Irkutsk is unofficially considered the capital of Eastern Siberia. During this time, hundreds of monuments were erected in the city - both historical and modern. The monuments of Irkutsk are diverse, have different themes and are associated with the Cossacks, Decembrists, Buryats. A special role is played by monuments to outstanding people who made their significant contribution to the history and development of the city - such as A.V. Vavilov or the merchant Mikhail Butin. Close proximity to the pearl of Russia - Lake Baikal also influenced the creation of many monuments.
Some animalistic monuments, such as the Babr monument, have become the hallmark of the city. And, like in many cities of Russia, in Irkutsk there are monuments in honor of those who died during the Great Patriotic War, the Victory Memorial. Inspection of the monuments of Irkutsk can amaze even the most sophisticated traveler.
Historical and modern monuments of Irkutsk
List of the most famous monuments in the city!
Babr
The symbol of Irkutsk, its business card. From the Sakha language "babr" is translated as "tiger". Installed in the center of the city, at the beginning of a significant historical place for Irkutsk - the 130th quarter. Babr has been a heraldic figure of Irkutsk since 1790. But the monument to Babr was erected only in 2012. It is a black babra with a black sable in its teeth. Height - more than three meters, width - 4 meters.
Monument to Yakov Pokhabov
The monument to the founders of Irkutsk was erected on the Lower Embankment of the Angara in 2011. In 2012, memorial plaques appeared on it, and the monument was renamed the monument to Yakov Pokhabov. He was the chieftain of the Cossack troops, it was his detachment in 1661 that set up a prison, from which the construction of Irkutsk began. The monument was made of bronze at the expense of the city budget and charitable contributions.
Memorial "Eternal Flame"
Installed in 1975 in honor of the Irkutsk soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War. Not only workers, but also ordinary citizens of the city, even schoolchildren, took part in the construction of the memorial. Until now, once a week at the Eternal Flame, the best students of schools take up the 8-hour guard of honor. A commemorative fire was transferred from the walls of the Moscow Kremlin to this memorial from the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Moscow gates
The Arc de Triomphe was built in 1811 in honor of the 10th anniversary of the reign of Alexander I and was one of the first such structures built in Russia. Installed at the exit from Irkutsk to the sides of the Moskovsky tract, and over time the name of the Moscow Gate was assigned to the monument. 115 years after the installation, the monument fell into disrepair and was dismantled, the Moscow Gate was reconstructed only in 2011.
Monument to Alexander III
The Russian emperor is presented in the form of the ataman of the Siberian Cossack troops. On the edges of the pedestal there are portraits of Ermak, Speransky, Muravyov-Amursky and the coat of arms of the Russian Empire. There are also coats of arms of Irkutsk, Yakutsk, Siberia and Yeniseisk. The monument was opened in 1908, but in 1920 the Soviet authorities sent the bronze figure of the tsar to be melted down. The statue of the king was restored only in 2003.
Monument to A. Kolchak
The installation of this monument caused public controversy. But in memory of Kolchak's merits as an explorer of Siberia and the Arctic, a monument to one of the leaders of the White Guard was nevertheless erected. As a token of memory of the split in society, the white and the red on the pedestal depicts two brothers - a Red Guard and a White Guard, crossing their rifles. The monument to Kolchak was erected at the place of his execution, near the Znamensky Monastery.
Monument to V.I.Lenin
The monument was erected in 1952. In 2013, it was reconstructed, and the square around the monument was ennobled. Monument to Lenin in Irkutsk - the author's copy of the monument to Lenin by N. Tomsky in Voronezh. The same copies are installed in St. Petersburg and Vilnius. Lenin is depicted at the time of the speech, the silhouette is clearly expressed and plastic. Thanks to the high pedestal, the monument is clearly visible from the adjacent streets.
Monument to L. Gaidai
A large sculptural composition is installed next to the circus. The famous trinity - Goonies, Cowards, Experienced is depicted in one of the scenes of the film "Prisoner of the Caucasus". The great film director Leonid Gaidai himself sits in an armchair and directs the filming process. The action takes place on the set. Famous actors Zolotukhin, Lanovoy and Svetlichnaya came to the opening of the monument in 2012.
Monument to A. Vampilov
The sculpture of the writer and playwright is symbolically located in the park near the Irkutsk Academic Drama Theater. Alexander Vampilov's student body was held in Irkutsk, and here he became popular. In honor of the playwright in Irkutsk, one of the streets of the city and the theater of the young spectator are named. The monument was erected at the expense of patrons and residents of the city. The author of the monument is Vyacheslav Pereyaslavets.
