Destinations > Central Russia
Tula
Located 130 km from Moscow, this region has gathered a real collection of original tourist brands: Leo Tolstoy, samovars, marshmallow, gingerbread and weapons
a long way history
From the Past to the Present
Although Tula was founded in the 12th century, you will not find a significant number of old churches there. This city has always been an industrial province. However, major historical events still did not bypass the Tula region: it was on its territory that the crucial battle of Kulikovo field took place. Moscow Prince Dmitry Donskoy defeated the army of the Horde Khan in 1380. This victory was the first for Russian princes and marked the beginning of the liberation of Russia from the Tatar-Mongol yoke.
A few years ago, Tula began a new page in its history: active renovation has been started. First, the Kremlin was restored. Then a new embankment was built nearby. Art clusters and places of attraction began to appear in place of the old factories. The city seems to have breathed new life: young people no longer go to Moscow for leisure, but visit local events and restaurants.
short city information
LOCAL TIME | UTC+3 |
|---|---|
CLIMATE | Temperate |
POPULATION | 475 thousand people |
HOW TO GET | 3,5 hours by bus from Moscow |
HIGHLIGHT | Yasnaya Polyana, Gingerbread, Tula Museum of Weapons |
types of tourism
Excursion
Family
Culinary
Theme
Pride of the city
Kremlin, New Embankment and Lofts
The Tula Kremlin was built by order of Ivan the Terrible. In 2020, the Kremlin turned 500 years old, this is the oldest building in the city. For the anniversary, its territory was put in order. Now it is pleasant to walk there and visit the shopping gallery.
Behind the Kremlin, there is Kazanskaya embankment. Until recently, its territory was surrounded by a fence, and the residents did not even know that there was a river flowing. However, today this embankment has become the hallmark of the city. It is really comfortable: you can walk here, sit near the water, drink coffee and watch your child playing on the modern playground.
That is not all. Art spaces also appeared in Tula: Iskra, Oktava and Likerka. All of them are located on the site of the former industrial zones, and now cultural life is in full swing there – museums, libraries, lecture halls and, of course, restaurants and cafes.
Previous
Next
Iconic confections
Tula Gingerbread & Marshmallow
Gingerbread cookies appeared in Russia as early as the 9th century. Each region had its own unique recipe, but it was Tula gingerbread that was destined to become famous all over the world. Their main feature is their unique shape and ornament. This was achieved by using wooden planks with carved patterns in its inner side. In gingerbread museums (at the real factory “Old Tula” and at the Museum of International Gingerbread), you will learn the production process, see some gingerbreads and try it! Besides, you can try to paint the iconic confection yourself.
Belevskaya marshmallow (Belev is a city of the Tula region) is not like the famous Kolomna one. It is made only from apples in a real Russian oven. Before the revolution, this marshmallow was even supplied to Europe. In 2009, the production of marshmallows was resumed in Belev using the original technology. Together with gingerbread it will be a perfect souvenir to bring home.
Mecca for admirers of Russian literature
Yasnaya Polyana
It is Leo Tolstoy’s estate, where he spent most of his life and wrote his most significant masterpieces: «War and Peace» and «Anna Karenina». In the estate you will get acquainted with the very modest life of the writer, all furnishings are genuine. The most valuable thing in the collection is the writer’s books, which he used when writing the novel “War and Peace”. His author’s notes have survived, which make it possible to trace how the writer scooped up material to create his masterpiece.
Leo Tolstoy was buried right there, in Yasnaya Polyana. The writer’s grave is in the forest, in the very place where Tolstoy himself wished to be buried. A small mound, overgrown with greenery, is poured over the grave, there is no cross. The writer asked to bury him as modestly as possible and without any rituals.
Talents of Locals
Weapons
The arms business in Tula originated in the 16th century, and in the 18th century Peter the Great founded the first state arms factory in Russia. During the war with Napoleon, Tula gunsmiths manufactured 600 thousand rifles for the army! You can learn more about the arms business of Russia, and not only, at the Tula Museum of Weapons. The museum is located in a building designed in the form of a large helmet, and in front of it, there is an exhibition of tanks and armored personnel carriers.
try something new
Itineraries of Central Russia
What Else
View More Destinations
want more?
More pictures inside the Gallery
