Nizhny Tagil is one of the largest cities in the Sverdlovsk region. The history of its foundation and development is closely connected with the natural resources of the region, as well as the Demidov family, the largest mining owners in Russia in the 18th century.
Did you know? The history of Nizhny Tagil began in 1696, when copper ore deposits were found here. And the founding date of the city is considered to be October 19, 1722 - the smelting of the first batch of cast iron.
Sights of Nizhny Tagil with photos and descriptions
Nizhny Tagil is a real pearl of the Urals and the birthplace of a unique tray craft. Most of the attractions of this industrial city are related to metallurgy and mining .
Architecture
Nizhny Tagil is very rich in unique architecture. Most of the buildings erected at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries were made in the classicist style. With the development of the city in the 19th century, features of Art Nouveau and Russian-Byzantine style appeared in its buildings. All this diversity combined with the development of the 1930s. created a unique architectural ensemble that amazes tourists today.
- The Watchtower is one of the city's best attractions and a Russian cultural heritage site. It was erected on Lisya Mountain at the beginning of the 19th century as part of the fire protection system of Nizhny Tagil. More romantic versions of the origin of the tower claim that it was built by N. N. Demidov in honor of the victory over Napoleon or as a symbol of the memory of the wife of this industrial magnate who died in 1818.
- The Demidov estate is an architectural complex erected in 1833 according to the design of A.P. Chebotarev. The facade of the two-story buildings is made in the style of late classicism, and its central part is decorated with columns and stucco. Today, these buildings house the exposition of the Mining Ural Museum.
- The real school building is a monument of culture and history of the Sverdlovsk region. The building was erected in 1904 for the needs of an educational institution in which children of workers of the Demidov plant studied mining. Today, one of the city's art museums is located here.
- The Drama Theater is a majestic building in the Stalinist Empire style in the center of Nizhny Tagil. It was erected in 1955 and decorated with sculptures of “Labor”, “Science” and “Art” by the famous sculptor M. Manizer.
Watch tower
Religious buildings
Pre-revolutionary Nizhny Tagil was very rich in religious buildings of different religions. Unfortunately, in the 1930s, many unique churches were partially or completely destroyed. Today, the surviving temples are being actively restored, and new ones are being built in place of the destroyed landmarks.
- The Church of the Ascension is the main temple of the Sorrowful Monastery. This majestic red brick cathedral was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect E. I. Artemov in the pseudo-Russian style. In 1923 the parish was closed. The church was revived again only in the 1990s, and today services are held here.
- The Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God is a church built in the 1860s. at the expense of the merchant I.I. Sergeev according to the will of his father. This single-altar church, intended for cemetery services, was built in the shape of a quadrangle with beveled corners and a small dome. Today it belongs to the complex of the Sorrowful Convent.
- Church of Alexander Nevsky - erected from 1862 to 1877. in gratitude from local residents for the abolition of serfdom. The five-domed temple in the Russian-Byzantine style is located on Veresovaya Mountain. Since 1940 it has been closed and used as warehouses. Today the church has been completely restored, services are held there, a gymnasium and a Sunday school operate there.
- Church of the Life-Giving Trinity - this temple was built in the 19th century on the site of a chapel taken from the Old Believers who worked at the Demidov factories. In the 1930s the building was transferred for the needs of the national economy, and it was badly damaged. Since 1991, the building was returned to the fold of the church, and after reconstruction in 2012, an episcopal see settled here.
Ascension Church
Museums
Nizhny Tagil has quite a large number of museums and exhibitions that will introduce travelers in detail to its history and traditional crafts. In addition, this city is widely represented by house-museums in which famous inventors and industrial magnates lived.
- The plant-museum of the history of mining equipment is the only open-air museum of its kind in the world. It was founded after the closure in 1987 of the iron smelter, built by the Demidov dynasty back in 1925. The exhibitions, which include various workshops, rolling stock, a forge and even an equestrian area, are located on an area of 30 hectares.
Important! It is prohibited to move around the territory of the museum-factory without a guide, as many buildings are in disrepair.
- The Museum of Armored Vehicles is part of the Uralvagon plant museum complex. Its collections, divided into eight exhibitions, introduce visitors to the history of the creation and development of armored vehicles. Of greatest interest to tourists is the exhibition hall on the ground floor, which houses models of serial combat vehicles.
- The Museum of the History of Tray Crafts is one of the best institutions of the Gornozavodskoy Ural Museum-Reserve. Its funds are located in the wooden house of the Khudoyarov . Nizhny Tagil is the birthplace of painted trays, which became known as works of art in the 19th century.
Other museums of Nizhny Tagil:
- Museum of Nature and Environment;
- art Museum;
- museum "Demidovskaya Dacha";
- Museum "The Lord's House";
- Cherepanovs' house-museum.
Natural attractions
Ural Mountains attract the most attention of tourists .
- Mount Grace is part of the Ural ridge. This object, whose name comes from the Greek translation of the name of Empress Anna, is a true symbol of man’s consumer attitude towards nature. Of the three peaks, only the one with no ore remains. According to legend, the secret of minerals in the depths of the mountain was revealed to the prospectors by Vogul Stepan Chumpin, who was burned alive by his fellow tribesmen for this betrayal.
