What to See in Tomsk with Kids, Siberia, Russia

Carved window casing moldings with real “wooden lacework”, towers, tents an roosters on top of the shingled rooftops, the largest swamp in the world, the Museum of Tomsk Oil, The People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs jail, monuments to that dog from the cartoon Once upon a Time Lived a Dog, a “Pigeon Milk” candy factory, and the location that Pushkin-Hannibal’s great grandfather was deported to – we’ve got it all broken down for you. Tomsk’s population is 500 thousand residents and one out of three of them is a student. Over 400 years, Tomsk is an old merchant city built on what used to be the most important commercial trail of the 18^th-19^th centuries (Siberian Road).     

Wooden Architectural Monuments of Tomsk

 

 

At the heart of the Tomsk city center are many quiet, cozy, secluded little places, such as off streets and parks. You can go on a walk, say, not far from the contemporary center of the city: around Resurrection Mountain (bus stop: Lenin Square), off of Bakunin and Shishkov Street and then to Lermontov, Gagarin, Sovetskaya, Belinsky, Dzerzhinsky, and Tatarskaya Street.  A few things you absolutely must consider visiting are the Russian-German building on Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, Dom 71 (the “tent building”, the inflated wooden construction in tones of white and blue, was built in 1904); The Dragon House (the house of a merchant named Zhelyabov on Krasnoarmeyskaya, Dom 68); and the mansion on Shishkov Street, Dom 10 (The Arts Building, which houses the Literature Museum, the Tomsk Media Editor, and the arts unions).

Resurrection Mountain in Tomsk, an observation deck, and Tomsk Fortress

 

 

This is the place for where Tomsk was originally founded in 1604 – the location of Tomsk Fortress. This is quite literally a mountain and on top of it, you get a breathtaking view of the whole city. For those interested in climbing up even higher, you might consider paying a visit to the observation deck (fire tower) located nearby in the Tomsk History Museum. In the museum, you will get the chance to see models of Tomsk Fortress as well as weaponry, different types of clothing worn, and objects used by Siberians in the 17^th century, which were dug up during excavations. The do tours and interactive lessons for schoolchildren too. At the museum shop, they also offer you Tomsk souvenirs and postcards to take home.   

On Resurrection Mountain is also a restored fragment of the wooden Tomsk Fortress (The Tower of Our Savior) and stone on which the city was founded. Nearby, the Church of Our Savior features the rare architectural style of Siberian baroque.

Stores on Lenin Prospect (The Tomsk Governor’s Quarters)

 

 

The former Vtorovsky Passage (built during the beginning of the 20^th century by a millionaire Siberian merchant), the posh three-story contemporary stone building, is now a store called Thousands of Trifles. Across from the story is a contemporary mall called BigCity, a square with “singing” fountains, and the embankment of the Ushayka River, which passes on into the embankment of the Tom River where you’ll find an ironic monument in honor of Chekhov.  

Museum Bookstores of Tomsk

Opposite the river, along Batenkov Alley, you will find small museum bookstores, such as Siberia’s first Peter Makushin Bookstore and the second-hand Suzdalian Museum Store. In, Suzdalian, you’ll smell the intellectual aroma of old books and you can buy a rare postcard or a book there as well.

Governor’s Pharmacy on Lenin Alley, Dom 54

 

 

This building was constructed just like a pharmacy back in 1806: on the façade, you’ll notice bass-reliefs with the medical symbols of a “cross” and a “snake”. The interior of the pharmacy has been preserved just as it was at the end of the 19^th century and the beginning of the 20^th century. And, of course, they still sell medicine there.  

Talking Puppet Robots in Tomsk

In the Governor’s Pharmacy is a special puppet named the “Benevolent Doctor”. He thanks the visitor for any donation they decide to make and tells you funny stories from his medical practices. You can see even more of those “talking” puppets at the kids shows of the Tomsk 2 + Koo Theater at Tomsk State University of Systems Management and Radioelectronics where they make puppets as well as in Siberian Pub Restaurant where puppets John Lennon and Yoko Ono live.

Where to feed squirrels in Tomsk: the university meadow

Tomsk State University, the first trans-Uralian university in Russia, was founded in 1878. The classical building of the university has been hidden from the noisy central highway in a dense meadow with trails in all directions. Living in the university meadow are squirrels that would love to eat right out of the hands of passers-by.

Where to go for a walk with your kids in Tomsk: The Botanical Garden at Tomsk State University

 

 

Bordering the university meadow is the Botanical Garden. There, you can touch the leaves of a Sensitive Plant (it is “sensitive” and will somewhat shrink down). Another thing you can do is check out the tropical flowers in the greenhouses, gaze at a huge palm tree leaning on the glass ceiling, and just go for a walk around the trails of the Garden.  

