Orenburg is a Russian city, the administrative centre of the Orenburg Region
Its population is around 525.6 thousand people as of 2010.
The city is located on the River Ural, near the confluence with River Sakmara, at the distance of 1468 km from Moscow.
Sights
In the city centre there are remains of the city gate from an ancient fortress of 1743. Among the sights of Orenburg are the first and second buildings of Neplyuevsky Cadet School and the building of the Noble Assembly. A caravansary with a mosque and a minaret was constructed there under Alexander Bryullov's project in 1836-1842. Of historical value are the buildings of Gostiny Dvor (former Shopping Arcades) and the old Central Market. Water tower building constructed in the early 20th century is interesting due to its original shape. Among historical monuments there are houses of merchants Kiselyov and Matveev, Galaktionov's House and House of Justice of the Peace. Orenburg History Museum is located in a building with a horologium, constructed in the gothic style in the 19th century. It looks like a castle due to its specific shape. The museum exhibits tell about the city’s history. There are also museums of military glory and the Afghani war, as well as Fine Arts Museum and Memorial House and Museum-Apartment of the Rastropovich family.
Orenburg churches are also remarkable. These are St. Nicholas Cathedral and Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Dmitrievsky Church and Chapel of Tabynsky Mother of God, and others. There is also a Catholic Church and a parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia, and a mosque.
The pedestrian street of Orenburg is Sovetskaya Street with numerous monuments, shops, and souvenir stalls. There is a planetarium in the city, and children will be pleased with a children's railway passing along the Ural River. Remarkable is A.S.Pushkin monument. A stele was set up in Orenburg in honour of the foundation of the city. Visitors of the Great Patriotic War Memorial will see monuments to heroes who perished in wartime and worked on the home front for the front-line.