Dzerzhinsk (Nizhny Novgorod region) - overview of attractions

A beautiful small town is located 34 km from Nizhny Novgorod. The second largest city in the Nizhny Novgorod region turned 80 years old in 2010. This area was first mentioned in documents in 1606. They talked about the transfer of lands on which large settlements were located to the Dudin monastery. In 1862, a railway station called Chernoye was built here, which gave impetus to the further development of the region.

Until 1929, there was a small village called Rastyapino. And in 1929, not far from the station, a plot of forest was cut down and at a ceremonial meeting, Dzerzhinsk was founded, named after the chairman of the Cheka, F. E. Dzerzhinsky. In 1930, the village was given city status, and the chemical industry began to develop intensively, the foundations of which were laid back in 1916.

During perestroika in the 90s, businesses closed and people left their homes in search of work. In recent decades, economic growth has been observed - new enterprises are being built, old ones are being reconstructed, research institutes, hospitals, and schools are opening. Now it is the largest settlement in the region.

Since chemical industry facilities are located here, this region is one of the most polluted in Russia. Perhaps the problem will be resolved soon.

Museum of Local Lore

The museum stores all the historical events that took place in the city. It consists of nine departments, including a nature department, an art gallery and a history department. It is in this museum that exhibitions of works by local artists, thematic and theatrical excursions, and readings on the history of the region are held.

In addition, on weekends, events are held here with the participation of children's music schools and music colleges, as well as creative groups of the city.

Location: Dzerzhinsky Avenue - 8.

Cities of the Nizhny Novgorod region

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Nizhny Novgorod region - cities

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Sights of the Nizhny Novgorod region

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin (Nizhny Novgorod) ☆☆☆☆☆

Rating: 273.59

Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street (Nizhny Novgorod) ☆☆☆☆☆

Rating: 235.29

Chkalov Stairs (Nizhny Novgorod) ☆☆☆☆☆

Rating: 233.41

Cable car Nizhny Novgorod – Bor (Nizhny Novgorod) ☆☆☆☆☆

Rating: 176.15

Samovar Museum (Gorodets) ☆☆☆☆☆

Rating: 169.11

Architecture of Gorodets (Gorodets) ☆☆☆☆☆

Rating: 152.75

Full list of attractions

Above are some of the most popular attractions in the Nizhny Novgorod region . 298 attractions, 6 holidays, 7 services, 14 trades, 176 hotels, 112 cafes can be found on the site pages using the links from the table. You can go either to the city page (column on the left), where all the attractions will be listed, or to a page with filtered objects of a specific type.

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Monument to Dzerzhinsky

The monument is located on the main square of the city, also called Dzerzhinskaya Square. It was on this spot that the first stone was laid in 1929, marking the beginning of the development of the city. The monument is located in a park planted with linden trees, and along the perimeter of the park spirea ilmofolia grows. The monument to Dzerzhinsky is made of bronze and is located on a granite pedestal. This is a quiet and soulful place in the city.

Location: Dzerzhinsky Square.

Route for exploring the city on your own in 1-2 days

Dzerzhinsk is a city whose sights you can easily explore on your own.

The main task is to create a competent route:

• 09:00-10:00. Central square. First stop when exploring the city. There is an ancient building there, where the city administration is now located. In addition, there is a monument to F. E. Dzerzhinsky on the square.

• 10:30-12:00. After walking through the Central Square, it is recommended to walk along the main streets, where you can enjoy the beauty of the monumental buildings and cleanliness.
• 12:30-13:30. Palace of Culture of Chemists. An attraction where you can find information about the main industry in the city.
• 14:00-16:00. Museum of Military Glory of Veterans of the Great Patriotic War and Local Wars.
• 16:30-17:00. Walk along the Oka. Tourists can enjoy the beauty of the river from land or rent a small boat and ride on the water.
• 17:30-18:00. TB Dispensary. Walking along the river, you can reach this place. The attraction will be of interest to lovers of old and destroyed buildings.
• 19:00-20:00. Church of Anthony the Great. If a tourist wants to go inside, then the visit to the attraction should be rescheduled for the first half of the day.
• 20:30-22:00. Dinner. The Dacha or Parus restaurants are perfect for this.

House with a spire

This is one of the most important architectural monuments of the city, which was built in 1955. In fact, what makes this house significant is the spire, located on the central part of the structure. The house is separated from the sidewalks by lawns with trees and shrubs. Now the building is painted rich green, making it stand out from the crowd of other buildings.

Location: Prospekt Chkalova street - 12.

Flora and fauna

The forest area around and inside the city is 28,000 hectares. They are dominated by pine, which makes up 45% of the total number of trees. In addition, you can find birch, alder, and oak.

