The city of Oryol is the third cultural capital of Russia. This small city has a rich history and is confident in the future.
History reference
By order of Ivan the Terrible in 1566, a fortress was erected at the confluence of the Orlik and Oka rivers to protect the southern borders of the state. The fortress stood in the way of the Tatar troops, marching to Moscow from the Crimean Khanate.
There are several versions about the name of the city. One legend says that when the fortress was erected, then a mighty eagle sat on its wall. The builders considered this a good sign and gave the fortress such a name.
For more than 400 years of its existence, the city has been subjected to severe raids more than once, it has been plundered and practically wiped off the face of the earth. But each time, like a Phoenix bird, was reborn from the ashes.
Modern eagle
Today Oryol is a modern, dynamically developing city, the administrative center of the region of the same name. About 300, 000 inhabitants live in it. This is a developed industrial center with enterprises of mechanical engineering, metallurgy, as well as light and food industries.
Attractions Orel
The city has many museums, art galleries and exhibition halls. The great Russian writer I. S. Turgenev was born here. People came here in search of inspiration A. A. Fet, I. A. Bunin, M. M. Prishvin. The memory of them is captured on the historical pages of the annals of the city. Those who come to the city to see the monuments of the Eagle, certainly visit these museums. There are many old churches and monuments dedicated to various periods of the city’s life.
Monument to Ivan the Terrible
In October 2016, a monument to the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible was unveiled in the city with a scandal. The opening of the monument was accompanied by disputes, protests and even legal proceedings. Nevertheless, a monument to Grozny was installed in Orel. It was by decree of the king that a fortress was laid around which the city arose.
Monument to the Eagle
A monument to the formidable eagle meets visitors on the station square. This unusual and slightly intimidating sculpture was created from straw screwed to a wire frame. When the composition was established, it caused a wave of indignation among local residents. The authorities even feared that he would not be subjected to acts of vandalism. But over time, the townspeople got used to the bird, and now it has become one of the symbols of the city. The administration plans include reconstruction of the station square, the construction of new buildings, but the formidable eagle has no place there.
By the way, straw and wire structures are also found in other parts of the city. So, a bear is standing at the monument to Leskov, and a ship is set up at the monument to the Komsomol members of the Oryol Region, which has sails sailing in the wind.
Historical Center
Almost all of the main attractions and monuments of Orel are concentrated on the right bank of the Oka. This is the historical, cultural and administrative center of the city.
At the confluence of two rivers, popularly called Strelka, a memorial stele was erected in the year of the 400th anniversary of Orel. At the base of the monument is a capsule with a message to posterity, which should be opened on the day of the 500th anniversary of the city. It will be celebrated in 2066.
Art Museum
Those whose soul craves to meet the beautiful can go to the Museum of Fine Arts. The museum exhibits many exhibits covering a huge time period.
Epiphany Cathedral
The city throughout history was not only a strategic center. Churches and temples were built in it. Not all of them have survived to this day. The oldest building in the city is the Epiphany Cathedral. It was erected in the middle of the XVII century. It was rebuilt and reconstructed many times, but after large-scale restoration work carried out in 2013, the temple acquired its original appearance. Today, thousands of believers flock to the temple for services. And tourists are in a hurry to see with their own eyes a marvelous example of Russian architecture.
Holy Assumption Monastery
Another historical monument of Orel is the Holy Assumption Monastery, erected in 1686. With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, the monastery was closed, the building was used at the discretion of the city authorities. There was even a children's colony. Almost all the monastery buildings were destroyed, except for the Trinity Church. After the collapse of the USSR, the building was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church, and in 1996 the first monks again began their novice ministry within the walls of an ancient monastery. Now the reconstruction of the temple is completed.
Turgenev Museum
The townspeople are proud that it was here that the great Russian writer V. S. Turgenev was born. Visiting the monuments of the Eagle, it is impossible not to look into the state art museum, which bears the name of the classic. This is not one house, but several buildings located in different parts of the city, united by a common idea. Visitors can learn about the life and work of the writer, see personal items, imbued with the spirit of the times.
Military History Museum
The eagle bears the proud title of City of Military Glory. During the war, he was a strategic milestone on the way of the Germans to Moscow. The fights were fierce. When the Germans still managed to capture the city, the locals did not give up and were actively clandestine. The military history museum is dedicated to the heroic past. It presents dioramas of military operations, a rich exposition of weapons and other objects of terrible times.
old oak
On Victory Boulevard, miraculously after the brutal military bombing, an old oak tree was preserved. Now his age exceeds 150 years. Monuments to the Red Army, the Victory Monument, erected on a pedestal tank, are dedicated to the heroic past.
