Vladivostok

Vladivostok is a young city,  was founded in1860 and is a terminal point of Trans-Siberian railway. Almost 150 years old is not an age for the city! But this time was quite enough for bloom of it and turning it into one of the most interesting and prospective cities of Russia. Nowadays it is a typical European city, which is situated at the border of the Asia-Pacific region with the population about 1 million people. The city occupies the whole southern part of the peninsula Muravjev-Amursky and is washed by waters of Amursky and Ussuriysky gulf. Within the precincts of the city there are 20 islands.
Vladivostok quickly became the important economical and political center owing to nearness to the highway and the borders with China, Korea and Japan. Vladivostok is at the turn of the great continent Eurasia and the Great Pacific Ocean. In this city all is connected with the sea: history, architecture and industry. Its appearance is determined by commercial and fish maritime ports; ship repair and shipbuilding play the important role in industry. In the city there are many museums, 4 theaters, a Philharmonic Society, a picture gallery, a circus. An interesting sight of the city is its relief, formed by gulfs and knolls. Here there are several viewing platforms, allowing to admire panoramas of a day and an evening city. But the most interesting sight of the city is Vladivistok fortress.

The history of museum “Vladivostok fortress”

Vladivostok is by right was one of the most powerful sea fortresses in the world. The fortresses, which had been built by force of several generations of Russian engineers, lost their military role, but they are the most interesting sights of Vladivostok and its vicinities. Use of fortifications, which have lost their defensive significance for tourism aims is a worldwide practice. The preserved fortress constructions, which are located in 400 sq km from Muravjev-Amursky peninsula and Russky island, are expressive architecturally. Major of it is situated in the forest park zone of Vladivostok city on the tops of the mountains and coastal territories.
Most of these constructions have a branchy system of subways and various tunnel and casemated refuges. All this in many respects determine their exceptional value for tourist and recreational use.

Vladivostok acquired status of the city in 1889. By 1916 the fortress included the system of various defensive constructions (about 130) and the developed infrastructure which allowed to withstand a siege of much more superior naval and land forces of the enemy. Existence of the Vladivostok fortress provided for security of the whole region in conditions of the difficult international climate and gave an opportunity to carry out colonization of the Ussurian region under its protection. And availability of large number of high-educated military engineers made for the rapid development of Vladivostok.

In the present time the whole complex of fortification constructions of Vladivostok fortress is a monument of the federal significance. In 1988 Primorye regional department of Russian public organization “Russian Society of National Monuments of History and Culture” began restoration of one of the most destroyed coastal batteries “Besimyannaya” in 30-70-s of XX century. This battery was prepared by the government to demolition because of its exceptional location in the center of Vladivostok city. In On October, 30, 1996 in honor of 300-anniversary of the Russian fleet a public museum of history of the Vladivostok naval fortress, which is entered into the list of the Russian Federation Museums, was solemnly opened.

The Bezimyannaya battery is one of the oldest fortifications of the Vladivostok fortress. In 1862 smooth-bores were placed and a platoon of the mountain artillery was quartered. Since that time the knoll acquired name “Batareynaya”. In 1880-1882 military engineer captain V.P.Shirokov built a more powerful coastal battery in this place. It was armed with 9- and 11-inch cannons of a pattern of 1867. In 1897 – 1900 the battery was rebuilt in the concrete variant by military engineer captain Yakubovsky. Armament of the battery consisted of nine 9-inch cannons of a pattern of 1867 and four 57-mm quick-firers of Nordenfeld. After construction of powerful batteries in Russky island, armed with modern guns, in 1897 – 1900 Bezimyannaya battery lost its military significance in many aspects. During the civil war the battery was desolate and in 1923 disarmed. In 30-s Bezimyannaya battery was partially demolished and reconstructed into the garages. In the II World War on the knoll “Batareynaya” there was a battery of the Pacific fleet flak.
Two gun patios and two casemated traverses on the block of the main caliber and also the position for 57-mm cannons of Nordenfeld and the pavilion for the range-finder were annihilated in 70-s.

At the end of 80-s – beginning of 90-s Primorye regional department of Russian public organization “Russian Society of National Monuments of History and Culture” began getting the first exhibits for the future museum – a collection of lime-sand and ceramic brick. Among the important exhibits of the museum it is worth to mention a collection of military equipment and artillery-type weapons, were in service with the Vladivostok fortress and military units of the Pacific Fleet.

The fortifications, which were constructed by labor of several generations of Russian military engineers during almost 70 years, lost its former military significance, however they are the most interesting sight of Vladivostok and its vicinities.

Catholic church

The Catholic church is the unique monument of the architecture of Vladivostok. Built in 1912-1921 on one of the knolls of the city, it served believers longer than all other Vladivostok temples – till 1935. Then the building was passed to the archival office of the Regional Executive Committee, which later became the State archive of the Primorskye region and a catholic parish was opened again. In 1992 priests came from the USA: senior priest father Miron and vicar father Daniil. An organ was brought from America in 1996 – it is yet the only in Vladivostok. When the archive the building of the church underwent changes: the prayerful hall was divided by the armoured concrete floor into three floors, mouldings, mosaic panel were brought down, the façade was undertaken. Now with the help of the senior priest and vicar wonderful stained-glass windows have been restored, but there is still much to do, there is a large restoration project, which financial support of Catholics from the USA and, certainly, Vladivostok believers and just admirers of the ancient architecture helps to realize.

Primorye state museum in the name of V.K. Arsenjev

It is the oldest museum of the Far East. Expositions of this museum meet with the history and nature of this region, also the exhibits «Diverting aquarium», «Slavonic house», «Shells and corals of Far Eastern and tropical seas» are interested. Here you may buy souvenirs from semiprecious stones and from natural stones. At this museum there is collection facts of life and work researchers of the region – M.I. Veyu kov, N.I. Przhevalsky and others, materials concerning the history of the city, archaeological and ethnographical collections.

Primorye state picture gallery

The picture gallery was formed on base of art par of local lore museum in the name of V. K. Arsenev. The opening was in 1966 year, but collection formation had begun in 30th years of XX century. Now gallery is the only art museum in the region, oriented to different ages audience and presenting Russian art in Asian – Pacific region.

Oceanarium

In the center of Vladivostok is placed the only in the Far East of Russia – Seaside Oceanarium Museum. It was opened in 1991 year. Its exposition devoted to the nature of Pacific ocean. In four halls with total area about 1300 sq. m. are placed the diorama «Seal and bird rookery», pinguin groups, albatrosses, coral reef, sea otter and coelacanth. At the glass cases are presented collections of sea shells, corals, sponges, fishes and other kind of sea animals. There are unique exhibits: a skull of Steller's sea cow, embryo of kalan – albino, fishes and tropical birds, pinguins and many others.
In the big round hall in 13th aqauriums are placed reservoir dwellers of the Far East, Peter's I gulf, tropical seas. In the fourth cold water aquariums are dwellers from sea of Japan and sea of Okhotsk. A part of exposition devoted to decorative fish, which are placed in autonomous aquariums.

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