The reasons you should visit Omsk

The spit – the place where Omsk was founded.
Omsk was founded in 1716, just a few years after Saint-Petersburg.
However what differs it from the northern capital of our country is that its foundation wasn’t planned so minutely and was actually accidental. All the Russian towns in Siberia at that time were situated in the north so as to escape attacks of the nomads.
The governor of Siberia, prince Gagarin, who lived in Tobolsk, understood that without forcing out the nomads it was impossible to further the economical and cultural development of the region. By that time Peter the Great defeated Swedes at Baltic and prince Gagarin thought that it was high time to draw his attention to the problems of expanding his empire in an easternby direction. Pursuing this object he sent a man to Saint-Petersburg, who ostensibly gave to the emperor a snuff-box containing not tobacco but some gold dust from the upper reaches of Irtysh. This man apologized and explained that it was easier to find gold than tobacco in Siberia.
No wonder that Peter became interested – his treasury had been seriously drained by the war. Soon a troop of 3 000 people was sent from Tobolsk to Siberia. At that time it was a powerful military unit. It was headed by a Russian colonel of German origin, Ivan Buchholz, who knew the emperor personally. Using boats they made a trip of almost 400 kilometers up-stream to the salt lakes “Yamyshevskie”. But the nomads were still too strong and having suffered heavy casualties Buchholz had to retreat in northern direction. Taking into account that his troops were exhausted, he decided to stop near the junction of Irtysh and Om and founded a fortress there. So began the history of Omsk…
Now this place bears the name of Buchholz square. In the middle of it is a big metal sphere, symbolizing the development of Siberia. On its sides pictures represent different episodes from the history of Omsk. Not futher than 200 meters away from this monument the old brass cannon “protects” the river. This place is very popular among just married couples for taking photos because presumably Buchholz landed right here. A splendid river-boat station and the hotel “Mayak”, a favorite place with foreign tourists arriving in Omsk, are situated on Buchholz square.

The Split

Kolchak’s house
The Batushkin’s mansion – a memorial of history and architecture. It’s situated in the centre of Omsk at the bank of Irtysh river, near the hotel “Tourist”. It was built in 1901-02 for a merchant Batushkin.
The mansion hosted the ministry of supply and provisions of the Temporary All-Russian government (minister Serebrynnikov). This is also the house where the famous admiral Kolchak lived during his stay in Omsk – 15th of December, 1918 – 12th of November, 1919. Many very important events in the life of Kolchak are connected with this place. His proclamation that he was the “Ruler of Russia”, gaining of the “Tsar’s gold”, his last love, his last hope and his last defeat…
Presently, this building is used as a marriage ceremony centre of Kuibyshevsky district of Omsk city.

Kolchak’s house

Kondraty Belov’s museum
Chohan Valikhanov street is rich in old beautiful buildings but the most outstanding of them is that of Kondraty Belov’s museum. Before the revolution of 1917 probably the most prominent industrialist of Omsk Stumpf lived here. Now it is a monument of wooden architecture. But apart from the architecture, this house contains a good collection of the works of one of the best Siberian painters Kondraty Belov. He used to work in this house and this place still retains an echo of his presence here. In the evenings the museum turns into a musical - poetical drawing-room.

The Cossack Nikolsky Cathedral
The most eminent cult building of Omsk. Here the banner of Ermak, legendary pioneer of Siberia and the first Russian to start its exploration on a grand scale, was kept. Unfortunately the banner disappeared when Kolchak’s troops were leaving the city. However, the communists didn’t blow it up but instead used it at first as a warehouse and then an organ hall. During the 90-es the building was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. The cathedral is surrounded by a small but pretty park.

