My town as a tourist attraction.

MUNICIPAL AUTONOMOUS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

SECONDARY COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL № 1

STUDENT’S PROJECT

MY HOME TOWN AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION

Made by:

  8 «А» form student

Samochkova Polina,

Tutor:

English language teacher

Panova Y.A.

Berezniki, 2014

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………..3

CHAPTER I. MY HOME TOWN: HISTORY AND NOWADAYS ………….....5

1. Historical pages of Berezniki. ……………………………………………...5
2. The present time of the town. ………………………………........................6

CHAPTER II. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF MY TOWN …………….8

2.1. The sights for adult visitors. ………………………………………………….8

2.2. Welcome to my town, children ……………………………………………...10

CONCLUSION …………………………………………………………………..11

BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………………..12

APPENDIX ………………………………………………………………………13

VOCABULARY ………………………………………………………………….

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays tourism is a very popular way to spend free time. Some people go abroad to visit different countries, resorts and towns. But not all people can afford such kind of travelling. So they have a good chance to see native places in Russia. All of us heard a lot about such big cities as Moscow and St Petersburg, but I think that small towns like Berezniki can also attract people from other parts of our country and even from foreign countries.

I asked my classmates and pupils of 5-9th forms if our town could attract tourists and what places are worth visiting. Most pupils of our school (80%) think that our town can attract travelers. Among the places which are worth visiting they listed the historical part of the town (Usolye), the Konovalov Museum, Vechny Ogon, Mindovsky Garden, Drama theatre, the city park and Novozhilovo complex.

My home town, Berezniki, is a large industrial centre on the West Ural. Though it was founded 80 years ago, it has deep historical roots.  Beautiful places on the left bank of the river Kama were inhabited by people long ago. Archeologists found a Stone Age settlement at the territory of our town. It is known that in the village of Semino, that is now a district of the town, people lived in IX-XII centuries.

Berezniki has a very rich history. About 154 thousand people live here nowadays. Our small town is famous for its plants and factories first of all. More than that, our town is an educational town. Institutes of higher education are successfully developed within the town. Such giant industrial enterprises as “Uralkaliy” and “Avisma” have their own research institutes.

We also can’t but mention the historical treasures of the right bank of the river Kama. The Stroganovs Chambers are known far from the town of Berezniki.

 Berezniki is also a territory of great culture. Thanks to Drama theatre, Ballet School, Music School our town is known all over Russia. /6, p. 3-4/

Everything said above motivated us to make a project on the following theme “My home town as a tourist attraction”.

The object of the project: the town of Berezniki, its history and present time. 

The subject: places to see in the town.

The hypothesis – there are lots of places in our town that could attract tourists.

The aim of the project is learning the pages of history of Berezniki and finding the places that can attract tourists to the town.

Tasks:

1. to learn about the history and present times of the town;
2. to get the information about the places that can be interesting for people from other towns and countries;
3. to create an informative leaflet about the town.

Methods: studying literature on the subject, analysis, synthesis, systematization, questionnaire.

The value of the project we see as a part of patriotic education and it can also be used to attract people from other places to the town. 

CHAPTER I. MY HOME TOWN: HISTORY AND NOWADAYS.

1. Historical pages of Berezniki.

The history of foundation is typical for Ural. The town was founded around plants and factories. It was common for the towns of Ural that was the industrial basis of the state.

The first settlements on the territory of the town appeared in XVI—XVII centuries on the basis of the salt trades.  The first ever mentioned settlement was Zyryanka. It was mentioned in 1579.  

First Berezniki was a small settlement. Later the town itself took its name. The town was started with the building of a salt plant. The plant was called Bereznikovsky because it was located on the Birch Island. The first mention about salt on the Birch Island can be found in the books of Kaysarov in 1623-1624. The founders of the plant were Pyskor monks because the Island belonged to Pyskor monastery. Nikita Stroganov gave the Island to the monks but at that time there was no plant there. And the monks built a plant there. Not only monks worked at the plant there were also other workers. So the population of the settlement was 64 people. It was rather a big village. With the time the plant grew. /5/

A bit later the number of salt plants decreased because Dedukhin settlements appeared. Dedukhin settlement was formed in XVII century (1670). Such other settlements as Lenva, Vereniya and Churtan were also formed. With the time they became one of the biggest salt trades of Prikamye.

