Ekaterinburg

Ekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia and is situated on the eastern side of Ural mountain range and is surrounded by forests and small lakes. The winter lasts for about five months between November and April, while the summer is very short. Ekaterinburg is famous for it’s theatres among which there are some very popular theatre companies.

Ekaterinburg is located in the middle section of the Ural mountain chain. The city has always been reasonably prosperous, as one can see from the number of patrician houses and mansions around the city center. Contrary to popular opinion, the city's name (which translates as "Catherine's City") is not due to Empress Catherine II ("the Great"), but an earlier Catherine. Catherine I was the second wife of the Czar Peter the Great, and it was her practical good sense which helped establish this important industrial and mining center - so Peter named the city in her honor.
Yekaterinburg was most notoriously the scene of the assassination of the Romanov Royal Family in 1918. There were, of course, two Revolutions in 1918. The earlier one, in March, resulted in an understanding between the Czar and the new Provisional Government - if the Czar agreed to abdicate, he and his family would be allowed to live quietly in Russia. However, when the Socialists organized the October Revolution in the same year to overthrow the Provisional Government, the Royal Family felt at risk with the new rulers, and tried to escape to France... but they were arrested before even reaching the Russian border. From there, they were taken under house-arrest to Yekaterinburg, specifically the "Ipatiev House", which is where the story really begins - and ends.
In 1924, Yekaterinburg was renamed to Sverdlovsk, after one of the revolutionary leaders. During the Soviet period, Sverdlovsk grew rapidly to become one of the biggest industrial, cultural, and scientific centers of Russia. During WWII, Sverdlovsk grew enormously, as the city was geared up to serve the front. Equipment was moved in from evacuated factories, and general investment into the war industry kept the city growing.

Modern Ekaterinburg reflects the rapidly changing tastes of different historical periods in its architecture. The population is now close to 1.5 million and is home to more than 100 research institutes headed by the Urals Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 15 institutions of higher education, and extensive cultural and sporting facilities.

Time shift: Moscow +2 hours, GMT +5 hours
Climate: The fact that Ekaterinburg is far away from the Atlantic Ocean and close to Siberia makes the climate here continental. Compared to the western part of European Russia, which is situated on the same latitudes, we have a longer and colder winter, the temperature difference between days and nights is bigger and the humidity is lower. The climate is mostly affected by the "Western wave" - atlantic air on its way to the Urals becomes continental - it loses it's humidity and becomes colder in winter or warmer in summer. Nevertheless air currents from the west bring most part of atmospheric precipitation and western cyclones often change the weather in Ekaterinburg region. The Ural Mountains also have a big impact on the weather of the region. The mountains are stretched out across the path of the western waves. The mountains, which are not very high, don't make an obstacle for the waves but significantly slow them down, helping the air to move in northerly or southerly directions.

Ekaterinburg has long cold winters with January being the coldest month with temperatures averaging –16C/-17C but it can, on rare occasions, drop to minus 40C. The first snow-falls are in the beginning of October, and the city is usually covered by early November. The heavy snows take until April to thaw. July is the warmest month with average temperatures around 20C – but temperatures of 38C have been recorded. Swimming in the lakes and rivers of the southern and middle Ural is possible from June till August.

Summer ends in late August when the first frosts come to the Urals, however, an "Indian Summer" which is experienced in mid September is quite comfortable.

History
Ekaterinburg is 280 years old. Originally established by the Russian Emperor, Peter the Great, as a major industrial and administrative centre and it has remained so for nearly three centuries.

The glory of the foundation of Ekaterinburg is shared by two "fledglings of Peter's nest" - Captain Vasilij Tatishchev who determined the location of the plant/fortress, and the engineer and general of artillery, William de Gennin, who later put the plant into operation. On November 7 (18), 1723 two iron-forging hammers were put into operation in the hammer-forging shop of the plant. This event was registered as the official date of birth of the town named after the Saint Martyr Catherine (Ekaterina in Russian), the patroness of mining crafts, and after the reigning empress who had been baptized Catherine by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Soon the Ekaterinburg Metallurgical Works became famous for its high quality metal, both in Russia and around the world. In 1728 a mint was opened in its territory, which coined Russian money for a century and a half. A year later a gem-processing factory was built here, which brought world fame to Ural precious and semi-precious stones.