The fauna is represented by wild boars, moose, wolves, martens and foxes. In addition, you can meet hares, badgers and gophers.

Memorial to fallen heroes

The memorial was built in honor of the 20th anniversary of the victory over the fascist troops. It is located on Heroes Square. The monument is an 18 m , from which extends a console with a bowl in which an eternal flame burns.

The memorial plaques describe the achievements of the local population in combat and labor activities during the Second World War.

Location: Gers Square (intersection of Mira Boulevard and Lenin Avenue).

Religious buildings

Church ensemble on Svyato-Tikhonovsky Proezd

At the end of the last century, construction began on a complex of three churches located in Svyato-Tikhonovsky Proezd.

• The first church of the complex is wooden, belongs to the Resurrection parish, and bears the name of St. Tikhon.
• Later, the Church of John the Baptist was built from red brick; it is a functioning temple in which services are held.
• The third building is the Resurrection of Christ, construction and finishing work is currently underway in it, they should be completed soon.

The territory of the complex is well-groomed at any time of the year; in summer there are many flowers. Near the complex there is a children's playground where small children, accompanied by their parents, love to walk.

St. Anthony's Temple

The current Orthodox Church in honor of St. Anthony is located north of the center. Erected in our century, the first Easter service was held in the church in April 2010. In the fall of the same year, a Sunday school opened.

Cathedral Mosque

In the 90s, with donations from parishioners, a majestic cathedral mosque was built, located in a beautiful location on a hill.

Book House

The building is based on a standard library design, but what makes the building unique is that its central entrance is located on the second floor. The staircase leading to the entrance resembles an airplane ramp.

The Book House has four floors, but no windows are visible on the third floor. The windows on this floor open onto balconies with high railings, which, in turn, are decorated with mosaics. These are gathering places for Dzerzhinsk writers; literary evenings and exhibitions are held there.

Location: Tsiolkovsky Avenue - 21g.

Climate

Dzerzhinsk is located in an area with a temperate continental climate with relatively cold winters and warm summers. Cyclones from the Atlantic and Mediterranean often pass here, which increases cloudiness. In addition, an unfavorable environmental situation increases the risk of strange weather conditions, for example, severe frosts in May.

Winter begins in mid-November, during which time the ground is already covered with a dense layer of snow. Summers are most often warm, windless, with minimal precipitation. Cooling in autumn occurs gradually and smoothly. The average temperature in cold weather is -19 °C. In summer, the air warms up to +20-25 °C.

Palace of Culture of Chemists

This is another architectural monument of the city of Dzerzhinsk. It opened for citizens in April 1959. The palace consists of several levels: a gas shelter, a ground floor, three floors and a round building topped with the largest Russian flag in the entire region. The outside of the building is decorated with black granite and the inside with marble. The palace also houses a large theater hall.

Location: Lenin Avenue - 62.

Reviews about the holiday

According to guests of Dzerzhinsk, the main advantage of the city is its ancient churches with magnificent architecture. In addition, tourists highlight the beautiful nature of the city and region. Positive impressions are spoiled only by the unfavorable environmental situation, which repels a large number of tourists.

Dzerzhinsk is a young city that has an interesting history dating back to antiquity. Now all residents of Russia know about it. After all, the environmental situation in the city is not the most favorable; even interesting sights and adjacent natural beauty cannot increase the influx of tourists and migrants.

Drama theatre

This theater was opened in 1945 and was located in the Palace of Culture. Sverdlova. The theater troupe's debut performance took place in November 1946. Due to the lack of its own building, the theater at first had to give performances in factories' clubs and various cultural centers. However, in 1980, the theater was allocated its own separate building, located on Mira Boulevard.

Thanks to the convenience and equipment of the new building, the theater's performances have become much more interesting and brighter. Currently, the theater's repertoire is very diverse - it hosts productions of both domestic and foreign classics.

Location: Mira Boulevard - 28.

Puppet Theatre

The Dzerzhinsky Puppet Theater tours in many countries and also takes part in a large number of festivals. The theater was founded in 1988 and is located in the old drama theater building after it was reconstructed.

During the operation of the puppet theater, a very large number of performances were staged there. Throughout the 30 years of its existence, the main director of the theater has been Vladimir Kozachenko, who in 1991 initiated the festival “Puppet Theater without Borders”.

Location: Lenin Avenue - 66A.

Leisure

Dzerzhinsk, whose sights will be of interest to all tourists, is located in Central Russia, not far from Nizhny Novgorod.

Options:

• Dzerzhinsky Dendrological Park. It was founded in 1951, under the leadership of experienced foresters. The park's landscape is perfectly designed. City guests and residents can stroll through parks and alleys where more than 500 species of plants grow, including especially rare ones. Here you can see Manchurian walnut, silver maple, Austrian pine, and Polish larch.

