In Shelekhov, several cultural themes lead from the City Museum to prominent city landmarks and historic memorial sites. Events add to this selection. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Shelekhov, you can shape your stay around whether you are most interested in the history of the city’s namesake, urban development or the culture of the district.
Exhibitions at the City Museum
The exhibition about G. I. Shelekhov at the G. I. Shelekhov City Museum includes more than 250 objects and documents. These include books, graphic art, maps, seafaring items and household objects from the 18th and 19th centuries. What is on display may vary; however, the collection areas listed give an impression of the exhibition’s breadth of subject matter.
The exhibition “Vo slavu doblestnoy epokhi” explores the exploration of Alaska and North America, as well as the activities of the Russian-American Company, through objects and documents from the 18th and 19th centuries. Visits are possible by prior request. Another exhibition has opened at the museum about Shelekhov as a seafarer, merchant, patron and enlightener, and about the Russian-American Company. Before visiting, check the current visiting arrangements.
“Priroda Shelekhovskogo rayona” offers a different perspective. The exhibition features specimens and photographs of the district’s plant and animal life, natural resources, archaeological and paleontological finds, and natural landmarks. Its subject therefore extends beyond the city; the museum itself is located in Shelekhov. Visits are by prior request.
City Landmarks and Memorial Sites
At the city entrance stands Shelekhov’s city symbol: hands holding an aluminum crystal. The “Simvolicheskaya palatka” takes a different form: this reinforced-concrete structure stands in the sanitary protection zone between Shelekhov and the plant. It is located on the site of the former “green town” of the city’s first builders. The city symbol and the memorial structure thus differ both in their materials and in their historical associations.
A granite monument was erected on December 3, 1995, in the square beside the “Metallurg” Palace of Culture. It was created to a design by Yevgeny Stavsky and artist Lev Serikov, using granite from Rassokha Station. Along with sites associated with the founding of Shelekhov and the construction of the aluminum plant, it is one of the city’s various historical reference points.
Walking Tour and Events
A walking tour of Shelekhov takes in historic sites associated with the city’s founding, the construction of the aluminum plant and the All-Union Komsomol construction project. It also highlights Shelekhov’s connection with the exploration of America and visits landmarks dedicated to Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov. The tour thus focuses on both the city’s development and the memory of its namesake.
The specialists at Shelekhov City Park are the initiators and organizers of the now-traditional “Snezhnaya skazka” and “Raduga na snegu” competitions, as well as an open city rock festival. If you want to plan your trip around a particular competition or the festival, check the event dates in advance.
In the Wider Destination of Irkutsk Oblast
Irkutsk Oblast should be considered separately as the wider regional setting. Lake Baikal lies in the southeast of the oblast and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Pribaikalsky National Park is also in Irkutsk Oblast. The Circum-Baikal Railway is a regional route. A commuter train journey along Lake Baikal travels on this railway line. Before departure, check the operator’s latest travel information.
Discover more destinations: Baikalsk, Bratsk, Granovshchina, Angarsk, Slyudyanka, Irkutsk, Mysovaya, Cheremkhovo
Go to the wider travel overview: Irkutsk Oblast.