At first Ekaterinburg belonged to the Tobolsk region, however, in 1781 it was granted the status of a town within the Perm principality. In 1783 the Senate approved its coat of arms. The upper part of the shield in this coat of arms displayed a bear with the New Testament on its back against the background of red which was to symbolize that the town belonged to the Perm region, while the lower part showed a silver smelting furnace and a mine against the background of green which symbolized the abundance of minerals near the town. In 1807 Ekaterinburg was granted a unique status of a mining city. It had its own mining courts and mining police, Catherine's Mining Cathedral, the main mining pharmacy, and a town garrison directly subordinated to the Head of the Mining Plants of the Ural Mountain Range. It was only in 1863 that the town was returned to civilian rule.

At the same time, Ekaterinburg was turning into a centre of non-mining industries and banking business. The discovery of Siberian gold brought about a fabulous wealth to the city and stimulated its growth. For a long time the mining of this gold was the monopoly of the Ekaterinburg merchants - the Ryazanovs, Rastorguyevs, Balandins, and others.

Situated on the border between Europe and Asia the town also played an important mediating role in trade. Initially, one part of the fortress, and then of the town, was called a "Trade" part. In 1843 the State Commercial Bank opened its branch office in Ekaterinburg; the "Siberian", the "Volga-Kama", and the "City Community Banks" began operating here early in the XXth century.

Despite its provincial character, the town was a major cultural center. It had a mining school, a mining research society, and a mining museum. 1843 was the year of the establishment of the town's first theatre company, for which, four years later, the citizens constructed a theatre building on Glavny Prospect (Main Street). In 1870, the Ural Society of Science Enthusiasts was established whose members published works about the Ural region and organized expeditions. The national crisis caused by World War I, the February revolution and the October upheaval radically changed the fate of the town. On October 26, 1917 Soviet Power was proclaimed in Ekaterinburg.
Before the civil war Ekaterinburg became a regional centre, and in 1923 it was granted it's rights, and in 1923 it was granted the rights of the administrative centre of the huge, newly established Ural region.

In 1924 the name of Ekaterinburg disappeared from the map of the country. As the totalitarian regime grew stronger it gave the names of its leaders to all places, big and small. Thus, Ekaterinburg was renamed "Sverdlovsk" and in 1934 it became the main city of the region bearing the same name.

Throughout the 1920s - 1930s Ekaterinburg preserved its significance as an industrial and cultural centre of the Urals. The construction of huge plants brought about a threefold increase in its population. The Sverdlovsk builders constructed dozens of industrial buildings, blocks of flats, schools, shops and hospitals. In 1925 the city got its first water supply line and first bus routes. In 1929 the first tram appeared on its streets and a broadcasting station was put into operation. High-rise buildings became the sign of the time.

In 1940, the city had 12 institutions of higher learning, 30 technical schools, 100 secondary schools, 166 libraries, 7 museums, and 5 theatres.
Sverdlovsk was turning into a city of big science. In 1932 the USSR Academy of Sciences opened its branch here. During the years of World War II the city was turned into a powerful arsenal of military equipment and armaments. The leading enterprises of the city were converted to military production. Sverdlovsk gave refuge to the People's Commissariat of Nonferrous Metallurgy, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences, the Air-Force Academy, the Central Theatre of Soviet Army, the famous Moscow MHAT theatre, and the unique collections of the Hermitage.

Many thousands of Sverdlovskians fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. Over 100, 000 citizens were decorated with orders and medals and 55 were granted the title "Hero of the Soviet Union".

