Monuments of history and culture of the Altai Republic. Gorno-Altaisk: tourist attractions

The Altai Republic is a beautiful and picturesque region located in Western Siberia. Has a long and difficult history. What is it famous for? What nationalities inhabit it? What monuments of history and culture of the Altai Republic have survived to this day? We learn about everything in order.

Brief historical digression

The history of Altai begins in ancient times - the first settlers settled on this territory in the III - II centuries. BC. Then came the centuries of reign of the Mongols, Turks, Tibetans and other nationalities who inhabited the countries of Central Asia and China. Basically, these were nomads, conquerors who liked the local lands, so here their parking lots and settlements were based. The map of the Altai Republic has changed many times.

Only around the 17th century the territory of the present Altai Republic became part of the Russian state. The process of transformation took more than three hundred years, the names of this region changed many times.

Altai on the map of Russia

Looking at the borders of the republic on the map, you can understand that the neighboring countries are Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China, and in the inner part there is the autonomy of Khakassia, Tyva, Kemerovo region and Altai Territory. For many centuries, Altai experienced territorial changes, and only in 1992 the territory became permanent.

The abundance of neighbors explains the multinationality of this region and a huge layer of diverse cultural heritage. These places are interesting both for archaeologists and for connoisseurs of high art. The map of the Altai Republic is rich in recreational zones. Clean air and magnificent landscapes make these places ideal for ecotourism.

A look through the ages: the historical transformation of Altai

The history of the republic counts several millennia. During this period, many cultures and nationalities inhabited the territory of the modern republic. There remained a large number of archaeological remains of antiquity, which are still of interest to archaeologists and ancient lovers. Altai is an inexhaustible source for research. Archaeological monuments of the history and culture of the Altai Republic - burial mounds, caves, cemeteries, "stone women", petroglyphs - and now attract the attention of numerous scientists.

For example, rock paintings that can be seen on rocks, rocks, sculptures of sanctuaries, inscriptions, or as scientists call them - petroglyphs, is a symbiosis of letters and drawings, similar to Chinese characters - all this wealth attracts tourists from all over the world.

Looking at the monuments of culture of the Altai Republic, before the eyes there are pictures from the past. The study and interpretation of these ancient letters give an idea of the lives of people in antiquity, their beliefs, conquests and other events. Excavations of settlements on the territory of Altai give an opportunity to observe many important finds, reflecting the way of life and culture of different historical epochs. At present, archaeological research and scientific expeditions are continuing on the territory of the republic.

Formation of the Republic

Among the historical monuments of the Altai Republic there are a lot of familiar, familiar monuments to eminent personalities: Lenin, Pushkin, as well as the tragic events that the Soviet people experienced: memorials and obelisks to warriors-heroes of the Great Patriotic War, soldiers of Afghanistan, victims Repression and famine.

The greatest part of the attractions belongs to tracts, burial mounds, cemeteries and caves, the number of which can not be counted. These monuments receive traditional names, which depend on the location or name of the archaeologist who found this monument.

Consider the most famous monuments and sights of the Altai Territory: p. Barangol, the tract Vaska Log, Biryulin settlement, the village of Urlu-Aspak, the coast of the Kutash River, the village of Kyzyk-Ozek, the village of Maima, the village of Manzherok, the right bank of the Ulalushki River, the village of Urlu-Aspak, the village of Chultukov and others. This list is constantly replenished and expanded, as the Altai lands keep in its bowels an endless number of ancient relics.

Cultural monuments of Altai

When studying the past of the Altai Republic, the connection between historical events and the appearance of monuments is traced. The culture of the Altaians was formed and developed under the influence of other civilizations and nationalities that inhabited the territory of the republic at different periods of time, and the states that included Altai. Most of these monuments are not only monuments of history and culture of the Altai Republic, they are monuments of national and international significance. For example, numerous statues that are called stone women.

The general concept of stone women

Stone women represent a valuable cultural heritage that has survived, has an ancient history. In the Altai Republic there are more than 250 such statues. Stone sculptures - a great and unprecedented for modern man's art. Stone blocks are the silhouettes of human bodies, of different shapes and sizes. On average, their height varies from 1.5 m to 4 m. Stone women are located in groups in different territories, tracts and villages. Their origin is associated with important historical events taking place on the territory of the republic.

