Barnaul

Barnaul (Russian: Барнау́л buhr-nuh-OOL) is the capital of Altai Krai.

Understand


The city was founded in the XVIII century as a center of silver and copper mining, and has a population of over 600,000.

History
The foundation year of the city is unknown and is either 1730 or 1739. The name of founding father is Akinfey Demidov, a Russian mine-owner who started copper extraction and melting in the region. Later on his business spread to the gold and silver and the family reached all-Russian scale. The city became a fort and built a dam. This activity was major for centuries to come. Except that, nature and geography explorers never abandoned this Siberian place. Pyotr Petrovich Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky and Alexander von Humboldt lead their expeditions across the city.

By train
The travel from Moscow takes 2.5 days and covers 3500 km.
 * №036В/№036Н Barnaul — Moscow — Barnaul — firmenniy train «Altai»
 * №509/№510 Barnaul — Omsk — Adler - Barnaul — from 16 June to 1 September.
 * №613/№614 Barnaul — Karasuk — Barnaul.

By plane
To get into the city, take marshrutka number 144 or bus number 110.

Get around
Inside the city there are routes of public buses (about 150), marshrutkas, taxis, trams (11) and trolleys (5). The thoroughfares interconnecting Barnaul with other cities, towns and suburbs are Pavlovsky Highway (Павловский тракт) leading to Novosibirsk, Zmeinogorsky Highway (Змеиногорский тракт) leading to Kazakhstan, Pravoberezhny Highway (Правобережный тракт) to Novosibirsk and Biysk.

The river port may be useful in getting to suburbs or closest villages like Bobrovka that offers country tourism activities.

Museums

 * Museum of literature, art and culture of Altai.
 * Altai Museum of Art. Malevich, Kandinsky, Rembrandt.
 * 'World of Stones' museum. Address: 5b, Kalinina st.
 * Museum of military history. Address: 73, Komsomolsky Pr. Hours: 9.30-17.30 Tu-Sa.
 * Museum of Time. Address: 12, Matrosova st. Private collection of 'curiosities' from a mammoth tooth to 300mln years old corrals and Soviet symbols, the visitors can touch with their hands.
 * Museum of Time. Address: 12, Matrosova st. Private collection of 'curiosities' from a mammoth tooth to 300mln years old corrals and Soviet symbols, the visitors can touch with their hands.



Architecture




Parks

 * Izumrudny Park (Парк "Изумрудный"), for families with kids.
 * Solnechny Veter (Парк "Солнечный ветер").
 * Barnaulskaya Krepost (Парк "Барнаульская крепость").
 * Lesnaya Skazka (Парк "Лесная сказка").

Drink
Locally brewed beer: Ворсин (Vorsin), Golfsteiner, Барнаульское (Barnaulskoye), Чешское (Cheshskoye), Жигулёвское (Zhigulyovskoye).

Itineraries
Start walking along Sotstialistichesky Prospekt and pay attention to the Drama Theater and further on to the Pedagogical Academy, in a small square of which there is a monument to Unhappy Lover waiting on the bench. When arriving to the Victory square (Ploschad Pobedy) find the sculpture Movie is filmed. Go on to Stroiteley Prospekt. Here at the Library sits a bronze cat. Going ahead you'll come to the October sq. (Ploschad Oktyabrya), the site for the Building with spire. Turn to Prospekt Lenina ascending to the River Port with a number of nice houses alongside. The port plaza musters monuments to renowned citizens and white Hollywood-styled letters on the bank.

Go next
The road to Mongolia aka Chuysky Highway starts from Novosibirsk and goes south to Biysk and Altai Republic.