By Russian standards, the city of Omsk is very young, it is only 303 years old. However, it is one of the largest cities in Russia with a population of over one million people. Omsk has an airport, all types of land transport, a sea port, 28 higher educational institutions, 14 theaters, a huge sports arena and amazing architecture. The Department of Architecture of Omsk monitors the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, as well as raising the level of architectural and artistic expressiveness of the city. It is understandable, because the city has more than five hundred cultural heritage sites!
History of the first builds
1714 is considered to be the year of foundation of Omsk. Of course, before the construction of the main facilities, namely the Omsk fortress, people already lived in the city, as well as on any land near large rivers rich in fish, such as the Irtysh and Om. It is near these water geographical objects that archaeologists to this day find traces of the stay of ancient settlers of the 6th millennium BC. e. to the 13th century A. D. e.
However, Peter I began serious development of the Siberian land to strengthen the Russian borders in the east, as well as scientific research and the search for "sand gold".
Colonel Ivan Buchholz received the tsar's decree to build a fortress on the Om River, leave a garrison there and move on with the expedition. So in 1716 the first fortress was laid in the city of Omsk. The fortress had four gates: Omsk, Tara, Tobolsk and Irtysh, the Tobolsk gates have "survived" to this day, and in 1991 the Tara gates were restored.
After the so-called headquarters was built, which has survived to this day. The city gradually grew, and in 1764 the Resurrection Cathedral was erected, it became the first stone building in the city, it will be demolished only in the 20th century. The first architecture of Omsk was formed. New buildings, generals' and commandant's houses, barracks, a market and an educational institution were gradually built around the fortress.
City Architecture
Omsk stands on the Irtysh and Om rivers. Like all cities of that time, it was made of wood. Since 1826, a series of fires has occurred, which almost completely destroyed the city. Since that time, a new architectural life of Omsk began. The architect V. Geste was sent here from St. Petersburg to create a new and modern city. At that time, a palace was built for the governor, gardens, a commercial school, a Siberian cadet corps and the first street lighting appeared.
Houses along the river belonged mainly to we althy citizens and were built of stone, the rest of the buildingsremained wooden. After the appearance of the railway in 1894, the city began to develop rapidly.
Subsequently, the city was built like an amphitheater: low buildings in the center, and the farther from it, the height of the buildings increased. Behind the historical part of the city, 20-30-storey buildings have grown. Now the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of Omsk is solving problems with the restoration of a number of historical monuments that are in a decadent state. A lot of wooden monuments were destroyed in the 90s with the development of private business. Now the architecture of the old Omsk requires a very serious reconstruction, and it is often easier to destroy it altogether than to save it.
Historical monuments of the city
Of the monuments that have been preserved, the most important are:
- Omsk fortress, built in 1716.
- Belonging to the fortress, the Tobolsk gates also represent the cultural value of the city. These gates led to the fortress, where the prison was located. Now the gate is a symbol of the city.
- In 1862, the architect F. F. Wagner designed the governor-general's palace in the city center on the banks of the Om River. The palace has survived to this day almost in its original form.
- In 1813, a Cossack school was built, which was later renamed the Siberian Cadet Corps, the building has survived to this day.
- The mansion of the merchant Batyushkin is an incredibly beautiful stone building. An amazing architectural ensemble, devoid of clear symmetry. It was erected in 1902.
- Another unusual decoration of Omsk is the fire tower. Built on the site of a wooden predecessor, it was often threatened with demolition, but ultimately remained intact to this day.
Omsk Orthodox
Speaking about the architecture of Omsk, it is impossible to ignore the churches and temples of the city that are amazing in their execution. In Omsk, 23 religious directions and 85 religious organizations are officially registered. This could not but affect the architecture of the old and modern Omsk. The main monuments of religious architecture in Omsk:
The most visited church is the Holy Dormition Cathedral. It was founded in 1891. One of the most beautiful churches in Russia
- Ex altation of the Cross Cathedral. The turquoise domes of this temple look amazing against the blue sky. The temple was built at the expense of the townspeople. From 1920 to 1943 there was a hostel in the temple.
- The Siberian Cathedral Mosque was built for the Muslims of Omsk.
- In 1913, the Cossacks erected St. Nicholas Cossack Cathedral. The relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov and St. Theodosius of Chernigov are kept in the church.
- One of the youngest - Cathedral of the Nativity, built in 1997. Its golden domes are visible from almost anywhere in the city.
- The graceful red brick Serafimo-Alekseevskaya chapel has become a real decoration of the city. Built on the site of its destroyed predecessor.
- The only surviving church of the 18th century was the Lutheran church. The temple was built forethnic Germans, who were quite numerous in the city after the Great Northern War.
- The hard fate of the amazingly beautiful Achair Cross Convent deserves special attention. The monastery was restored in the 90s. Previously, the Soviet NKVD was located in the building of the monastery.
Omsk Drama Theater
It is worth noting that in Omsk today there are 14 operating theaters. The most respected of them is the Drama Theater, which is also the largest in the north.
The wooden building, the theater's predecessor, burned down, and a new baroque stone building was built in 1920. The theater is decorated with many sculptures, the main one of which meets visitors on the roof, it is called "The Winged Genius".
Bridges
It is impossible to imagine a city on the river without bridges. There are ten of them in Omsk! The first bridges in Omsk began to be built in the 1790s. The city is a major transport hub, the first railway bridge was built here in 1896, and in 1919 it was blown up when Kolchak retreated. Fully restored a year later.
The symbol of the city is the Jubilee Bridge, which was repeatedly reconstructed and finally "found itself" in 1926.
The bridges harmoniously fit into the architecture of Omsk.
Modern city
Perhaps the most unusual building in the city is the Musical Theatre. Built in 1981, the musical comedy theater was supposed to resemble a harp, a piano and a floating ship at the same time. However, most citizens and guestscities, they see in the architectural idea rather a springboard for skiers, uninhabited musical instruments.
The red roof of the theater catches the eye from all aerial angles of the city, which attracts everyone's attention.
Cultural Omsk
Speaking about the architecture of the city, one cannot pass by numerous museums, many of which are located in houses of historical value. Most often these are one-story buildings of the 19th century. One of these is the F. M. Dostoevsky Literary Museum. The writer spent four years in the city in exile, many of his works originated within the walls of old Omsk.
The building of the museum was built in 1799, the commandants of the Omsk fortress lived in it. Looking at it, you can imagine what the houses of that time were like. This house became a museum only in 1991.
Sports arena
Speaking of culture, it is worth remembering about sports. This important component of the life of the inhabitants of the city of Omsk is reflected in the ultra-modern building "Arena-Omsk". This multifunctional sports complex was built in 2007 and can accommodate over 10,000 people.
The building is notable for its all-glass front facade, the building has the shape of a parallelepiped. More than one large-scale sporting event has already taken place in this sports "house".
Omsk is very rich in architectural monuments, museums, statues, unusual buildings, fountains and parks. It is impossible to describe them all in one article. But you canbe sure of one thing: when you come to this young millionaire, you will have something to do! Here everyone can find an interest for themselves, whether it be sports or history, a museum or contemporary art.
The city has collected all possible styles of architecture: modern, classicism, baroque. The architecture of the old wooden Omsk differs sharply from modern buildings. Over time, the new crowds out the past, urban buildings of different centuries are confused with each other. But the city administration is trying to preserve history in monuments and not to "overshadow" historical sites with modern glass and skyscrapers. The architectural monuments of Omsk are amazing and diverse, Omsk residents are deservedly proud of their city and its history.