• Our Energy . In Dzerzhinsk, for lovers of active recreation there are not only parks, but also gyms. The sports club “Our Energy” is located at: Uritskogo Street, 3. The complex offers a huge variety of group classes, for example, yoga, sports dancing, Zumba. There is also a spa center with a solarium and massage rooms.

Arboretum

The arboretum began its existence in 1951 and is located in the southeast of the city, occupying 15 hectares . Initially, the idea of ​​its creation was to revive those pine forests that were cut down during the construction of the city.

On the territory of the arboretum there is a huge number of trees and shrubs of different species. Most of them are exotic and were not previously typical for the Nizhny Novgorod region. To protect these exotic plants from the wind, a windbreak of trees was planted in the arboretum.

Location: Pushkino village, Sadovaya street.

Where to stay?

There are a lot of hotels, guest houses and inns, but it is better to reserve a place in advance, especially since you can cancel your reservation for free.

• Only positive reviews about the Hotel Park. Modern, comfortable and cozy hotel in the city center. The luxury apartments have beautiful furniture, Wi-Fi, billiards, a bar and a restaurant on site.
• The economy hotel "Sokol" has recently opened, a few minutes' drive from the center by public transport. Guests can work out in the gym, relax in the sauna, visit the beauty salon and medical center, and have lunch in the cafe. Double rooms with bar, WiFi. Cost from 1600 rubles.
• Mini-hotel "BierLoga" was opened in 2008. Consists of seven comfortable rooms of the “standard” and “junior suite” categories. Beautiful interior design in a classic style, bathroom with personal hygiene products, hairdryer, bathrobe. The hotel has a restaurant, billiard room, bowling alley, and sauna. A double standard room will cost guests 3,800 rubles, a “junior suite” - from 4,500 rubles.

Regardless of the cost, the hotels are clean, comfortable, with attentive staff, and the prices are not too bad. Guests will definitely choose a place to stay according to their tastes and capabilities.

petting zoo

This is a landscaped area on the territory of the City Park of Culture and Recreation. Both wild animals and birds, as well as domestic ones, are kept here. The most important distinctive feature of this zoo is that on its territory little visitors can not only look at the animals, but also pet, feed and take pictures with them.

Location: Lenin Avenue - 66A.

Ecology

Dzerzhinsk is now considered one of the most polluted cities in Russia. This affects population growth, economic development, and the health of city residents. Determining the actual level of pollution is quite difficult. The information is often false, the real situation is carefully hidden by the authorities and local business owners.

Chemical plants, other industries and the sludge lake pose a threat to people and the city’s ecology. The greatest danger comes from landfills where waste is stored. The largest of them is called the “Black Hole”. According to many experts, it is one of the most polluted landfills in Europe.

Now, in order to eliminate the consequences of long-term pollution of soil, air and water, large financial investments will be required. Fortunately, residents notice that after the closure of some factories, it has become much easier to breathe. In addition, crayfish have appeared in the Oka, which indicates that the water has become a little cleaner.

Fountain "Tornado"

Since 2009 it has been located on Lenin Square. This water show attraction, which was created using the most innovative technologies, fascinates all its visitors. To the sound of music, you can see “fireworks”, “shots” and many other water effects.

The fountain looks most beautiful in the dark, when it is illuminated from different sides by spotlights. The fountain's repertoire includes works for every taste and for any age. The area around the fountain is decorated with sculptures, benches, lawns and shrubs.

Location: Lenin Square - 1.

Pyr Lake

This is one of the largest lakes in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Its area is 272 hectares and its depth is 3 meters. The water in the lake has a brownish tint, imparted to it by peat.

The bottom is covered with a thick layer of silt, and the approach to the lake is very difficult, since its shores are swampy. Rare plants grow in the lake, which are listed in the Red Book of the region. Lake Pyrskoe is a natural monument that is protected by the state.

How to get there?

• You can fly from Moscow by plane. There is no direct flight; the nearest airport is in Nizhny Novgorod. Then you need to use electric trains, which run from early morning until late at night from Moskovskaya station.
• It is convenient to get there by direct train from Kursky Station. The train travels for about six hours (395 km from Moscow). The cost of travel in a compartment is over 2000 rubles, a seat – from 600 rubles.
• You can get there from Moscow by comfortable intercity buses. They are equipped with anatomical chairs, air conditioning and heating systems. The fare is about 900 rubles.

The small green town always welcomes guests. If you manage to get to Dzerzhinsk, located in the Nizhny Novgorod region, be sure to see its sights - it’s interesting.

Church of the Annunciation in the village of Zhelnino

The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1878. The merchant Solin allocated 100 thousand rubles for its construction. Three altars were illuminated in the church, and two very old icons were also transferred there.

