Orenburg: attractions, souvenirs, prices
Miscellaneous / / July 30, 2022
Visit the house of Yuri Gagarin, walk around Pushkin's places and try horse sausage.
Table of contents
- Where to stay
- What sights of Orenburg to see
- Where else to go in Orenburg
- What to bring from Orenburg
Where to stay
Orenburg is one of the few cities in Russia that managed to avoid major reconstruction during the Soviet years. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were many hotels here, striking in their architecture: both the "European" in the Art Nouveau style, and the "Grandhotel" made of red brick. Now all of them have been transferred to urban use, and it will not work to stay in them.
But do not despair: there are many places to stay in Orenburg. For example, double and single rooms in a five-star "Yare» with a view of the Ural River will cost you 5000-6500 rubles per day.
Hotel «Orenburg”offers a more affordable price tag: 2600–3400 for a single room and 4600 for a double room. Both hotels are located within a 10-15 minute walk from the central Sovetskaya Street.
If you are considering a hostel option, then take a closer look at "
ISS”, the design of which is made with a hint of the “Space Odyssey”. Here you can rent a double room for 1300 rubles or a capsule bed in an eight-bed room for 450 rubles. Hostel Like, located in the very center of the city, will cost even cheaper - from 300 rubles to 1200 rubles per person.If you are planning to rent an apartment, check out the offers on Cian. Here you can find one-room apartments or two-room apartments apartments with a pleasant interior right in front of the Musical Comedy Theatre. Or apart‑studios in the elite district of Orenburg - next to the local Red Square.
What sights of Orenburg to see
Sovetskaya street
Here at one time lived Garry Bardin - the director of the famous Soviet cartoon "Flying ship". And also - the Russian classic Leo Tolstoy, who is considered one of the first honored passengers of the Orenburg railway station.
Now Sovetskaya resembles the Arbat - it is, first of all, a walking area for both city guests and local residents. There are many cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops. Nearby there are several squares, each of which has its own attractions.
Here you will see the "Sarmatian deer" - you need to rub his nose for good luck. In the culture of some nomadic peoples, this animal was considered sacred - it was supposed to bring health and good luck to everyone who touches it.
The sculpture was installed here in 2010, and it is an exact copy of the figurine found during excavations in the Ileksky district of the Orenburg region. In the Scythian-Sarmatian caches of the 5th-4th centuries BC. e. there were 26 such figurines.
Square named after Osipenko
There is a monument to Pushkin and Dahl. It is known that in 1833 Alexander Sergeevich wentO. F. Balykov. Orenburg of the XXI century and A. FROM. Pushkin: futurological dreams of a local historian to Orenburg to talk with the participants in the Pugachev uprising. Vladimir Dal, who at that moment served in the office, became his personal guide on this trip.
As a result, their stay in Orenburg inspired both of them to create masterpieces. Pushkin began to write the well-known "The Captain's Daughter", and Dal began to compile the "Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language".
Leninsky square
It used to be famous for the statue of the people's leader. The height of the monument was 165 cm - this was the real height of Vladimir Ilyich. However, in 2018 it was taken away for restoration and never returned to its original place.
Therefore, now in Leninsky Square you can admire only the classic rotunda - a favorite place for wedding photo shoots.
Monument to Chkalov
The main attraction of Pushkinsky Boulevard is a six-meter statue of an outstanding test pilot. In 1938, he died in the line of duty, and 11 days after his death, Orenburg was renamed Chkalov. What is noteworthy: the pilot himself had never been in this city and had no ties with him.
Initially, the monument was prepared for Moscow, but, according to legend, Stalin spoke unflatteringly about him. Therefore, in 1953, it was decided to install it in Orenburg at the intersection of Sovetskaya Street and Pushkinsky Boulevard.
Behind Chkalov is an observation deck overlooking the Ural River.
elizabeth gate
To be more precise, a copy of the gate given to Orenburg by the Empress for the suppression of the Muslim uprising in the 18th century. Urban legends say that this architectural monument has magical powers: if two lovers photographed under it, they will have a happy life together.
Embankment of Orenburg
The embankment is another walking area for the townspeople. There is skate park with a street area for beginners and an air zone for professional riders, as well as the only pump track in the area - the pride of the city.
Those who come with small children will not get bored here either - there are many playgrounds and sports simulators on the territory for those who prefer workout.
Toy railway
A trip on the ODZhD, passing along the coast of the Urals, will be an entertaining adventure. Firstly, this is a historically significant place: the first children's train was launched along it in 1953, and the canvas itself was built in a record 68 days!
Secondly, its trick is that most of the attendants are schoolchildren of grades 5-6, who during the summer holidays try on the roles of conductors, controllers, drivers and dispatchers.