A new period of the town’s history started in 1869. Perm merchant I.I. Lubimov bought some land on the Birch Island.

He started repairing works at the salt plant.  He started to build a modern plant. A lot of new devices were used then. At the beginning of the 20th century salt crafts had electricity.  Many people lived near the plant. /4/

The town of Berezniki was founded in 1873 with the building of the salt plant.  In 1883 sodium plant appeared at the station. But the city status was granted to it in 1932 as its industry was rapidly expanded under Joseph Stalin.

2. The present time of the town.

In 1929 according to the plans of the first five years the building of the Bereznikovsky chemical plant was started. At the same time the development of potash resources was also begun.  It was decided to unite the villages that were situated around into a town. There were several variants to name the town – Khimgrad, Khimstroy, Bereznyakovsk.

        On the 20th of March 1932 the authorities decided to call the town Berezniki. Mikhail Kalinin gave an order to make up a town Berezniki from the villages Lenva, Dedukhino, Veretiya, Churtan.  The name Berezniki the town got from the working settlement near Bereznikovsky sodium plant built by Lubimov and Solve in 1883. The place for the town was chosen on a high hill in the forest. Not far from the Churtan village new houses, a cinema, a palace of culture, a stadium, a drugstore, a circus, a hospital and three schools (Pushkin school, Ostrovsky school and Gorky school) were built. /2/

        In 1941 the first wounded warriors arrived in the town. Besides, more than 30 thousand of specialists from Leningrad, Moscow, Donetsk and Dnepropetrovsk were evacuated to Berezniki.

        On the 1st of May 1944 the first potash mine started its work. With the end of the Great Patriotic War the citizens of Berezniki helped to restore the ruined Russian towns and cities. At the same time they continued building their own town.

        1950s were very important years for the town. During these years the industry was rapidly developing. New plants and factories were built. The titanium industry was started in 1954. The sewing factory, the bread plant and the meat plant were also built.

In 1961 the first trolleybus appeared in the town. The same year the town television centre started its work.

1960-1970s can be called the years of the industrial development of the town.  A lot of young people from different parts of the country came to Berezniki. The population of the town was rapidly growing because of this fact. In 1978 the population of the town was 178 thousand people.

In 1984 the town had its coat of arm and a flag.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the town's population dropped due to increased unemployment. Nevertheless, Berezniki was able to keep its main industries on track./3/

        Our town is not only an industrial centre but also a cultural and educational area. The town has 9 branches of the biggest Russian institutes, technical schools, several libraries and hospitals. There is also a jazz orchestra, 2 drama theatres and a ballet school in the town.

Conclusion on CHAPTER I.

        The town of Berezniki, or the town of white birches, is rather a young town. It is only eighty years old but nevertheless it has a rich history and a lot of places that can attract tourists from other parts of Russia. This industrial town in Western Ural was started as a small settlement near a salt plant. The early pages of the town’s history are connected with the villages of Zyryanka, Lenva, Dedukhino. Such names as Lubimov, Stroganov, Solve and Dedukhin are closely connected with the birth and the history of the town. The birth of the town itself is associated with the building of the sodium plant in 1873. In 1932 the town got the city status. From the 1940s till 1970s the town was developing especially rapidly. It has always been an industrial town. At the same time it has strong cultural and educational points.  

CHAPTER II. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF MY TOWN.

2.1. The sights for adult visitors.

Though our town is young enough it has a lot of places that can attract visitors. They tell about art, history and culture of the town.

First of all you should visit Usolye. It is situated on the picturesque bank of the river Kama. Usolye was founded in 1606 as a salt mining settlement of Novoye Usolye and grew into a major salt mining center by the beginning of the 19th century. Until the end of the 18th century it was the main locality of the Stroganovs on the Kama River. In 1895, there were forty salt wells. / 9/

In Usolye you can see Stroganovsky Ensemble – the remains of the old capital of the Stroganovs trade empire. It is famous for its unique architecture style.