In 1937 the cathedral was closed. But in 1988, the temple was completely restored and the first services in the city were held there. In 1994, a Sunday school was opened at the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Location: Krasnaya street - 10A.

Dzerzhinsk

Video: Dzerzhinsk

Basic moments

Dzerzhinsk traces its history back to a small village with a truly “Shchedrin” name “Rastyapino”. It was founded at the beginning of the 17th century. In the century before last, the name of this ancient settlement was given to a workers' settlement, which a decade after the revolution began to be called Dzerzhinsk. It gained city status in 1930.

The chemical industry in the then small village began to emerge during the First World War, when enterprises producing mineral acids and explosives came into operation here. In the post-revolutionary years, new factories were built in the city, turning it into an industrial center on an all-Union scale. Dzerzhinsk increased chemical production both during the Great Patriotic War and in the subsequent peace period.

It is not at all surprising that the city entered the new millennium with enormous environmental problems. In 2006, the research organization Blacksmith Institute (USA) ranked Dzerzhinsk among the ten most polluted cities on the planet with toxic substances. The Russian side denies such catastrophic conclusions, but over the past decade a number of events have been carried out in Dzerzhinsk, thanks to which the environmental situation here has improved somewhat.

Chemical production could not destroy the luxurious nature that glorified these lands. Forests that have retreated from the industrial center are now being actively revived. New trees and shrubs grown in the famous Dzerzhinsky Arboretum are appearing on city alleys and parks. Reputable hotel complexes, small hotels, and recreation centers have been built in the surrounding villages. Local residents like to spend time here and guests of Dzerzhinsk stay here, preferring country hotels to city hotels that are not so comfortable.

There are no historical sites to be found in the city, but its post-war architecture is quite remarkable. In the central blocks you can see majestic buildings in the neoclassical style, which look very impressive. In Dzerzhinsk there are many squares and parks where monuments from the Soviet period have been preserved, including, of course, the statue of “Iron Felix”, towering in the central square. The city has theater stages, a 3D cinema, decent restaurants, nightclubs, and large shopping centers with entertainment areas.

History of Dzerzhinsk

The land where modern Dzerzhinsk is located has been inhabited by people since ancient times. Among the prehistoric locations on the left bank of the Oka there is the Rastyapinskaya site, named after the village that preceded Dzerzhinsk. Scientists date the artifacts found here to approximately the 2nd millennium BC. e.

Written sources dating back to the 17th-18th centuries indicate that during that period, settlements arose near the forest river Chernaya, among which was the small village of Rastyapino. The name “Chernorechye” was assigned to this region itself, and the main village was called Cherny. The soils along which the river bed ran had a high peat content, which is why the water had a black color. The river dried up back in the 40s of the last century, when peat and water resources began to be intensively used for the needs of factories being built in Dzerzhinsk.

The first written mentions of the village of Rastyapino date back to 1606. Then it was transferred to the Dudin monastery. And in 1752, together with neighboring villages, Rastyapino went to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. There is no information about how life went on in the village over the next hundred years. Rastyapino reappeared in historical documents in the second half of the 19th century, in connection with the construction of the railway.

In 1862, the “cast iron” connected Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, and then in the vicinity of the village of Chernoye a stop station Chernorechye appeared, later renamed after the name of the village. The area around the stop was gradually developed, but the local residents continued to consider themselves Chernosel residents. When in 1905, for unknown reasons, the settlement and the station were renamed “Rastyapino,” this almost led to a riot: the villagers did not want to be “rastyapinos,” or even “blunderers.” However, the name of the stop was assigned, although it was designated as “New Rastyapino”. Soon the village became the center of the Chernorechenskaya volost. It was in its place that Dzerzhinsk subsequently arose.

The first production enterprises of the future unofficial capital of the Russian chemical industry were an alabaster-gypsum plant (1869) and a rope factory (1875). In 1915, a mineral acids plant came into operation in Novy Rastyapin, which still produces chemical products today. It is known as Korund LLC. A year later, the Okhtinsky Powder Plant, evacuated from Petrograd, was located in the village - the largest manufacturer of explosives in pre-revolutionary Russia. Nowadays, the reformed enterprise is part of the structure of the domestic military-industrial complex.

In the 1920s, local enterprises underwent large-scale modernization and workshops were built. In 1929, the workers' settlement with the ridiculous name was renamed Dzerzhinsk. A year later it received city status. During the hard times of war, evacuated factories joined the enterprises already operating in the city. Air defense was established in Dzerzhinsk, but it was not bombed, unlike Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod). The Luftwaffe pilots did not seem to notice Dzerzhinsk, and then rumors appeared that the owners of large German concerns convinced Adolf Hitler to preserve the integrity of the city's industrial complex, hoping that it would become their trophy.