After the war Sverdlovsk continued to develop as a large industrial centre in the Urals. Its industrial plants and factories were important suppliers for machine engineering, ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy, chemistry, electrical engineering, and light and food industries. The city was rapidly growing and in 1967 its millionth resident was born.

On November 18, 1978 the people of Sverdlovsk celebrated the Day of the City for the first time - now it is a traditional popular festival.
On September 4, 1991 the city was returned to its original name – Ekaterinburg

Currently the population of Ekaterinburg stands at approximately 2 million. There are more than 100 research institutes headed by the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 15 higher educational establishments, 35 technical schools (colleges), 27 vocational schools, 5 theatres, a philharmonic concert hall, about 600 libraries, and 15 stadiums.

Modern Emblem of Ekaterinburg
The upper part of the shield is in the shape of a fortress, as Ekaterinburg was a fortress during the first years of its existence. The wavy azure line at the bottom is the river Iset, which connects the past and the present, Europe and Asia. The bear is a European symbol and the sable is an Asian one. During Demidov's times, the sable was the trademark of the Ural's metal. The animals, which are not within the borders of the shield, show their tongues and expose their teeth and this demonstration of aggression can be explained that they are defending the city. The golden ribbon at the very bottom of the emblem is considered to characterise Ekaterinburg as a metropolitan city.

Romanov's Dynasty in Ekaterinburg. Ekaterinburg is known as the city where the last Russian tsar, Nicolas II, and his family were killed by Bolsheviks in 1918.

Some facts: After the February Russian revolution in 1917 Nicholas II was arrested and sent to the city Tobolsk in Siberia, and later to Ekaterinburg. By August 1918, Russia was in a flame of Civil War - Red and White Armies fought with alternating success. The White Army enraptured Ekaterinburg and there was a direct threat of the tsar's release, so the Bolsheviks decided to kill him and his family and hide their remains.

Romanov's family
On July 16, 1918, former tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their four daughters, Tsarevich Alexis, and their faithful servants, Doctor Botkine, lady-in-waiting Anna Demidova, cook Kharitonov and footman Troup were assassinated in Ipatiev house's basement in Ekaterinburg.
Their remains were taken away to the forest outside the town. Trying to hide remains, they burned the bodies, tried to dissolve them in acid and finally threw them in a flooded collapsed mine.

Later they decided to move the remains and hide them in a deeper mine but because of the attacking White Army they had to throw the bodies under a road. This place was hidden, and no investigations were successful until 1979 when the tsar's remains were discovered - but for political reasons they could not be exhumed. Exactly one day after taking power in 1991, Boris Yeltsin, the first Russian president, retrieved the remains, and the identification process began. Many teams of experts - Russian, British and American investigated them with DNA expertise for 10 years and came to conclusion that the bones were in fact those of Nicolas, Alexandra, Olga, Tatiana, Anastasia and the four servants.

Ipatiev house was destroyed to avoid it becoming a place of pilgrimages by a special order of the communist party in 1977.
On the place of Ipatiev house the "Cathedral-on-the-Blood" has been built. It is now the biggest Cathedral in Ekaterinburg –it's grand opening on July 16th, 2003 – the 85th anniversary of the tragedy, became the greatest city event this year. You can see all the Romanov's places: "Cathedral-on-the-Blood" (the place of tsar's family) and Holy Royal Martyrs Monastery ("Ganina Yama"), founded on the place of tsar's family burial.

What is Interesting in the city?
There are a lot of places of interest in Ekaterinburg - it has a unique mixture of different architectural, historical, and cultural rarities, which may never be repeated. More than 60 monuments of history and culture are located in the city, and 43 of them are considered to be national monuments because of their special significance. That is why Ekaterinburg can claim the formal status as "Russia's most historical city".

At present, Ekaterinburg is one of Russia's biggest industrial centres. It's enterprises produce industrial goods for heavy machinery and chemical plant construction, for transportation, and military purposes.