Camp Garden Park, a view from the elevated bay of the Tom River, and the Eternal Fire

Camp Garden is located at the very beginning of Lenin Prospect on the highest shore on the right side of the Tom River: from that elevation, you get a gorgeous view of the river and the opposite shore. Camp Garden features an entire memorial complex for the city of Tomsk: an Eternal Fire and a military and labor memorial for the people of the city called Mother Homeland Passes Her Weapons onto Her Son.

 

Unusual monuments of Tomsk

 

 

Chekhov Monument in Tomsk

There are quite a few unusual monuments in Tomsk. For example, there is the Chekhov Monument referenced above on the embankment of the Tomsk River. Its full name is "Chekhov through the Eyes of a Drunk Man Lying in a Pit Who Never Read Kashtanka”. This sneering message dedicated to Chekov was written in retaliation to the not-so-flattering words he left Tomsk with in 1890. At that time, Chekhov set course for Sakhalin and wrote about Tomsk in his notes that it’s a scornful, muddy little town where men are waddling in the mud and the only place that serves good food is Slavic Bar. Since then, Tomsk has gotten a lot better, but nevertheless, it still remembers Chekhov. :)

Wolf Monument inspired by the cartoon Once Upon a Time Lived a Dog

The Happy Monument (I’m Gonna Sing a Song) features the wolf from Eduard Nazarov’s famous cartoon Once Upon a Time Lived a Dog happy with a belly full of food inspired by the Ukrainian story. If you press the button on the wolf’s belly, he will say one of 8 famous sayings from the cartoon. The monument is located on Shevchenko Street (not far from where it intersects with Frunze Prospect). Then, right across from the wolf is a lyrical monument called The Family Shackles.  

Then there is the Tomsk Slippers Monument (on the steps of Tomsk-2 Hotel across from Tomsk-I Train Station) and the Ruble Monument (not bronze unlike the previous ones, but wooden instead) standing on Novosobornaya Square where the fountains are. Other monuments located nearby are the Tomsk Students Monument (in honor of Holy Tatiana), the Street Train Monument (on Shevchenko Street, Dom 60 across from the Tomsk City Council), and the Newborn Monument (Baby Alyona inside a head of cabbage across from maternity clinic No 1 at the intersection of Lenin Prospect and Gertsen Street).   

 

 

The Pregnant Woman Monument is almost at the same intersection across from the entrance of the obstetric clinic of Siberia State Medical University. You will see a baby in the belly of this sculpture waiting to come out in exactly the “right position” – with his head down. Of course, certain superstitions have also come about in regards to the monument: if you caress her belly, leave a coin, and so on, then your child with come out healthy.

The Football Fan Monument can also be found in the bleachers of Labor Stadium, the home of Tom Football Club.

 

Entertainment for kids in Tomsk: where to take your kids for a walk

Tomsk City Garden

At Tomsk City Garden, you will find various kinds of traditional kids’ entertainment, including attractions and merry-go-rounds like good old swingboats. Ice cream, cotton candy, go-carts, and trains can also be found along the trails of the garden. Located nearby is also one other place to catch a great view of Tomsk – the Ferris wheel. It is worth nothing that there is a little lake at the depth of the park zone and adjacent to the garden is Labor Football Stadium.

Where to go for a walk with your kid in Tomsk: Buff-Garden and Young Naturalist Station

 

 

Buff-Garden is a park in the central part of the city. There is a lot of vacation in the area, an artificial stream cascade fountain flowing down the slope, and a kids play station as well. In the southwestern corner of the park is also a wooden Lutheran Church (Saint Mary’s Church).

Next to Buff-Garden is Young Naturalist Station off of Igumensk Lake and Tomsk Pioneer Palace, the east wall featuring an exceptionally beautiful pastel mosaic. At Young Naturalist Station is also a lake with ducks, a greenhouse facility as well, and an “animal area” with rabbits, hedgehogs, mongooses, raccoons, turtles, and beaver, and even large spiders in glass containers. Some of the animals you can pet too. The address of Young Naturalist Station is Kartashov Street, Dom 21. You can find out the schedule and when you can go on tour at telephone/fax number 56-35-19. Located directly behind Pioneer Palace is a kids traffic training station where they get to learn on kid cars and drive along the miniature roads with road signs.

The Virgin Monastery of Alekseevsky

At the city boundary on Krylova Street, you can go for a walk and touch history. Fyodor Kuzmich died and was buried in this monastery who by legend was said to be incognito and departed to Siberia, not at all Aleksander the First, the emperor who died there. Also Abram Hannibal was sent off into this monastery, Pushkin’s grandfather. That, on the other hand, is no legend, but a verified fact.

 

Museums and theaters in Tomsk: where to take your kids

Wooden Architecture Museum in Tomsk

There they will tell you just how those most extraordinary houses with wooden lacework were built that you can see in the city. There are kids tours though the museum too (for small schoolchildren). You can also order a bus-pedestrian tour around Tomsk where you can learn about wooden architecture. Finally, in the souvenir shop of the museum, you have to chance to take with you various professional birchbark and stone handiwork.

