Kursk: Museums, Memorials and Planetarium

• Kursk’s history began in the 11th century with a fortress at the confluence of the Kur and Tuskar rivers.
• The “Kurskaya Duga” (“Kursk Bulge”) memorial complex stretches along Pobedy Avenue.
• The Kursk Pushkin State Drama Theatre was founded in 1792.
• The Kursk Regional Planetarium shows the starry sky and the movements of the Sun, Moon and planets beneath its dome.

The “Kurskaya Duga” (“Kursk Bulge”) memorial complex brings together several notable features: the “Kursk – gorod voinskoy slavy” (“Kursk – City of Military Glory”) stele, the Triumphal Arch, a monument to Marshal Zhukov, the Church of St George, the Eternal Flame and an avenue of military equipment. The Triumphal Arch is part of the complex; the structure is 24 metres high. This memorial is a specific place to visit if you would like to learn about the city’s military history.

The museums also cover a range of subjects. The main exhibition at the Museum of the Battle of Kursk, run by the “Kurgan” search group, focuses on the Second World War from 1941 to 1945 and includes more than 2,500 objects. The Military History Museum “Young Defenders of the Fatherland in Memory of K. Ryabova” covers the same period through the life stories of children and young people who fought. For a broader look at the region’s past, the Kursk State Regional Archaeological Museum has a permanent exhibition in seven halls, spanning from the Stone Age to the 18th century.

Art and literature also have a place in Kursk. The Deineka Gallery’s collection comprises around 10,000 paintings, graphic works and sculptures from the 16th to the 21st century. Across eight halls covering a total of 228 square metres, the Literary Museum presents the region’s literary development and material about 136 poets and writers from Kursk. The Pushkin State Drama Theatre adds a long history to this picture, while the Kursk Philharmonic presents academic, folk and popular music.

The collection at the Kursk Museum of Motor Transport comprises around 10,000 objects, presented in several exhibitions across five halls. Tours are available by prior arrangement; confirm the details with the museum before your visit. The planetarium is housed in the former building of the Noble Assembly. Its dome hosts shows about the starry sky, the movements of the Sun, Moon and other planets, and rare natural phenomena. The offerings are therefore distinct: the museum focuses on collections and exhibitions, while the planetarium presents astronomy shows.

At the “Kung-fu panda” (“Kung Fu Panda”) rope park in Novaya Boevka Park, children can try suspended bridges, tunnels, a climbing wall and hanging punching bags; treehouses have puzzles to solve. Check whether the park is currently open before visiting. Novaya Boevka Park opened in Boyeva Dacha Park in 2019. Its facilities include a well-maintained beach, walking paths, sports grounds and a food court; check in advance which facilities are currently operating.

You can tailor your choices to your own interests without trying to combine cultural attractions, the planetarium and the park into a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Kurchatov, Rechitsa, Tsvetochnyy, Dontsy, Olkhovka, Zheleznogorsk, Sukhaya, Somovka.

What can children do at the rope park?

Activities include suspended bridges, tunnels, a climbing wall and hanging punching bags; there are also puzzles in the treehouses. Check whether the park is currently open before visiting.

Do I need to book tours at the Museum of Motor Transport?

Yes. Tours are available by prior arrangement; confirm the details with the museum in advance.

What topics does the planetarium cover?

The shows cover the starry sky, the movements of the Sun, Moon and other planets, and rare natural phenomena.

Back to the main travel overview: Kursk Oblast.