Tomsk is a unforgettable city. In 2004, it had 400th anniversary. But at the same time, Tomsk is young, modern city. You can easily feel this yourself just looking at its lively streets filled with young people.
What attracts people in our small, but having a long history town? Perhaps, famous universities famous all over the country, those are six in Tomsk. Or the thing is in the unique richness of the Tomsk region, tremendous oil reserves, gas, and timber. Perhaps the reason for this is extraordinary atmosphere; the atmosphere of city that is thoroughly steeped in history; a truly intellectual center of Siberia, the city of professor, an elderly person who has much to remember and tell; a city of student, young, inquisitive, perpetual pupil. Tomsk-dwellers always lack this atmosphere in foreign lands, no matter how prosperous their life is. Meanwhile, spirituality and culture of Tomsk the best minds of Russia create who had been exiled to Siberia for hard labor and exile. Architecture also plays important role in creating this atmosphere. Typical buildings are not about Tomsk; it has everything: slender avenues, winding streets with cobblestone pavement, ramshackle fences and pulled facades of the Governor's quarter.
Tomsk had been constantly changing during over 400 years of its existence. And now it appears to us as multi-faceted: we are witnessing how one epoch replaces another and we see how 18th century wooden houses and mansions of merchant millionaires of gold rush period, carved towers and modern buildings in high-tech style coexist on the same street.
Visit us and you will see how beautiful Tomsk is! You can visit the most interesting and memorable places of Tomsk, will be able to see the city from the steep Voskresenskaya Mountain where our Tomsk was once based, as well as get acquainted with its original toponymy. Visit the White Lake and Lagerny Garden. You will see the ancient temples and cloisters, hear legends about aged man Theodor, the holy relics of which are still bringing healing to those who suffer, and learn where the secret escape hatch is that leads to the underground castle Artania. In short, you can see how Tomsk looked 400 years ago, and what it now is.
Tomsk: History and Modernity
