Initially, Tobolsk was inhabited by Cossacks and settlers from central Russia and the Urals, which was located in close proximity to Siberia, endowed with untold riches. Russian pioneers, merchants, always striving inland, moved towards the Pacific Ocean, leaving behind settlements that later turned into cities. Tobolsk became the center of development of Siberia. It was founded by the Cossacks under the leadership of Ermak.
Foundation of the city
It is known that it was expensive for Russia to wage war against the Tatar khans on its eastern borders. Endless skirmishes with their detachments had a negative impact on the development of the territory of the Siberian Territory. Then the protection of the northeastern borders was entrusted to the Ural owner of the salt mines, the wealthy merchant Stroganov, and he entered into an agreement to protect the eastern borders with the Volga Cossacks led by Ermak. Thanks to the Cossacks, Siberia began to be explored by pioneers.
Tyumen became the first city of Siberia. The Tyumen fort was founded a year earlier than the Tobolsk one. Thanks to its advantageous position, it was Tobolsk that became the capital of Siberia for many years. The first population of Tobolsk were Russian settlers. Initially it was called the city of Siberia. The official date of its foundation is considered to be the summer of 1587, when the city of Tobolsk was founded 17 kilometers from the Tatar city of Isker on the banks of the Irtysh River, near the mouth of the Tobol.
This place was not chosen by chance. The construction of a settlement at the intersection of two large and navigable rivers was extremely profitable. After all, the only transport links in the taiga were rivers. Here, five years earlier, a battle took place between a Russian detachment of Cossacks and the army of the Tatar Khan Kuchum, a cunning and vile ruler who swore friendship to the Russian Tsar, and himself incited local tribes who traded with Orthodox merchants to attack Russian settlements and detachments.
Literature
- Slovtsov P. Walks around Tobolsk in 1830
, 1834 - A brief historical sketch of the city of Tobolsk
// Tobolsk Diocesan Gazette, 1887, No. 9-10, p. 168-177 - Znamensky M.S. Historical surroundings of the city of Tobolsk
, 1901 - Russia.
Complete geographical description of our Fatherland / Ed. V.P. Semenov-Tien-Shansky. T. 16. Western Siberia, St. Petersburg, 1907, p. 400-403. - Butsinsky P.N., Works in two volumes: T. 1. Settlement of Siberia and the life of its first inhabitants
/ Ed. S.G. Parkhimovich. Comp. Yu.L. Mandrika. - Tyumen, 1999, p. 107 - 143.
Development
The route from Russia to Siberia passed through the city. He developed quickly. Since 1590, it became a city and center for the development of Siberia. Peter I was very interested in it, who appreciated its importance and wanted to give it more representativeness. The population of Tobolsk also grew. Russian goods went through the city along the Yenisei and Tobol deep into Siberia, and in the reverse order furs and gold went to Russia. The city was getting rich. Construction was in full swing. The Tobolsk Kremlin was built, many cathedrals, government buildings, and merchant estates were built. Under the first governor of the region, Prince Gagarin, the Prikaz Chambers and the Gostiny Dvor were built.
Large productions for that time developed, such as a state-owned plant, glass, candle and stationery factories. The Siberian Highway passing through it also played a major role in the development of the city. This made the city the commercial capital of Siberia. Mining enterprises developed. Gold and silver went through the city to Moscow and St. Petersburg for the Russian mint.
Tobolsk became famous in history as a Russian exile. The development of the region also took place at the expense of convicts, which also affected the population of Tobolsk. Under Peter I, Swedish prisoners of war were exiled here.
Used materials
- Encyclopedia article My City
- Tobolsk diocesan address-calendar, published by order of the Tobolsk diocesan authorities for 1895. Tobolsk: Printing house of the Tobolsk Diocesan Brotherhood, p. 34-63
- Statistical information about the Tobolsk province for 1858 / Memorial book for the Tobolsk province for 1860. Tobolsk: In the printing house of the Provincial Board, 1860, p. 117, 132-136, 152-153
- Calendar of the Tobolsk province for 1889. Tobolsk: Publication of the Tobolsk Provincial Printing House, p. 112, tab. A
[1]
[2] Inventory made by bishop's order in 1733. Nedosekov A.K. Anthony I Stakhovsky, Metropolitan of Tobolsk and Siberia
// Tobolsk EV, 1891, No. 17-18, dep. unofficial, p. 375.
Soviet period
The Soviet period brought a second life to Tobolsk, a railway was built into the city, a large petrochemical complex was built, which was declared a Komsomol construction site, which led to an influx of young people. Life is in full swing here again. New schools and kindergartens were built. The population of Tobolsk was 97 thousand people. Three new microdistricts were built in the city: Mendeleevo, Sumkino and Rechport.
