Задание №10 — Чтение

Located about 400km east of Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod is one of the most important centers of cultural, economic, and political activity in European Russia. An excellent spot to soak up the best of the city’s atmosphere, Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street lies in the heart of Nizhny Novgorod. Gorgeous buildings and fountains towering on all sides showcase the best of its architecture. Shop fronts and local souvenirs will have you pausing at every window while the charming cafés will draw you in with their tempting aromas.

A city yarmarka is something like a fair, and this historic former market place was restored in 1991. The site is now home to a superb modern exhibition center. The yarmarka plays host to international events, fairs, and conventions. In 2011, for the 20th anniversary of the fair, many exhibitions were organized, attended by thousands, including members of the British royal family. The fair is not only a buzzing center of business and culture, but also one of the most impressive sights.

Located at the meeting point of the great Volga and Oka rivers, the ancient Kremlin of Nizhny Novgorod boasts of some of the best views in the city. Designed by an Italian architect, the 13 magnificent towers and the high walls date back to 1500. On this spot in 1612, heroes of Russian history Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky defeated the invading Polish army in extraordinary circumstances. You’ll also find here an art museum, a monument to those who fought in the Second World War, and the flame eternally burning in their memory.

An idyllic spot from which to watch the sunset over the city, this monumental creation was constructed by the Soviet government and is unique to the city of Nizhny Novgorod. The staircase gets its name from pilot Valery Chkalov who, in 1937, became the first man to fly from Moscow to Vancouver over the North Pole. A monument to Chkalov stands at the top of the stairs. Over 1,500 stairs connect the city center with the river embankment. Nowadays the staircase is a favorite meeting place and relaxation spot for the locals.

The Rukavishnikovs were a family of immensely wealthy merchants originating from the region around Nizhny Novgorod. The superbly restored palace, their former home, has been transformed into a museum of Russian history and gives a realistic snapshot of the life of the wealthy in the 19th century. Expensive furnishings, priceless antiques, and glistening gold will transport you back in time to a world of balls, carriages, banquets, and tsars. Join the world of Russian noble ladies and gentlemen for a day in this stunning palace.

Sakharov Museum is dedicated to Russian scientist Andrei Sakharov. The nuclear physicist and human rights activist lived for six years in the very flat in which the museum is now housed. Sakharov’s support for civil reform and improved human rights in the Soviet Union earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. Sakharov could not leave the city until 1986 when an officer arrived to install a phone there. Just after the phone was installed, it began to ring. The caller was Mikhail Gorbachev, ringing Sakharov to inform him of his release.

Inside the walls of Nizhny’s Kremlin one of the best modern art galleries in Russia can be found. Linked to galleries in both St Petersburg and Moscow, this top-ranking exhibition center houses regularly changing displays of both Russian and international art as well as interactive exhibits and a media library. There are also plans of adding a concert hall, extending the exhibition areas, and creating a restaurant. These additions aim to make art contemporary, not simply a far-away, unfamiliar concept, but bring it closer to Russian people.