The city of Yeniseysk was founded in 1678 on the mighty Yenisey River. In the 17th century the town was known as an important center of the Siberian icon painting. Among other Siberian towns and cities Yeniseysk is noted for its legendary fame and history. Located in the very center of Siberia and Russia, the town connected the Russian State with its new eastern colonies in the 18th century. Yeniseysk became an important administrative, economic and cultural center. It also used to be the starting point of numerous expeditions and was considered the main gates to the Eastern Siberia. Yeniseysk is also called the Father of Siberian towns.

At present, Yeniseysk is known as a town-museum, one of the most interesting and attractive towns of Eastern Siberia. It features a number of architectural monuments: Transfiguration Monastery (founded in 1642), Resurrection Church (1735-1747), Epiphany Cathedral (1738-1764), Trinity Church (1772-1776), Assumption Church (17913-1818), the building of the Yeniseysk Local Lore Museum (1747-1753), etc. There are also stone buildings of the late 19th century in modern style. Wooden house-estates of the late 19th century, with traditional balconies, galleries, and entails make the town one of the most interesting historical places.