Map of the city of Tobolsk. Tobolsk Yandex maps
Created using the Yandex service People's Map (Yandex map), when zoomed out you can understand the location of Tobolsk on the map of Russia. Tobolsk Yandex maps. Interactive Yandex map of the city of Tobolsk with street names, as well as house numbers. The map has all the symbols of Tobolsk, it is convenient and not difficult to use.
On the page you can read some descriptions of Tobolsk. You can also see the location of the city of Tobolsk on the Yandex map. Detailed with descriptions and labels of all city objects.
City today
According to statistics, the largest population of the city was 102 thousand people. This figure refers to 2005. After that he began to decline. This is explained by the outflow of people of retirement age who left for central Russia. The maximum minimum level was observed in 2014, the population then amounted to 98,050 people.
The figure is gradually increasing, which can be explained by the growth of oil and gas industry enterprises. What is the population of Tobolsk in 2022? It amounted to 98,886 people. The majority of residents (54%) are women.
Tobolsk is a city of young people. The average age of the population is 34 years. The share of the working-age population is 65%, people of retirement age - 14%. The population density of Tobolsk cannot be called high - 442 people per square kilometer. By national composition:
- Russians - more than 75%;
- Tatars – 16%;
- Ukrainians – 2.5%;
- others – 6.5%.
The city-forming enterprise is a petrochemical plant. A number of oil and gas industry factories operate in the city. in 2014, the construction of the ZapSibNeftekhim plant began - this is the largest oil project in Russia since 1991.
Where to stay in Tobolsk
"Gostiny Dvor"
Address: Krasnaya sq., 2, building 1
We have already recommended a mini-hotel within the walls of the Tobolsk Kremlin with a view of the St. Sophia Cathedral above. The main thing is to book a free room in time, and you definitely won’t regret either the choice or the trip to Tobolsk. The amenities include everything, including Wi-Fi in the rooms and free parking. Breakfast is continental.
From 2,200 rub. on Booking.com
Boutique "Seasons"
Address: st. Revolutionary, 9
Modern boutique hotel in the center of Tobolsk, walking distance from the Kremlin. New building, fresh renovation and designer interiors. The rooms are warm and cozy. High-quality furniture, especially beds and orthopedic mattresses. Free bath and toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, Wi-Fi.
From 5,000 rub. on Booking.com
Pride of Tobolsk
Many famous compatriots were born in Tobolsk:
- the great chemist D. Mendeleev;
- writer P. Ershov;
- S. Remezov - chronicler and cartographer of Siberia;
- composer A. Alyabyev - author of the famous "Nightingale";
- artist V. Perov - author of “Girl with Peaches”;
- Yu. Osipov - famous mathematician;
- architect N. Nikitin;
- B. Grabovsky - inventor of television;
- famous artists L. Smirnova, A. Abdulov and many others.
Now Tobolsk is the center of Orthodoxy. There are many temples and monasteries here, as well as a theological seminary. The city is the center of tourism in Siberia.
Why go to Tobolsk: TOP 6 reasons
Remezov Airport
Coordinates: 58.061786, 68.330103
The new Tobolsk airport was put into operation in the fall of 2021. This is a unique case for modern Russia, when a full-fledged hub was built for a city with a population of less than 500,000 people. Remezov regularly receives flights from Moscow (Pobeda), St. Petersburg (Aeroflot), Yekaterinburg (Red Wings), Novosibirsk (S7). For the summer season of 2022, they promise subsidized flights to Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory. Flight time from Moscow is only 3 hours. No matter how much it may seem to us that Siberia is so far away that you can’t even get there in half a day.
Tobolsk Kremlin
Coordinates: 58.199491, 68.251730
Panorama of the Kremlin in Tobolsk in winter Ann May | Dreamstime.com
The next reason to fly to Tobolsk is the Tobolsk Kremlin. The white stone structure with seven towers 11 m high has become a symbol of the city. Over its long history, Tobolsk had the opportunity to be both the capital of Siberia and the center of the largest Tobolsk province at that time. Naturally, Moscow encouraged stone construction in this city. And so, on the wave of success, the snow-white Kremlin arose - a unique example of Siberian architecture, built from 1683 to 1799. The structure is so large that it even stands on the square called “Red”.
Within the walls of the Kremlin there is a wonderful mini-hotel “Gostiny Dvor”. There is no better way to feel the atmosphere of old Tobolsk than under its vaulted ceilings. The rooms are beautiful and cozy, breakfast is in the refectory.
