←Merchant Rybinsk

Merchant Rybinsk

Photo of route “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)

  1. Rybinsk Railway Station — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Rybinsk Railway Station

    🚂 Railway station

  2. Artists' House — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Artists' House

    🏟️ Architectural landmark

  3. Polish Catholic Church of the Holy Jesus — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Polish Catholic Church of the Holy Jesus

    🕍 Place of worship

  4. Fire Watchtower — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Fire Watchtower

    ⚙️ Industrial site

  5. Rybinsk Embankment — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Rybinsk Embankment

    🚶‍♂️ Waterfront

  6. Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

    🕍 Place of worship

  7. Old Grain Exchange — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Old Grain Exchange

    🕵️ Urban legend

  8. New Grain Exchange (Museum-Reserve) — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    New Grain Exchange (Museum-Reserve)

    🕵️ Urban legend

  9. Red Square — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Red Square

    ⛲ Square

  10. Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior

    🕍 Place of worship

  11. The Nobels and the Nobel Movement — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    The Nobels and the Nobel Movement

    🏛️ Museum · 🌿 Public garden or park

  12. Sigson Family House — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

    Sigson Family House

    🏟️ Architectural landmark

New Grain Exchange (Museum-Reserve) in Rybinsk

Point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

New Grain Exchange (Museum-Reserve) — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”
New Grain Exchange (Museum-Reserve) — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”
New Grain Exchange (Museum-Reserve) — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”
New Grain Exchange (Museum-Reserve) — point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

Point 8

New Grain Exchange (Museum-Reserve)

🕵️ Urban legend

Historical Background

By the early 20th century the Pilot Grain Exchange building no longer met the traders' needs, so in 1910 the St. Petersburg architect Alexander Ivanov was commissioned to build a New Grain Exchange. By 1912 the building, in the Neo-Russian style, was complete. Its walls were faced with expensive German tiles and adorned with two hundred colored glazed tiles; the basement floor was asphalt, the landings had Mettlach tile, and the foundation is a solid concrete slab. These and many other decorative details fill this majestic building. The new exchange was proof of the town's financial prosperity in the early 20th century. It even had a place set aside for carousing: now that's class, isn't it?

The Soviet Period and Today

All this splendor, looking like boyar chambers, served its purpose for only 3 years. In 1915, because of World War I, the government introduced a monopoly on the grain trade, and the exchange became unnecessary under the new system. In Soviet times the city hospital was here. Today the building has been put in order and houses the Rybinsk Museum of History and Architecture.