To take a break from big cities, see the untouched taiga and the Siberian baroque, try wild plants and stroganina, take pictures of beautiful sunsets and unusual monuments only in the Tomsk region, which will surprise and conquer any tourist. We present you 10 reasons why you should come to this Siberian region. In fact, there are many more.

SEE THE REAL SIBERIA: TAIGA, RIVERS AND SWAMPS

The Tomsk region is located in the heart of Siberia, just a 4-hour flight from Moscow. There are many iconic places and sights in the Tomsk region, which can be described as “unique”, “only”, “real”. So, in terms of area, the Tomsk region is one of the largest regions in the Russian Federation: almost 317 thousand square meters. m, which is larger than the territory of many European countries.

The Tomsk region attracts with its real Siberian nature: endless taiga forests, rivers, lakes and swamps will make you feel like pioneers who first visited these lands more than 400 years ago.

In the Tomsk region, you can see one of the largest swamp complexes in the world – Vasyuganye, which is called the “second lungs of the planet.” The swamp area is 53 thousand square meters. km.

Vasyugan swamps, aerial view. Photo: Valery Doronin. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

Tomsk Region is one of the record holders in terms of the number of rivers and lakes: there are 18,100 rivers in the region with a total length of 95 thousand km – if they merged into one, then it could wrap around the Earth twice.

Back to news Every tenth Russian cedar grows on Tomsk soil, so pine nuts are often used as an addition to various dishes. Candies, jams and other sweets based on pine nuts are the most popular present that tourists bring from a trip to Tomsk.

Pine nuts are an excellent gastro-souvenir from the Tomsk region. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

Wild berries from the swampy places of the Tomsk region are another delicious gift from Siberian nature. Traveling around the Tomsk region, you can pick organic lingonberries, blueberries, cranberries and blueberries, as well as medicinal herbs, pine cones and taiga mushrooms.

Siberian berries are another reason to come to Tomsk region. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

GET TO KNOW THE STUDENT CAPITAL OF RUSSIA

In the history of Siberia, the word “Tomsk” and the word “first” are inseparable from each other. It was in Tomsk that the first university in the Asian part of Russia was founded, the first radiotelegraph and television stations were built, the first public library in Siberia and a branch of the state bank, the first bookstore and the first botanical garden were opened, the first symphony orchestra in Siberia was created.

< p>Therefore, start your acquaintance with this amazing region from Tomsk, one of the oldest cities in Siberia. It was founded in 1604, 20 years after Yermak's first campaign in Siberia.

The panorama of Tomsk from Voskresenskaya Mountain is impressive. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

Walk the streets of the intellectual and educational capital of Siberia – Siberian Athens. This is the unofficial name of the city of Tomsk, deserved thanks to six universities. Practically all the first Siberian scientific schools were founded in Tomsk – physical, radio-electronic, geological, botanical, historical, medical.

Tomsk is the university center of Siberia. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

Plunge into the atmosphere of the student capital of Russia. Young people from 93 countries of the world and 80 Russian regions study at Tomsk universities.

Tomsk is the only city in Russia, in the Charter of which the scientific and educational complex is fixed as a city-forming one. In terms of the number of students per 10,000 inhabitants, the Tomsk Region ranks third in Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the student capital of Russia. Young people from 93 countries of the world and 80 Russian regions study at Tomsk universities. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

There is a University Grove in Tomsk, part of an old university complex, which is a unique monument of nature and an example of garden and park art.

Include in your route and the Scientific Library of Tomsk State University. Nauchka, as Tomsk residents often call it, is not only one of the largest scientific libraries in Russia, but also one of the most beautiful library institutions.

SEE THE SIBERIAN BAROQUE

Tomsk is a real city-museum under the open sky, because the main attraction of Tomsk is wooden architecture. The city has preserved unique arrays of wooden buildings of the late XIX – early XX century.

About 700 monuments of wooden architecture and more than 6 thousand wooden houses in the historical zone. Tomsk is the only city in Siberia where historical buildings have been preserved so well. Two-three-story dark wood houses with intricate architraves and patterns – you can look at them for hours.

Russian-German home. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

The Emerald House. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

Tomsk land is rich in architecture of various directions, but there is also an original style that is not found anywhere else in the world. This is Siberian baroque. The most famous monument of the Siberian Baroque in Tomsk is the Church of the Resurrection, which seems to soar above the city.