Ekaterinburg is not very old, but over the course of its 280-year history, it has proven itself to be a special and even unique city – not only by it's geographical location, but also by a role as one of the founders of Russian industry. The heart of Ekaterinburg is its dam, which permitted the initial development of the city's industrial base. It was first erected in 1723 and has been reconstructed twice since – now it is recognized as an industrial monument of the 18th century.

Unfortunately, very few buildings of the old factory area have been preserved. Those that do, house the Museum of History, Architecture, and Technology of the Urals, and the Natural Museum - both of which are located in the so-called "Historical Park". The oldest building of Ekaterinburg, which dates from 1764 and recently reconstructed, is also situated here. At present this is the Fine Arts Museum. Ekaterinburg of the 18th century was a wooden city, however, the city's first buildings of stone construction also appeared here during this period. At most these were administrative buildings - for example, the Main Board of the mining factories, where the Urals Conservatory is located now.

In the late 18th and the early 19th centuries a new architectural style – "classicism", influenced Ekaterinburg landscapes. The palace on Voznesenskaya Hill, with its luxurious park, is the most famous example of this style. Many churches and chapels made the city's panorama very beautiful and picturesque. In the beginning of the 20th century there were about 50 churches, of which only 6 still stand today.

There are quite a few buildings in the "constructivist" style within the city - typical of this are such examples as the Main Post Office, the "Uralskij Rabochij" ("Ural Worker") printing house, the movie studio, the famous White Tower, the "Dinamo" recreational centre, etc.

The Soviet period brought new trends to Ekaterinburg's architecture - luxury and rationalism, which reflected the influence both of ideology and asceticism. New tendencies in the development of world architecture have also affected the city. Some of the most well known structures of this time include the Military Headquarters, the Ural Great Polytechnic University, the Railroad Administrative Building, and the Philharmonic Theatre.

The city's history is full of events -many expeditions to Siberia, Central Asia and the Far East passed through Ekaterinburg.
The city was visited by many Russian tsars and members of their families.
The first Russian president, Boris Yeltsin lived and worked here during the 1960s and 1970s.

Among the many monuments in Ekaterinburg are the monuments to Bolshevik "Malyshev" and "The Black Tulip" - Russian soldiers during the Afghan campaign named the aeroplanes which delivered the coffins of their dead comrades back to Russia "The Black Tulips".

There are so many remarkable places in the 280-year-old Ekaterinburg, that all cannot possibly be described in this small web site. This brief information is intended to provoke the interest of Ekaterinburg's inhabitants and guests of the Urals to the history of our remarkable city.

Ekaterinburg – the city on the Trans-Siberian Railway

1. The Transsib is the longest railway on Earth. Beginning in Moscow and ending in Vladivostok, it is the most important axle, the main blood vessel of Russia, which still has an extreme economical ant strategic importance.
2. Ekaterinburg (also known as Yekaterinburg) is the third largest Russian, administrative center of the Sverdlovsk region and the capital of the Urals.
3. Ekaterinburg can easily be found on a geographical map of the vast Euro-Asian Continent: it is in the middle of the Ural Mountains, which separate Europe and Asia. The Europe-Asia Obelisk that is about 25 miles (40 km) west of the city, marking the border between the two continents, is an especially interesting place to visit. Thus, Ekaterinburg lies at the crossroad of 2 continents and this determines its political, economic and cultural peculiarities. You will be able to feel the smooth and floating transition between Europe and Asia.
4. Ekaterinburg is more then 280 years old. Originally established by the Russian Emperor, Peter the Great, as a major industrial and administrative center and it has remained so for nearly three centuries. Ekaterinburg is known as the city where Bolsheviks killed the last Russian Tsar, Nicolai II, and his family in 1918.
5. Ekaterinburg has a unique mixture of different architectural, historical and cultural rarities, which may never be repeated. More than 60 monuments of history and culture are located in the city, and 43 of them are considered to be national monuments, because of their special significance. That is why Ekaterinburg can claim the formal status as "Russia's most historical city".
6. There are more 30 museums in Ekaterinburg, which exhibit the unique works of art, historical and cultural evidences and each of them is interesting in its own way. Among them the Ural Geological Museum and Museum of the History of Juweller and lapidary Arts, Sverdlovsk Regional Local Lore Museum and Ekaterinburg Arts Museum and others.
7. The Ekaterinburg – new city on the map of Transsib. It is real possible to get acquainted with the side of Russia and leave the bustling and ever hurrying cities of Moscow and St Petersburg behind you.

