Kyzyl is the capital of the Tyvan Republic. It is situated in a deep valley at the confluence of two tributaries of the Yenisey - one of the greatest Russian rivers. Founded as a Russian settlement in 1914, it used to be called Belotsarsk (White Tsar Town), the name that the Soviet regime couldn’t help but change for Kyzyl - a Turkic word which means "red".

Places of Interest:

Tyva Republic’s Museum of Local Lore “Aldan Maadyr” (i.e. 60 athletes) with a richest collection of archeological finds is located in Kyzyl.

The National Museum of Tyva Republic (located in the block between Chekhov Street and Titov Street, Lenin Street and Kochetov Street) – one of the major sights in the city – was completed and opened in Kyzyl in 2008.

There is also Museum of Political Repressions and Nadia Rusheva Museum in the city.

Besides, Kyzyl offers visiting Victor Shogzhapovich Kok-ool Musical Drama Theatre with Russian and Tyvan troupes, and a philharmonic society.

Religious institutions here include the Buddhist temples of Tsechenling and Tuvdan Chojhorling, St. Trinity Church, and Shamanic temple “Tos daar”. The latter can be called the centre of shamans, because it is there where one can find or learn about the strongest shamans of Tyvy.

History of Kyzyl:

Kyzyl was founded as a settlement by Russian colonists in 1914, right after the annexation Uryankhai Territory (historical name of Tyva) to Russia under the Russian name of Belotsarsk (i.e. White Tsar Town). In 1918 after the Revolution and antimonarchic movement it was renamed into Hem-Beldir, and in 1926 into Kyzyl (meaning “red” in Tyvan or “gold” in Turkic).

There is also another version based on memoirs of Russian colonists and their reports to Moscow. In 1919 Kyzyl was mostly destroyed by fire due to fights of the White Army and partisans of the Red Army. In 1920, after Bolsheviks won the power in Siberia, it was decided at a congress of Russian people of Uryankhai Territory to rename Belotsarsk into “Red township”. From 1922 it was recorded in Soviet documents as the town of Krasny (Red), whereas Hem-Beldir was the Tyvan part of the town.

The town was the capital of Tuva National Republic From 1921, of Tuva Autonomous Region of RSFSR from 1944, and of Tyva Republic from 1991.