Yekaterinburg celebrated its 300th anniversary this past weekend. And although the story of the modern millionaire began with the construction of a forge, the city no longer lives solely on industry. The metropolis has one of the most striking theater scenes in the country, many literary outlets and places where you can admire street art. Where to go and what to see in the capital of the Urals – says the news editor BURO. Ekaterina Krayukhina.
The place where Russia’s first president began his career and where the life of the country’s last emperor ended are common associations with the city. However, the Yeltsin Center multimedia museum and the Temple of Blood, built on the site of the Ipatiev House, where Nicholas II and his family were shot dead, are far from all the sights. The guide, which will help you plan a weekend in Yekaterinburg, contains the main points of the historical, cultural and gastronomic life of the city.
YELTSIN CENTER CHURCH AT BLOOD KOLTSOVO AIRPORT
There are two ways to get from Moscow to Yekaterinburg. The first and most comfortable way is by plane. The flight lasts two and a half hours, the ticket costs about 5,000 rubles one way. The second option is by train. Tickets can be found from 3,500 rubles, but you have to travel all day.
MURU COFFEE
We begin our acquaintance with the city, of course, with breakfast, in Muru. In a cozy cafeteria, which is located in a brick house on Rosa Luxemburg street, breakfasts are served all day.
After fresh pastries and coffee, I propose to assess the scale of the city and look at it from above. An eight-minute walk to the Vysotsky skyscraper on the 52nd floor has an observation deck. From here, the panorama of Yekaterinburg is visible 25 kilometers away.
VISOTSKIY VISOTSKII BUSINESS CENTER VISOTSKII MUSEUM
The Vladimir Vysotsky museum is located on the second floor of the business center. The personal belongings of the famous artist are exhibited here, the hotel room in which he lived when he was on tour in Sverdlovsk (it was called Yekaterinburg until 1991) was completely restored. Among the unique exhibits are icons, paintings and decorations of the Vysotsky-Vlady family (in 2016 they were bought at an auction in Paris organized by Vysotsky’s widow Marina Vlady), a Mercedes 350 W116 that belonged to the musician and even his last poem. .
Do not rush to leave the skyscraper: on its roof (197 meters, for a moment) there is an outdoor pool. Whether you’re lucky with the weather or not, the spa is open year-round. In summer the water is heated up to 33° and in winter up to 46°. The pool is not inferior to the Moscow “Seagull”.
SKY BISTRO SPA COMPLEX “CITIZENS”
I advise you to dine in the “Citizens” bistro. Yekaterinburgers love this place for its understandable but tasty food, its location in the historical center and its atmosphere.
“Do you love the theater as much as I love it…” – with this quote from Belinsky I hint at the plans for the night. Yekaterinburg is one of the main theater centers of Russia. In terms of the number of theaters, it ranks third after Moscow and St. Petersburg. A definite must-see is the Kolyada Theatre. A living classic, playwright and director Nikolai Kolyada created an independent theater project in 2001. The repertoire includes bold interpretations of familiar stories: “The Seagull”, “The Twelve Chairs”, “Woe from Wit”, “Marriage”. Here you can also see performances of works written by Kolyada himself and buy his books. The new theater season is now open, the poster can be found on the web.
PERFORMANCE “KOLYADA THEATER” “TWELVE CHAIRS” CAFÉ BREADWAY
First of all, I recommend running for coffee and snacks to have strength and encouragement for the route on the second day. For example, Breadway has an excellent breakfast menu: hearty bowls, egg dishes, croissants, brioches, puddings, cereals, bruschettas, and a rich selection of desserts.
Immediately opposite, perhaps the most popular place among tourists is the Yeltsin Center. Attention to this social and cultural space is quite justified. The modern museum dedicated to the perestroika era and the first Russian president was created in 2015 by the design of the Moscow architect Boris Bernaskoni. Regardless of what political views you have, I advise you to come here. The permanent exhibition, as conceived by the director Pavel Lungin, is organized here on the principle of “seven days”. Each hallway – from “We are waiting for the change!” a “Farewell to the Kremlin” – is associated with a turning point in the history of the country. The moving epilogue to the exhibition was the Freedom Hall. In it you can hear what this important word means to a variety of people: Leah Akhedzhakova, Ivan Urgant, Mikhail Zhvanetsky and even Bill Clinton. By the way, conferences, film screenings, concerts and exhibitions are often held in the downtown venues. It is best to check the website for updates.
“YELTSIN CENTER”, ROOM “DAY SEVEN. GOODBYE TO THE KREMLIN” “YELTSIN CENTER”, “FREEDOM HALL” BORIS RED HOUSE ON STR. TITOVA, 44, WHERE THE POET SPENT THE CHILDHOOD
The next waypoint is not obvious. I am sure that to get to know the city well it is worth leaving its center. Anyone who is not indifferent to literature should come to Vtorchermet. Boris Ryzhiy, called the last Soviet poet and, according to Yevgeny Rein (writer and close friend of Joseph Brodsky), the most talented poet of his generation, lived and worked in this area of Yekaterinburg. Of course, you can walk through the main places of the “distant and sad neighborhoods” on your own, but I recommend going with a guided tour. These are held periodically by the United Museum of Ural Writers or private guides.
You can have lunch and take a breather at Lost and Found: from 12:00 to 17:00 there are excellent business lunches. The space is elegant, with lots of light and greenery.
RESTAURANT “BUREAU FOUND” TSOIA TUNNEL
Yekaterinburg is considered the capital of street art. The city traditionally hosts two street art festivals: legal – “Stenograffia” and illegal – “Carte Blanche”. Probably during your walks you managed to notice how much graffiti is here, just have time to look around. For example, in the very center, on Plotinka, you will find the Tsoi tunnel.
By the way, the dam on the Iset River, or simply Plotinka, is the place where Yekaterinburg began. It was built for the needs of the plant, around which the city subsequently grew. As a result of the construction, a pond was formed, and in several surviving buildings of the former plant, the Ural Museum of the History of Architecture and Industrial Technology is now located. Therefore, a walk through here is an obligatory and last point of our route. Next door is an old pre-revolutionary mansion in the eclectic style with neo-Baroque and pseudo-Gothic elements – the house of NI Sevastyanov. According to legend, the businessman who built a luxurious house lived across the street and only admired his creation. Later, Nikolai Ivanovich went bankrupt and was forced to sell the building; a district court was placed there. Now the mansion is occupied by the residence of the President of the Russian Federation, so the building can only be seen from the outside.
DAM ON THE RIVER ISET SEVASTYANOV’S HOUSE
INTERESTING DATA:
Yekaterinburg was named after Peter I’s wife, Catherine I, and not Empress Catherine II, as many people think.
Yekaterinburg is one of the seven cities in Russia with a metro. As for the number of stations, it is the most compact: there are only nine.
Regardless, residents and guests of the city can explore Yekaterinburg along the “Red Line”. This walking route, easily recognizable by the markings on the pavement, includes 39 attractions.
Throughout history, 35 heads of state have visited Yekaterinburg, beginning with the visit of Emperor Alexander I in 1824. Fidel Castro, Richard Nixon, Mao Zedong, and Angela Merkel all flew to the city at different times.
