![]() This church in nicknamed either the gingerbread house or a toy castle due to it’s unique and bright decor. » CATHEDRAL OF THE EPIPHANY | SOBOR BOGOYAVLENSKY Location: Easily located in Memorial Park next to the Angara River at Ulitsa Sukhe-Batora, 2, Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, 664011 Nearby is a statue of Peter and Fevronia, important icons who are venerated saints in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches Whilst not the grandest building in Irkutsk, this green and white exudes historical charm and the large external fresco makes the church extra special. Thanks to it’s classification as a historical monument, it survived the destruction of churches in the Russian anti-religious period of the 1930’s. The first stone structure built in the city, it’s construction started in the 18th century and it is one of the oldest remaining buildings in Siberia. » CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR OF THE HOLY FACE | KHRAM VO IMYA SPASA NERUKOTVORNOGO OBRAZAĪlso known as the Spasskaya Church, this is one of the most important buildings in the history of Irkutsk. ![]() Even if attending a service is not your calling, the incredible architecture makes visiting some of the following churches a must-do whilst in Irkutsk. Many of the original churches were originally constructed from wood, but due to fires were reconstructed from stone in the 18th century and remain today. Onion-domed churches are pretty much a symbol of Russia, and luckily, Irkutsk features many beautiful structures showcasing Siberian Baroque style architecture. ![]() THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN IRKUTSK IN WINTER 1 ADMIRE THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCHES This post details some of my favourite experiences from three nights in this Siberian city during the month of February, along with details on getting around the city and transport to Lake Baikal at Listvyanka, safety for solo female travellers, costs and accommodation, winter temperatures, and when the best time to visit Lake Baikal is. Nowadays, the Trans-Siberian Railway is responsible for bringing a large majority of foreign tourists to the area, and Irkutsk is definitely one of the most popular places to stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway, for many good reasons!ĭespite the cold temperatures and limited daylight hours, there are enough incredible things to do in Irkutsk in winter to warrant a few nights stopping over on a Trans-Siberian adventure. Interestingly, the Trans-Siberian Railway once stopped on either side of Lake Baikal, with an ice-breaking ferry providing the link between each side! And lying on the Trans-Siberian Railway, Irkutsk has benefited from the rail connections across Russia and down to Ulaabaatar in Mongolia and China. The first road from Moscow to Irkutsk, known as the Siberian Route, arrived in the 1700’s and was used for the trade of tea from China to Russia. The city was also prosperous thanks in large part to its location on key trade and industry routes. And with the ever increasing population of nobles, artists and academics being banished to the city, Irkutsk became a centre of intellect and culture. Irkutsk is perhaps most well known in history as the place where political dissidents were exiled in Imperial Russia, most famously the Decembrists from the revolutions of the 1800’s. It’s one of the largest cities in Siberia with over 600,000 residents, yet this place still manages to retain its charm and showcase its roots. Deciding where to stop on an adventure across Russia is a tough choice, be it small villages made up of traditional wooden houses or formidable cities that are the powerhouses of the country.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |