Kolyvan and Ordynskoye: a journey through old Novosibirsk villages

This fascinating route is dedicated to two old Novosibirsk settlements - Kolyvan and Ordynsky. Located on the Siberian tract, Kolyvan has long been a lively trading town. At the beginning of the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, merchants from Kolyvan failed to persuade engineers to pave the way through their town - the "bag of gold" they prepared as a gift did not remedy the situation. The town lost its status and quickly turned into a village; only old merchant houses remind of its rich past today. Township Ordynskoye used to be one of the largest and richest in the Tomsk province. After the construction of the Novosibirsk hydroelectric power plant, part of the territory was flooded, and the buildings were moved to a new place. So began a new page in the history of the village, which has been bustling with life for the past 300 years. Due to the work schedule of the museums, this route is best done on weekdays, but even if you go at the weekend, you will still see a lot of interesting things. Add some winter fun to your wanderings around merchant houses and local museums: sledging, ice skating, playing with charming reindeer, or taking a Russian bathhouse - it will be a weekend to remember for a long time! Be sure to bring food and tea in a thermos - it won't hurt you on the walks and during the journeys!