Izhevsk: Walruses, Water and City History

Izhevsk brings together wildlife, water and cultural history. The Udmurtia Zoo is an 11-hectare recreation area within the city. Its collection includes more than 750 animals from 240 species. Pacific and Atlantic walruses perform daily on the stage in their enclosure at the zoo.

Wildlife and Water in the City Itinerary

In the warm season, you can stroll along the landscaped promenade by Izhevsk Pond or take a yacht, boat or catamaran ride. Switching between a walk along the shore and a trip on the water offers two different ways to experience the pond—specifically as a seasonal activity for the warm season.

Musical Theatre, Monument and Motorcycle History

In 1984, the musical theatre gained its own venue in a new building on Izhevsk’s Central Square. In 1993, the theatre was granted the status of the State Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Udmurtia. Both dates offer insight into the theatre’s history without implying anything about its current performance schedule.

The Monument to the Izhevsk Gunsmiths stands in the centre of Izhevsk, at the intersection of Sovetskaya and Sverdlova streets and close to the waterfront promenade. Its location brings together a monument in the urban landscape and a place by the water. A visit to Izhevsk thus brings together different aspects of the city’s history.

The Izhevsk Motorcycle Museum of the Koschuchkov family is dedicated to the history of motorcycle manufacturing in the USSR. Its exhibition is based on the private collection of Artem and Pavel Koschuchkov, featuring motorcycles from the Izhevsk Motor Plant. It includes a roadworthy Izh-49 in its original configuration. The collection therefore combines a personal collecting history with a specific connection to motorcycle manufacturing in Izhevsk.

Another historical landmark is the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in the part of Izhevsk across the river. Its construction followed a resolution of the Zarechny volost assembly, dated 27 September 1910.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Izhevsk, the time of year is a useful first consideration: walks along the waterfront promenade and trips on the pond are warm-season activities, while the musical theatre and motorcycle history offer different cultural highlights.

A Regional Perspective: Republic of Udmurtia

In the wider destination of the Republic of Udmurtia, Sharkan Nature Park lies between the Ita and Sharkan rivers and covers around 16,000 hectares. It is home to 507 species of higher plants, about half of the republic’s total flora. The park has five functional zones: a protected zone, a nature reserve zone, an organized tourism and recreation zone, a traditional-use zone and a buffer zone. This diversity of landscapes and plants offers a different focus from the urban experiences in Izhevsk.

Also in the wider destination of the Republic of Udmurtia, the Ludorvai Museum Reserve offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of Russians, Besermyan and Udmurts from the 19th to the early 20th century. The complex includes more than 20 buildings dating from the late 19th to the early 20th century. The museum reserve thus complements Izhevsk’s urban and motorcycle history with its own regional perspective on historical ways of life.

Discover more destinations: Izhevsk, Zavyalovskiy rayon, Uvinskiy Rayon

Return to the overview of the wider destination: Republic of Udmurtia.