The history of Togliatti began in the 18th century, but, oddly enough, there are no outstanding architectural objects or historical monuments that would convey the spirit of those times. In the 1950s, large-scale construction began here - a hydroelectric power station was built and the Kuibyshev reservoir was equipped. This led to the flooding of the "old city". Local residents were relocated to higher areas, and neighborhoods were rebuilt from scratch. The oldest buildings that have been preserved here are buildings in the style of Stalinist classicism. There are also several houses moved from the “old city”. But this does not mean that there is nothing to see in Tolyatti! This is where the industrial giant is located. The Technical Museum, interesting sculptures that complement the city's landscape, theaters and galleries attract attention.
About the city of Tolyatti
The city of Togliatti is the regional center of the Samara region, located on the left bank of the Volga River.
Until 1964, Togliatti was called Stavropol-on-Volga. The population is more than 720 thousand inhabitants. Representatives of over a hundred nationalities and nationalities live there. It is often said about the city of Togliatti that it is “thrice born”. This is true. The history of Stavropol-on-Volga has been counted since June 20, 1737. The city was founded by an associate of Tsar Peter I, Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev, as a fortress city. At the beginning of the 20th century, approximately 6 thousand people lived in the city.
In 1950, a bright page opened in the chronicle of the city, which was unremarkable except for its unique nature. Then it became the center for the construction of the Volzhskaya Hydroelectric Power Station named after Lenin. In 1957, the hydroelectric power station was brought to its designed capacity. Due to the filling of the bed of the Kuibyshev reservoir, the cities were moved to a new location. Essentially, the construction of a giant electricity “factory” in Zhiguli led to the birth of a new city - industrial Stavropol, which became a major center of the chemical industry, mechanical engineering, and construction industry.
Modern Togliatti is a major industrial and economic center and one of the youngest and most dynamically developing cities in the country. About sixty large and medium-sized industrial enterprises operate successfully in the city. The city-forming enterprise is JSC AVTOVAZ; the city also has an automobile industry and a large number of enterprises producing automotive components and materials. And also in Tolyatti there are cement engineering plants, ship repair and mechanical plants, transformer plants, fire-fighting equipment plants, a protective coatings plant and a plastics plant.
The chemical industry is well developed in the city: the world's largest synthetic rubber plant "Togliattikauchuk" and the mineral fertilizer plant "KuibyshevAzot". But Tolyatti, despite a number of city-forming enterprises in the automotive and chemical industries, is not only a residential area. Located on the banks of the Volga River, near the Zhiguli Mountains, the city of Togliatti is very diverse in nature, architecture and, most importantly, its inhabitants. Being surrounded on three sides by forest, and on the fourth coming close to the shore of the Kuibyshev Reservoir, Togliatti is very picturesque. City beaches and boat stations stretch along the entire coast from the river port.
The Zhiguli Mountains are considered the pearl of Russia. The most original and beautiful area along the entire Volga, full of special grandeur and beauty, sung by the people and poets. The beauty of the Zhiguli Mountains is reflected in music and painting.
Togliatti is a major hub for road, rail, river and air transport. Due to its position, it has a very developed transport infrastructure that ensures its livelihoods. External transport connections of Tolyatti are provided by three bus stations, large railway stations, a river port and an airport. The Tolyatti river port is one of the largest transport hubs in the Volga region, which is often called the “Port of 5 Seas”.
Tolyatti is a city with a specific layout. In fact, it consists of a number of areas that are separated by large forests. Therefore, traveling there by public transport will take much longer than by car.
The peculiarity of the Avtozavodsky district of Togliatti is that it was built, for the first time in Russia, without a single barracks. This is the standard of a “dream city”, a city of the future as imagined by architects of the late 60s and early 70s. And as a standard of construction of that period, Autograd was included in one of the architecture textbooks that were published in Italy. The area is divided into almost even squares by wide avenues and streets. Most of its neighborhoods are similar to each other. It also has its own architectural attractions: the building of the VAZ House of Culture and Technology and the House of Children and Youth Creativity, as well as one of the largest shopping malls in Russia.
Togliatti is a city with a favorable social environment. Since its creation, the social infrastructure of the city has been focused on meeting the priority needs of the residents of Togliatti: in each quarter there were schools, kindergartens, shops and clinics, the necessary range of housing and communal services and transport services. At the same time, there was a lack of leisure and cultural centers; the urban space was characterized by monotony and monotony.
With the growing population, increasing industrial production and expanding the range of people's needs, the need arose to expand and modernize social infrastructure.
Market relations led to new problems that were associated with ensuring the availability of all types of social services for city residents and the massive transfer of social facilities into the ownership of the municipality.
The current social infrastructure of the city meets modern requirements and provides decent living conditions for people.
Developed infrastructure, beautiful nature, a pleasant atmosphere prevailing in Togliatti, as well as a large number of entertainments make the city attractive to tourists.
Tourism is one of the full-fledged components of the city’s policy. In 2006, the city district allocated funds for the development of tourism for the first time. Tourism is a strategic direction of socio-economic development of Tolyatti.
