Ulyanovsk

XVII century

Ulyanovsk was founded in 1648 as a fortress city in Central Russia, called Simbirsk by the boyar Bogdan Khitrovo. The fort was meant to protect the eastern frontier of the Russian Empire from the nomadic tribes and to establish a permanent Imperial presence in the area.

In 1668, Simbirsk withstood a month-long siege by a 20,000-strong army led by rebel Cossack commander Stenka Razin. Also in Simbirsk another country rebel, Yemelyan Pugachev, was imprisoned before execution. At the time Simbirsk possessed a wooden kremlin, which was destroyed by a fire during the 18th century.

XVIII century

As the eastern border of the Russian Empire was rapidly pushed into Siberia, Simbirsk rapidly lost its strategic importance, but nonetheless began to develop into an important regional center. Simbirsk was granted city status in 1796.

XIX century

In the summer of 1864, Simbirsk was severely damaged by fire; however, it was quickly rebuilt and continued to grow. The Holy Trinity Cathedral was constructed in a restrained Neoclassical style between 1827–1841. The population of Simbirsk reached 26,000 by 1856 and 43,000 by 1897.

XX century

In 1924, the city was renamed Ulyanovsk in honor of Vladimir Ulyanov, better known as Lenin, who was born in Simbirsk in 1870. Ulyanovsk is a homeland of many remarkable Russian writers, scientists, artists and politicians (Alexander Kerensky and Alexander Protopopov, Ivan Goncharov).

Nowadays

Ulyanovsk is a city located on two rivers - Volga and Sviyaga. The great river the Volga divides Ulyanovsk into two parts – industrial “new town” and historically old part with museums, galleries, theaters, and squares. Ulyanovsk is a green cozy city but at the same time it is fast-growing, attractive for foreign industry, and tourist-friendly.