Tomsk

Statistics:
Founded: 1604
Population: > 500 000
River: Tom
Universities: 6
Students: 85 000


Tomsk is located almost in the geographical centre of Russia. It was founded 400 years ago on the picturesque bank of the River Tom.

Tomsk is a prominent academic and scientific centre. There are 6 universities, 20 higher research institutes and many specialized colleges and schools training specialists in engineering, medicine, education, art, etc. About 85 thousand students live and study in Tomsk. Currently, each sixth person of the city is a student. Tomsk is often called a students' town.

There are more than 70 industrial enterprises in Tomsk region and their production is well-known world over. The main branches of industry are: oil and gas, instrument making, machine building, metal and wood processing, food processing, thermal and electric power production.

Tomsk Scientific Center of Siberian branch of Russian Academy of Sciences is located here. It consists of 5 academic institutes and a series of subdivisions.

Practical training during the course study at numerous Tomsk enterprises gives the students of Tomsk Polytechnic University the opportunity to make successful career.

Tomsk is a cultural centre. There are many theatres, Philharmonic Society, art and museums of local lore, cinemas, libraries and historical places. The pride of our city is the university library and one of the largest and richest gardens of the world - the Siberian botanical garden. Tomsk is remarkable for its wooden architecture. Tomsk carefully keeps houses and buildings of 19th century in the «Old Town». Acknowledged as historical sites, they are preserved by the State.

The city is constantly growing. Many new buildings and districts spring every year. It becomes younger and better. The sitizens of Tomsk are proud of their beautiful city, which celebrated its 400 anniversary in 2004.

Green area of Tomsk amounts 18% of its territory.

Tomsk deserves the title of an extraordinary city: it adores tourists from other Russian towns, while the locals habitually grumble about its imperfections, but always miss it if happen to be far away. And it is not concrete avenues and white stone quarters of new blocks of flats that they remember, but ancient curving and at the same time cozy streets of old Tomsk. Tomsk is as a matter of a fact comprised of two towns: an old one built primarily in the 19th century and the new one surrounding old buildings.

Founded as a fortress in 1604, Tomsk became a recognized foothold for diplomacy and trade on the way to Middle Asia and China. In 1804 the town turned into the centre of a huge Siberian government, one of the territorial subdivisions of Russia that time. Tomsk attracted merchants and manufacturers, who contributed to the prosperity of the city. During 30-40 years the look of the city changed so much that some historians bracketed Tomsk together with other Russian cities located in the European part of the country in terms of architecture, luxury stores and fuss in the streets.

Tomsk seemed to have had all chances to develop into a successful and popular city but for one insidious fact: it was left off the Siberian Railway. Building a railroad to the main line never helped, thus, Tomsk failed to keep its status of a rapidly growing Siberian city. However, being left behind Tomsk luckily preserved the centre of the city, which "fell asleep" and gradually turned into a genuine museum complex.

Voskresensk Mountain is a place where Tomsk was started. The south point of the mountain together with lying there street still have the name of Obrub meaning timber blocking built as a fortification.

Museums and theatres

Tomsk can boast two drama theatres, a Theatre for Youth, a Puppet theatre, a Philharmonic Hall, 6 cinemas, several culture centres, a sport centre, night clubs, a symphony orchestra, centres of Polish, German and Tatar culture, stadiums, swimming pools, bowling clubs and many other entertainment facilities.

In Tomsk you can also visit the Regional Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy, art galleries, exhibition halls, the Museum of Wooden Architecture, the Museum of City History, the NKVD Memorial House of Detention, a Botanic Garden and a planetarium.

Tomsk has none of the historical pomp and circumstance of the two major tourist destinations, Moscow and St. Petersburg. For the traveler who hankers for something besides glittering churches and postcard-familiar scenery, Tomsk offers something more subdued. Wooden houses, like those out of a favorite Russian fairy tale, line the streets in various stages of repair or renovation. The many universities give the town a learned, serious atmosphere. And the museums are heavy with the gravity of Siberian history. Set in the midst of miles of taiga, Tomsk has a quiet dignity.

The best time to visit Tomsk is in the summer—June, July, or August. The sunny, warm days are perfect for taking walks in Lagerny Sad, the war memorial park that looks over the River Tom. The residential neighborhoods are full of points of interest, and the downtown area is great for shopping and eating. However, even on the rainy days you can find something to do. Not only is there a recently established art museum, but the Tomsk Regional Museum gives an in-depth look at how the peoples of Siberia once lived.

For those who want something special, it's imperative to check out the KGB Memorial Museum. Located in the original Tomsk KGB headquarters, it is a reminder of the terror of the Communist years and the many labor and concentration camps that were set up in the Tomsk region. The holding cells for prisoners also contain their stories of survival; a rotating exhibit honors the art, literature, and lives of those who were brave enough to fight against and tell about their experiences at the hands of the KGB. The museum is the only one like it in the country, and in its guestbook visitors can see Solzhenitsyn's signature.

The wooden houses are a point of pride for the people of Tomsk. Many of the more elaborate ones have become symbols of the city. The windows are bordered with elaborately carved wooden "lace," some in themes depicting birds or dragons. Some of these buildings are still inhabited, which seems a decent metaphor for the way the past in Siberia maintains a symbiont relationship with the present.

The rare Westerner in Tomsk will be met with wariness and curiosity, though seldom hostility. Anyone who shows interest in Tomsk or the Siberian way of life will make friends quickly. Tomichi, the citizens of Tomsk, love to have guests and to share their warm Russian hospitality with foreigners. Their knowledge of their city and of Siberian history can make a stay in this town especially meaningful. You can meet them at the American Center near Tomsk State University, at the central fountain where many Tomichi congregate during the evening, over drinks at one of the many bars, or even on the bus. Any foreigner tends to stand out, but this can be an advantage when trying to make friends.

One of the most delightful aspects of a Siberian summer is the food. The markets are full of delicious fruits and berries, all of which are at premium pricing for the traveler who is used to paying an arm and a leg for sub-par produce. There is an extensive variety of cheese and other dairy products, free from the processes that often make US diary bland and lacking consistency. At certain times of the week, you can visit stalls that sell meat freshly butchered or fish freshly caught. Tomsk is a part of Russia that is unique for the Eastern European traveler. Its small size and community atmosphere, along with its proximity to vast pine forests, make it an escape from the big city Russia that most tourists are familiar with. Fourteen hours by train will take you to a bigger city—Krasnoyarsk, and then you can ride the Trans-Siberian railroad on to Novosibirsk. However, given Tomsk's character and quality, it is unlikely any visitor will be in a hurry to leave.