Tolyatti is a city where you can relax pleasantly and profitably. The temperate continental climate, warm summers, an abundance of rare species of plants and animals, many historical monuments, entertainment venues, and uniquely beautiful landscapes will make your holiday in Tolyatti unforgettable.
There are numerous hotels in Tolyatti. Thanks to the high level of service, hotels can accommodate the most demanding guests.
Zhigulevskaya HPP
The majestic structure of the Zhiguli hydroelectric power station is familiar not only to the residents of Tolyatti, but also to all of Russia. It was this building that could be seen on numerous postage stamps of the Soviet Union.
The building rises 80 meters (from the base to the roof). At the same time, the hydraulic unit has a height of 26.5 meters, and the length of the dam reaches 700 meters .
Everyone has the right to visit the area of the Zhigulevskaya hydroelectric power station, which is famous not only for its unique dimensions, but also for its amazing history. The object has existed since 1957. The Zhigulevskaya hydroelectric power station blocks the Volga River, successfully taming the power of the water.
About the city of Tolyatti
Tolyatti
- a city in the Samara region, located on the left bank of the Volga, as well as the largest city that is not the capital of a subject of the Russian Federation.
The “City of the Holy Cross,” as Togliatti was called in the 18th century, is now a major center of the automotive and chemical industries. It is here that the well-known AvtoVAZ plant
,
which can be visited on a guided tour. The huge AvtoVAZ technical museum
includes more than 460 large and about 3,000 small exhibits on an area of 38 hectares. Without exaggeration, the museum has everything: from old sewing machines to ballistic missiles. submarine, airplanes, helicopters, engineering equipment, diesel locomotives, artillery, tanks, radars, AvtoVAZ models - in a word, equipment for every taste. Keep in mind that even now the museum is huge, and in the future it promises to only grow and develop, so expect to spend at least 3-4 hours visiting this unique place.
The visiting card of the city is, undoubtedly, the monument to its founder - Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev
, which is an equestrian statue by Moscow sculptor Alexander Rukavishnikov.
The monument is located on an observation deck, which offers an unprecedented view of the city, and according to legend, it is located above the place where old Stavropol was. The second symbol of Tolyatti is the VAZ Boat
- a stele located near the main building of AvtoVAZ.
No one will be indifferent to the monument to a dog who waited for 7 whole years until his death for his owners, who were involved in a car accident and taken from the scene of the accident in an ambulance, but did not survive. Monument to Loyalty
- a testament to love and devotion, rub the dog’s nose for good luck, proving the immortality of true feelings.
A new landmark of the city, opened only in 2006 - the Alley of Lovers
, has already become a favorite place for citizens. According to tradition, newlyweds lay granite stones here with their names and wedding date.
Togliatti Museum of Local Lore
is one of the oldest in the city, where you can learn everything about the history of the city and the region.
The city museum complex "Heritage"
, located in the so-called Old Town, where the bulk of the indigenous population lives, has been operating since 1996 and was created on the basis of the first house moved from the flood zone in May 1953.
Undoubtedly, Togliatti is not only the city of AvtoVAZ, it is also famous for its music festivals. Perhaps one of the most famous is “Drums of the World”,
where musicians from different cities of Russia perform, and where everyone can try their hand at it.
No less popular is the festival that brings together all lovers of bard song - the international festival in memory of Valery Grushin
, or as it is popularly called - Grushinka, Grusha.
Fans of extreme sports will also not remain indifferent. In the summer, the annual festival of electronic music and extreme sports is held - "GES",
which brings together music lovers and various extreme sports enthusiasts, from rock climbers to kitesurfers.
Note to all those who are partial to the paranormal and inexplicable: it was in Togliatti in 2005, at the end of July, that circles appeared in a buckwheat field overnight in a completely incomprehensible way. It is not without reason that Tolyatti and its surroundings are considered one of the largest anomalous zones in Russia.
The homeland of “kopecks”, “sixes” and “Nivas” - the city of Tolyatti - is without a doubt a very convenient city for motorists. Visit this Russian Autotown, because who knows what miracles you will encounter. But you shouldn’t forget about a comfortable stay even in the pursuit of adventure. You can make your time in the city as comfortable and homely as possible by renting apartments for daily rent at the most affordable prices.
Name
The city was founded in the mid-18th century. Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev, a Russian engineer and political figure from the time of Anna Ioannovna.
At first, the future city of Togliatti was called Stavropol. To distinguish this city from Stavropol in the Caucasus, it began to be called Stavropol-on-Volga. However, contrary to the generally accepted opinion. This name has never been official.
And on August 28, 1964, the city was renamed Togliatti in honor of the General Secretary of the Italian Communist Party Palmiro Togliatti, who died on August 21, 1964 during a trip to Crimea.
In the 90s, a referendum was held to return the city to its former name, but less than half of the residents came. And the majority of those who came voted “against”. Also, the city was not affected by the “fashion” for renaming streets. Almost all streets have retained their former names.
The original purpose of the city was protection from nomads.