Meanwhile, the factories of Dzerzhinsk tirelessly provided the front with shells, mines, and bombs, tripling their production output compared to the pre-war period. Already in 1941, the Chernorechensky chemical plant began producing unique products - the self-igniting liquid “KS”, which was used in the famous “Molotov cocktails”.

After the war, impressive industrial and residential construction took place in Dzerzhinsk. Apartment buildings and cultural institutions grew here, and a new railway station was built. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the city was the largest center of the chemical industry in the country. And now Dzerzhinsk has largely retained its position, although some factories have closed in recent years.

Geography and climate

Dzerzhinsk is located on the left bank of the Oka, just west of Nizhny Novgorod. It is separated from the capital of Russia by about 370 km. The city is adjacent to industrially and economically well-developed districts - Balakhninsky, Bogorodsky, Volodarsky. The territory of the municipality covers 422 km², including 16 villages.

To the southwest of Dzerzhinsk there is a recreational zone - lands with forests and reservoirs. Near the village of Pushkino there is Lake Svyatoe, a popular vacation spot for townspeople. Its water surface extends over almost 209,000 m², and the length of the coastline is 2652 m. An arboretum, covering an area of ​​15 hectares, is also adjacent to the village of Pushkino. The history of this green oasis is connected with the revival of the Rastyapin pine forests, which retreated from the boundaries of the industrial city during the period of industrialization.

25 km from Dzerzhinsk, west of the village of Pyra, is Lake Pyrskoye, the largest body of water in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Its area reaches 257 hectares, the depth varies from 1 to 5 meters. This reservoir belonged to the Dudin Monastery, the water in it resembled the color of the sea, and fish were found here in abundance. Today the underwater world is scarce, but you can still go fishing on the lake. The main catch is crucian carp and rotan, but sometimes pike, roach, tench, and rudd are caught. Fishing is possible from a boat, as the lake shores are mostly swampy. In the vicinity of the reservoir there are peat deposits; their intensive development was carried out in the 30-50s of the last century. Since then, the water in the lake has become saturated with rotted organic matter and has acquired a brown tint, so it is not worth swimming here.

Dzerzhinsk is located in the temperate continental climate zone. Summers here are warm, and winters are usually snowy. The first snow and light frost can be expected already in mid-November. In winter, the average temperature in the city is -8...-5 °C. The coldest month is January, when the air temperature often drops below –10 °C.

Spring announces itself towards the end of March, at which time the thermometer columns increasingly surpass the zero mark. It gets warm quickly in April. By the middle of the month, the snow cover melts, and in the last ten days the air warms up to +14...+16 °C. At the end of May, the city is already around +20 °C, but this month there are short-term night frosts.

Summer in Dzerzhinsk is usually windless, with little precipitation. Average daily air temperature: +22…+27 °C. In July, the hottest month, the mercury columns sometimes record +30...+32 °C, and sometimes even higher values.

The breath of autumn can be felt in Dzerzhinsk by the end of August. At this time, the temperature drops to +17...+19 °C and remains at this level until mid-September. Then the sky frowns, the wind picks up, and by the end of the first autumn month it becomes very cool: +9...+12 °C. October is usually rainy; in the third decade the air cools to +2...+7 °C.

Ecology

In the mornings, Dzerzhinsk is often enveloped in “fog”, spreading an odor that reveals its chemical origin. Responsible for the critical environmental situation in the city are not only enterprises that emit dangerous toxic compounds into the atmosphere, but also deep burials of waste from hazardous industries. In the vicinity of the city, there are dozens of landfills hiding toxic substances. The most polluted of them is called the Black Hole. It is a karst sinkhole, which has been filling with more and more chemical waste for several decades. According to environmentalists, this is one of the most polluted landfills in Europe.

Toxic storage facilities captured part of the territory, which was historically called Chernorechye and was famous for its rich nature. Lands with virgin coniferous forests, birch and oak groves, thickets of bird cherry, currant, blackberry, clean reservoirs rich in fish, were called Nizhny Novgorod Yalta at the beginning of the last century. These places had the unofficial status of a resort, and many Nizhny Novgorod families set up summer cottages here. At different times, writers Maxim Gorky and Vladimir Korolenko, architect Leonty Benois, scientist and inventor Alexander Popov and other famous people vacationed in the dacha villages of Chernorechye.

With the advent of the first chemical enterprises, coniferous forests began to retreat, which marked the beginning of a deterioration in the environmental situation. They began to revive forest lands not very intensively, but systematically, in the 50s of the last century, and by the 90s 9,000 hectares of forest had been restored. Today's landscaping work in Dzerzhinsk, as well as the liquidation of some enterprises and the modernization of production at existing factories, have somewhat improved the environmental situation. In any case, on the outskirts of the city, in the villages, you can enjoy clean forest air, permeated with the aroma of pine. Crayfish are becoming more and more common in the Oka, which indicates that the water is gradually being cleared of harmful substances formed due to factory effluents.

