Elets overview
Elets (also spelled Yelets, Yelec) is a Russian city, the administrative center of Eletsky district of Lipetsk oblast. The city is located 78 km to the west of Lipetsk. The city day is marked on the second Sunday in September.
Main industries of Elets are as follows: mining (lime-stone mining at 4 open-cast mines); machine-building; constructing; chemical; light (“Elets laces” - traditional local handicraft known worldwide); food (Elets sugar-producing plant built in 1965).
Elets has the population of about 110,000 (2010).
The phone code of the city is +7 47467; the postal codes are 399770 - 399788.
Elets history
1146 is considered to be the year of Elets foundation. It is the year when Elets was first recorded in Nikonovskaya chronicle. After Eletskaya fortress was destructed several times it was newly reconstructed in 1592 together with other fortresses on southern boundaries of Muscovite state and became the nucleus of current Elets.
In 1708 blacksmiths of Elets were registered at the ship-building branch of Azovskaya gubernia. From 1719 Elets became a part of Orlovskaya gubernia. Bread and meat trade was especially developed in the town. In the second half of 18th century the town became a large trade and industrial center of the region. Tanning industry was developed to such an extent that Elets was called “Capital of boots” of the Russian empire.
By the middle of 19th century Elets could compete with a lot of cites in its importance. The population was 25,000. Most of the citizens worked at plants. There was an excellent trade square in the city, 3 schools, a city hospital, a hotel and a restaurant. Elets numbered 16 churches, a monastery and a convent.
By the end of 19th century trade and industrial importance of Elets decreased but the city grew into a large railway juncture. Highway Moscow - Voronezh crossed the city.
Famous writer and poet Ivan Bunin spent his childhood in Eletsky district of Orlovskaya gubernia. He attended gymnasium there, visited the city quite often and described this ancient city in his works.
Elets laces made the city worldwide known. Laces were made in Elets in early 19th century. They were remarkable for their small vegetable and geometrical pattern contrasting with delicate openwork background.
During World War II Elets was occupied by the German army from December 4th till 9th, 1941. When Orel was occupied Elets received the status of the regional center.
In 2007 Elets received the status of the City of military glory.
Elets city views
Elets entrance sign
Author: Kovyrshin
Yelets city view
Author: Kovyrshin
Elets city scenery
Author: Matveyev Konstantin
Elets attractions
There are 226 monuments of history and culture, 90 of them are of regional and federal importance. Nevertheless, it is considered that the main value of Elets is not in separate monuments but the whole architectural design of the city. Current names of streets in the central part of the city are dubbed with historical ones.
There is a museum of local study in Elets and its branches: I.A.Bunin, T.N.Khrennikov, N.N.Zhukov houses-estates, folk handicrafts museum and art museum.
The landmark of the city is Resurrection church built by architect Konstantin Ton’s design from 1845 to 1889. It is the second largest in Russia (after St.-Petersburg).
One can’t help admiring Znamensky monastery on Kamennaya (stony) hill which recently lay in ruins. At present it is almost reconstructed.
A lot of monuments of church architecture are presented in the city - about 20 churches (10 of them are open) and 2 monasteries.
At present a lot is done to attract tourists. But it is not an easy task because of lack of infrastructure and bad roads.