Tomsk Regional Art Museum

 

 

In the Tomsk Regional Art Museum are productions of western European art, icon-paintings, Russian art, modern paintings, graphics, and a sculpture. There you will also get the chance to see exhibitions of Tomsk and Siberian artists or “on-the-go” expositions: from collections from the Hermitage to Picasso and Dali. The museum also offers tours and lectures for kids.  

Teatralny Square and Tomsk Youth Theater

At Teatralny Square, you can have a rest on one of the benches under the trees and grab an ice cream (next to kiosk Penguin 33). Sometimes they have city fairs and festivities around the square. In case the weather is nasty, there is Kinomir Movie Theater across the square as well and located next to it is the youth theater. Tomsk Youth Theater is quite good, even by national standards, and does not shy away from experimenting with contemporary drama for kids, teenagers, and adults.

Vladimir Zakharov’s 2 + Koo Living Puppet Theater in Tomsk

The puppets are called “living”, because they are made out of living material – wood. Also, due to their built-in “mechanisms”, they sometimes move and talk on their own, without the help of actors. Aside from that, there are traditional puppets there too that you can “control”. At 2 + Koo Theater, they do shows for kids as well like Jeanne from the Bean Pod, Hedgehog, and Migrant Rabbit (according to the stories by Sergey Kozlov) as well as other shows. Vladimir Zakharov is the puppeteer, story teller, director, and performer of the theater’s shows.

Tomsk Natural History Museum

 

 

Tomsk Regional Natural History Museum is located in the old bishop house (Astakhov Estate). There you can check out exhibitions connected to the history and culture of Tomsk, Siberia (as well as photos and all various archeological findings). There are also exhibitions where they set up kids games too: like the family exhibition game about old stuff (you have to guess where all kinds of outlandish stuff came from – like a penknife, press paper, powder flasks, bouillotes, and so on).

People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs Jail Memorial Museum in Tomsk

This museum is a branch of the natural history museum. The building itself was constructed by the Tomsk City Police Department of the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs and the jail, in turn, was located in its basement. Currently, down in the basement you can see the jail corridor preserved with real jail doors, cells, and a detective cabinet along with genuine documents and detective files. You can even find out the victims of the political repressions of those days. Located next to the museum is a square in honor of the victims of Stalin’s repressions, which used to be a prison yard. Now, there are benches there and it’s even quite fit for a walk with the Bench of Shame the only thing reminiscent of its former operation.   

Tomsk Soil Museum, the biggest swamp in the world

The Soil Museum was opened in 2010 at Tomsk Pedagogic University to describe the wonders and features of Siberian soil, including Vasyugansk Swamp, the largest swamp in the world. The Vasyugansk Swamp came about around 10 thousand years ago, it has a total area larger than Switzerland, and it is finally a huge reservoir of freshwater and soil – a natural air filter.

Tomsk oil museum in Strezhevy – the town of oil riggers

This museum is primarily aimed towards children. They let them touch almost everything, find out how oil riggers are and how they operate, the find out what an oil-derrick is, and they learn what different types of oil there are. However, there is one major obstacle – Tomsk Oil Museum is located in the country, in the town of Strezhevy. The only way to get there is by plane and that’s it. Flights depart from Bagashevo Airport to Strezhevy every day (except weekends): you can fly there in the morning or the afternoon and fly back at the same time. The carrier is TomskAvia and a ticket costs 3500 rubles one way (for the summer of 2012). Kids between 2 and 12 years old may fly at a 50% discount.

Intriguing Science Museum Mentality in Smile City Commercial Entertainment Center

At Intriguing Science Museum Sklad Uma, you can find out how much you would weigh on the Sun and conduct experiments with sound, magnets, water, liquid nitrogen, and soap bubbles. To schedule a tour, you can call: +7 (952)895-84-57, 938-015.

Tomsk Exotarium on Rosa Luxemburg Street, Dom 48

There, you will get to see exotic animals like lizards, snakes, hedgehogs, owls, frogs, spiders, raccoons, weasels, and more. It’s part of project Young Naturalist Station.

Tomsk Atomic Energy Information Center

The Atomic Energy Center, of course, advocates the “world atom” and simultaneously, enlightenment programs in physics, astronomy, and natural science for kids. The center is quite well equipped with technology and kids find it quite interesting there. Admission is free to all, both for children and adults.

Tomsk Planetarium

Tomsk Planetarium does exhibitions and educational 3D programs for the whole family (the traditional Birth of Humans in the Universe). Also, during warm weather, you can join in on the daytime observation of the sky there at the observation deck – under the supervision of scientific employees. 