Sights of Dzerzhinsk

The most comfortable and lively district of Dzerzhinsk is Central, and citizens call Pribrezhny, which stretches along the Oka, the most beautiful and calm. Almost the entire city center was built up in the post-war years according to the design of Alexei Kusakin, who served as the chief architect of Dzerzhinsk for about 20 years. Being an adherent of the St. Petersburg-Leningrad school of architecture, he designed streets, avenues, and ensembles of squares in accordance with its traditions. Kusakin began his creative career in Magnitogorsk, and many note similar features in the architectural appearance of this center of the Southern Urals and Dzerzhinsk. By the way, both of them are the only ones among the cities that emerged in the 20th century to be included in the lists of historical places in Russia.

The House with a Spire, built in 1955 according to Kusakin’s design, has long been the architectural calling card of Dzerzhinsk. The original building with a different number of floors faces its facades towards Chkalov Avenue and Mayakovsky Street. The house is decorated with graceful balconies, cornices, arched windows and an expressive spire with a colonnade crowning the central 5-story tower. In 2013, the building was restored and painted bright green, making it even more expressive.

In addition to the House with a Spire, in the city center you can see other remarkable buildings erected in the neoclassical style in the middle of the last century. Their facades, decorated with columns and original architectural details, look solemn and elegant. Among the most spectacular buildings is the Kolkhoz House, which was once the largest building in Dzerzhinsk. It occupies an entire block along Lenin Avenue, capturing with its wings part of Griboyedov Street and Heroes Square. The ground floor of this sprawling apartment building is occupied by shops and cafes.

On Lenin Avenue there is the Palace of Culture of Chemists, erected in 1958. The majestic six-level building is crowned with a spectacular rotunda with a spire; the base is lined with black granite. The interiors of the Palace of Culture are luxuriously decorated with marble, the floor is covered with parquet. Within its walls there is a theater hall designed for 850 spectators.

The Museum of Local Lore is located in a beautiful monumental building on Dzerzhinsky Avenue, 8/5. Its 9 spacious halls occupy part of the first level. The three main departments of the museum are dedicated to history, nature, and art. Here are the finds of archaeologists, ancient household items collected from the surrounding villages, handicrafts made of metal, stone, porcelain, glass, and interesting samples of flora and fauna. A separate hall is dedicated to the city’s iconic industrial enterprises. The art gallery displays works by up-and-coming Dzerzhinsk artists.

You won’t find any ancient churches in Dzerzhinsk itself, but in the village of Zhelnino, which is administratively part of the city, the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1878, has been preserved. In the 30s of the last century, the temple was destroyed, but in 1988 it was restored, and the church became the first in the vicinity of Dzerzhinsk where services were resumed.

Since the early 90s, large-scale construction of a grandiose temple in honor of the Resurrection of Christ has been underway on Svyato-Tikhonovsky Proezd. The construction of the five-domed golden-domed cathedral is nearing completion, and services are already being held within its walls. According to the authors of the project, the lower church will be able to accommodate up to 2,000 parishioners, and the upper one – another 3,000 believers.

You can see other modern religious buildings in the city. On Sovetskaya Street there is a beautiful miniature church of St. Anthony the Great. Near the Oka embankment, the temple of Sergius of Radonezh, built from wooden beams, rises, crowned with golden domes. There is also a cathedral mosque in Dzerzhinsk. This spectacular building occupies a hill on Zheleznodorozhnaya Street.

The most important local attraction is the openwork Shukhov Tower, located on the banks of the Oka River near the village of Dachny, 12 km from the city center. Built between 1927 and 1929, this unique structure is the only high-voltage transmission tower in the world constructed as a hyperboloid steel mesh shell. The 128-meter giant is the embodiment of the plan of Vladimir Shukhov, the creator of the TV tower on Shabolovka in Moscow. A number of foreign experts believe that the tower on the Oka is more perfect than its capital “sister”. Not so long ago, a similar high-rise structure stood not far from it, but it was secretly dismantled for scrap metal. A similar fate almost befell the Shukhov Tower, but thanks to caring citizens and journalists, including foreign ones, the unique building was saved. The city government ordered the energy company, the owner of the support tower, to restore the stolen fragments of the structure and completely reconstruct it. The tower recently received spectacular evening lighting.

