Kaluga city, Russia

The capital city of Kaluga oblast.

Kaluga city overview

Kaluga city is located in central part of European Russia, administrative center and capital city of Kaluga oblast. Kaluga city is situated on the banks of Oka river, about 190 km southwest of Moscow, railway station on Moscow-Kiev line. There is an airport in Kaluga.

Kaluga city population is about 327,000 (2009) on the territory of 126 sq. km.

Kaluga city phone code - +7-4842. Postal codes of the city - 248000-248xxx.

Kaluga city flag

Kaluga city flag

Kaluga city coat of arms

Kaluga city coat of arms

Kaluga city map, Russia

Kaluga city map of Russia

Kaluga city features

Present day Kaluga city is becoming one of the most important Russian automotive industry centers. Such companies as Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Volkswagen, Volvo have their assembly plants here.

Kaluga is known first of all because of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (Russian space program founder). He had been living in Kaluga in 1892-1935. That’s why Kaluga city is often called Russian space travel science cradle.

Kaluga city history

Kaluga settlement foundation date is not known, somewhere in the first part of 14th century. First written mentioning of Kaluga occurred in 1371. It was a small Moscow state fortress that time. Later Kaluga settlement owner was Princes Vorotynsky. There is princes ancestral home in the southwestern part of Kaluga city.

There is a railway connection between Kaluga and Moscow cities. Also there is a roadway called from ancient time “Kaluga road”. Napoleon was planning to escape the Moscow trap by this road in 1812. Unfortunately for him Russian General Kutuzov forced the army of France to choose another (Smolensk) road because it was completely devastated by the French previously on their way to Moscow.

Kaluga city economics

In the USSR up to 90% of the industrial plants in Kaluga city worked for defense industry and produced high-tech equipment for armored forces, anti-aircraft defense and the Navy of the USSR.

At present there are such plants as transportation machine-building, automobile power equipment, turbine plant, radio lamp plant and others.

In the total output of Kaluga 46% is the product of machine-building industry, 35% of food industry, 13% of power engineering and 1,5% of light industry.

In 2006 the formation of tech-park Grabtsevo began in the city, now the automobile plant of Volkswagen company is in action there (it was put into action in 2007). It is expected that the production of automobile spare parts will be organized there.

Besides, the automobile plant of Volvo Trucks company was put into action in January 2009 in the industrial part of the city “Kaluga-Yug (south)”. The plant is the first large production of foreign brand trucks in Russia.

At the end of December, 2007, it was announced that the automobile plant of French company PSA Peugeot Citroën together with Japan company Mitsubishi Motors would be constructed in the settlement of Rosva, outskirts of Kaluga city. The production began in April 2010.

Kaluga city attractions

Among the main places of interest of Kaluga city are:

  • The Korobovs’ Chambers (one of the rare examples of “chamber architecture”, the end of 17th century);
  • Merchant Zolotaryov’s estate (the end of 18th - early 19th centuries);
  • Stone Bridge across Berezuyevsky ravine (one of the most interesting architectural monuments in Kaluga), one of the largest viaducts in Russia;
  • Kaluga Gostiny Dvor built according to draft of the famous architect Pyotr Romanovich Nikitin, the ensemble was begun in 1784;
  • K.E.Tsiolkovsky Park;
  • Obelisk built on the spot where Gogol’s house was;
  • Obelisk at K.E.Tsiolkovsky’s grave;
  • K.E.Tsiolkovsky statue (Mir Park);
  • Victory square;
  • A.V.Lunacharsky Drama Theater (Theater square).

Kaluga city of Russia photos

Kaluga city sceneries

Kaluga city street view

Kaluga city street view

Author: Oleg Novikov

Kaluga Russia city scenery

Kaluga Russia city scenery

Author: R.Bobkov

Kaluga city scenery

Kaluga city scenery

Author: Andrey Dmitriev


Kaluga Russia city places

Kaluga space rocket Vostok

Kaluga space rocket Vostok

Author: Mikhail Ursus

Kaluga city Victory square

Kaluga city Victory square

Author: Krymov Dmitry

Kaluga city bank

Kaluga city bank

Author: Gennady Golyadkin


Kaluga city of Russia churches

Kaluga city church view

Kaluga city church view

Author: Andrey Dmitriev

Kaluga Russia city church

Kaluga Russia city church

Author: Grigory Gusev


Kaluga city, Russia view

Kaluga Russia city architecture

Kaluga Russia city architecture

Author: Boris Miller