The Cossack Nikolsky Cathedral

Omsk Military School
The Military School is right in front of the Cathedral. After its restoration in the autumn of 2003 it looks splendid. This building, also designed in the classic style, turned out many very famous military men such as general Kornilov, general Karbyshev and others. Here Kolchak had his most faithful supporters among the cadets. With the rest of Kolchak’s troops the school moved to Vladivostok, Shanghai and Yugoslavia, where it was finally abolished. And still in Paris cemeteries there are graves with the symbol ‘A-1’ which means that the deceased graduated from the Omsk Military School of Alexander the First. The revival of the school is connected with the governor of Omsk region, Leonid Polezhaev, who managed to restore it and returned to the school its former building.

Pioneers square
It is always very pleasant to a quiet green nook find in the center of a big modern city where you can rest in the shadow of magnificent trees or cool yourself near a fountain. In 2003 the sculpture of marathon runner was installed here symbolizing one of the most important events in sporting life of Omsk – the Annual Siberian International Marathon (SIM) which attracts thousands of participants from all parts of Russia and other countries. At the end of August the city organizes “Flora” an exhibition of flowers, vegetables and fruits and this event covers the square in most vivid colours of fresh flowers and plants. Near the square there are the buildings of the Regional Parliament, Regional Government.

Plumber Stepan
Following Karl Liebknecht street and admiring the old buildings which used to be the base of many foreign representatives in Omsk you will suddenly see a plumber looking at you from the sewer well. This is a monument to all people who work in the city to make life comfortable for us and whose work we often tend not to mention. Very soon after this sculpture was installed it was given the nickname “Stepan”.

A riddle to the present day
At the beginning of WW I Russia possessed one of the biggest gold reserves in the world. It amounted to 1337.9 tons by the year 1915. As the Civil War began in Russia the gold reserve was moved to Omsk, proclaimed the capital of Russia in 1918-1919.
Admiral Kolchak was proclaimed the “Ruler of Russia”. He took the tsar gold under strict control. The entire value of golden jewelry and gold ingots, which turned to be at Kolchak administration disposal, was 651532117 roubles. In November Kolchak and his government had to leave Omsk and set off for Irkutsk. Retreating, they managed to take tsar gold with them though the danger to be encircled was real and there was consternation and confusion among the soldiers.
Still in Omsk to see is the bank were the gold was kept!

Tara Gate
This gate used to be the north gate of the city and its fortress. In 1959 it was destroyed but soon in 1991 it was restored. You can go through it to the remains of the old fortress.
The Tobolsk Gate
It is the only gate remaining from the foundation of Omsk. Near this gate there are several of the buildings of the old fortress. At the moment they are in rather miserable condition but soon they will be restored.

The Tobolsk Gate

Dostoevsky Museum
The Dostoevsky museum does not have such a rich collection as the one in Saint-Petersburg but here you can feel the real spirit of Dostoevsky.
Omsk is a place where the writer experienced an abyss of despair, of moral and physical sufferings. His road to fame started here.
The museum building was created in 1799 as a house of commandant for the fortress. Commandant De Grave did his best to help the writer in his exile and he received him many times at home. Later Dostoevsky said that in De Grave’s family “he was treated like equal”.
Lutheran Church
Since the day of its foundation Omsk has been a place where different religions co-exist in peace. Orthodox Russians, Muslims, Jews and Catholics has no need to argue on religious grounds. That’s why in 1792 on the territory of the fortress a very beautiful Lutheran church has been built. At the moment this building is occupied by the militia museum .

Governor-general palace.
This marvelous building is also very interesting from a historical point of view. Built in 1862 on the request of Governor General Gasford, it was prepared to accommodate the emperor of Russia in case he arrived in Omsk. Many very famous people visited the palace – traveler Prezhevalsky, zoologist Brem and even Nikolay the Second was here before his coronation. After the revolution of Februrary 1917, the palace was claimed to be a property of the state and renamed as “The house of Republic”. The Council of workers’ and soldiers’ delegates as well as the so-called “cheka” (political police of communist government) worked here. In 1918-1919 as the communist were pushed out from the city, the Temporary All-Russian government and Supreme Ruler of Russia Kolchak worked here. In 1924 the building was given to the museum of local lore, history and economy.

Общий вопрос
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