Nevyansk – Culture and the Leaning Tower

• The Leaning Tower of Nevyansk was built from 1722 to 1732 and deviates 2.2 metres from vertical towards the southwest.
• The described sequence of the tower clock calls for a chime every 15 minutes and music every three hours.
• The Museum of the History of the Region is in the historic centre, next to the Leaning Tower, in a former factory power station.
• The House of Merchant Dozhdev has three exhibition rooms; visits are by prior booking.

The construction period from 1722 to 1732 and the 2.2-metre deviation towards the southwest describe two different aspects of the Leaning Tower: its place in history and its measurable tilt. The direction is part of the detail, just as much as the measurement. Those interested in architecture can consider these features together rather than seeing the tilt merely as a label for the tower.

The tower clock also has a described rhythm: a chime is specified every 15 minutes, and music every three hours. Thus, alongside the tower’s shape, its clock is also a focus. These times refer to the described sequence; if you would like to plan your visit around this, check the current arrangements.

The Nevyansk Museum of the History of the Region is in the historic centre, next to the Leaning Tower. It occupies a former factory power station, an industrial monument of early 20th-century industrial architecture. This brings together two distinct architectural points of reference in one place: the leaning tower and the former power station building.

The Transfiguration Cathedral in Nevyansk offers a different perspective. Its three iconostases were made in the Baroque style. The House of Merchant Dozhdev, in turn, has three exhibition rooms: one for old icons, one for contemporary icons and a “Silver Hall”. The two icon rooms allow a direct thematic comparison between older and contemporary works; the third room adds its own exhibition focus. Visits to the House of Merchant Dozhdev are by prior booking.

The Nevyansk Historical and Architectural Museum offers sightseeing routes to the Leaning Demidov Tower. If you plan to take one, confirm the current arrangements before your visit. The museum also offers excursions to the Transfiguration Cathedral in Nevyansk and St Nicholas Church in the village of Byngi. The church was built in the 18th century. While the cathedral is a cultural site in Nevyansk, the excursion to Byngi takes you farther afield in the region. Check the current arrangements in advance for these excursions, too.

The offerings differ in both destination and focus: a sightseeing route to the Leaning Demidov Tower, an excursion to the cathedral in Nevyansk or an excursion to the church in Byngi. For planning purposes, this distinction is more useful than grouping all the offerings together as a city tour.

The Museum Complex of Military and Civil Equipment is in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, within the wider travel destination of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Its collection comprises more than 15,000 exhibits, including more than 2,000 civilian and military vehicles. This is a distinct cultural highlight in the region, alongside the buildings and museums in Nevyansk.

The 2026 list of approved road tourism routes in Sverdlovsk Oblast also includes the Demidov Route between Yekaterinburg, Nevyansk and Nizhny Tagil. Nevyansk is therefore listed as a named stop on this regional route. Check the route information before setting off. You can also discover Baltym, Talitsa, Yekaterinburg, Rezh, Kachkanar, Verkhnyaya Salda, Tygish and Kalinovo for more destinations.

How much does the Leaning Tower of Nevyansk tilt?

The tower deviates 2.2 metres from vertical towards the southwest. It was built from 1722 to 1732.

What exhibitions are there at the House of Merchant Dozhdev?

There are three rooms: one for old icons, one for contemporary icons and a “Silver Hall”. Visits are by prior booking.

Which destinations are included in the museum’s excursion offerings?

The museum offers sightseeing routes to the Leaning Demidov Tower, as well as excursions to the Transfiguration Cathedral in Nevyansk and St Nicholas Church in the village of Byngi. Check the current arrangements before your visit.

For the wider travel overview: Sverdlovsk Oblast.