In all other respects, the Orenburg children's railway practically does not differ from the adult one. Only the cars are smaller, the track is narrower (750 mm, as opposed to the usual 1520 mm) and the length of the track is shorter - 5.8 km. There are only three stations: Komsomolskaya, Dubki and Kirovskaya. For 160 rubles you can make the way there and back. Train timetables can be found at group on VKontakte. It will be most convenient to sit on Komsomolskaya.
Pedestrian bridge "Europe-Asia"
This is another curiosity of Orenburg. From the guides you can hear that the Ural River supposedly marks the border between Europe and Asia, and the bridge serves as a transition from one part of the world to another.
In fact, this is not so: the dividing line locatedWhere is the border between Europe and Asia? / Around the world outside the city, along the eastern foot of the Ural Mountains and Mugodzhar, and then along the Emba River.
Nevertheless, some people like to perform the rite of such a symbolic transfer and take pictures with the Europe-Asia obelisk.
There is also a cable car of the same name. So at first you can cross the “border” as a pedestrian, and then as a funicular passenger.
the Red Square
In Orenburg there is a local Red Square - this is a young residential complex with recreation areas and green squares. At the end of the 19th century, the Field of Mars park was located here, on the territory of which there was a tree nursery, flower beds, sports grounds and tea pavilions. Then it fell into disrepair, and they began to revive it only in the 2010s.
Now on Red Square there is a boulevard where a statue of Peter the Great is installed, a playing field, a cafe "Kremel" with an observation deck and beautiful graffiti in the parking area, as well as several front slopes to Ural river.
Since the reconstruction of the Field of Mars continues, Red Square has not yet become a noisy tourist site - here you can take a leisurely walk along the Urals.
Cultural complex "National Village"
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Complex "National Village". Photo: Vyacheslav Dryuchin / Lifehacker
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Complex "National Village". Photo: Vyacheslav Dryuchin / Lifehacker
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Complex "National Village". Photo: Vyacheslav Dryuchin / Lifehacker
"National Village" is an ethnographic museum, the territory of which is divided into 10 zones: Tatar, German, Kazakh, Belarusian and other farmsteads. They are home museums, restaurants of national cuisine and souvenir shops. Libraries work in some farmsteads and newspapers are published in the national language.
Initially, the complex was created in order to emphasize the multinationality of the Orenburg region and recall the importance of the unity of peoples. It is no coincidence that the Friendship fountain is located in the heart of the complex. In the "National Village" festivals, national holidays are sometimes held, master classes are organized.
Frunze garden
In the central part of Orenburg there is a large exhibition complex "Salyut, Pobeda!" is an open-air museum. Here is the equipment used during the Great Patriotic War: tanks, mortars, machine guns. There are even the famous T-34 and Katyusha.
And at the entrance is located airplane, which flew Yuri Gagarin - an honorary resident of the city. It was here that he entered the military aviation school and started a family. “Orenburg gave me wings,” the Soviet cosmonaut later said.
Where else to go in Orenburg
Drama Theatre. M. Gorky
Address: st. Soviet, 26
Performances are shown here both based on classical works - for example, on the same "The Captain's Daughter", inextricably linked with Orenburg - and on scenarios by contemporary authors. If you're looking for a show, go to Ladies' Night. An evening for women only, billed as a "hot comedy" and tells the story of six workers who decide to open their own strip club.
Tatar Drama Theatre. Fayzi
Address: st. Volodarsky, 10
Here, special attention is paid to the Tatar culture. Some performances are staged according to the scripts of Tatar authors and are performed in the original language - the audience is given headphones for simultaneous translation.
Musical comedy theater
Address: st. Tereshkova, 13
On the stage of the Theater of Musical Comedy, musicals, vaudevilles, operettas and even "forest musical action" are performed. There are both classical and experimental programs that are distinguished by non-standard choreography or unexpected choice of plot.
Orenburg Philharmonic
Address: st. Marshal Zhukov, 34
Compared to theaters, the Philharmonic is not rich in concerts and performances. Local musical groups mainly work here, but sometimes foreign and non-resident performers of symphonic, chamber and jazz come music.
Memorial Museum-Apartment of Yuri and Valentina Gagarin
Address: st. Chicherina, d. 35
The museum is small but worth visiting. It is located in the house of Valentina Gagarina's parents, with whom the young spouses shared one room for some time. Among the exhibits are photographic materials from the family archive, personal belongings of the first cosmonaut (there is even a spacesuit), and preserved furniture.
It is worth paying attention to the exposition "The Road to Space", which tells about the legendary 108-minute flight of Gagarin. And also to the interactive room, where, for example, you can find out what your weight and age would be on other planets.
Orenburg Governor's Museum of History and Local Lore
Address: st. Soviet, 29
The museum is not praised by everyone, but lovers stories here it will be interesting. For example, the exhibition "Sarmatian Gold" can cause delight - here are the figurines found in the ancient burial places of the Orenburg region.