Irkutsk Komsomolets
The T-34 tank was installed as a memorial in honor of the tank columns built in Irkutsk. The Komsomol members of the region collected funds for them. The first column, sent to the front in 1942, consisted of 12 tanks. Fundraising continued, and in 1943 the second Irkutsk column went to the front. The tank, erected as a monument, took part in the battles near Prague. Every year it is reconstructed and painted in the usual green color for Soviet tanks.
"Tourist"
One of the modern monuments of Irkutsk. It was erected in honor of lovers of camping on Lake Baikal. It is a collective image of a lover of "wild" outdoor recreation - behind his back is a bulky backpack with accessories for recreation. The tourist looks in surprise at the building where the Grand Hotel used to be. The author of the project is the famous sculptor Ilya Stavsky. The project was financed by an Irkutsk commercial company.
Monument to merchant Mikhail Butin
The monument was erected without permission on the territory of the Uzbekiston restaurant. The house where the restaurant is located previously belonged to the Butin family and is now an architectural monument. The businessmen decided to perpetuate the memory of the merchant, who was a scientist who studied the economy of the region and a philanthropist. For his scientific works, Mikhail Butin received several awards from the European scientific societies. It is believed that if you shake hands with a merchant, then financial well-being will come.
Monument to A.S. Pushkin
Opened in October 2010. Installed at the house of the merchant Kuznetsov. In 1827, the wife of one of the Decembrists, Alexander Muravyov, stayed with him, on her way to the place of her husband's exile. Poet Alexander Pushkin gave her his autographed poem "My first friend, my invaluable friend." The author of the monument-bust is Mikhail Pereyaslavets. Several years ago, the monument was visited by descendants of Alexander Sergeevich living in Belgium.
Monument to the wives of the Decembrists
The wives of the Decembrists, who went into exile in Siberia for their husbands, were sung by many poets, prose writers, playwrights. In Irkutsk, a monument to the wives of the Decembrists was installed in 2011 in the Volkonsky public garden. Nearby is the manor house of Sergei Volkonsky. And the sculpture itself depicts his wife - Princess Maria Volkonskaya. Descendants of the Decembrists and honorary citizens of Irkutsk came to the opening ceremony of the monument.
"Date"
The second unofficial name is the Lover's Monument. The hero of the sculpture looks at his watch in anticipation of a late girl and holds a bouquet of flowers. The monument is popular among both tourists and residents of the city. It is installed without a pedestal, which allows you to take interesting photos. People often make appointments around this sculpture - after all, there are a square with a fountain and the Barguzin cinema nearby.
"Dog"
Installed in the center of the 130th block.The author of the monument, Ilya Stavsky, wanted to portray a decorative funny breed of dogs and chose the Welsh Corgi breed. The sculpture is made almost in full size, in reality the dogs of this breed are slightly smaller. Residents of the city believe that if you make a wish and scratch the dog behind the ear, then it will definitely come true. Especially the bronze sculpture attracts the attention of children.
Monument to the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who died in the line of duty
The chapel arch, crowned with a cross, is made of pink granite. Attention is drawn to the symbol of memory - a rowan branch in the foreground. Flowers are laid at the foot of the memorial during the events taking place on the Day of Remembrance of the Servicemen. Also, at the foot of the monument there are wide steps where you can sit down and remember the dead employees. A monument was erected at the initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Irkutsk Region.
Monument to the teacher
Located next to the Pedagogical Institute. The teacher is depicted surrounded by students. The opening of the monument was timed to coincide with the professional holiday - the teacher's day on October 5th. Experts note that the sculpture turned out to be kind and light, it meets the ideas about the modern appearance of the teacher. The mayor of Irkutsk was present at the ceremony in honor of the opening of the monument.
Monument to surveyors-prospectors
The first monument for Irkutsk, erected in honor of representatives of a particular profession. Installed next to the aerogeodetic enterprise, whose employees were among the first to support the idea of installing such a monument. The monument represents two men in work clothes. One of them relies on a geodetic device, the second writes something in a notebook. The monument was unveiled in 2012.
