Tula city overview
Tula is a city and administrative center of Tula oblast of Russia. Tula city is situated about 193 km south of Moscow on Upa river. Tula has the status of Hero city.
Tula city population is about 500,000 (2008); land area - 145 sq. km.
Tula city phone code - +7-4872; postal codes - 300000-300062.
Tula city history
The town of Tula was first mentioned in 14th century. That time Tula was a fortress of Ryazan Principality. Later, after it was captured by Moscow state, brick citadel (kremlin) was built (1530). In 1764 five domed Assumption Cathedral was built in the central part of Tula kremlin.
Famous Russian tsar Peter the Great visited Tula town in 1712. He commissioned Demidov’s blacksmiths to build first Russian armament manufacture. Several years later Tula became the largest ironworking center of Eastern Europe. In 18th century first factory for industrial production of samovars was built in Tula city.
Tula city played an important role during the World War II producing various armaments. In autumn 1941 Tula city was one of the main German targets in operation of capturing Moscow. The city was heavily fortified and Second Panzer Army was stopped near it. In 1976 Tula received the title “Hero City”.
Tula city features
Tula city is known for traditional Russian cookies made with honey and gingerbread - pryaniki. Tula is also famous as Russian samovar production center. There is also such proverb “You don’t take a samovar to Tula”.
“Yasnaya Polyana” (the place where famous Russian writer Leo Tolstoy lived and buried) is popular among tourists from all over the world. “Yasnaya Polyana” is located about 14 km south-west of Tula city. It is the place where novels “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina” were written.