Places near the Hotel

In the architectural image of Ulyanovsk a building of the “House of the Yazykov family” Literary Museum holds a special place. It was built on the border of 18^th and 19^th century and represents noble private residence of delicate proportions.

It is one of the five similar two centuries old buildings, preserved in the city up to the present.

Many conspicuous figures of Russian culture in the first half of the 19^th century visited this house, such as: a hero of the Patriotic war of 1812 Denis Davidov, Decembrist Vasiliy Ivashev, folklorist Petr Kireevsky, public figure Ivan Aksakov and historian Michail Pogodin. In September of 1833 Alexander Pushkin who was travelling through Simbirsk in Oremburg to collect data for his work on “History of Pugachev” was a guest of the Yazykov family.

The opening of “House of the Yazykov family” literary Museum was at the 5^th of june, 1999 and was assigned to the anniversary of 200 years since the birth of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. Before the opening there was a diligent work on the complete set of the museum collection. Toward this goal a public interest group visited central archives and museums of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. They bought furniture, engravings and lithographs of the 19^th century at the antique shops of Moscow. Lev Netsvetaev, Boris Sklyaruk and many other famous Ulyanovsk painters made copies of pictural and graphic works to be kept in the collections of the capital’s museums.

The main exhibition of the museum “Pushkin and simbiryane” placed in three state rooms of the second floor of the Yazykov’s mansion. It tells the story of the famous simbiryan peoples associated with Pushkin, about simbiryan friends of the poet and covers the time period from the last third of the XVIII century to the middle of the XIX century.

Ulyanovsk (formerly Simbirsk) is the homeland of many famous Russian poets, writers, artists, politicians. However, the real national fame it have received because of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin), leader of a socialist revolution.

In 1970, to commemoration of the 100 anniversary since the birth of Lenin by the efforts of all the country in Ulyanovsk on a place where was the house in which V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin) was born was built  the Lenin memorial complex – a unique memorial to Lenin.

V. I. Lenin Memorial (museum) is a unique cultural and historical center which activity is directed on preservation, studying and development of the cultural and historical heritage associated with life and activity of V. I. Lenin, Ulyanov family and the whole Soviet period.

Lenin Memorial (museum)has multipurpose value - museum, educational and spectacular. The close location of the Museum of V. I. Lenin, the social and political center and the big concert hall in one architectural ensemble allows to operate a huge building of the Memorial as one complex.

V. I. Lenin's museum memorial annually hosts a lot of visitors as from Russia, and other countries.

The building which is now the museum was built at the end of the XVII century. Untill 1864 it belonged to Goncharov' family. Here on the 18th of  June, 1812 was born  the writer I.A. Goncharov.

The house in its original form didn't remain: at the end of the XIX century  it was made the annex of a red brick, the 2nd floor was built, windows were expanded, and the old house was covered with a new figure brick laying.

In 1907 to commemoration of the 95 anniversary since the birth of the writer by means of merchant A. Yurgens the memorial board with a bronze bas-relief of I.A. Goncharov was established. It was made in St. Petersburg of black Swedish granite.

In June, 1982 on the ground floor of the house was opened the historical and memorial center-museum of I. A. Goncharov. The museum exposition is build on thematic and chronological principles and completely recreates the atmosphere of an era of I. A. Goncharov. In 8 halls of the museum the main stages of life of the writer and his creativity are shown in details. The last hall - "Goncharov and the modernity" tells about today's perception of Goncharov’s novels and characters.

The museum has the unique collection of the things belonging to I. A. Goncharov, his family, household items and furniture of the XIX century, manuscripts and rare books of the XVIII-XIX centuries, the writer's iconography, portraits of relatives and contemporaries, documents and photos. Today the museum gained the worldwide fame and became recognized center of the international History of I.A.Goncharov.

The museum was opened on the 28 of December in 1920 on the 1st floor of the House – Monument of I. Goncharov, which was built in 1916 according to the project of architect A. Shode.

Nowadays there are two main sections: the section of nature and the section of history of Ulyanovsk region. The section of the nature has the exhibitions, which gives us information about climate, water, relief, minerals of Ulyanovsk region. It also has a unique paleontological collection.

The section of the history tells us about the history of the region beginning with primitive communal system till the victory of the February Revolution in 1917. The great amount of exhibits represents the contribution of the citizens to the Russian and World history.

