Tobolsk Kremlin

Tobolsk is the oldest stone city in Siberia, and its heart is the kremlin on the high bank of the Tobol. The complex was built in 1680–1686; it is the first stone building in Siberia — before it, Siberian cities were built entirely of logs.

What's inside

• Sofiya-Uspensky Cathedral — the main church, with mosaics in the icon-painting style; it holds a copy of the famous "Savior on the Roof" icon.
• The bell tower — a 77-metre spire, the highest dome in Siberia; from its platform you can see the whole city, Knyazhy Lug, and Chuvash Cape — the site of Yermak's clash with Khan Kuchum's army.
• Ivanovsky Cathedral and the Sloanov Museum House — the kremlin hosts a museum complex: exhibits on the city's history, Siberian wooden architecture, and the famous Tyumen carving tradition.
• Kazan Cathedral — restored in 2018, one of the tallest Orthodox churches in Russia.

Getting there

Tobolsk is 116 km from Tyumen, about 1.5 hours by car. The city stands on the high bank of the Tobol: from the bus station to the kremlin is a 10–15 minute walk along the embankment, or a short taxi ride (about 300–500 ₽).

Nearby

• Knyazhy Lug — the historic lowland beyond the kremlin, where wooden Tobolsk stood before the stone era.
• Chuvash Cape — a promontory on the opposite bank, linked to the 1581 battle.
• The city's wooden architecture: Tobolsk is one of the centres of Siberian carving, with chapels and churches from the 17th–19th centuries in the town and its surroundings.