Vasilev Gathering Ethnographic Project: popular traditions

This is a contemporary ethnographic project where you can learn about national traditions: costumes, songs, cuisine, national holidays, and trades. The project is also quite family-oriented. Children always have a good time there. It is not stationary, rather it does its workshops at different city squares and in nature as well, “vechyorki” (gatherings) in traditional Russian costumes and open-air parties as well.

Red Star Candy Factory and their company shop

At the factory in the company shop, you can by the freshest, delicious candy called Tomsk Ptichka (Birdie) (famous far beyond the confines of the city for its boxed “pigeon milk”). They also sell souvenirs there packaged in birchbark, including Tomsk beverages, sweets, and other locally manufactured treats. You can sign up for a tour inside the factory, but only in an organized tour group of children in the second grade and up.

 

Cafés: where to grab a bite with your kids in Tomsk

Klaus Café Confectionary

This is a small, cozy café with amazing pies and cakes with fresh fruit. It features a European-style conservative, yet cozy atmosphere. The lady who owns the café studied the restaurant business from her German friend Klaus, after whom the café is named. There are two coffee houses at Klaus Café, one of which is located at Nikitina Street, Dom 43 (near Frunze Prospect, not far from the City Center) and the other is located at Kartashov Street, Dom 41b, not far from Dzerzhinsky Street.

Boulanger Coffee House and Confectionary Chain in Tomsk

At Boulanger, not only do they offer their own pastries and very tasty coffee, but also soups, salads, and hot lunches as well. In one of the coffee house chains (the one on Lenin Prospect, Dom 54 A, Glavpochtamt bus stop), they have a kids play room in the theme of Alice in Wonderland as well as a kids menu, which you can acquaint yourself with, by the way, online. There are practically no other restaurant cafés in the city center and demand is high. That’s why it’s a good idea to reserve a table ahead of time at Boulanger.

Fast Food Restaurant Gluttony Row (inside Bonaparte Hotel)

The café has a kids play room – mazes, balls, and other entertainment. Other than that, it would be more accurate to refer to the restaurant as a bistro.

 

 

Leto Coffee House in Tomsk (Batenkov Square)

Leto Coffee House has a minimalist interior, big windows, bright lamps, and Wi-Fi. There you will also find kids chairs, toys, a kids menu, and an animator on the weekends. Also included in the coffee has is Bamboo Sushi Bar.

Pastamama Italian Restaurant in Tomsk

This Italian restaurant is in TsUM Mall on Lenin Alley. There they have pizza, pasta, soups, and stake. For kids, they also have special chairs, toys, and a place where they can draw.

 

 

Siberian Blins for Kids in Tomsk

This local fast food joint features blins (Russian crepes) with various fillings inside. They have a couple of kids snack bars – with kids miniature blins and different colored interiors. You will find them at Kievskaya Street, Dom 15 (near the center, but past routes that go to tourist attractions) and Bereng Street, Dom 10 (with a sleeping area in Manege Mall). You can find Siberian Blins kiosks all over the city (there are no specialized kids menus at the kiosks).

Antonov Court Café Chain in Tomsk

As local manufacturers of cakes and pastries, Antonov Court is a hybrid of a store and a café. People do take their kids to these restaurants, but there is no play room, nor any kids furniture. Sometimes they do kids parties with animators at the café, though. Also in the summer time next to the café on Frunze Alley is a kids play station.

Traveler’s House Vegetarian Café in Tomsk

Traveler’s House is a photo center, a photo shop, a tourist agency, and a vegetarian café. It is also a peculiar cultural center from travelers and photographers in Tomsk (they offer the best photo printing quality in the city). They also do photo exhibitions there as well as other events and have a separate building located on Plekhanov Square (two minutes from the City Center at Glavpochtamt bus stop).

 

Holidays and events in Tomsk: where to take your kids

Tomsk Carnival

They celebrate Tomsk Carnival once a year during the summer time as a rule at the end of June or the beginning of July. The carnival features a parade through the central streets of the city with music, costumes, and decorations on cars as well as dancing on moving stages. There are different teams in the carnival trying to stand out the most. These teams are made of various organizations of the city who apply for participation in the Carnival ahead of time. As a rule, the carnival usually ends with a big concert with celebrities on one of the outdoor platforms of the city. 

Tom Club Football Matches

The football matches of Tom Football Club go on at Labor Stadium. Tickets for children are sold at 50 rubles (as of August 2012).

Student events in Tomsk

Tomsk is generally recognized as a student town. When testing starts toward the end of the semester, students from the Polytechnic University come by and paint the boots of the Kirov Monument black for good luck on their exams at the intersection of Lenin Street and several others. A multitude of student sporting events are also held in May like the World Miles run through the central avenue from Camp Garden down to the main Tomsk State University building. 

 

Text by: Evgeny Kartashov
Photos by: Masha Anikina