The museum was founded in 1895 as an art section of history-archeological museum of Simbirsk academic archive commission. In the end of July in 1920 the art section was reorganized into Simbirsk Art Museum. Its modern name Ulyanovsk Regional l Art Museum got in 1943.

Ulyanovsk Regional Art Museum is the only art museum in the region , which has the monuments of national and world importance. There are more than 10800 exhibits, including pictorial art, graphic art, sculpture and decorative applied art.

There are several sections in the museum. Western European art section includes the works of artists from Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Holland of XVI - XIX centuries. The section of Old Russian Art has icons and wood sculptures of XVI - XX centuries. Russian Art of XVIII - XIX centuries is represented with the works of F. Rocotov, D. Levitsky, V. Borovikovsky, K. Bryulov, A. Ivanov.

Ulyanovsk Drama Theatre has a very rich history. It was founded in 1785, when N. Durasov, the Simbirsk landowner, presented his mansion to the local nobility for holding the meetings. (The mansion already had the serf theatre with a scene and decorations.) From that moment the performances, where both serf actors and the nobles took part, were organized regularly.

In the second half of 1830s a special building for theatre performances was constructed in the city. It was called “Temporary Theatre” and it worked only in summer. In winter the performances were held in the Noble Mansion as usual. However that building became decayed soon. The modern building of Ulyanovsk Drama Theatre was constructed with the help of M. Pryanishnikov. He built the complex of stone buildings under one roof, it included hotel, restaurant, theatre. Outside it looked modest, but inside there were asphalt floor, huge hall, auditorium for over 1000 people, big scene. The inscription on a curtain warned sceptics: "I did everything I could; who can better — do it". According to contemporaries, Ulyanovsk Drama Theatre was the best  provincial theatre.

The Theatre was opened on the 23 of November in 1879.

The direction of the Theatre is Classics. The names of such authors as Shakespeare, Moliere, Goldoni, Chekhov, Pirandello, Ostrovskii are always on the posters of Ulyanovsk Drama Theatre.

Ulyanovsk Philharmonic Hall was founded in 1944. It is situated in the beautiful building of the former Simbirsk public meeting built in the south part of Novii Venec Boulevard in the one of the picturesque parts of the city. The author of the project was the architecture F. Livchak. In different periods in this building there were The Palace of Working Youth, the cinema “Red Star”, the Clothes Factory.

Later the building was reconstructed into the concert hall with good acoustics. Ulyanovsk Philharmonic Hall has three big state orchestras: symphony, folk and brass band. Being the centre of musical culture of Ulyanovsk, Philharmonic Hall is engaged in the concert activity and organizes tours, performances, concerts of famous foreign performers and conductors.

The Gubernatorsky centre of culture is created on the basis of Palace of culture of labor unions. The Centre of Folk Culture was built in 1972 to 100 – anniversary of V. Lenin. It was put in operation in 1972.

The Centre of Folk Culture is still one of the leading state institutions of culture answering to inquiries of the most different age categories.. It has 2 auditoriums ( the big one is for 1000 seats and the small one is for 300 seats), 19 leisure rooms, 4 ballet rooms, 3 artistic rooms, a lot of different hobby groups, bowling centre and 2 bars.

All concerts of famous people, coming to Ulyanovsk, are as a rule held in The Centre of Folk Culture. Every year the concert of ballad song is held there.

Shopping Centre “Versal” is one of the newest and the most popular shopping centres of Ulyanovsk. It was opened in spring in 2008. Shopping Centre “Versal” is the perfect place for shopping and recreation. Here you can find the clothes and shoes of such famous trade marks as O’STIN, INCITY, OGGI, Concept Club, Kira Plastinina, Personage, Savage, People, Pompa, Adidas, Reebok, CARNABY, Mascotte. There is also a great choice of presents, perfumery, accessory, CDs, DVDs, jewellery, children goods. You can also visit the three-hall cinema “Kino Park” and family centre «Star Galaxy».

The Restaurant Hall of Shopping Centre “Versal” will satisfy the requirements of every gourmet. On the first floor there is a Lobby-bar “Ulei”. The Food Court is represented with several fast food cafes (Italian, Japanese, American, Russian) and two restaurants: “IL Patio” and “Elki-Palki”.