Russian Information Guide | Travel Russia | Discover Kemerovo City

Kemerovo city is called a coal capital of Russia as we get more than a half of country’s coal from there. It is the small but comfortable city with green forests and beautiful river Tom’. 

Today, the Kemerovo region is both a social and economic mainstay for the state. In recent years, the region was among the most rapidly developing areas. The system of social protection of the population of the Kemerovo region named one of the best in the Russian Federation.

History

The history of Kemerovo region began in 1721. At one of the banks of the river Tom’ "burnt mountain" was found, which later became an important site for obtaining Kuznetsk coal.
Development of the land began only in the late XVIII century. The first person, who showed the interest in the processing of coal, was industrialist Demidov. He built factories, which later came into the possession of the Imperial family.

Since that time, factories and enterprises have begun to appear. But as Russia at that time focused on the development of the Western part of the country, the construction went slowly. Only after a hundred years, when Russia increased its reliance on resources in the Eastern part of the country, TRANS-Siberian railway began the construction. At that time, Kemerovo region began to actively use their resources for development.

In 1917, after the October revolution, Kemerovo region joined the West-Siberian edge. This time is considered to be favorable for development. He completed the construction of a coking plant, the mine built with advanced technology. Then Kemerovo oblast got attached to Novosibirsk. The coal industry continues to form, gradually expanding chemical and metallurgical industries. Energy development begins to expand; workers ' settlements got the status of cities.

During the great Patriotic war, Kuzbass was the main supplier of metal and coal. Over fifty thousand tanks and forty-five thousand aircraft were made there. During the World War II, Kuzbass increased its capacity twice.

In 1943, with the aim to increase the production of military products, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet signed a decree on the allocation of the Kuzbass from the Novosibirsk region and created it on the territory of the Kemerovo region and the regional center to make the city of Kemerovo.

From this point in the Kemerovo region, many changes happened. An active construction of houses, schools, hospitals, began, developing the cultural level of the inhabitants. The area looked like a densely populated area. For his success, residents of the Kemerovo region had been awarded repeatedly with the order of Lenin.

In 2006, the Kemerovo region was extracted more than 180 million tons of coal. This is 60 percent of the coal, which is mined in the country. Russia is the third largest supplier of the angle on the world market, and it owes Kemerovo region, as its share in export is almost 90 percent.

What to see?

Monument “A memory to miners of Kuzbass” 
Ernst Unknown built the monument in 2003. Please pay attention to the design of walkways and stairs around the monument: they engaged local architects, completed the task so successfully that he is Unknown is noted. 

Red Hill Museum
A very interesting Museum tells about the history of the colony and the life of the "colonists" in the Siberian land. In the basement, there is an exposition called "mine", the basic meaning of which is photographing in a miner's uniform and watching video on the work of miners. However, the most important thing here is the observation deck, which looks onto the center of Kemerovo town.

The Burnt Mountain
The mountain with the outputs of the red rocks. When you are exploring paths or passing the coast from the Kuznetsk Bridge, you can go to the river and find there a brick wall — the old, pre-revolutionary berth, built in the days when coal was taken by Tom’ steamers. Here should be littered with tunnels the first Kemerovo mines.

Where to eat?
Zaboy

Here you will self as a mine digger. The restaurant is the symbol of the coal capital. The entrance looks like a Museum under a real sky, with mining items – for example, the cab mining electric locomotive, where you can sit. 
The environment of the restaurant is simply amazing – the walls are black, with the pieces of "coal", mining lamp or the mounting of the beam. The designers have tried to bring the design of the restaurant to the authentic drift mine. Location: Stroiteley boulevard, 21, Tel: +7 384 251-88-88

Grill Bar 42
The restaurant "Grill-bar42" is a place for people who appreciate the unique atmosphere of the big city. The restaurant's interior is executed in the most extraordinary modern loft style. The evening is decorated with live music and performances of the best artists of Siberia.The restaurant "Grill-bar42," will offer you dishes of European, Russian, Japanese and Uzbek cuisine. A special pride of the restaurant "Grill-bar42" is the wine list. It presents the wines from Italy, France, Spain, Argentina, South Africa and Australia.
Location: Lenina prospect 90/2, Tel: +7 (3842) 63-05-33, Website: http://grill-bar42.ru/o-restorane/

Port 42
The restaurant is located in the old city centre, on the embankment of the river Tom’, in a row of buildings - monuments of Kemerovo. Port 42 situates in a restored and renovated hotel building Tom’, which became the first five-star hotel in Kuzbass.
The restaurant has a large General small hall, hall, elegant, cozy veranda with panoramic Windows in the floor that opens a magnificent view on the embankment of the Tom’ river and on the opposite a high, rocky coast with pine forest. Roomy space of the veranda has Seating for 100 people, providing a zone for both major companies and private communication. Location: Pritomskaya naberezhnaya, 7, Tel: +7 (3842) 633 000 
Website: http://port42.ru/

Chaykhana 42
The main principle of the restaurant, just like in Sunny Uzbekistan, is hospitality. After all, the ability to make the guest feel comfortable is more valuable than the wealth or income of the family. Chaykhana is designed in Middle East rich style, but the prices are really democratic. 
Location: Chernyakhovskogo St, 2, Tel: +7 (3842) 63 55 00
Website: http://chayhana42.ru/

The Barge 
The Barge is the only restaurant-brewery in Kuzbass. The restaurant offers impressive variety of ways to relax: live music, the most fun festivals, disco till the morning and more. Beer is a special pride of the "Barge." Live unfiltered, unpasteurized, and made in restaurant’s brewery. At the moment there are 7 legendary Beers, collected bit by bit from all over the world. In "the Barge" you can taste the best dishes of Russian, European, Mexican, Japanese cuisine, premium brand drinks from vodka to millesime cognacs and, of course, beer, live, unfiltered and unpasteurized. 
Location: Lenina prospect 55, Tel: +7 384 228-43-32 Website: http://www.barga-kem.com/

Interesting Facts
The origin of the word "Kemer" is Turkish, it means "cliff, steep coast", similar to "komur" – coal.
95% of the people who live in Kemerovo are Russians.
There is only one coal museum in Russia, and it is located in Kemerovo.
Stroiteley Boulevard is the widest boulevard in Siberia.
The largest Ferris wheel in Siberia is located in Kemerovo.
Kemerovo is a town of monuments. There is even monument to the first piece of coal that was found in Kuzbass.
The largest ball hockey arena in the world is located in Kemerovo.