Life in Ekaterinburg

Ekaterinburg is the third largest and one of the most dynamic cities in Russia. It is located on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains (2 hours flight east of Moscow) which represents a natural boundary between Europe and Asia.

Being a city of “borderless opportunities” (according to its official motto), Ekaterinburg is the administrative center of the Sverdlovsk Region, which ranks the 2nd according to Forbes ranking of Russian regions with the best business environments.

It is a city with a well-developed infrastructure for trade, tourism, hotel business, culture and entertainment, and also a center of science and education. The city of Ekaterinburg is one of the major business centers in Russia. Its financial and banking institutions play an important role in the Russian economy, making a substantial contribution to the development of co-operation with foreign countries.

More and more foreign companies successfully operate branches and joint ventures here. Ekaterinburg is considered to be the economic and cultural capital of the Urals, and one of the most promising cities in Russia for foreign investment and trade. The unique geographical location of the city, on the border of Europe and Asia, makes Ekaterinburg the perfect place for establishing effective co-operation between East and West.

Ekaterinburg is an important transportation hub: over 30 domestic and international airlines connect its Koltsovo airport with more than 80 cities worldwide.

History

In Russian history Ekaterinburg hold a unique position: the Romanov monarchy ended here in tragedy, and the political career of Boris Yeltsin, the first President of Russia, started in turbulence. The city brings together different architectural styles among which the most important are classicism, modernism and – arguably the most prominent – Soviet avant-garde (widely known as “constructivism”).

Ekaterinburg was founded by Vassily Tatischev and Wilhelm de Gennin in the spring of 1723 by the decree of Emperor Peter the Great. The largest iron factory in Russia and a fortress were built on the banks of the river. The fortress was named in honor of the Empress Catherine I St. Catherinei. Ekaterinburg was built as the capital of the mining and metallurgical industries.

The first general plan of Ekaterinburg shows that the buildings on the Iset were constructed according to the best architectural examples of the fortification of Germany, the Netherlands and France. The European character of the city was reflected not only in its name (from German “burg” - “city”), but also in its general look.

In 1924, during the Soviet period, Ekaterinburg was renamed to Sverdlovsk in honor of the revolutionary leader Yakov Sverdlov. During the Soviet period Sverdlovsk grew rapidly and became one of the biggest industrial, cultural and scientific centers of Russia. For many years, the city was closed to foreigners because of its strategic defense industries. It was open to foreigners in 1990, since that time the city has been developing its economy and international relations with foreign partners.

Cultural Life

Ekaterinburg is one of the most prominent cultural centers of Russia. Its museums hold many treasures, among which is the 9000 years old Shigir idol – the oldest wooden sculpture in the world. Another attraction is the legendary cast-iron pavilion which astounded the visitors of the Paris World Exhibition in 1900.

The city is also a home for the modern-day art spaces and venues, such as the Centre for Contemporary Art, the annual street-art festival and dozens of art centers and galleries.

The city has several dozen libraries, including the V. G. Belinsky Scientific Library, which is the largest public library in Sverdlovsk Oblast. There are many cultural centers in Ekaterinburg, for, example, British, American, Japanese, German, Austrian, French, Jewish etc.

Among the well-known theatres of Ekaterinburg are the State Theatre of Opera and Ballet, the State Theatre of Musical Comedy, the State Philharmonic Society, the Drama Theatre, etc.

Ekaterinburg has its own film studio. The festival of documentary films “Russia” takes place in the city every year.

Ekaterinburg is one of the centers of Russian rock music and a home for many famous Russian bands. Great variety of concerts of local and guest bands takes place in the clubs, pubs and cafes of Ekaterinburg.

There are many opportunities for those who are interested in sport or fitness. There is a great number of sport complexes and fitness centers as well as open-air sport opportunities. Some university sports activities (rock-n-roll dance, climbing, basketball, volleyball, aerobics, hiking, etc.) are available for free.

The Nature of the Urals is charming, and excursions may become long-time memories. In winter you can go skating, skiing and snowboarding in the Ural Mountains. There are many ski resorts not far from the city. There are also carting and paintball clubs in Ekaterinburg.

Many people call Ekaterinburg “The City of Youth” because of the vibrant student life and many opportunities suggested by our dynamically developing city.

Climate

The average summer temperature is about +20°C, the maximum temperature in summer is about +35°C, and the average winter temperature is about –14 °C minimum temperature in winter is about –35°C. On average, the warmest month is July, and the coolest one is January.

More information about the city and current events can be found on the following web sites:

www.ulc-russia.com (Ural Life & Culture, site for English-speakers)
www.ekaterinburg.com (Events in Ekaterinburg – news, theatres, cinemas, sport events etc.)

Ekaterinburg Motion Timelapse. Shot and edited by Dmitry Krylov for Sverdlovsk Film Studio.

Shot and edited by Dmitry Krylov for Sverdlovsk Film Studio.

Created / Updated: 30 April 2014 / 21 November 2018