Internet Cafe services in Ekaterinburg
If you need access to Internet you can visit an Internet-cafe or a computer games club. More and more internet cafes are open in the city. They charge according to the time you use Internet or according to the traffic you downloaded. Usually it is 60-100 rubles ($2-3) per hour. As a rule you have to pay in advance and after you finish they give you the change back or ask to pay more. You are provided with comfort and high speed in the Net.
In the very center of the city not far from the Square of 1905 there are two well equipped Internet-cafes. One of them is situated on the third floor of the shopping center MYTNY DVOR in 8 Marta street near the Metro station "The Square of 1905". There is always cozy, calm atmosphere in it and it is not crowded. On the corner of Malysheva and 8 Marta streets in the building that is called RUBIN (you can see the ruby on the roof of it) there is a nightclub "Clone" on the third floor where besides the traditional access to the Internet they provide you with all kinds of entertaining that a nightclub can offer. It is a stylish club where people (mostly teenagers) visit not just to surf on the Internet but to communicate with friends, drink and have a good time. There is music playing there so it is not the place for those who like quiet atmosphere.
A very different businesslike atmosphere is in the place for using the Internet in the TELEPHONE STATION IN TOLMACHOVA STREET not far from the Central Post Office. By the way, you can call to any city of Russia and of the world from there. There is one more place for using the Internet in the Central Post Office (39, Lenina street). The entrance to that place is left the corner to the central entrance to the post office. However there are only four computers and usually you have to wait in a line. Here is the list of the computer clubs of the city where you can use the Internet (if you don't mind sitting next to the teenager fighting the "Counter Strike"). But almost in all clubs gamers don't disturb other visitors as they use individual earphones.

Restaurants
LA RONDE.
One of the best restaurants in Ekaterinburg restaurant invites you to have unforgettable dinner in the circle of your friends or family. Business lunch or dinner might become a perfect conclusion of a business meeting or talks. And under the transparent dome of the restaurant through which you could see bright starry sky the most sincere and romantic declarations are born. Classical European cuisine, traditional Russian dishes, and exotic Japanese sushi - our Chefs cook everything first-class!

TROEKUROV.
Our ancestries didn't do any cult of food instead they considered it as a game and passion. Chiefs from France, Germany, Italy cooked diners at balls in country estates of nobles, they invented unwitnessed Russian-European recipes and trained apprentices. That was the way of creating traditions held sacred by victuallers whose noted names have become symbols of Russian hospitality. Everything here is like in old times: at night one can find here live music and candles, all day long modern European and old Russian cuisine, one can even travel around the mansion which turns out mush larger inside than from outside. This mansion is the Troekurovs real museum – hunting lodge, garden of a noble homestead with pavilions, reception-rooms, fireplace room and even an ancient library have found enough place in it.
Unlike a museum here one can touch the "exhibits" as everything in Troekurov's mansion is real and authentic. There is no possibility for the contrary as the traditions of Russian restaurant school are based on "honesty and honour". And there is no negligible details in the restaurant business.
137, Malysheva street, Ekaterinburg
Telephone for booking +7 343 378-81-18

OLD DUBLIN IRISH PUB
ul. Khokhryakova, 23
tel. 10-91-73
Cuisine: European, Irish
Operating hours: 12 pm - 2 am

