Irkutsk is a city in Russia, located in Siberia 5185 km from the capital of Moscow, on the banks of the Angara River that flows into the Irkut River.
The optimal starting point for tours of Lake Bajkal and a stop along the Trans-Siberian, it has very harsh climates, with an average annual temperature of -0.6 ° C. The coldest month is January, when the temperature drops 20 degrees below zero, while in the summer, in its hottest month, July, barely reaches 18.
However, if the harsh climate does not scare you, the most important city in Siberia is worth a visit.
Founded in 1562 as a commercial outpost, it developed to the point to be dubbed "the Paris of Siberia". A dramatic curiosity: as in other cities of Siberia, its population is mainly composed of descendants of deported by the Tsarist regime and later Stalinist.
Did we intrigue you? Here is a mini guide to the sights to see in Irkutsk.
What to see in Irkutsk
1. Irkutsk Cathedral
The most fascinating Orthodox Church is the Kazansky Cathedral, with its red and blue architectures, in Russian-Byzantine style, located outside the historical center. During a stay in Irkutsk, you cannot miss a visit to this wonderful and photogenic church.
2. Traditional houses
In the center of the city of Irkutsk it will be possible to admire the traditional wooden houses, some restored, others abandoned to the wear and tear of the time. Do not miss the opportunity to take a trip to the local market, where you will find vending stalls even from Mongolia.
3. Znamenskj Convent
Znamenskj convent, dating back to 1693, is among the oldest monasteries in Siberia. With an architecture inspired by the Russian medieval style and the Siberian baroque, it presents sumptuous interiors and also houses a necropolis.
4. Decembrist Museum
The Decembrist Museum is housed in the residences of the Trubetskoj and Volkonskj Decembrists, both princes, and houses personal objects and furnishings that belonged to them. The Decembrist uprising took place in 1825, when Alexander I died and his son Nicholas succeeded him to the throne. Inspired by the ideas of the French Revolution, many Russian intellectuals rose up against the coronation in St. Petersburg: the riot was repressed in the blood and many dissidents were exiled to Siberia, including Irkutsk, who helped to make a progressive and enlightened city.
5. Taltsj Ethnographic Museum
Taltsj Ethnographic Museum is located halfway between Irkutsk and Lake Baikal. It is a real open-air museum with buildings dating from the seventeenth to the twentieth century. Not to be missed are the Spasskaja Tower in Fort Ilimsk Ostrog and the Chapel of Our Lady of Kazan. There are also ethnographic collections concerning the many local cultures.
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