Resurrection Church in Tomsk. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

The severity of the color palette, the contrast of black and white, can also be found in the architectural appearance of other Tomsk churches – the Epiphany Cathedral, the Znamenskaya Church, the Bogoroditse-Aleksiyevsky Monastery. >Be sure to visit the Camp Garden, perhaps the most spectacular place in the city. There is an excellent observation deck here, a gorgeous view of Tom opens up, and, according to the citizens themselves, the most beautiful sunsets in Tomsk.

This is a great place for inspiration and relaxing walks, while feeding squirrels will bring unlimited pleasure to children and adults. You can also find fluffy tailed ones and treat them with nuts in the University Grove.

Feeding squirrels is one of the favorite activities of tourists in Tomsk. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

FIND THE MOST UNUSUAL MONUMENTS IN THE WORLD

Tomsk is a city of unusual monuments. For example, you can make a wish by rubbing your nose on a bronze sculpture of the writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, take pictures with monuments to Happiness, slippers, a pregnant woman and a newborn baby in cabbage, a football fan, as well as at the largest monument to the ruble or at the smallest monument in the world – a frog – a traveler. Its height is only 44 mm.

The famous monument to Chekhov in Tomsk against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

The mini-monument to the frog is another pride of Tomsk. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

DIVE INTO MULTINATIONAL CULTURE

Representatives of more than 120 nationalities live in peace and harmony on the territory of the Tomsk Region: Selkups and Khanty, Tatars and Russians , Germans, Poles and Belarusians

A trip to the Tomsk region is an opportunity to get acquainted with ancient archaeological cultures (Samus, Molchanov, Kulai, Relkin), learn more about the traditions and customs of the indigenous and small peoples of Siberia, Russian settlers and representatives of numerous national diasporas.

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You can learn about the traditions of the peoples of Siberia in the museums of Tomsk. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

VIEW ETHNOGRAPHIC COMPLEXES

When visiting the Tomsk Region, you should definitely visit ethnographic complexes and museums. Visit Semiluzhensky prison, a recreated 17th-century Cossack prison, to take pictures in old Russian armor or clothing from the 19th–20th centuries, ring bells and even shoot with a squeaker or a cannon.

Semiluzhensky prison. Governor. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

The village park “Okolitsa” is one of the favorite places for recreation of the residents of Tomsk and the Tomsk region, a real open-air museum of wooden architecture. Unusual wooden sculptures created as part of the Tomskaja Ax Festival live here.

The wooden sculpture “Ukh Brigade” in the Okolitsa park was made only with an axe. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

The Bratina Open-Air Museum of Cossack Culture and Life, which is located on the banks of the Siberian Ob River, is also interesting. It tells about the original culture, traditions and life of the Cossacks of Siberia.

There is also a real Estonian settlement in the Tomsk region – “Yanov Khutor” – with a mill, a well-crane, beautiful gazebos and verandas, bridges, sculptures from hay and swings.

Yanov Khutor. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

Another open-air exposition is the Museum of Traditional Selkup Culture and Life. Selkup dwellings of various eras have been recreated here with historical authenticity.

SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF OLD FEDORS OF TOMSK

One of the main secrets of the royal family is connected with the history of the land of Tomsk – the secret of the Holy Elder Theodore of Tomsk, who, according to legend, was Emperor Alexander I.

The elder settled in Tomsk at the invitation of the merchant S.F. Khromov, where he lived until his death in 1864. In city churches there are icons on which he is depicted, and in the Bogoroditse-Alekseevsky Monastery the relics of the holy elder are kept and there is a chapel.

Bogoroditse-Alekseevsky Monastery. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

TRY SIBERIAN DELICATES

Tomsk Region will surprise gourmets with gourmet cuisine. Come and taste dishes of sterlet, muksun, elk and bear meat, and for dessert – sweets with honeysuckle, lingonberries and pine nuts.

Sterlet. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

Try stroganina, a traditional dish of the northern peoples served in Tomsk restaurants.

Frozen fish cut into thin chips is served with a mixture of black pepper and salt. Only properly caught, frozen and shredded fish with the sharpest knife will make the dish unforgettably tasty.

Stroganin. Photo: Kukhterin restaurant. Photo provided for publication by the Project Office for the Development of Tourism and Industry and Hospitality of the Tomsk Region

Elena Myagkova