Novokuznetsk: Fortress, Waterfall and Museum

Several travel interests come together in Novokuznetsk: the Kuznetsk Fortress, a cultural heritage site of federal significance; a waterfall on the grounds of the museum-reserve; and a branch of the Novokuznetsk Museum of Local Lore in a historic stone building. Local attractions thus range from culture and history to a distinctive natural feature. When planning your trip, you can give these highlights different levels of priority depending on your interests.

Kuznetsk Fortress and Waterfall

The Kuznetsk Fortress is a cultural heritage site of federal significance. It is therefore a clear cultural and historical landmark for a trip to Novokuznetsk. If cultural heritage is of particular interest to you, you can make it a focus of your trip; the nature reserve’s landscape offers a different emphasis.

A waterfall lies on the grounds of the Kuznetsk Fortress Museum-Reserve, in a narrow gorge near the site of the Verkhne-Tomsky Redoubt. This provides a distinct natural attraction alongside the fortress. If you plan your trip around particular themes, you can set the natural scenery against the cultural and historical highlights.

A Museum Branch in the Historic Center

A branch of the Novokuznetsk Museum of Local Lore opened in 1999. It is located in the historic center of Novokuznetsk, in a two-story stone building dating from 1815. The dates refer to two different milestones: 1999 is the year the branch opened, while 1815 is the year the building was constructed. The branch is therefore much younger than the building it occupies—a useful distinction when placing the museum and the building’s history in context.

More Travel Ideas in Kemerovo Oblast

The wider destination of Kemerovo Oblast offers additional, distinct attractions. In Shorsky National Park, visitors can go rafting on mountain rivers, take motorboat trips, and hike along ecological trails. The “Srednyaya Mrassu” route runs from Ust-Kabyrza to Ust-Anzas, takes at least three days depending on the weather, and is classified as Category I in difficulty; it is open to people of all ages. Check the current park rules and route conditions before setting out.

Another cultural highlight of Kemerovo Oblast is the Tomskaya Pisanitsa Museum-Reserve. It is a cultural monument of federal significance and one of the best-known and most important rock-art sites in Western Siberia. People left 300 rock images at places considered sacred; the oldest depictions are 4,000 years old. The reserve covers 156 hectares of pine forest on the scenic banks of the Tom River. Since its early years, it has also hosted historical, ethnographic, and folkloric events and festivals.

The Shorsky Ulus Kesek complex near Tomskaya Pisanitsa is another ethnographic highlight. The homestead of a wealthy Shor has been reconstructed there; the buildings are original structures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Together with the rock art, this offers another cultural perspective: archaeological depictions on one hand, and the historic buildings of a Shor homestead on the other.

Discover more destinations: Kemerovsky District, Promyshlennovsky District, Tashtagolsky District, the city of Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Novokuznetsky District, the city of Anzhero-Sudzhensk, Yashkinsky District, Tashtagolsky District.

For the broader travel overview: Kemerovo Oblast.