Tomsky Ostrog was the starting point of Cossack expeditions. It was built under Boris Godunov decree in 1694. Detachments departed from this point. They built the main modern towns of Eastern Siberia –Krasnoyarsk, Yeniseisk, Novokuznetsk, Achinsk and others.

In 1804 with formation of the Tomsk province, one of the largest in the Russian Empire, Tomsk received enormous administrative and economic influence. Almost all Western and Eastern Siberia and even the part of Kazakhstan were under its jurisdiction. Together with territorial influence the city also developed: in the 19th century from the beginning of mines work and trading ways development, the Tomsk population increased in many times. There were a lot of stone blokes with banks, merchant shops, hospitals, churches, theaters, plants. The appeared university departments were occupied by notable scientists. Tomsk even was named «the Siberian Athens» for the rapid, cultural, social and economic development.

There were sad moments in the city history too: the Kirghiz tribes attacks which burned the city completely several times, the bloody civil war which made Tomsk the center of White Guard movement.

The city economy is based on two "whales": the oil and gas industry caused by the geographical area position, and the science intensive industry developing due to a great number of universities, academies and institutes.

In Tomsk there are six institutes of higher education known over the country (classical, three technical, medical and pedagogical). These institutes prepare the first class personnel for the scientific activity, the defensive, nuclear, oil, chemical and machine-building industries, and also for the medical centers and financial institutions. Tomsk takes the fourth place of the number of people with doctor's degree.

And certainly, the unique image of Tomsk is formed by a lot of unique sights.

In the historical city center you can meet «wooden lace» – a group of the ancient wooden houses decorated with a fanciful décor of arabesque, firebirds, dragons, intricate ornaments.

Besides ancient towers there are a lot of temples in Tomsk: Troitsk Church, Bogoyavlensky Cathedral, Voskresensky Church, Peter and Paul Cathedral, White Mosque and other interesting cult places. Also a great number of the interesting museums connected with paleontology, archeology, ethnography, the botanical garden, the planetarium and even the Beer Museum amazed tourists in Tomsk.

The monuments are the most remarkable sights of this Siberian city. Making a walk around the city you will meet the singing wolf, the couple connected by family bonds, the electrician on a lighting column, the football fan, the lover who is coming down from a balcony, and even barefooted Anton Pavlovich Chekhov.

Anyway, this amazing city is able to surprise every sophisticated traveler.

The time difference with Moscow makes +3 hours.

Sity site: http://www.tomsk.ru/