Perm is a large city in the east of the European part of Russia, 1386 km away from Moscow. It is the administrative, industrial and cultural centre of the Perm Territory and the most significant port on the River Kama (Kama is Europe’s fourth longest river; it is 1805 km long), as well as a big railroad and highway junction, serving as a gateway from Europe to Siberia and Asia. The city stretches 65 km along Kama River.

The city of Perm is a river port of vital importance. Passenger motor ships, freighters and barges come to Perm from five seas. It is also an important airport.

The population of Perm reaching 1 092 392 people in 1989 has decreased to 990.2 thousand dwellers, according to the statistics of January 2007. Perm ranks 12th of the biggest cities of the Russian Federation.

Perm will undoubtedly capture your attention as a cultural center. The city has a number of charms that will not leave you indifferent.

The river embankment nearby the river port boasts one of the most picturesque views of the city. Not far from the river port you will find the famous Tchaikovsky Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (established in 1870), which is one of Russia’s topnotch schools and stages first-rate classical ballets. The Perm Choreographic School established in 1945 is known far outside Russia.

A cozy square by the Opera and Ballet Theatre hosts a monument to Vladimir Lenin pointing out to the historical centre of the city, in particular to Sibirskaya Street. Once it used to be the central street of the city and the main artery connecting European part of Russia to Siberia. Many historical and architectural monuments have been preserved in the area adjacent to the river embankment. Among them are St. Peter and Paul Cathedral (1757-64), Cathedral of the Saviour Transfiguration Monastery (1798-1832) located on Sludka hill, a mosque (1902-1903), the Ascension Church (1903-1910), and others. One of the most beautiful old buildings is that of Kama Steamship Company (former house of the ship-owner N.V. Meshkov), a monument of architecture of the 19th century. At the same time there are lots of modern constructions in the city, which is rapidly developing nowadays.

The river embankment is also adorned with a characteristic spire of the Perm Art Gallery, the building of which has grown into a visual symbol of cultural Perm. The most celebrated museum of Perm, the Art Gallery displays the world-known collection of Perm wooden sculpture. The Gallery opened in 1922 is one of Russia’s richest funds of masterpieces of Russian icon painting.

Just next to the Gallery building is the Regional Ethnographic Museum with diverse collections, including a mammoth skeleton, numerous stuffed local animals and relic art pieces representing enigmatic Perm animal style. A large collection of animal style finds, such as tracery bronze and copper plates and figurines of fanciful creatures, beasts, birds, and people, can be also seen in the Archeology Hall of the Perm Gorky State University.

The Perm University was open in 1916 as a branch of St. Petersburg University and became the first scientific and educational centre of the Urals, with scholars from the capital working in it. Later it gave rise to a number of other higher institutions: nowadays the city has the Polytechnic

University, the Teachers’ Training University, the Medical Academy, the Agriculture Academy, the Academy of Fine Arts, and several institutes.

There is also the Drama Theatre (since 1927), the Puppet Theatre (1940),, the Theatre of Young Spectator (1945), “U Mosta” Theatre, the Perm Philharmonics, a circus, and a zoo in the city.

Perm has its own Tsar-Cannon cast in 1868 and enlisted in the Guinness Book of Records. It stands in the Museum of the Lenin Factory, former Motovilikha Cannon Factory established in 1863.

45 km away from Perm, on the bank of Kama River there is the unique Khokhlovka ethnographic museum-reserve with the total area of 42 hectares and monuments of wooden architecture of the 17th -19th cc.