Ust-Sysolsk. Spasskaya Street.

Ust-Sysolsk. Trinity Cathedral.

Local government reform began around 1775. In 1780 a new Ust-Sysolks uyezd was singled out of the Yarensk uyezd, and Ust-Sysolsk – which was transformed into a town by the decree of Catherine the Great – became the capital.

In 1783 a general plan was developed for the new town, according to which the communities adjoining the former village became part of Ust-Sysolsk. By the end of the 19th centuries Ust-Sysolsk was in 4th place in population among the 12 towns of Vologda Province. There were 4,464 people there, 3,699 of whom considered Komi to be their native language.

The one-story Church of Protection was consecrated in 1740. The Church of the Savior was consecrated on the first floor of the same building in 1808. From 1753 to 1768 the Trinity Church was built nearby, and a bell tower was added later. Together these churches constituted the Trinity Cathedral (located on the bank of Sysola River at the beginning of today’s Ordzhonikidze Street. The Cathedral’s building were destroyed in 1933). The Trinity Cathedral looked like a miracle surrounded by wooden houses (there were no stone houses then). The first educational institution in town, a religious school, was opened under the auspices of the Trinity Cathedral in 1822.The Stefan Cathedral was constructed in accordance with the design of N.Y.Cherepanov from 1856-1882 (it was dismantled around 1930-32). There were also three wooden churches in the town. Ust-Sysolsk was a typical provincial town. In 1916 there were about 6,000 people there, of whom Komi made up 90%.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries Ust-Sysolsk – referred to as “Little Siberia” – was used by the Russian government as a place of exile. The provincial town went through the 1917 Revolution quite calmly. In 1921 Ust-Sysolsk became the centre of the Komi Autonomous Region. In 1930 it was renamed as Syktyvkar (in Komi – Town on the Sysola) on the eve of the town’s 150th anniversary celebration.

Rapid economic growth of Syktyvkar was encouraged by the development of the timber and chemical industry, as well as the opening of oil and gas fields in Komi republic. Nowadays Syktyvkar is one of the industrial centre of Komi. There are over 230 large enterprises manufacturing a diverse range of products, from saw-timber, paper and cellulose up to engineering products and ready-made garments, etc. 

Syktyvkar is a major scientific and educational centre of Komi. Apart from KSC of RAS higher educational institutions are represented by Syktyvkar State University, Komi State Pedagogical Institute, Syktyvkar Forest Institute, Komi Republic Academy of Public Service and a number of branches of higher educational institutions from major cities of Russia like Moscow and Saint-Peterburg.

Syktyvkar like most northern towns is built along the river, following the linear layout, established over 200 years ago. The town has undergone great changes during the last 50 years. A small provincial town has become one of the largest economic centres of the Russian northwest. The main reasons of Syktyvkar’s development are the discovery of oil and gas, the construction of a forest products industrial complex – the largest in Europe – as well as a non-woven fabric plant. This, of course, had to affect the outward appearance of the town. There are not many old pre-revolutionary buildings left in Syktyvkar, and there are hardly any Stalin or post Stalin period buildings either. Standard projects have been replaced by custom-designed individual and group projects, which have definitely added to the town’s beauty. Today’s Syktyvkar is varied in appearance. In the places where old wooden houses are demolished, new buildings are designed to be compatible with the old style and take into account the very nature of the location.

Speaking of the religious-type buildings designed by the architects working in Komi’s capital one must note the restored Cathedral of the apostol-like Stefan of Perm and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. However, it is the fire-tower with the grand city clock built over 100 years ago that has remained the architectural symbol of Syktyvkar.

Syktyvkar. Sovetskaya street.

Kommunisticheskaya and Sovetskaya streets have remained the main ones in the town. Kommunisticheskaya street has the greatest number of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. This street runs from the railway station to the city centre. Sovetskaya street begins at the airport and goes along Sysola River. This is the only street in the town which has retained its old look almost unchanged.

Syktyvkar.Kommunisticheskaya street.

Syktyvkar.Kommunisticheskaya street.

There are two parks in Syktyvkar: Kirovsky (which used to be Ust-Sysolsk’s public garden) and Michurinsky. The main square of Komi Republic is Stefan Square. It is surrounded by Komi’s main administrative buildings; Administration of the Head of Komi Republic, State Council of Komi Republic, the post and telegraph offices and the buildings of the leading banks. Major official processions and parades take place here. From May through September Stefan Square is a no-drive zone and is actively enjoyed by pedestrians and children on roller skates and bicycles.

Syktyvkar. Pervomayskaya street.

Lomonosov Square encompasses part of Kommunisticheskaya and Chernov streets. The square is surrounded by the things directly connected with science – the buildings of Komi State Pedagogical Institute, Komi Science Centre, and also – Komi Republic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, banks, notaries and legal offices.

In 2004 Sobornaya Square appeared in Syktyvkar at the intersection of Lenin and Svoboda streets. And Gabov street – named in honor of Gabov, a Hero of the Soviet Union born in Syktyvkar – is 200 m away from Sobornaya Square. Near this square is situated one of the most beautiful architectural buildings of modern Syktyvkar - Cathedral of Stefan of Perm.

Visits to these squares can be included in a single walking tour of the city, allowing visitors to became familiar with the city and to see all the main architectural features of the capital of Komi Republic.

If you want to visit the old Ust-Sysolsk you should go to Paris (French soldiers were imprisoned here while awaiting the end of the War of 1812). Curved streets and lanes, peasant houses and modern cottages, vegetable gardens with potatoes, greenhouses, sheds with firewoods and little bathhouses in almost every yard.

The capital of Komi is also a cultural centre of the Republic. Komi National Museum Complex consists of several museums, majority of which are in Syktyvkar. Located in different buildings of the historical part of the city, they represent in detail the nature, history, economy and culture of Komi Republic. The museum has a unique collection, consisting of more than 220,000 items.

National art gallery has been located since 1993 in a renovated building of a former seminary, built in 1888-1890. The gallery’s collection includes more than 6,000 items – paintings, graphics, sculptures, decorative and applied art, as well as fork art. We also recommend you to visit the Scientific Geological Museum of Komi Geology Institute of RAS. There are about 100,000 items in the museum’s collection. The main ones are in mineralogy and petrography, while not less interesting is the fossil exhibition.

For theatre-goers Syktyvkar can offer State Academic theatre, which has two troupes, one Russian, one Komi. They often perform in CIS countries, as well in Western Europe. Komi State theatre for Opera and Ballet opened in 1958 has a rich history of repertoires and successful tours. Komi Republic folklore theatre is specialized in music and folklore purely in Komi language. The theatre is a frequent guest in Finland, Hungary and Estonia, which belong as well as Komi to Finno-Ugric area. Komi Republic Philarmonic’s basic activities consist of organizing concerts by local and visiting musicians. The main group is the “Daybreak” state song and dance ensemble, which is quite popular both in Komi and outside the Republic.