GRADARA.
Gradara is the typically Italian restaurant in Ekaterinburg. Its interior style reminds medieval Italy. In the afternoon you will be able to have business lunch here, but in the evenings the restaurant is mysteriously transferred and becomes a cozy, romantic place for an excellent rest.
The chef-cook of Gradara, a highly Italian professional, tirelessly takes care of the quality of the dishes and variety, renovating the menu of the restaurant, where you can find any Italian meal you wish. Here you will be offered the best sorts of cheese, pasta, liqueurs and vines. And of course, pizza, which is made here very professionally, and you can taste a great variety of different pizzas here. Italian classical and modern music creates a special atmosphere.
ul. Malysheva, 36
tel. 598-366
Cuisine: Italian
Operating hours: 12 am - 12 pm

GOLDEN SCORPIO
Soft illumination, the classical interior, live music- all these things create an excellent atmosphere for a friendly talk of the highly intelligent audience. The first-rate service, low prices and excellent quality of dishes turn even a chance visitor into a habitue of the restaurant "Gosser". The motto "cheap, qualitative, fast" was realized in this restaurant.
You are sure always to find special dishes made of meat, chicken and fish, luxurious vegetable and fruit salads and desserts. If you are really fond of home food you will be offered a set meal, which is as delicious as at home. The culinary abundance is accompanied by a great variety of strong drinks and several sorts of beer. There is a cozy hall for all visitors and 2 separate rooms. In summer time there is an open summer verandah.
They often organize banquets (up to 50 persons). If you are a businessman and have no time to visit this excellent restaurant then the second course will be delivered right to your office. Both on holidays and on weekdays the restaurant "Gosser" is a great choice for all the epicures who are special connoisseurs of art of cookery and high-qualified service.
Even an experienced epicure will find in the menu of this restaurant such dishes which will be able to astonish. For example, a wild English turtle-dove, stuffed with chestnuts and vegetables and with the piquant sauce. That will make you think both about unusual ingredients and the cooks- talent. The latter will offer their customers dishes of not only the usual European cuisine, but of the exotic and Mexican one. People who are fond of the Caucasian cuisine will be able to enjoy its dishes created by the cook from Erevan. Shashlik made of pork, mutton and sturgeon, which are fried on the charcoal, is just delicious. And we even don-t speak about flavored hashe, lula-kebabe, dolma and hoshloma.
There is a great range of different kinds of wines suitable for any case, either for a usual business lunch or for a feast. There are VIP-rooms for special occasions as well. Your staying in the restaurant will be diversified by real music and shows, and all these things will create an atmosphere of a holiday which will last until the last client leaves.
ul. Bazhova, 75 a
tel. 555-705, 556-963
Cuisine: European, Exotic, Caucasian
Operating hours: 12 pm - 2 am

GOSSER
ul. 8 Marta, 43 tel. 29-40-72, 22-54-33
Cuisine: Russian, European
Operating hours: 12 am - 2 am

DVORYANSKIY
If you enter the halls of this restaurant, you would feel as if you were a marshal of the nobility or a person close to the Emperor. That's why local nobility's descendants like to be here. Such wonderful fashionable and special atmosphere is created with the carpets, velvety arm-chares with fretted backs, heavy cut-glass ware and china on the tables. Many famous actors, coming to Ekaterinburg, say that a special spirit of the theatre lives in this restaurant.
The cuisine in the restaurant is practically re-created in accordance with the ancient Russian recipes. Take for example "Siberian fish soup" which is made from such kinds of fish as white salmon and salmon on the base of ruff and perch broth. And some dishes you can taste only in this restaurant.
All the meat delicacy are made in the kitchen of the restaurant. Everything is kept here, in the cellar, from different small things to milk mushrooms. Besides, here you will find dishes from French cuisine, for example, original salads with cheese, baked mushrooms with sour cream. All these things will please any epicure. People who take a special liking to strong and spicy food can be offered dishes from Asian cuisine. For example, aubersines, stuffed with mutton, then dolma and several kinds of shashlik. There are 5 halls in the restaurant, in two of them you can have a great party or a banquet for 20-25 persons, in another hall you can mark a family anniversary, in others you have meet with your friends or to have a holiday for two with dinner and candles.
pr. Lenina, 85
tel. 568-419
Cuisine: Russian, Oriental, French
Operating hours: 11 pm - 2 am

