Kazan Church

Irkutsk has approx. 600 000 inhabitants. In Russia it means it’s a medium-sized town. However it is still a capital of the Pribalkalye, East Siberia, which is about 5000km to the east from Moscow. The town offers a mixture of small (1 or 2 stories) timber houses and modern buildings of 19^th and 20^th centuries. The town’s main attraction is its close proximity to the legendary lake Baikal. Lake Baikal is the oldest, deepest (1721 m) and cleanest lake of the world containing? of the world’s fresh water.

Theophany Cathedral

Many rivers run through the region of Pribalkalye. Two of them, Angara and Lena, represent two of the largest rivers in Russia. Climate of Pribalkalye is continental with cold winters and hot summers. Wildlife, particularly fish, is great in its variety. The Omul, a salmon-like fish, is a must on every gourmet’s menu.

Irkutsk. Panoramic view

Irkutsk was founded as a fortress. It was built by the Cossacks in 1661 on the right river bank of the Angara. Since the late 17^th century, because of its location, Irkutsk was considered the window to the East. The first Russian ambassador traveled to China from Irkutsk. The merchants of the town used to control the whole trade with China, Mongolia, and East Siberia.

Old wooden houses

The classical Russian architecture of Irkutsk goes back to the year 1880 when the town experienced a rapid development after gold was found in the surrounding area. Most of the brick mansions and enormous public buildings were constructed at the end of the 19^th—beginning of the 20^th century. They represent mixture of different architectural styles. Beautiful Russian Orthodox Churches as well as Polish Catholic Cathedral (the only one in Siberia) are at the heart of the town. The historical center of Irkutsk today is under architectural conservation. There are more than 680 cultural and architectural monuments. Some of them are the Savior Cathedral, the Christ-Epiphany Cathedral (1723), the building of the East Siberian Geographical Society and the statue of Alexander III—to name but a few.

We are happy to offer you an invitation letter free when you book your accommodation with us!