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Museum
of Wooden Architecture 
Russian Windows
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Irkutsk has taken on several
roles in its nearly 350 years of existence, including expedition base
for explorations of Siberia, city of exiles, and gold rush town, just
to name a few. The city's nicknames include the "capital of Siberia,"
the "pearl of Siberia," and even "Paris of Siberia."
In the late 19th century, gold was discovered in the nearby Lena Basin, and the Siberian Gold Rush began. People came to the region hoping to strike it rich, and those who were successful built sprawling classical mansions and financed public buildings, some of which still stand today. Irkutsk is in many ways the heart of Siberia, with its proximity to Lake Baikal, status as a major transportation hub on the trans-Siberian railway, and a plethora of scientific and research institutes, including a branch of the Siberian Academy of Sciences. As a local writer once noted, "To miss seeing Irkutsk is to miss Siberia."
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Hotel "Intourist"
in the downtown 
Hotel Baikal on
Currency exchage and Credit Cards: Any bank can make currency exchanges. Credit cards "VISA", "Master Card", "Diners Club" and travellers' checks are accepted by "Vneshtorgbank" and bank "Rossiskii Kredit". |
