You are here:
Traditional wooden houses, Irkutsk
Prince Volkonsky's house, Irkutsk
Wooden house, Irkutsk
On Lake Baikal, Irkutsk
Established in 1651 Irkutsk grew to become the administrative and cultural centre of Siberia.
Following an attempted coup d’etat in 1825, Tsar Nicolas I exiled a group of his childhood friends here (the Decemberists) who gave the city something of a noble air, and led to it being dubbed ‘the Paris of Siberia’ by Russians.
After a devastating fire in 1879 the city was rebuilt by its rich merchants, and many of these brick mansions and grand public buildings still stand today in the compact but pretty centre.
Well served by train or plane from Moscow, Irkutsk is both an essential stopover on the Trans-Siberian railway and a destination in its own right, with the beautiful Lake Baikal on its doorstep.
Above Lake Baikal, Irkutsk
Horse and cart, Siberia
By the River Angara, Irkutsk
On an overnight train, try tea Russia-style: black, with sugar, served in a glass, while dodging a tea spoon left in it. The spoon is a subject for many Russian jokes!
Order by post View onlineDownload (PDF, 6.9MB) View other brochures
