Discover Izhevsk: Zoo, Culture and City History

The Udmurtia Zoo is an 11-hectare recreational area within Izhevsk. Its collection includes more than 750 animals representing 240 species. The musical theatre received its own building on Central Square in 1984 and the status of the State Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Udmurtia in 1993. Walks and boat trips on the Izhevsk Pond are available during the warm season.

At the zoo, Pacific and Atlantic walruses perform daily on the stage in their enclosure. Along with the size of the recreational area and the diverse collection, this makes the zoo a distinctive option for visitors who want to include animals in their plans for the city. The figures give a concrete sense of the collection’s scale: more than 750 animals represent 240 species.

The “Walks with the Ischiks” route is 24 kilometres long. You can cover it on foot, by public transport, bicycle or scooter. This gives you a choice of ways to get around, while the distance remains the same whichever option you choose. During the warm season, the well-equipped promenade along Izhevsk Pond is also a pleasant place for a walk. You can take a yacht, boat or catamaran trip there. The seasonal limitation is important when planning: the waterside walks and trips mentioned here are available during the warm season.

The musical theatre’s history can be traced through two landmark dates: a new building was constructed on Central Square in 1984, giving the theatre its own venue. In 1993, it was granted the status of the State Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Udmurtia. The monument to the Izhevsk gunsmiths is also in the city centre. It stands at the intersection of Sovetskaya and Sverdlova streets, near the waterfront promenade.

The Koschuchkov Family Motorcycle Museum in Izhevsk is devoted to the history of motorcycle manufacturing in the USSR. Its exhibition is based on the private collection of Artem and Pavel Koschuchkov and includes motorcycles from the Izhevsk Motor Plant. These include a roadworthy Izh-49 in its original configuration. This collection offers a different perspective on technology and city history from the theatre and monument.

As a wider travel destination, the Republic of Udmurtia also includes historical sites outside Izhevsk. The Peter Tchaikovsky Museum opened in Votkinsk in 1940. The interior of a house from the mid-19th century has been recreated there. Exhibits include historical furniture from the 18th to the 20th centuries, porcelain, postcards, paintings and books. The Wirth grand piano, on which the composer learned to play, is also part of the exhibition. Tchaikovsky’s family lived in Votkinsk from 1837 to 1848, a total of eleven years, before moving to Moscow.

One of the region’s natural attractions is Sharkan Nature Park, between the Ita and Sharkan rivers. It covers about 16,000 hectares. It is home to 507 species of higher plants, about half of the republic’s entire flora. The park is divided into five functional zones: a protected zone, a reserve zone, an organised tourism and recreation zone, a traditional-use zone and a buffer zone. These figures give a sense of the range of protected and use areas distinguished there, without implying that they correspond to a single visitor itinerary.

The Ludorvai Museum Reserve presents the everyday life of Russians, Besermyan and Udmurts from the 19th to the early 20th century. The complex includes more than 20 buildings dating from the late 19th to the early 20th century. The tent-roofed windmill was built in 1912 by Fyodor Dragomirov, from the Udmurt village of Chem-Kuyuk. Idnakar offers another historical perspective: from the 9th to the 13th century, it was a centre of Udmurt cultural, commercial and craft life. According to legend, the Cheptsa hillfort, where the Idnakar Museum Reserve is located, was founded by the Udmurt hero and prince Idna.

Discover more destinations: Izhevsk, Zvenigovsky District, Uvinsky District, Sarapulsky District and Zavyalovsky District.

What activities are available at Izhevsk Pond?

During the warm season, you can walk along the well-equipped waterfront promenade or take a yacht, boat or catamaran trip.

How can you cover the “Walks with the Ischiks” route?

The 24-kilometre route can be covered on foot, by public transport, bicycle or scooter.

What is known about the Church of the Dormition?

The church is located in the far part of Izhevsk. Its construction was preceded by a resolution of the Zarechny volost assembly on 27 September 1910.

Go to the broader travel overview: Republic of Udmurtia.