Taganrog

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Taganrog (Russian: Таганро́г, IPA: [təgʌn'rok]) is a seaport city located on Taganrog Bay in Rostov Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Sea of Azov, a northern part of the Black Sea. Population: 279,000 (2005 est.); 281,947 (2002 Census); 291,622 (1989 Census).

The first Russian Navy base, Taganrog was officially founded by Peter I The Great on September 12, 1698. Its rise and development are closely connected with the great and dramatic history of the Russian Empire, with its century-long struggle for the access to southern seas. Here for the first time, fireworks in honor of Azov Russian Navy's victories created by Peter the Great took place. As "The Birthplace of Anton Chekhov," Taganrog offers remarkable sites dedicated to childhood and youth of the Russian playwright and short-story writer.

[edit] General information

Taganrog does not resemble other seaside towns by the very fact that its location is not in a quiet harbor, but on a hill. The town is open to every wind - both from steppe or sea. In the wide, beam-like streets running down from the former fortress straight to the steppe distances, and in green shadowy boulevard alleys accompanying them, in the architectural image of the houses which unite the classical strictness with the baroque magnificence, in all this something new, wayward, southern and peculiar can be witnessed. In spite of the fact that the city has already celebrated its 309 years and went through the industrial construction time, it has preserved its unique layout and monuments of history and architecture. To a large extent it is due to the great Russian writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov who was born and lived here. Everything is sanctified by the reminder of him in the city: the small house where he was born, the high school where he studied, his father's shop where he had to serve, and, of course, those quiet streets, mansions which today are associated with the past.

Now Taganrog is an important research, cultural and industrial center in Southern Russia. It has a vast network of educational establishments, ranging from Radio Engineering University and Teachers Training College to technical and vocational lyceums and high schools. It is also a popular tourist destination for Russians and Ukrainians. Taganrog is situated on the shore of the Azov Sea about 45 miles from Rostov-on-Don, SW Rostov Oblast.

History can be found around almost every bend in Taganrog. The memorial theater, Chekhov Library, several museums, such as Chekhov House, Literary Museum, Durov Museum, Alferaki Palace, Taganrog Museum of Art and other stand as hallmarks of the Russian culture.

[edit] History of Taganrog

Main article: History of Taganrog

[edit] Views of Taganrog

Garibaldi Monument in Taganrog (1961, photo 2006)

[edit] Landmarks and tourist attractions

• Peter the Great Monument
• Taganrog Theater named after Anton Chekhov
• Alferaki Palace
• Taganrog Museum of Art
• Alexander I Palace
• Chekhov Gymnasium
• Mariinskaya Gymnasium
• Chekhov Library
• Chekhov Shop
• Depaldo stone stairs
• City bar
• Garibaldi Monument in Taganrog
• Birthhouse of Anton Chekhov
• Chekhov Monument in Taganrog
• Alexander I Statue in Taganrog
• Alexandrovskiye Shopping Gallery

[edit] Taganrog in literature

The image of the city and its people is featured in numerous Anton Chekhov works, including Ionych, The House with an Attic, The Man in a Shell, Van'ka, Three Years, Mask, My Life and more. It is believed that Taganrog image may be used as Lukomorie (fairy tale land) in Alexander Pushkin's Ruslan and Lyudmila (1820). It also appeared in the novels of Ivan Vasilenko, Konstantin Paustovsky and in the poems of Nikolay Sherbina and Valentin Parnakh. In 1984, the city was mentioned in the Mashina Vremeni song Razgovor v Poezde (Conversation in the Train). In 2006, the city was mentioned in the Aquarium (group)'s song The Meaning of All Existing Things (O Smisle Vsego Sushevo) from the album Bespechniy Russkiy Brodyaga(Carefree Russian Wanderer). .

[edit] Notable people

Main article: List of People in Taganrog

Numerous Russian and international aristocrats, politicians, artists, and scientists were born and/or have lived in Taganrog. Taganrog is the native city of Anton Chekhov, Faina Ranevskaya, Sophia Parnok, Alexandre Koyré and Dmitri Sinodi-Popov; names of Russian emperors Peter I of Russia and Alexander I of Russia; Cornelius Cruys, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Konstantin Paustovsky, Nestor Kukolnik, Achilles Alferaki, Ioannis Varvakis, and many other famous people are brought in mind when Taganrog is named.
Roman Zver, the lead singer of Zveri, a popular band, is from Taganrog.

[edit] Economy

The city of Taganrog is the leading industrial center of the Rostov Oblast. Local industry is presented by aerospace, machine-building, automobile, military, iron and steel industry, engineering, metal traders and processors, timber, woodwork, pulp and paper, food, light, chemical and industry of construction materials, and one of the major ports of the Azov Sea.

The area around Taganrog has a large industrial potential, a diversified agricultural industry, production plants and a modern infrastructure. The location of Taganrog on the intersection of traffic routes and the seaport facilitate access to the emerging CIS markets.

Taganrog's main trading partners are: CIS countries, South Korea, Turkey, Italy, Greece and Egypt.

[edit] Trivia

• artisanal pasta named Pasta Latini Taganrog Selection is produced in Osimo, Italy. Originally brought from Russia in 19th century, it was the grain of preference for the artisanal pasta makers of the past.

[edit] Sister cities

• Image:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Cherven Bryag, Bulgaria (the first one, since 1963)
• Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Vlissingen, Netherlands (since 1989)
• Image:Flag of Germany.svg Lüdenscheid, Germany (since 1991)
• Image:Flag of Cyprus.svg Famagusta (Ammochostos), Cyprus (since 2000)
• Image:Flag of Ukraine.svg Mariupol', Ukraine
• Image:Flag of Germany.svg Badenweiler, Germany (since 2002)

[edit] See also

• List of People in Taganrog
• History of Taganrog
• Anton Chekhov
• Peter the Great
• Alexander I of Russia
• Governors of Taganrog

[edit] External links

• (English) Official website of Taganrog
• (Russian) Official website of Taganrog
• Soviet topographic map 1:100,000
• (English) Weather forecast for Taganrog
• Satellite picture by Google Maps
  

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