Sights of the Tobolsk Kremlin:
- Sophia-Uspensky Cathedral - the Orthodox cathedral church of Tobolsk;
- The Cathedral Bell Tower stands separately from the St. Sophia Cathedral. The south-eastern part of the Kremlin's Cathedral Square.
- Gostiny Dvor is the central entrance group of the Kremlin in Tobolsk. There is a center for Eurasian trade and the Museum of Siberian Entrepreneurship;
- The Governor's Palace in the Kremlin is an exhibition about the history of governance of Siberia. Erected in 1782, on the site of the Order Chamber;
- The Bishop's House is an exhibition about the history of Orthodoxy in Siberia.
The museum-reserve is open to the public from 10:00 to 18:00 daily, except Mondays. Inquiries by phone. +7 (345) 622-37-13.
Vitaly, St. Petersburg: “Beauty! Everything is good there: the cathedral, numerous museums, and excursions. By the way, I would send the tour guides of Petrodvorets and the Catherine Palace in Pushkin here for an internship; they will have a lot to learn from their Tobolsk colleagues. I’ve been there several times, and the only thing that doesn’t suit me is the constant wind.”
Place of last exile of the Romanov family
Coordinates: 58.193588, 68.243423
The third reason to visit Tobolsk is at the same time one of the most difficult pages in the history of our country. The city became the place of exile for the family of Emperor Nicholas II. The Romanovs spent the last months of their lives in Tobolsk. They were accommodated in the luxurious house of the merchant Kuklin at that time (there was electricity, running water and even sewerage). They celebrated a sad Christmas in 1918. And five months later they were transported towards Yekaterinburg, to the place of execution.
Abalaksky Znamensky Monastery
Coordinates: 58.129513, 68.590654
20 km from Tobolsk there is another cultural heritage site of Russia - the Orthodox male Abalaksky Znamensky Monastery. Dating back to 1785, it was built by the will of Bishop Varlaam of Tobolsk and Siberia. It is famous for the miraculous Abalatskaya icon, which appeared in 1636 to the widow Mary. When troubled times came for the Orthodox Church during the revolution, the icon was lost and the monastery was plundered. Restoration began only in 1989. And the shrine was returned to the monastery in the form of a copy of the miraculous Abalatsk icon.
House-Museum of Rasputin
Coordinates: 57.240409, 66.791396
Interior of the house-museum in the village. Pokrovsky Photo: muzey-rasputina.ru
The village of Pokrovskoye, 160 km from Tobolsk, became famous for the fact that Grigory Rasputin was born there in 1869. An odious personality, a man whose secret of popularity has not yet been unraveled. And he clearly was not only that Rasputin was close friends with Nicholas II and his family. But even if so, getting close to the emperor for the son of a Siberian peasant is also not an ordinary task. In general, the glory of the “royal friend”, “healer”, “soothsayer” followed him all his life. And it went beyond Russia (according to statistics, he is still the most famous Russian abroad).
If you are interested in, if not solving, then at least getting closer to the secret of G. Rasputin, it is worth traveling a considerable distance from Tobolsk to visit his home. In 1990, a private museum muzey-rasputina.ru was opened there.
Group excursions are held on Saturdays and Sundays, starting at 11:00. Ticket price is 500 rubles. You can individually get to the Rasputin House-Museum on any day and at any convenient time (the excursion will cost 8,000 rubles). Pre-registration in both cases by phone. 8 (904) 494-03-14.
Roman, Moscow: “Friends! Believe me, before the excursion I did not treat G. Rasputin well. And after that he didn’t treat me any better. But I got to thinking! And I realized that the attitude towards his memory needs to be reconsidered. At least double check. And this is thanks to the museum and its keeper personally, Marina Yurievna.”
Museums of Tobolsk
Coordinates: 58.213137, 68.286729
If you skip the sightseeing tour, the easiest way to get to know Tobolsk is in museums. One might say, the “three pillars” on which the city is based.
- The Governor's Palace Museum is a museum complex of the Tobolsk Kremlin. This is the white stone symbol of the city itself. Address: Red Square, 1.
- The Museum of the Family of Emperor Nicholas II is the mansion of the bankrupt merchant Kuklin. I managed to visit the governor's residence and the place of the last long exile of the imperial family. Address: st. Mira, 10.
- Tobolsk factory of bone-carving art products - Address: st. Znamensky, 58A. Celebrated her 90th birthday.
Tobolsk is also famous for being the first in Siberia to receive city status. And even though this happened almost 450 years ago, Siberians do not forget about it.
