Greetings, dear readers!
Having received an invitation from one of my friends, I quite unexpectedly even for myself, bought train tickets and went to "explore" a new space, see the sights of the city of Orel, which is located in the heart of the European part of our country.
Since my youth, I loved to travel around the cities, to see beautiful places and sights new to me, to learn something new and interesting for myself, about the history of these places, about how people used to live there and how people live there now, in General, about everything previously unknown to me.
I've been to a lot of places, but I've never been to Orel before.
I will begin my story by tradition with historical data.
When specifically formed a settlement at confluence of rivers Oka and Orlik, no exact data. Only according to archaeological excavations it is believed that it existed since 12th century. Beginning of history of city of Orel is considered to be 1566-th year, when to protect southern borders of Russian Kingdom by order of Ivan terrible was founded fortress Orel, and in Nikon chronicle of this event under 1566 year was recorded as follows:
"Same summer command of Tsar and Grand Duke Ivan Vasilyevich of all Russia put city on poli on river Orly".
Since 1719, city has become center of Orel province. Currently - center of Orel region.
It is also interesting origin of name of city, which is primarily associated with legend of events that took place at its Foundation in 1566.
During construction of fortress city, when they began to cut down oak growing on shore at confluence of two rivers Oka and Orlik, an eagle flew from its top. "And here is owner," said one of men, and Emperor Ivan Vasilyevich ordered to call city name of bird.
More plausible, however, it seems version according to which name of city proyshla from names of rivers, at confluence of which it was built.
According to same version, word "eagle" consists of two Tatar words: "or" - moat and "El" - road, and "Orlik" in turn means something (here-river), that is, eagle translated from Tatar - "road through moat".
Population of eagle is small, only 317 thousand people, and that's a shame, according to demographic data, last 10 years has been steadily decreasing.
City I came to met me at exit of station with a sculpture of a huge eagle and turned out to be very warm, green, which intertwines history of previous years and centuries with present, our time.
There are a lot of historical monuments, many monuments to famous people of our country.
There are 3 museums - local history, military history and fine arts, in addition to which there are houses-museums of famous writers is Turgenev, Ln. Andreeva, N. S. Leskova, I. N. Bunina, T. N. Granovsky, writers orlovtsev (house Galakhov).
City of Orel can also be called a theatrical city - there are three theaters in city: state academic theater named after I. S. Turgenev, state theater for children and youth "Free space" and the regional puppet theater.
Also in city there are quite a lot of cinemas, including a modern cinema complex, located in shopping and entertainment complex "Mega-Green", in which I went to premiere of film "Guardians of Galaxy".
There are a lot of objects related to religion here - churches, mostly Orthodox, but there is also a Catholic Church, a synagogue, and in plans and construction of a mosque.
Quite a lot in city of Orel and modern buildings, as well as shopping and entertainment centers: "Turgenevsky", "rainbow", "Aquarius", "Rio", "Mega-Green" and others.
Beautiful, nice city, clean and well-groomed city, which vegetation is almost no different from the southern cities, with beautifully decorated squares and parks, its unique appearance, with some comfort (sorry only enough benches in it and sidewalks would not hurt to repair), he left me the warmest impressions, memories of it will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you for your attention, see you soon!
With respect to you, @mrfantastis.