Kuznetsk-Sibirsky was founded in 1618. Initially, a fortress was built on this site, then a fortress, around which the city grew. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Kuznetsk was known as a gold mining center. During the Red Terror, Ivan Rogov’s gang committed atrocities here, whose members chopped off heads, burned estates, and sawed the body of the Knight of St. George, the old general P.N. Putilov, with a two-handed saw. Also, the revolutionary authorities came up with the “brilliant” idea of renaming Kuznetsk to Novokuznetsk, which was carried out. In the 1930s, the city's population increased by 4354%. The largest metallurgical plant was built, and coal mines were developed. Since then, Novokuznetsk has become a major industrial center with a population of about half a million people. The proletarian poet V. Mayakovsky, inspired by a friend’s story about the hard work of Kuznetskstroy, wrote the following lines: “I know that there will be a city, I know that the garden will bloom, When there are such people in the Soviet country!” For this work, a monument was erected to him in the city, although V. Mayakovsky had never been to Novokuznetsk. In the years 1930-1960, a large number of buildings were built in the style of Soviet Constructivism and later Art Deco. Now these houses are the architectural dominant of the center. In 2021, the city celebrated its 400th anniversary with large-scale festivities. Despite the tragic fate, Kuznetsk has preserved many sights and interesting places that are worth visiting.
Parks and monuments, streets
Singing Fountain
Address: square named after. Ermakova
The Singing Fountain of Novokuznetsk has no analogues in Russia. The control system consists of 150 nozzles located at depth that regulate the jet height, music volume and lighting. Illumination is turned on in the evening, when the “dancing” and “singing” jets of water look especially beautiful.
Waterfall Stream
Coordinates: 53.4610 87.1022 Address: Zavodskoy district
A unique natural attraction of Novokuznetsk, located on the right bank of the Tom River at the foot of the mountain. This is a cascade type waterfall, the height is almost 3 meters, and the width depends on the time of year.
Attractions in the surrounding area
Ice mountain Mustag
Address: Tashtagol district Coordinates: 53.0035 87.5747
The height of the mountain is 1570 m. Among the local population of Gornaya Shoria it was considered sacred and is mentioned in numerous legends of the Shors.
According to legends, if a shaman climbs Mustag, the spirits of the mountain will determine his life expectancy and tell him the day he will die.
There are no equipped trails on the mountain, so freeride lovers have chosen it. The foothills are popular among fans of passive recreation: hiking, snowmobiling, and recreational activities take place there.
Katun cliffs
Coordinates: 50.520329, 86.565068
A natural monument on the right bank of the Kondoma River, which is a weathered structure of bizarre shapes, rising 200 meters above the water level. It covers an area of 53 hectares and is of interest not only to geologists, but also to botanists.
Rare representatives of the Siberian flora grow here - adonis, onion, juniper, Siberian linden, there is a unique mountain spring with clean water called “Tears of Katun”.
Linden Island
Coordinates: 53.1821 87.1722 How to get there: located 15 km east of the village of Kuzedeevo
Linden Island is located in the basin of a tributary of the Kondoma River near the village of Kuzedeyeva and has no analogues in Russia. These are the remains of heat-loving forests that covered the territory of Siberia 60 million years ago.
Area 110 sq. km. planted with relict linden trees growing in a small basin with a fairly high temperature. Linden Island is proof that in the pre-glacial period the climate in Siberia was much warmer, and the linden was a common representative of the local flora.
Falcon Mountains
Coordinates: 53.4355 87.840 How to get there: 0.5 km from Novokuznetsk-Vostochny station
Sokolinye Gory is a popular holiday destination near Novokuznetsk with an area of 92 hectares. According to historians, they got their name in honor of the peregrine falcons that nested in this area, although now these birds do not nest there.
There are several natural attractions on the Sokoliny Mountains:
- Dancing Forest - a section of birch and aspen forest with intricately curved pillars;
- Ant City, which is a settlement of red ants;
- Lake Podgornoe with rare coastal vegetation.
Ilyinsky travertines
Coordinates: 53.892 87.217 How to get there: the formations are located on the northern outskirts of the village of Ilyinka, 4 km from the Novoilinsky district of Novokuznetsk
Travertines are formations of light porous rocks that are located below the mouth of the Petrik River opposite the Red and Antonovsky Islands. They are formed in places where highly mineralized waters come to the surface and have a diameter of about 1 m. Several species of mosses and rare plants grow on the territory - shrubby five-leaf clover and spring adonis.
House of merchant Fonarev
Do you want to know what Novokuznetsk looked like 150 years ago? Unfortunately, almost no sights have been preserved that would allow one to form an opinion about this period in the history of the settlement. Only on the street You can see several ancient buildings in Vopadnaya. For example, Fonarev's House. It turns out that in the mid-19th century, Nicholas the First approved the layout of the city and allocated space for the construction of two-story merchant mansions. One of the famous merchants in Kuznetsk in those days was A. Fonarev. He purchased one of the plots of land and erected a solid mansion on it, which still stands today.
Entertainment
Planetarium
Address: Metallurgov Avenue, 16a Telephone: Website: https://nk-planetarium.ru Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10:00-16:00, Sat 14:00-16:00 Cost: 200 rubles for adults, 150 for children
The Novokuznetsk Planetarium is the first educational and entertainment complex of this type in the Kemerovo region. Its opening took place in the 70s of the last century, and over its 55-year history, the institution was officially visited by 8 million people.
Within the walls of the planetarium there are projection devices, one of the largest telescopes in Russia, a monument to Yuri Gagarin and other exhibits.
Retropark Museum
Address: st. Tolyatti, 33a Telephone: Opening hours: Mon-Sun 11:00-20:00 Cost: 200 rubles
The Museum of Antique Motorcycle and Automotive Equipment was founded by businessman Alexander Govorov and entirely at his expense. The largest exhibition in Siberia consists of 40 items - cars, motorcycles and an airplane.
The exhibits include rare and unique car brands: Franklin Airman Type 12A, Benz Patent-Motorwagen, Ford T.C., as well as a Czech L-29 training aircraft.
Mount Green
Address: Sheregesh resort
The 120 m high mountain is part of the complex of the famous ski resort Sheregesh.
It is famous for the fact that in 2013 it hosted an unusual event - a descent of girls in bikinis.
It has several convenient trails (length about 3 km, elevation difference 600 m), modern ski lifts, equipment rental, and a cafe.
At the beginning of the season, entertainment events dedicated to skiing are held here: for example, in 2021 a ski fashion show was held.
Distillery
Unfortunately, Novokuznetsk, whose sights were mostly destroyed during the Soviet period, cannot boast of examples of ancient architecture that have survived to this day. Among the few civil buildings that are more than a century old is the distillery building. This is the first food industry enterprise, which was put into operation in 1898. Despite its venerable age, it continues to operate today. Moreover, the products of the Novokuznetsk distillery have more than once won various prestigious awards at various competitions, which only confirms its high quality.