MCPEAK
McPeak was the first fast food restaurant, which appeared in Ekaterinburg. Original design, colors and modern illumination make "MC Peak" a popular place for mixing both for children and young people.
There is a special children corner where young visitors can have not only a splendid snack but organize an exhibition of their works (paintings, hand-made articles). A huge TV set with their favourite cartoons is sure to attract the attention of the smallest ones.
You will find American fast food and Russian cuisine in the menu, as well as pizza, desserts and several sorts of coffee. Only the most modern equipment is used in the process of preparing food. A unique peculiarity of this restaurant is not expensive food of high quality, but disposal dishes, cleanness and professionalism.
By the way, a smile in "McPeak" is free of charge.
ul. Lenina, 24/8
tel. 65-98-58
Cuisine: Fastfood
Operating hours: 9 am - 10 pm

GRILLMASTER
Right in the center of Ekaterinburg down-town there is a new fast food restaurant, which was opened in May of 2001. "Grillmaster" market trade is well-known not only in Europe for about 30 years but is also greatly loved, attracting its customers by a simple but topical ideal which find its reflection in the following motto "High quality for low prices".
The history of this wonderful fast food restaurant dates back to the last century when legendary Herr Ottwitz opened his first small restaurant, where he and only he could make delicious pork legs which were the best appetizer for a cup of beer from the wood. Later the enterprising offsprings gave the development of Herr Ottwitz's business. They were able to find such dishes, which were sure to attract the fellow-county men, who were great lovers to eat. The menu consists of the best proved dishes of the world fast food cuisine. Here you can find hamburgers, cheeseburgers, pizza, French fries, light desserts and ice-cream. And, to crown it all, the most amazing thing v in the menu of this restaurant you will find the best sorts of beer from the wood.
You can have a snack here, which will be cheap, quick and tasty, to have a date, to spend time with your friends and to make your children happy by treating them with delicious things. And even the place for this excellent restaurant is the best, the very noisy center, just on the crossroad of the business and hotel routes. "Grillmaster" is the embodiment of the modern lifestyle with its fast rhythm and great desire for comfort.
By the way, fast food restaurant "Grillmaster" is just a part of a great entertain complex, which includes a night club and a modern internet cafÈ v in a word all the pleasures and entertainments for any taste.
ul. Malysheva, 44 tel. 76-46-54
Cuisine: Fastfood
Operating hours: 12 am - 2 am

Theatres
OPERA HOUSE
One of the most beautiful buildings in Ekaterinburg is the Opera House. It was built in 1912 and many famous artists played in this theatre like Sergey Lemeshev, Ivan Kozlovsky, Irina Arkhipova. Operas and ballets attract both theatre-lovers and townspeople who like the Arts. Luxury interiors of the theater, skills of the actors and producers, traditional Russian spirit of the theatre v all this you will be able to experience if you visit our Opera. The theatre season lasts from September to July. On the week days they give one play at 6.30 pm and at the weekends there are two plays: one at 11 am and the second is at 6 pm. As the tickets are extremely cheap they are sold off long before the day of the performance especially on the most famous plays like "Swans Lake", "Nutcracker", "Karmen" and "Eugene Onegin".