Stroganovsky Ensemble is a kind of a small town which consists of dozens private residences, palaces and churches of the 18-19th centuries. Some of them are nearly ruined. Nowadays it is given to Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. Don’t miss a chance to visit Stroganovsky Ensemble. The three buildings – Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, campanile and the Stroganovs Chambers – make up the heart of the ensemble. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery is an example of the Stroganovsky baroque. Only 5 churches were built in such a style. They are in Solvychegotsk, Ustuzna and Nizhny Novgorod. They are really beautiful. They are decorated with figured brick. The campanile is situated next to the monastery. It is made of the same material.

        The Stroganovs Chambers are the official residence of the Stroganovs. But they never lived there constantly. The Chambers were built in the beginning of the 18th century. They are the example of baroque architecture. Now it is a museum. / 10/

For those who are interested in history one more place that is worth visiting is the house of the Golitsyns. It is situated on the territory of the Usolye historical complex of the XVIII-XIX centuries. The building of the museum is the architectural monument of the 19th century. In the museum you can see the displays of the furniture and tell about the history and culture of Usolye. It is now a tradition to exhibit works of painters of Berezniki and Usolye here. You can become a participant of different celebrations and theatrical excursion here.

        One more place in our town that is worth visiting is the Konovalov museum. In the Konovalov museum you can see many documents about the history of the salt industry in the region, rare books, and scenes from live of native residents. More than 15 exhibitions are held every year. The museum is visited by citizens and guests of the town. The museum has about 76 thousand displays. You can see different icons, rare books and paintings as well as photos about the history of the town and Perm region. /1/

        In 2004 the Art Gallery was opened. The country-seat of Golitsyns princes is a unique museum. It is the only in Perm region museum of country-seat life. The pride of the gallery is the collection of wooden sculpture. It also includes some ancient Russian icons. Besides, you can see the works of the best painters of Usolye such as I. Melnikov and I. Doshchenikov. The unique treasure of the museum is the portrait “Lady in pink” by Frankart. It is one of the six most famous his paintings. There are also a lot of works by L. Starkov, the founder of Berezniki Art school. You can also enjoy the woks of masters from different regions from Moscow to Kurgan. /3/

            One more place that worth visiting is the memorial complex devoted to the Victory in the great Patriotic War. It was designed by V. Sheka, G. Kontarev and V. Pochernikov. It is called Vechny Ogon. The first part of the memorial was opened on the 9th of May 1975. The second part of the memorial which includes the wall of fame was opened 10 years later. In 1993 the memorial board to the warriors perished in Afghanistan was opened. It was also designed by V. Sheka.

        Our town is famous for its parks and public gardens. One of the most beautiful and famous ones is Mindovsky Garden. It was organized by V.L. Mindovsky in 1947 in the place where different public events took place.

For the lovers of the theatre we can recommend to visit the Drama theatre. It was formed on the 6th of 1936. Such famous actors as Bruno Freindlikh and Georgy Burkov played here. The theatre is situated in the Lenin Palace. The first art director of the theatre was B. Raysky. During the Great Patriotic War many actors went to the front. In 1942-45 the theatre of young viewers evacuated from Leningrad worked on the stage of our theatre. In 1945 Bereznikovsky Drama theatre restarted its work after the Great Patriotic War. At that time the theatre achieved much. Many actors starred on the stage. The theatre was marked as the best city theatre of Ural. The theatre stages different performances for both young and adult viewers. The theatre tours Russia and takes part in theatrical contests.

        The Ballet school of Berezniki was founded in 1958 by G. Tsyganova. About 180 children aged from 4 to 18 attend the school now. The children are taught classical, folk and modern dances as well as the history of dance art, choral singing and actor’s skill. After finishing the ballet school children enter the best art universities. /7, p. 138-141/

        Traditionally several festivals are held in Berezniki. They have different themes. For example, you can visit the festival “Friends’ Faces” that unite people of different nationalities living in our town. One more festival which is worth visiting is “Fans of Terpsikhora” where different dancing collectives of the town perform.