Drama Theater Wheel
The history of the drama theater began back in 1988. At the same time, the Wheel became an experiment, because before there were no contract theaters in Russia. Previously, only stationary theaters with permanent troupes and amateur creative studios operated in the USSR. In addition, Tolyatti did not have its own professional theater for a long time. Every year you can see 5-6 premiere performances at the Wheel. Now everyone can get closer to understanding the best facets of theater.
Address: Leningradskaya street - 31/38.
Geography
Togliatti is located on the banks of the Volga, surrounded by picturesque low mountains covered with forest. Oaks, birches, pines and lindens grow in the forests. In the city itself, forest plantations occupy almost a quarter of the area (about 3000 hectares).
Temperature changes can reach from -40°C in winter to +40°C in summer. In 1975, snowfalls in the city were so abnormal that the thickness of the snow cover reached 90 cm.
Tolyatti is one of the 10 Russian cities with the maximum number of sunny days per year.
The streets in the city are very long. The length of Obvodnoye Highway is more than 20 km. And the longest house is located at st. Revolutionary, 30.
Automotive capital
Zhiguli cars are produced in Tolyatti. The name comes from the Zhiguli Mountains, which are located on the opposite bank of the Volga. The city hosts various motorsport competitions.
The car production plant (AvtoVAZ JSC) was built in 1966. It was a joint project with the Italian concern FIAT.
Industry in Tolyatti is not limited to automobile manufacturing. The chemical industry is developed: the city is home to the world's largest ammonia production plant.
But there are also disadvantages: the presence of large-scale production in the city does not have the best effect on its ecology. The noise in the city exceeds the established sanitary standard of 55 dB.
After the economic crises of 1998 and 2008. Many enterprises in the light and food industries, banks, and construction organizations went bankrupt. Now Tolyatti is included in the list of Russian cities with the most difficult socio-economic situation.
OJSC AvtoVAZ
The automobile enterprise AvtoVAZ LLC is one of the best examples of a worthy automotive industry. The organization has gained particular fame in Eastern Europe and Russia. The main office is located in the city of Tolyatti, so tourists have the right to visit the workshops of the automobile enterprise. Thousands of cars roll off the factory assembly line every day.
The excursion can only be carried out with the participation of an organized group, so the preliminary step before visiting is to order an excursion.
The history of AvtoVAZ LLC successfully began back in 1966. Over the next decades, they produced Zhiguli, Niva, Sputnik, Samara and Oka. Currently, cars are produced under the Lada personal brand and support is provided by Nissan. Every visitor to the enterprise has the right, during a tour, to better understand what modern automobile production is like.
Address: Southern Highway-36.
Population
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the city's population was almost 600 people. The city was considered a resort. It also grew a local variety of onion, which is why it was called the “onion city.”
Now the population of Togliatti exceeds 700,000 people. In terms of population, it is among the top 20 cities in Russia. The first settlers of Togliatti were baptized Tatars, and now representatives of more than 100 nationalities live in it.
The city's population almost doubled in the 70s. 19th century during the construction of the automobile plant, which became a city-forming enterprise. At this time, a new district appeared in Tolyatti - Avtozavodsky. Now it is the largest region of the Volga region. The city also has Komsomolsky and Central districts.
The city's population is larger than that of Montenegro or Iceland.
Education and culture
There are 5 universities located in the city. The oldest and largest university in the city is Tolyatti State University.
The non-state university Volga Region Orthodox Institute, under the leadership of Archpriest Dimitry Leskin, trains public catering specialists, economists, teachers of the humanities, as well as primary and preschool education, and theologians.
Among the scientific institutions in the city there is the Institute of Ecology of the Volga Basin of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The main directions of scientific activity of the institute are related to the study of ecosystems of the Volga basin. An ecological museum has been created on the basis of the research institute, which offers excursions for schoolchildren and adults.
The city has large museums: local history, art, technical.
Tolyatti hosts many cultural events and is called the “city of festivals.” The most famous is the Grushinsky Festival of Art Songs.
At the initiative of residents, a monument was erected in the city to a dog that faithfully waited for 7 years for its owner who died in a car accident.
Monument to Devotion
The touching story of love and loyalty of a German shepherd has become a real legend for the people of Russia. On the Southern Highway in 1995, an accident occurred in which a guy and a girl died. The dog survived, but he was always at the scene of the tragic incident. The pet received the nickname “Faithful”.
Many people tried to help the dog find a new family, but all attempts were unsuccessful: the German shepherd always ran away from home and returned to the road post. After 7 years, the devoted dog died next to the road, without waiting for the return of its beloved owners.
Residents of Tolyatti collected the necessary amount and erected the Monument of Loyalty.
Address: Southern Highway.
Technical Museum
The Technical Museum was opened in 1998 on the initiative of AvtoVAZ director K.G. Sakharov still bears his name.
The museum is an open-air museum and park complex containing more than 400 exhibits: cars, weapons, samples of railway and space technology, weapons parts. There is a submarine in a separate area that can be visited as part of an organized excursion.
Some museum exhibits exist in a single copy. Now we are raising funds for the restoration of the BT-7 tank.
There is a karting track on the territory of the complex.
