Location: Irkutsk
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6 History Museums in Irkutsk That You Shouldn't Miss
Founded in the mid-17th century as a winter quarters for traders and tax collectors, Irkutsk came to prominence in the 1800s. Participants in the Decembrist revolt against Tsar Nicholas I were exiled to Siberia in droves, turning Irkutsk into their cultural center. Today, it’s one of Siberia’s biggest and most important cities, with over half a million people, many universities, many historic churches and museums, and beautiful Lake Baikal, just about an hour away by train.
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1. Irkutsk Regional Memorial Decembrists Museum, Volkonsky House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 287 reviews
Irkutsk Decembrists museum, founded in 1970, includes Sergey Volkonsky’s and Sergey Trubetskoy’s homesteads. Authentic items of the Decembrist families are represented in the historical interiors of the houses. Volkonsky house was built in 1838 in the style of classical noble mansions, with elements of Siberian wooden architecture. The homestead consists of servants house, stable, carriage house, barn, cattle shed and well. The house itself has a permanent exposition "The Volkonsky Family in the Siberian exile", reflecting the traditions and life of the noble family. The Volkonsky House is known as one of the most interesting memorial museums in Russia. Its appearance and interior, a complex of manor buildings makes up organic whole, conveys the color of the epoch and the atmosphere of the aristocratic way of life in the middle of the 19th century. The museum offers a diverse program for visitors, including those with disabilities: excursions, literary and musical evenings.
Reviewed By gmshaw2015 - Camarillo, United States
The Decembrists' story comes alive while touring the house and grounds, how a group of army officers returning to Russia after campaigns in Europe sought to inject a modicum of liberal democracy into Tsarist Russia, and were rewarded by hard labor in Siberia. Wives and families followed the men, and brought with them St. Petersburg couture. Very interesting.
2. Irkutsk Town History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
3. Museum of Urban Life
4. Irkutsk Regional Historical and Memorial Museum of Decembrists
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
Of the two Decembrist Houses to be visited in Irkutsk this is the smaller one, but the one with more historical information about this reformist movement that was of such importance for Eastern Siberia in every aspect: culturally, socially, scientifically, economically. Its origin was the failed rebellion in St.Petersburg against Tsar Nicholas I on December 26th, 1826 (thus called 'Decembrists'). The leaders, most of them army officers from the nobility, were either executed or their death sentence commuted to 20 years 'katorga' (penal labor) and life long banishment to Siberia. Their 'crime' was to ask for the abolition of serfdom and for a constitutional monarchy. Some of the deported were followed by their wives. The first one to do this was Yekaterina, a born countess Laval, who joined her husband Prince Sergey Trubetskoy into exile. After the 'katorga' sentence was over and since they couldn't return to European Russia, many of the Decembrists decided to settle in Irkutsk. At least until 1856, with the amnesty of the new tsar Alexander II, when most of them left Siberia. Prince Trubetskoy, who in the meantime had lost his wife, with whom he had 8 children born in Siberia, went to live his last years in Moscow, where he wrote his memoirs. The small Manor House we see, built of wood in an eclectic style - windows with arches, windows without arches, oriel windows, decorative elements in baroque - was the house of one of the Trubetskoy daughters. The house her parents lived in burned down in the beginning of the 20th century. There is a combined ticket for both museums (300 RUB). I would recommend to start with this museum, since there are more information boards (in Russian and English) about the Decembrists than at the grander Volkonsky House.
5. Irkutsk Aircraft History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
6. Irkutsk State Technical University History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