        Though our town is small it is famous for its outstanding citizens. Such famous people as S. Govorukhin, A. Reshetov and A. Bazanov were born here. One of the annual festivals held in Berezniki is called after A. Reshetov. People honour the poet and his works. You can see a bronze monument to the poet in the town. /8, p. 148-160/

 2.2. Welcome to my town, children!

Not only adults find something to see and to do in our town but also children.

In summer people of the town try to spend as much time as possible outdoors. They rush into the city park in Lenin Street. It is a nice place for the family to spend time. There different attractions, cafes and playgrounds there.

        Those who like sport activities should visit Novozhilovo complex. It is a winter sport centre where you can toboggan, go skiing or just enjoy the beauty of the winter forest. Berezniki is said to be a sport centre of Ural. There are 5 sport centres, 3 swimming pools, a complex of the unique ski-jumps, about 10 shooting galleries and 52 gyms. There are also about 14 sport schools for children. The town pays particular attention to sport, so different sport competitions are held in the town every year.

        Children can enjoy performances of the Drama theatre. There are a lot of plays staged especially for children. Pupils from schools attend our Drama theatre regularly. New Year performances are very popular, too. /3/

        There are also different exhibitions for children in the town museum of Konovalov. Pupils from schools usually visit it several times a year.

        However, it doesn’t mean that young visitors can’t see other sights.

Conclusion on CHAPTER II.

Our town has a lot of sights to visit. Among them you can find something that will be interesting for you. There are places that tell about history, art, and culture of our town and Perm region. You can go on enjoyable excursion to see architecture of the town, take part in annual festivals or go to the theatre. If you are fond of sport you will also find a number of facilities for you. There are plenty of gyms, sport centres and other facilities in our town. There are a lot of places that honour outstanding people of our town. And of course, you can visit our museums.  

CONCLUSION

In the end of the 19th century in Perm province on the left bank of the river Kama the first sodium plant in the country was built. This plant gave the birth to the town of Berezniki. At first, it was a small village that later became a large industrial centre and the second town in Perm region. Such names as Lubimov, Stroganov, Solve and Dedukhin are associated with the birth of our town. The town of Berezniki was formed by uniting the villages of Lenva, Dedukhino, Vereniya and Churtan. It was called after the Birch Island where the plant was located. The years of the Great patriotic war were very difficult for our town. Wounded warriors were evacuated to Berezniki from the fronts and the city plants did their best to help the front.  After the finishing of the war Berezniki started to flourish. A lot of people from different parts of our country arrived to build the town. As a result, the population of the town grew very much. Many houses, schools, hospitals, plants and other facilities were built then.  

Nowadays our town has a population of about 154 thousand people. Berezniki is mainly famous for its huge potash resources and chemical plants that export goods abroad. But not only natural resources make our town famous, but also its museums, parks and gardens as well as other sights.

If one day you decide to visit Berezniki, be sure you will spend unforgettable time here. If you want to learn more about the history and art of Perm region in general and Berezniki in particular you should visit Konovalov’s museum, the art Gallery and Usolye. Are you a fan of theatre? Then you ought to go to our Drama theatre or a performance of the Ballet school. For those who like sport there are a lot different sport facilities in the town. For young visitors there are lots of places to have fun. They are the city park, the Drama theatre and many others.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Berezniki. http://www.wikipedia.org.
2. Berezniki. History. Perm Kray. http://www.zel-veter.ru.
3. Berezniki today. http://www.admbrk.ru.
4. History of Berezniki. http://www.zadavay.ru.
5. History of the town of Berezniki. http://www.nashaterritoria.ru.
6. Korzhavkina L.  “Berezniki. Perm Region” – Perm, 2002 – 140p.
7. Mikhayluk V. “The town of white birches” – Perm, 1982. – 157p.
8. Mikhayluk V. “No one pood of salt. Berezniki in the life of Russia” – Perm, 1988. – 368p.
9. Usolye. http://www.wikipedia.org.
10. Usolye. Guide round Russia. http://www.mccme.ru.

APPENDIX

VOCABULARY