THE URAL STATE CONSERVATORY
The Ural State Conservatory was founded in 1934. The opening of the Conservatory was predetermined by the necessity of training the highly qualified specialists for musical theatres, concert organizations, and educational establishments of the Urals, Siberia and Far East. In 1939 the Conservatory had its first graduates. Many of them became the teachers of the Conservatory and were appointed to the chairs in a number of higher schools, became the leading music art workers of the country. Nowadays the highly professional staff of the Conservatory includes world famous professors, laureates of Russian and international contests, honored artists.
The Ural State Conservatory is one of the biggest musical higher institutions of the country. Its students are awarded honorary titles, like Prize-winners of Russian and International competitions. The faculties of the Conservatory are: orchestra and folk instruments, piano playing, solo singing, orchestra and chorus conducting, musicology, composition, the musical sound-producing faculty and others.
Nowadays over one thousand students study at the day-time, part-time and extra-mural departments. There are some students from abroad among them.
Lenina street, 26
Ekaterinburg

DOM KINO
ul. Lunacharskogo, 137
phone 55-06-93
kino@orion.ru
Tickets from $2 (day time shows) to $5 (evening and night time). Presenting only newest movies, usually this cinema is full that's why you'd better buy tickets in advance or call and book them. Cinema hall is small, Dolby Stereo is good, seats are comfortable, "upper middle class" public. "Elite" hall welcomes you to the classy night shows.

SALUT
ul. Tolmacheva, 12
phones 71-47-44, 71-13-18
Tickets from $3 to $5 (depends on your seat location). Presenting newest and top popular movies, this cinema is considered to be "cinema for everybody". Halls are big and there are always free seats available. Dolby Stereo is great, seats would be more comfortable, "middle class" public.

Ekaterinburg Zoo
ul. Mamina-Sibiryaka, 189
Phone: 50-54-69 (administration), 50-84-23 (research and PR center)
Fax 56-39-40
Ekaterinburg Zoo presents unique collection of diferent, intersting, rare, amazing animals. Ekaterinburg zoo is founded in 1930. In 1994 Zoo was reconstructed and now it is place always full of fun, kids and kindness. On January 1, 2000 the number of animals is 528 of 180 kinds.
Zoo is open daily:
in Winter time: from 10 am till 5 pm
in Spring and Autumn: from 10 am till 6 pm
in Summer: from 10 am till 7 pm
Last admittance is one hour before closing.
Tickets price:
adults - 30 rubles
kids - 20 rubles
minors under 3 y.o. - free
You can book an excursion, phone 50-84-23.

If you're unsure about your health, first thing you should do is to visit your doctor prior to your visit and consult about your trip. We recommend you to bring all medications you use in your trip to Ekaterinburg. It will help you to avoid possible problems with your health. If you feel bad while you're in Ekaterinburg and would like to see a doctor, visit Preobrazhenskaya Clinic (ul. Gagarina, 28). Their staff will do their best to help you.
In emergency, call 03 and ask for urgent doctor's help.
Listen to our advise
If you decided to try some unusual Russian meal think twice.
Never drink unboiled water, even in a hotel. Buy and drink spring or mineral water instead.
In summer, there are many mosquitoes around. Buy and use an Insect Repellent.
In winter, take warm clothes and shoes with you. It's really cold around and you easily can catch a cold. By all means take warm hat, otherwise you will have to buy it here in Ekaterinburg.
If you need to buy medicine, you should find out their European or Russian analogues.

Nightlife
MALACHITE
Lunacharskogo, 128
phone 56-40-48
BELIY SOBOL
ul. Tokarey, 35
phone 42-15-31

VODOLEY
ul. Shevchenko, 9
phone 70-16-28

KARABAS
ul. Visotskogo, 14 (KOSK Rossia)
phone 47-47-17

MASTER AND MARGARITA
ul. Tolmacheva, 18
phone 51-87-00

LUNA 2000
Sibirsky Trakt, 34 b
phone 62-75-10, 62-50-04

ATLANTIDA
ul. Turgeneva, 23
phone 55-97-62

GALACTICA
ul. Korepina, 2A
phone 34-55-00

MENDELEEV
ul. 8 marta, 5
phone 71-25-46

ELDORADO
ul. Dzerjinskogo, 2
phone 51-30-39