The pearl of the museum is the death mask of Pushkin. This plaster cast of the poet's face was made on the day of his death.
Museum of the History of Orenburg
Address: st. Embankment, 29
This museum can be walked around in an hour. There are several expositions dedicated to the history of Orenburg, the Peasant War of the 18th century and Pushkin's stay in the city. Among the interesting things: the cage in which Emelyan Pugachev was taken to execution, and the 50 millionth Orenburg downy shawl.
Poplar Park
Address: st. Postnikova, 30
There are children's, family and extreme attractions. Kids will like trampolines, "Children's Railway", "Steam Locomotive", "Sun". The whole family can ride the Ferris wheel and play air hockey. And if you want to tickle your nerves, try buying a ticket to Mars.
Aquapark "Limpopo"
Address: st. Salmyshskaya, 71
Limpopo is a good choice for a family outing. There are several pools here - from contrast to massage, game attractions for kids and teenagers and even a bath complex. Also on the territory of the aqua zone there are bars and restaurants.
Bars and restaurants
Many praise breakfasts in a small cozy coffee shop "Prokoffy" on the Red Square. There are traditional bagels, bruschettas, sandwiches. Visitors especially highlight the shrimp quiche and potato pie.
If you want to dine more densely, look at "baklava"- a restaurant with a hint of oriental cuisine. In addition to khachapuri, khinkali and dolma, here you can order dishes of European cuisine. The establishment also has a large selection of wines, especially Georgian and Armenian ones: apricot, raspberry, classic Saperavi, and homemade semi-sweet.
But intoxicating drinks are better to drink in Factory - there are more than 200 types of craft beer and cider, among which there is sometimes a real exclusive.
The locals also love the pizzeria Intempo. Dishes can be ordered at home or tasted at the brand's restaurants - there are three of them in the city. Another famous network is "Russian pancakes”, an analogue of the Moscow “Teremka”. Going there is worth at least in order to compare where the pancakes are better.
«Winnie the Pooh"- a monopoly among the Orenburg confectionery. Now there are 19 outlets with the products of this house in the city, among them there are four equipped cafes, where, in addition to desserts, there are omelets, julienne and chicken wings. Several vegetarian options are also available. Of the sweets, macaroons, tiramisu and Aladdin cake are praised.
«Tortoffi"- another confectionery in Orenburg. We wrote about the history of its creation here. It is smaller, more comfortable, and the desserts in it are not inferior to the quality of Winnie the Pooh.
What to bring from Orenburg
Down scarves and other knitted products
This is the main symbol of the city, sung by Lyudmila Zykina. To the touch, Orenburg shawls are very tender and soft - they are woven from goat down of a special breed, which is considered the thinnest in the world. European and American breeders have repeatedly tried to assimilate these animals, but far from the Urals, their wool quickly lost the necessary properties.
Therefore, Orenburg shawls and cobwebs are a really rare and valuable gift. If you are not a big fan of scarves, then you can look at socks and gloves made of the same material - they will warm you in the cold.
Jasper products
In Orsk, a city in the Orenburg region, jasper is mined - a motley reddish stone. Pendants, earrings, figurines made from it are sold in almost every souvenir shop.
Other popular products are made from malachite, immortalized in Bazhov's tales. But despite the fact that this stone is often called the symbol of the Urals, now all its deposits here are depleted and closed. Therefore, it is better to be wary of sellers who advertise products from “real Ural malachite”.
Salt or salt lamp
One of the main salt deposits in Russia is located in the Sol-Iletsk region, as well as the famous Orenburg resort. Tourists come here to swim and get treated in mud pools, and then take with them a package of healing salt, which, according to researchU. Katz, V. Zakin, Y. Sherer, S. Sukenik. Scientific Evidence of the Therapeutic Effects of Dead Sea Treatments: A Systematic Review / Science Directhelps in the fight against psoriasis and arthritis.
In addition, you can bring a lamp that creates the effect of a speleological chamber. It gives a soft diffused light and can be used as a night light.
Kazakh products
In 1920–1925, when Orenburg was the capital of Kazakhstan, live camels were sold at the Central Market. Now you will not find such exotics, but it will not be difficult to buy real Kazakh products. Among them: chocolate "Rakhat", horse sausage kazy "according to the recipe of Genghis Khan", ayran, koumiss and tare - a national delicacy that is added to tea with milk.
Watermelons and watermelon honey
You can always find fresh Kazakh fruits and berries at the Central Market. In summer, sellers meet along the tracks. They sell forest blueberries, raspberries and wild strawberries - gifts from the Orenburg and Bashkir (neighboring) forests.
And in August, a real watermelon boom begins here - for example, in Sol‑Iletsk, “the watermelon capital of the Orenburg province”, a festival of gourds is held. You can even buy watermelon honey on it!
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