Entertainment

There are two theaters in the city. The Dzerzhinsky Drama Theater is located on Mira Boulevard, 28. In the Central Park of Culture and Leisure, on Lenin Avenue, there is a Puppet Theater. Crowning the green park alley, the spectacular building in the classicist style was carefully restored and today welcomes little spectators with wonderful performances. Interesting events are held in the theater lobby, where sculptures of fairy-tale characters are located.

The park itself is undergoing large-scale reconstruction. The old attractions have been removed here, and now interactive zones and sports grounds are being built on the vast park territory. They plan to build a stage and an amphitheater in front of the Puppet Theater. Right behind the main entrance arch, which appeared here back in 1934, a festival area is being organized for concerts and city holidays. A fountain with a mosaic panel has also been restored in the park. By the way, Dzerzhinsk also has its own musical fountain “Tornado”. Located on Lenin Square, it has become a place of attraction for city residents. It gets especially crowded here in the evening hours, when 52 powerful spotlights illuminate its jets, reaching a height of 12 meters. Nearby there is a children's park "Rainbow" with attractions. In winter there is a skating rink here.

A modern cinema has been opened in the Royal shopping and entertainment complex, the first family entertainment complex in Dzerzhinsk built according to European standards. Two halls with a capacity of 137 seats are equipped with 3D equipment. Domestic and foreign films are shown here. The shopping center has a children's center with slot machines and a labyrinth, as well as a solarium, tattoo parlor, and fitness club.

You can also have fun at the Yubileiny shopping center. There is a children's area with an area for the little ones, where kids frolic on trampolines and in a dry pool filled with colorful balls. The shopping center also hosts a laser tag arena, a high-tech team game attraction for adults and children.

Citizens who respect sports spend time in the modern Oka sports and recreation complex, which opened in 2000 on Okskaya Embankment. Here they will find a 25-meter swimming pool, an ice rink for figure skating and hockey. There are sections for gymnastics, sports dancing, and table tennis. Okskaya Embankment itself is a popular holiday destination. There is a pedestrian zone, a location for roller skating, bicycles, and a children's playground.

Contemporary art lovers will be interested in visiting the gallery located on Samokhvalova Street, 1. Exhibitions are regularly held here, and there is a flower boutique and a framing workshop. There are small literary museums at the libraries of Dzerzhinsk. The most famous of them is dedicated to the work of Nikolai Rubtsov. It is located in the library building named after. A. S. Pushkin (Leninsky Ave., 49).

For those who want to have fun after sunset, Dzerzhinsk can offer good nightclubs. At Zhelninskoye Shosse, 8, there is one of the most stylish entertainment venues - Dusty Gold. Its sparkling interiors are decorated in accordance with the club's name (translated as “gold dust”). Guests can enjoy a large dance floor, two restaurants, and bars. Dusty Gold is open from 23:00 to 03:00.

In Dzerzhinsk, the Shizgara karaoke bar (72 Tsiolkovsky Ave.) is popular. Its doors are open from 18:00 to 06:00. Until six in the morning, guests are also received by the clubs Vostok-Zapad (Samokhvalova, 15), Khastler (Petrishcheva St., 18/39).

Camping

Quite recently, in a wooded area on the outskirts of Dzerzhinsk, they began to develop an extensive recreation area. It's called "Duck Park". There are several reservoirs on the territory. One of them was cleared and ducks moved in there. Near the lake there is a platform for those wishing to feed the birds. One of the many walking paths laid out for visitors leads to this location. Children in the “Duck Park” will have rides, and athletes will have playgrounds with exercise equipment. Recently, a squirrel residence appeared here. They were brought from Altai and placed in a special enclosure with houses, ropes, and wooden rings. A stage was built in the park for city celebrations. Improvement work continues.

Nature lovers should go to the arboretum, located between the villages of Pushkino and Babushkino. More than 500 species of plants grow on its territory, representing both local flora and exotic species. Here it is pleasant to stroll along conveniently laid out alleys bordered by artistically selected species of trees and shrubs.

In the summer, many townspeople go to Lake Svyatoye, near the village of Pushkino. This is the only place equipped for swimming in the Dzerzhinsky urban district. Despite the proximity to industrial areas, the water in the lake is clean. Ecologists suggest that natural filters operate somewhere in the depths. This body of water invariably attracts fishermen. Pike, bream, roach, crucian carp and perch are found here in abundance. In winter, extreme sports enthusiasts come to Lake Svyatoe to plunge into the ice-holes, and in the second ten days of January, the city authorities organize a traditional Epiphany font here.

Purchases

The largest shopping malls (Petrishcheva St., 4), “Yubileiny” (Chkalova Ave., 23), “Dzerzhinets” (Lenin Ave., 66). The city also has stores of popular retail chains - Pyaterochka, SPAR and others.