The similarity of sculptures can be traced in the character of the image of the features of human faces. At the same time, other features inherent in the human body - arms, trunk and legs - are poorly traced. Women are a relative concept, in fact they are men - strong and brave warriors. These monuments left a great mark in the history of mankind and in the culture of the Republic of Altai.

Gorno-Altaisk - the capital of the Altai Republic

One of the main attractions of the Altai Republic is its capital, Gorno-Altaisk. In connection with historical events, this is the only city in the Republic of Altai. Gorno-Altaisk is a fairly young city, which appeared less than a hundred years ago. The emergence of the Altai Territory's capital is tied to 1928, for its short history Gorno-Altaisk was renamed in 1948 in Oirot-Tour. The status of the capital of the Altai Republic was given to Gorno-Altaisk in 1992.

Attractions and monuments of Gorno-Altaisk

Gorno-Altaisk is a small city that has a number of attractions. This is a large number of monuments, a square of stones, the Palace of Justice, the square. Lenin, the ancient fountain, Victory Park and the National Museum. In the National Museum. A.V. Anokhin presents more than 50,000 exhibits of archaeological, ethnological, paleontological and other finds, it contains finds and relics of world scale, for example, the mummy of Princess Ukoki. The cultural landmark of Gorno-Altaisk is the Makariya Temple of Altai and the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

Every year the city grows and develops, the population increases and the territory expands. But it is impossible to call it a close and noisy metropolis, despite the fact that it is Gorno-Altaisk, in fact, the only scientific, cultural and industrial center of the republic.

Mountain Altai: history and features

The Mountain Altai deserves special attention. This was previously the name of the Altai Republic itself, but now this name refers to the part of the Altai Mountains, which is located on the territory of the republic. This place is truly picturesque. Mountainous terrain - massifs, intermontane plateaus, meandering rivers - keeps the monuments of the history of the Altai Republic . The mountains of Altai are called golden, information about them can be found even in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage. Within the mountain range there are also cult places, archeological monuments of Altai, for example, Ak-Alah burial mound, located on the Ukok plateau.

The Ukok plateau is another attraction of the Altai Territory, which includes more than 155 archeological monuments belonging to different time periods. The value of these places is very important for scientists, because archaeological finds were stored in stunning conditions of cold and ice. Frozen condition allowed to save many valuable reminders, even substances of organic origin: food, mummies and bodies of people, their hair, nails. And now, using knowledge in the field of genetics, scientists decipher the life and way of life of ancient people.

Tourism in Altai

Undoubtedly, the monuments of history and culture of the Altai Republic attract the attention of a large number of people. First of all, they are people who are closely connected with the sciences - history, archeology, paleontology, ethnography, as well as experts - experts in religion, culture, military affairs. On the territory of the Altai Republic the magnificent nature fascinates: mountain air, clean rivers and lakes, vegetation-rich plains.

Due to the underdevelopment of the industrial sector, natural beauty remains untouched, pristine. Therefore, people tired of city noise, bustle, soot and smog from factories and cars, come to this region. Come to admire the beauty of nature, see the cults and monuments, touch the relics of history, recharge your energy and inspiration. And tourism, in turn, gives development to the Republic of Altai itself. Currently, many tourist bases have been built here, providing a diverse range of services. Among them there are excursions to historical places, an overview of interesting and significant archaeological finds: ancient sites, burial places, cemeteries. Also popular are visits to the Greater Chulchi waterfall, Lake Teletskoye, the Edelweiss valley.

Value of the Republic of Altai

The Republic of Altai on the map of Russia is a unique place. The land here is not covered by railways and never-ending pipelines. There are no mines that extract minerals, gold and diamond deposits. There are no oil and gas wells. But there is something that catastrophically lacks other localities and regions - fairytale nature, unsurpassed landscape, terrain relief, historical, cultural monuments and sights. Monuments of history and archeology in the territory of the Altai Republic have a value of world significance. Therefore, many of them are included in the list of objects protected by the state.

It is impossible to tell about all the delights and sights of Altai. It is also difficult to express in words how handsome Altai appears before his visitors. Everyone who visits the republic will not remain indifferent to the unprecedented beauty, picturesque terrain and pictures of the antiquity of this region.