Monument to firefighters and rescuers
The monument was erected on the anniversary of the tragedy of 2013 - then a helicopter with EMERCOM employees exploded. A bronze memorial was erected in the Rescuers' park near the Russian Emergencies Ministry's administration in the Irkutsk region. The park area before the opening of the memorial was ennobled, young trees were planted. Citizens often bring fresh flowers to the foot of the monument in memory of those killed in the service of firefighters and rescuers.
Monument to G.K. Zhukov
The work of the sculptor Alexander Mironov on the creation of the sculpture lasted four years. The author depicted Zhukov at the time of command of the Victory Parade in 1945. The commander sits on a horse, in one hand he has a checker. The monument is made of bronze, and the pedestal is made of dark red granite. The height of the monument is six meters. Near the monument to Zhukov, an Alley of Siberian Divisions with six granite steles was opened.
Monument to Saints Peter and Fevronia
This sculptural composition was installed in Irkutsk as part of the In the Family Circle program. The sculpture was made by Muscovite Konstantin Chernyavsky. He also made the same sculptures for ten other cities in Russia. They all differ slightly from each other. At the insistence of the Irkutsk and Angarsk Bishop, the monument was erected near the Church of the Savior. Newlyweds often come to the monument of the saints, who are considered the patrons of marriage.
Monument to Russian-Japanese Relations ("Egg Drop")
It was erected in memory of the rescue of a Japanese ship by Russian sailors, which was wrecked in 1783. Symbolizes peace between the peoples of both countries. The author of the work is the sculptor Mimura from Japan. In 2008, on the day of the celebration of Easter, vandals stole part of the monument - that very egg. The egg was soon found by employees of the Gorzelenhoz. After placing the egg in place, work was carried out to strengthen the structure of the monument.
Monument to M.M.Speransky
The first monument to the great statesman in Russia was erected in Irkutsk in 2016. Speransky was the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia. For 2.5 years of service in this position, he did a lot for his region. At the same time, Count Speransky was called a simple and modest person. At the end of the 19th century, residents of the city raised funds for the installation of a monument to Speransky, but then the project remained unfinished.
"To Irkutsk people who died in the line of military duty"
Made of gray-black slabs and steles of the same color. The obelisk is 6 meters high. The unusual form of the composition of slabs and blocks makes people associate with different images. Tank tracks, trenches, war millstones - there are many interpretations. The monument was erected with the support of the Association of Internationalist Warriors in 1999. The monument stands in a park area on the Dekabristov Square. Birches are planted in the background of the memorial. Wreaths and fresh flowers are laid on the pedestal.
Monument to Yu.A. Gagarin
Installed on the embankment named after the great Soviet cosmonaut. The opening of the monument is timed to coincide with the fifteenth anniversary of manned space flight. It is a bronze bust on a pedestal. The pedestal is made of granite. Because of the unusual shape of the pedestal, the people call the monument "tablet" or "Gagarin on a platter." From Gagarin Boulevard you can go sailing on a pleasure boat.
Monument to the workers of the plant. Kuibyshev to the fallen in the Second World War
The author of the monument sculpted two soldiers. One of them is wounded and is leaning on his comrade, who is holding the flag. Near the monument there are memorial plaques with the names of the employees of the plant. Kuibyshev who died during the war. There is also data on the number of weapons that the plant produced at this time. There is a monument in the back of the park next to the plant and it can be difficult for tourists to find it because of the tall buildings of business centers standing nearby.
Monument to a penny
The monument is made of an unusual material - resin and covered with a special coating. From a distance, it seems that the penny is made entirely of silver. The size of the monument together with the pedestal is one and a half meters high. The diameter of the penny itself is one meter. The monument is installed next to some of the major banks in the city center, so it is very convenient for tourists to visit it. Installed in honor of the 350th anniversary of Irkutsk.
Monument to doctors and nurses who died during the Second World War
Residents of Irkutsk keep the memory of all the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. And this monument is dedicated to the graduates of the Irkutsk Medical University who died during the war. Within the walls of the university there were courses on training nurses for the front. A monument was erected in the courtyard of the university. Many tourists note that the entrance to the university is closed to outsiders, and the monument has to be viewed through the fence.
Monument to Yu. Nozhikov
Yuri Abramovich Nozhikov headed the Irkutsk Region for six years. He was respected as a competent governor and a good person. The author of the sculpture, Yevgeny Stavsky, used photographs from the governor's family archive to sketch the sculpture. Relatives and friends of Yuri Nozhikov note that the monument depicts him exactly as he was during his lifetime. The bronze monument is installed in the public garden on Gorky Street.
