Ulyanovsk overview
Ulyanovsk is a city in Russia, an administrative center of Ulyanovsk region (province). The city is standing on Privolzhskaya hill, on the banks of the rivers Volga (Kuybyshev water reservoir) and Sviyaga where they come closest to each other.
It is located about 890 km to the east of Moscow. The climate is of moderate-continental type, a bit drier than in central Russia.
Ulyanovsk has the population of 639,000 (2012), land area - 623 sq. km.
The phone code is +7 8422; postal codes are 432000-432xxx.
Ulyanovsk history
Ulyanovsk was founded in 1648 by Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich’s decree as a fortress Simbirsk. In autumn 1670, Simbirsk was besieged by Stepan Razin’s army. In 1672, the city received its first coat of arms in honor of its defense from Stepan Razin.
In 1774, captive Emelyan Pugachev was brought to Simbirsk and was interrogated from October 2 till 6. On October 26, Pugachev was sent from Simbirsk to Moscow. In 1780, it became the main town of newly formed vice-gerency. Since 1796, Simbirsk was a gubernia city.
In 1864, on August 12, a heavy fire broke out in the town. It lasted 9 days. The only 1/4th of the city was saved. Karamzin library, Spassky monastery, 12 churches, a post-office, all the best private houses burned. In 1898, the railway connected the city with Inza, in the early 20th century - with Bugulma.
It was in Simbirsk in 1798 that the first city theater and one of the first serf theaters in Russia was opened in landowner Durasov’s house. One of the first libraries in the Volga region - Karamzin public library was opened in the city, and, in 1893 - Goncharov library.
During the Soviet times the city received new name - Ulyanovsk - after the leader of October Revolution Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin). The city was a part of Srednevolzhskaya oblast from 1928, of Kuybyshevskaya oblast - from 1936.
In 1930s, almost all the churches in Ulyanovsk were destroyed. In 1943, the city became the center of newly formed Ulyanovsk region. During the World War II, Moscow Patriarchy was evacuated to the city.
Ulyanovsk views
Ulyanovsk general view
Author: Vladimir Kropotin
Ulyanovsk city street
Author: Vladimir Kropotin
Ulyanovsk hotel
Author: Vladimir Kropotin
Ulyanovsk economics and transport
Main industries of Ulyanovsk economics are machine-building and metal processing; power engineering, trade and construction are also developed. They are followed by banking system, tourism, food and light industries.
It is an important Kuybyshev railway juncture, there is one main and 3 smaller train stations. Near the city there are 2 airports - Ulyanovsk-Central (ULK) and Ulyanovsk-Vostochny (ULY).
Ulyanovsk river port is located on the right bank of the Volga in Zheleznodorozhny district. Two banks of the Volga River are connected by two bridges. The second bridge was opened in 2009.
The city transportation is presented by trams, trolley-buses, buses and minivans. Ulyanovsk is special by the fact that trams are only in the right-side part of the city while trolley-buses - in the left-side part of the city (Zavolzhsky district).
Ulyanovsk sceneries
Ulianovsk winter scenery
Author: Vladimir Kropotin
Ulyanovsk scenery
Author: Vladimir Kropotin
Ulyanovsk Lenin sign
Author: Vladimir Kropotin
Ulyanovsk museums
Ulyanovsk can rightly be called a city of museums. A lot of museums offer exhibitions about Ulyanovsk history, culture and architecture. The history of several museums has its roots in the distant past, when Simbirsk scholars and merchants collected and presented to their hometown great cultural and scientific heritage.
Among the most popular museums of Ulyanovsk are:
Museum-memorial to V.I.Lenin
Museum-memorial to V.I.Lenin was opened in Ulyanovsk in November 2, 1941. The exposition of the museum is the only one in Russia, revealing the life and work of Lenin on the background of the political history of the Russian state in the late 19th - the early 20th centuries, his contemporaries, teammates, opponents.
The collection of lifetime editions of Lenin, illegal and forbidden literature, satirical magazines is very interesting. Also the collections of numismatics, faleristics, paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, posters are valuable. Address: Lenin Square, 1.
Museum “Urban planning and architecture of Simbirsk-Ulyanovsk”
The museum located in an old mansion was opened in the summer of 2001. The mansion was part of the estate complex and was typical for the architecture of Simbirsk in the middle of the 19th century.
The exposition (Simbirsk in the 17th century, Simbirsk in the 18th century, Simbirsk in the 19th century, Simbirsk in the 20th century) occupies seven rooms. Address: Lev Tolstoy Street, 24.
Museum of urban life “Simbirsk in the late 19th - the early 20th century”
The museum is located in the former estate of the priest I.A.Anaksagarov. The museum of urban life is not like ordinary museum. There are no glass windows with the exhibits and the explanations to them.
There are several thematic rooms: ladies’ room with a miniature dressing table, elegant bottles etc.; dining room ready for dinner of the 19th century; living room with an old piano and furniture. Address: Lenin Street, 90.
Ulyanovsk local history museum of I.A.Goncharov
The museum located in the house-monument to I.A.Goncharov was founded in 1895. The building was designed by renowned Simbirsk architect A.A.Shode in 1912-1916 specifically for the museum.
The museum has about 130 thousand units including various archaeological findings, unique numismatic, paleontological and weapons collections, textiles of the late 18th-mid 20th centuries, folk costumes. Address: Noviy Venets Boulevard, 3/4.
Historical and architectural museum “Simbirsk defensive line”
The museum was built in 2001 on the place of miraculously preserved fragment of the wall of Simbirsk-Karsunskaya defensive line. The museum is known for theatrical performances bringing to life the pages of city’s history. Address: Lev Tolstoy Street, 43a.
State historical and memorial preserve “The motherland of V.I.Lenin”
The museum is a unique complex of historical, cultural and architectural monuments of old Simbirsk. There are 10 museums and an exhibition hall showing the life and traditions of people of Simbirsk, architectural appearance of the old city, the history of Simbirsk crafts and trade. Address: Lenin Street, 98.
The other museums of Ulyanovsk:
- Museum of firefighting in Simbirsk-Ulyanovsk. Address: Lenin Street, 43.
- Roerich Center of Spiritual Culture. Address: Lenin Street, 71.
- Museum “Simbirsk merchants”. Address: Lenin Street, 75a.
- Architecture of Art Nouveau in Simbirsk. Address: Lev Tolstoy Street, 43.
- Museum of contemporary fine arts of Plastov. Address: Lev Tolstoy Street, 51.
- Exhibition Hall at Pokrovskaya. Address: Lev Tolstoy Street, 63.
- Weather station of Simbirsk. Address: Lev Tolstoy Street, 67.
- The USSR artist A.A.Plastov picture gallery. Address: Goncharov Street, 16.
- The gallery of Russian artists’ union. Address: Goncharov Street, 16a.
- Literary-historical museum of I.A.Goncharov. Address: Goncharov Street, 20.
- Museum of civil aviation. Address: Mozhaisk Street, 8.
- Simbirsk photo. Address: Engels Street, 1a.
- Ulyanovsk regional art museum. Address: Noviy Venets Boulevard, 3/4.