- Ermak Hill is a natural monument in the Sverdlovsk region. The height of this mountain reaches 298 meters, and at its top there is a vertical shaft dug. According to legend, countless treasures captured in Siberia by Ermak are hidden here.
- Naked Stone Mountain is part of the Merry Mountains range. On its southern slope, traces of Mesolithic people and their stone tools were discovered. From the top of this mountain there is a magnificent panoramic view of Nizhny Tagil.
- Fox Mountain is the most recognizable symbol in the center of Nizhny Tagil. At its top, a monument to the cultural heritage of Russia was erected - a watchtower.
Fox Mountain
Historical Museum of Local Lore
The museum presents various exhibits related to the history of the development of the Tagil region. Namely: archaeological finds from the Gorbunovsky peat bog, sculptures and picturesque portraits of the Demidov dynasty, famous works of domestic and foreign artists, paintings of the 17-18 centuries made by serfs, a model of the Cherepanov steam locomotive, etc. Entrance to the museum is paid: children - 20 rubles. , adults - 60 rub.
Address: Lenin Avenue-1A.
What to see in Nizhny Tagil in 1 day
If you are in Nizhny Tagil for just one day, you will need a good excursion plan to see all the main attractions of this city. It is best to organize your trip in this order:
- Start your walk with the main attraction of the city - the Demidov plant .
- Next, climb Fox Mountain and admire the city from its top.
- Then be sure to visit the exhibitions of the Cherepanovs' house-museum . Next to it you will also find the steam locomotive of these famous engineers.
- Next on your list will be the Museum of Life and Crafts , as well as the Museum of Tray Crafts. They are located on Tagilskaya Street.
- Complete the tour with one of the oldest churches in the city - the Alexander Nevsky Church .
In the evening, after a walk around Nizhny Tagil, it is best to relax in the Bondina city park .
Museum of Nature and Environmental Ecology
The main exhibition presented in the museum is located on the second floor of the building; only some exhibits and toilets for visitors are presented on the first floor. It was collected by museum employees and ordinary people. The skeletons of male, female mammoths and their calves are of great interest to visitors.
There are also exhibits of other animals that can no longer be found in the Ural forests or are on the verge of extinction. In addition to animal exhibits, you can also get acquainted with samples of minerals that are rich in the bowels of the earth of the Ural Mountains. They have different natural colors, sizes and names. Surely their names are familiar to you: malachite, jasper, rock crystal, gold nuggets, platinum, etc.
Address: Lenina Avenue-1a.
Where you can go in Nizhny Tagil with a child
Despite the fact that Nizhny Tagil is a typical industrial city, its entertainment sector for children is quite well developed. Tourists who come here with a child will most like:
- children's quests "EVENT";
- trampolines in entertainment;
- laser tag at the STELS club;
- petting zoo;
- Zoo "GreenPoll" in the village of Nikolo-Pavlovskoye;
- deer farm.
For teenagers in Nizhny Tagil, it will be interesting to play paintball at the Strategy club or visit one of the many bowling centers in this city.
Perhaps readers can add to the list of the best places for tourists with children in Nizhny Tagil? Be sure to leave your options in the comments!
Petting zoo "Forest Brothers"
A zoo where visitors can not only look at animals, but also touch them, namely, pick them up and feed them fruits and vegetables. It is divided into two halls. The first hall is home to animals and birds that you can meet in any homestead: goats, rabbits, quails, chickens. The second hall presents animals that usually live in the forest: raccoon, ferret, squirrel, chinchilla, possum. If you come to the zoo with your child, then you should know that contact with animals will be safe if you wear rubber gloves on your hands and your child, as they will provide protection from unexpected animal bites.
Address: prospect. Mira-24a.
Uralvagonzavod
about 100 products on its list . This list includes: everything related to the railway - from spare parts to rails, various types of weapons of defense significance, agricultural machines of various types, etc.
Address: Eastern Highway-28.
Museum of Life and Crafts of the Mining Population of the Urals
The museum has a large exhibition of household utensils and decorations of the 19th century mining population, as well as the tools they used for farming. Also, the museum staff will introduce you to their folk traditions and rituals that were performed during a wedding or some holiday. If you are truly a great connoisseur of the history and culture of the peoples of the Tagil region, then you should enjoy the excursion.
Address: Tagilskaya street-26.
Monument to the Red Army Heroes of 1918
It was opened at the site of brutal battles between the Red Army and the White Guards in 1918. Despite desperate resistance and holding their positions, the Red Army soldiers were defeated and killed. In memory of their heroism and exploits, it was decided to create a monument, which was built in 1957. It was created by Tagil sculptor Vasily Ushakov . On it he depicted the silhouette of a Red Army soldier who stands on a pedestal, and above him rises an obelisk, on the very top of which there is a five-pointed star. The monument is made of gray granite, with the inscription carved on it: “Glory to the heroes of the civil war”
