Russia. Tobolsk - July

One of the main challenges when visiting charming small towns in Russia is the considerable distances involved. It often requires several hours of air travel (which can be costly) or several days on a train to reach a village worth visiting for a weekend. Unfortunately, this makes it unaffordable for many people:(

The same applies to Tobolsk, located 2800km (equivalent to a 3-hour flight) from St. Petersburg, where our trip began. Tobolsk was once the center of Siberia in the 1600s when the expansion into this vast territory commenced.

Today, it is a small and pleasant town known for P. Ershov, a Russian fairy tale writer who penned "The Little Humpbacked Horse", a poem beloved by children across the country:

Job offer for students:

If you take a local bus from the airport, you can enjoy an excellent audio tour that provides insight into the town's history.

Undoubtedly, the first must-visit location is the Tobolsk Kremlin. Its stunning white architecture boasts wall ornamentation similar to that of Moscow, albeit with a different color scheme→

This is the Kremlin:

The town is divided into three parts: the old center, the Soviet district, and a mixture of new and old buildings located downhill.

Down the hill, a free ferry can take you to the other side of the river. Unfortunately, there is nothing much to see on the other side except a small village, but the ferry is old and entertaining.

Down the hill district:

Tobolsk is also home to a large cemetery where famous Russian figures are buried. For example this is the grave of Mendeleev - Russian chemist:

Before our trip, I discovered that Tobolsk serves as an "aviation hub" (with a hint of sarcasm) for super small biplanes flying to villages 50-150km away. Tickets for these flights can only be purchased at the ticket agency or the old airport. Unfortunately, we couldn't experience this due to our schedule, but I highly recommend trying it if you can. There is an excellent article available here (in Russian) that provides details on how to do so

Close to Tobolsk is the small village of Abalak, featuring a monastery and an entertainment complex designed in the old Russian style, constructed entirely out of wood. While not a must-see attraction, it can be visited if you have spare time. Whenever I watch this video, it brings back memories of the scent of wild strawberries growing near the complex:

Modern conveniences:

Exposition:

The restaurant inside the Gorynych Serpent: