Ulyanovsk Drama Theater, which combines the classics of ancient Simbirsk and the modernity of the theatrical repertoire. Next to the theater there is a museum of the Simbirsk classical gymnasium - the same one where V. Ulyanov and A. Kerensky studied.
You can listen to music at the Ulyanovsk Philharmonic - an interesting place!
A. A. Plastov is a famous Soviet painter, a native of the village of Prislonikha, Ulyanovsk region. The master’s works and exhibitions of other artists can be seen in the A. Plastov Museum on Goncharova Street, 16.
And how can we not mention N.M. Karamzin - a great historian, writer and reformer of the Russian language. Visit Karamzinsky Square, where the monument to Karamzin with the muse Clio on the pedestal and the monument to the letter E on Novy Venets is hidden.
Attractions in the surrounding area
Civil Aviation History Museum
Address: st. Aviatsionnaya, 20A Telephone: Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10:17, Sat-Sun 10:16 Cost: 100 rubles
Ulyanovsk is considered the center of Russian aircraft manufacturing, where the majority of civil and military aircraft are produced.
The Aviation Museum was opened in 1983, its total area is 18 hectares, and the exhibition consists of 4 thousand objects, most of which are originals. Among the particularly valuable ones are the ANT-4 - the world's first heavy all-metal bomber, the TU-104 jet airliner and the TU-144 supersonic airliner.
Yulovsky Pond
Coordinates: 53.967, 46.5201 Inzensky district, Yulovo village How to get there: from Ulyanovsk along the P178 highway west to Ureno-Karlinsky, where turn left and follow to Yulovo
Yulovsky Pond is a man-made natural monument, created 100 years ago by order of the local landowner Yulov. Initially, it was an ordinary dam, but over time it became a protected area with a unique flora and fauna.
The length of the pond is 2 km, width 500 m, and it is fed by the waters of the Chernaya River.
Yulovsky Pond has the status of a natural landmark of regional significance.
White Lake
Coordinates: 53.11812 46.585016 Nikolaevsky district How to get there: along the Ulyanovsk-Moscow R-119 highway to the Nikolaevka village stop
The reservoir received its name due to its exceptionally clean water with slight mineralization and white sand at the bottom. The lake is fed by groundwater and precipitation, but regularly cleans itself.
Sometimes the surrounding area is called the corner of Finland, since its natural features are more typical of the northern regions.
Black Lake
Coordinates: 54.1758 48.2056 Address: Ulyanovsk, Zasviyazhsky district
Black Lake is an ecological reserve located on the left bank of the Sviyaga River. The area of the reservoir is about 7 hectares, the maximum depth is 2.4 meters. It is fed by the underground waters of the Sviyaga River and the channels flowing from it.
Several hundred plants grow on the territory of the lake, including: the rare lady's slipper, round-leaved wintergreen, and broadleaf sedum. There are many animals: weasels, muskrats, hedgehogs.
See the Volga: from above and up close
My favorite place in the city is the observation point on the new Presidential Bridge. You can get to it by minibuses and trams going to the Polytechnic University. Further 5 minutes along the slope across the field - and you will see an amazing view of the Volga, the bridge and motor ships. If you are driving, just drive to the fork on the bridge and park your car on the slope.
The second option for continuing the journey is to relax on the water. To get to the Central Beach, take any minibus going to the left bank across the Imperial Bridge. For those who want to swim, sunbathe and play beach volleyball, the Golden Sands area is open. Not far from the beach there is a River Port (station), from where tourist ships depart daily.
I will share with you a place from which you can see the entire Ulyanovsk: the right and left banks. On the top floor of the Venets Hotel, next to the Lenin Memorial, there is the Olympus bar. Look at the city from a bird's eye view: how small the buildings seem, and in the distance you can see the white towers of the left bank and the wind farm.
Vinnovskaya Grove
They say that this grove is described in Ivan Goncharov’s work “The Cliff”. Not surprisingly, the alleys of the park have a picturesque view, and the park itself is located on the banks of the beautiful Volga. The natural pond brings a special romantic mood. The variety of vegetation in the area is impressive.
For entertainment purposes, there is an amusement park for a fun family holiday. There is a place for newlyweds called the “corner of family happiness.” If you get hungry, you should go to local cafes serving Russian and European cuisine; they have a menu for children. In summer, evening discos and songs at the karaoke bar are popular.
Aquapark
You can devote the whole day to a trip to the Ulyot water park. It is located on the territory of Vladimirsky Park on the outskirts of the city. Children will enjoy water activities and a walk through the park with an artificial pond and the palace of the Imperial Club Deluxe Hotel.
It is impossible to visit all the sights in Ulyanovsk in 1 day. But you can highlight the key points for yourself and follow the schedule. Explore the secrets of this Volga city - you will be pleasantly surprised.
Maria Astafieva, student, 20 years old
Monument to Nikolai Karamzin
In this monument to Ulyanovsk, the sculptor very subtly reflected the style of the era of classicism, during which the great Russian historian Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin lived and conducted his research. On the pedestal we see a statue of the muse of history, Clio. In one hand she has the tablets of immortality, in the other a trumpet. Below is a bust of the historian himself in a recessed niche. The other ends depict stories from the writer’s life in the form of high reliefs. Among them is his dialogue with the emperor; the next one depicts the sad death of the author.
This monument is not only to a prominent figure in Russian historical science, but also to the invaluable works that he left behind.
Ulyanovsk Puppet Theater
The cultural institution is named after the first presenter of the television program “Good Night, Kids.” By the way, it was in this theater that the famous Stepashka, Khryusha, Karkusha and Filya were produced throughout the USSR, and then Russia!
The repertoires of performances are designed for different age groups - some you can bring a child to, while others are worth going to for a teenager, and even an adult.
The Family Club has been operating for several years now. Children aged 3-10 come with their parents and try themselves as a make-up artist, artist, director and puppeteer. Theater workers conduct master classes that are interesting and useful for children's development.
Ulyanovsk Drama Theater
The first troupe of the Ulyanovsk Drama Theater consisted of serfs; later people of noble origin also appeared in it. After the change in the form of government and the establishment of Soviet power, the repertoire changed somewhat. It is worth noting that during the war years, the actors toured Ukraine and performed in front of the soldiers.
Now the cultural landmark of Ulyanovsk has acquired a new look, after reconstruction in 2007. There are two scenes: Main and Small. First-class actors perform a wide repertoire, including the famous classics “Woe from Wit”, “Poor Lisa”, “North Wind”, “Marriage” and many others. All art connoisseurs should definitely appreciate the high level of acting and theater directing.
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