Merchant Rybinsk

12 points4 km3 hours

Since the 18th century Rybinsk has been an important stop on the route from the Volga region to the Baltic. Over its history it earned the title of “Russia's barge hauler capital,” the country's highest government bodies consulted the brokers of its exchange, and the town is also the birthplace of founders of Hollywood. Take a walk and discover the fascinating stories of this corner of “deep Russia”!

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

📜 Learn the city's history
🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (12)

Sigson Family House in Rybinsk

Point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

Point 12

Sigson Family House

🏟️ Architectural landmark

The Snowflake Photographer

The Russian photographer Andrei Andreyevich Sigson became famous as one of the first people in the world to photograph snowflakes under a microscope. His work was published in scientific journals and shown at various exhibitions, and at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris he was awarded a gold medal. Sigson is rightly regarded as one of the first art photographers. He started out in photography in 1855, first as a photographer's assistant and then as the owner of a photo studio. Shooting snowflakes was something of a hobby; for work he took many pictures in Rybinsk and on the Volga for large companies, as well as portraits.

The Museum in Sigson's House

Andrei Sigson's son Yevgeny, who carried on his father's work, lived and worked in this house. For a long time the house stood derelict and was a hangout for all sorts of antisocial types. But caring residents of Rybinsk decided to restore it on their own. First the volunteers patched the roof, hauled away the garbage, fixed the leaks, and painted the facade. So far three rooms have been fully fitted out. They host creative gatherings and talks on the history of photography, introduce visitors to everyday life in the early 20th century, and of course tell the story of Andrei Sigson's life and achievements. Be sure to drop in and support the activists' work.