Souvenir products are represented mainly by magnets and dishes with images of local attractions. Those interested can purchase high-quality clothing from the Rus clothing factory, for example, shirts or jackets with city emblems. On Mayakovskogo Street, 10, there is a specialized confectionery store that sells chocolate treats from local producers, packaged in gift boxes with views of Dzerzhinsk.

Cafes and restaurants

There are no elite restaurants in Dzerzhinsk, but there are many middle-class culinary establishments here. In addition, there are pancake and dumpling shops. Prices in local restaurants and cafes are slightly lower than in the capital. Lovers of Russian gastronomy can go to the Pechka or Dacha restaurants. Both establishments are located on Tsiolkovsky Avenue. On the same city artery, at number 19a, there is the Samurai restaurant, which serves traditional Japanese dishes. They can be ordered to take away.

European cuisine is presented in the stylish restaurant “Caravella” located near the river (Popova St., 1). On the 3rd floor of the shopping mall there is a popular family cafe “Don Baton”, which offers Italian food - pizza, pasta, and the freshest desserts.

The Kinza restaurant, located on Butlerov Street 3, is very popular among the townspeople, where Georgian chefs show off their culinary talents. Turkish and Uzbek dishes can be tasted in the small colorful restaurant “East Courtyard” (Tsiolkovsky Ave., 3).

Where to stay

There are not too many hotels in the city. People accustomed to increased comfort are better off staying in one of the countryside complexes, which are concentrated near the villages of Pushkino and Zhelnino. They are connected to Dzerzhinsk by regular bus service. You can also use a taxi, which is inexpensive here.

If you need to stay in Dzerzhinsk itself, you can choose the modern hotel and entertainment complex "Park", located in the center, on Parkovaya Alley, 7. Here guests can expect spacious, clean, but modestly furnished rooms. The complex has a restaurant, bar and cafe. A spa and laundry facilities are available. Overall, this hotel is suitable for business travelers. Daily accommodation here will cost from 2520 rubles.

Those who wish can stay at the 3* Druzhba hotel, built in the late 60s of the last century. It is located in the very heart of the city, on Dzerzhinsky Square, 2, not far from the railway station. It is quite comfortable, clean, and the staff is polite. You can stay in a standard room from 1600 rubles.

The BerLoga mini-hotel (Leninsky Komsomol Ave., 37) offers good living conditions. It is cozy and quiet here, guests can spend time in the restaurant and play bowling. Room prices start from 2,700 rubles per day.

One of the best country complexes is “Chaika” 4*, built in the village of Zhelnino. It is located in a pine forest, on the banks of the Oka. There are restaurants, bars, a swimming pool, a fitness center and a tennis court on site. The complex welcomes guests all year round; the rooms have air conditioning and fireplaces. Accommodation at Chaika costs from 3,800 rubles.

The country complex organizes fishing, horseback riding tours, and outdoor picnics. There is a private pier for yachts and boats. From there you can go for a walk along the river or to the Dudin Monastery, located in a picturesque area on the opposite bank of the Oka.

Near the village of Pushkino, at the address: Zhelninskoe highway, 8/17, there is a nice eco-hotel “Podkova” 4*. Here they offer accommodation in the rooms of the building, which is a log house. On the territory, located in a pine forest, guests will find a swimming pool, a sports complex, a restaurant, a bar, and a bathhouse. You can stay in one of the 22 rooms for a minimum of 2,450 rubles per day.

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Transport

Public transport in Dzerzhinsk is represented by trolleybuses, buses and minibuses, which can also be used to reach the villages included in the urban district.

There are also taxi services in the city. The tram tracks were removed in 2015. There are 5 railway stations within the city district.

How to get there

Strigino Airport is located 27 km east of Dzerzhinsk. Valeria Chkalov, also known as Nizhny Novgorod airport. Airliners fly here from St. Petersburg, Perm, Krasnodar, Chelyabinsk and other Russian cities. Flights from Moscow operate daily. The flight lasts 1 hour 10 minutes. There is no public transport from Strigino Airport to Dzerzhinsk; it is more convenient to order a taxi. Otherwise, you will have to take minibuses to the railway station of the regional center (about 18 km), and from there go in the opposite direction to Dzerzhinsk by train or regular bus (bus station next to the railway station).

Electric trains depart daily from the platforms of the capital's Kursky Station to Dzerzhinsk. All trains traveling from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod stop in Dzerzhinsk. The fastest of them are trains No. 710N “Strizh” and No. 734G “Lastochka”. They deliver passengers in 3 hours 20 minutes.

Buses depart from the bus station near the Shchelkovskaya metro station three times a day on the route Moscow - Dzerzhinsk. Travel time – 5 hours 30 minutes.

Autotourists need to leave Moscow to the east, along the M7 Volga highway (E22). The distance to the travel destination is 394 km, the estimated travel time is 5 hours.