The first confirmed mention of Tula dates back to 1382 (although some scholars suggest the city dates back to 1146). Tula is an industrial town known for it work with metals and production of samovar, weapons, and spice cakes. It is close to the birthplace and estate of Leo Tolstoy. Auriel Moore talks about our one-day trip to Tula.
Around 7:00 AM on Saturday, June 15, our group set out on a short road trip to a city called Tula. Tula is an industrial city home to nearly half a million people and is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Moscow. Tula is significant for their history in the production of arms, especially during the Great World Wars and the Russian Civil War. The most popular destinations in Tula and the surrounding area include: the oldest museum in the city (Тульский Государственный Музей Оружия or Tula State Arms Museum), the Kremlin and Yasnaya Polyana, or Leo Tolstoy’s estate.
When we arrived, our first stop was the weapons museum. To my surprise, the museum was bigger than I expected and fairly interactive with holographic showcases, games, simulators and slideshows. Not having much knowledge of the history of weapons, let alone Russian arms, I appreciated the displays and being able to see the evolution of weapons throughout time and various conflicts paired with famous military figures associated with each time period. With all the interactive elements, I think the most memorable sections of the museum were the hall of fame and the exhibit about the history of weapons with the introduction of tanks and aircrafts.
After leaving the museum, our next stop was the Tula Kremlin. Without remembering that only Moscow’s Kremlin is the center of the Russian government, I was immediately struck by the differences between the two. For instance, since there was no need for security, our walk to the front was a short distance and met with babushkas selling souvenirs. No metal detectors, no bag searches, just a nice stroll through the fortress. Once inside, the scene was reminiscent of a nice park on a beautiful day. To our right, we saw a wedding party having their portraits taken, to the left, children were running and playing on the grass; and not too far in front of us, there was a stage setup for a talent show. As a group, we made our usual tourists moves wandering around taking pictures of everything, but once we spotted the talent show, we got to see two groups perform: one group of children doing a more traditional dance and the other performing modern, pop music.
A tour of Yasnaya Polyana, estate of famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy, was our last event for the day which was about a thirty-minute drive from Tula. This was definitely my favorite part of the day because I went into the tour knowing basically nothing about Tolstoy, and our fantastic tour guide literally walked us through his life. Seeing where he was born, where his children were born, where he wrote War and Peace and even his gravesite was very surreal. Not to mention, the estate itself was gorgeous and tranquil; I can see why he spent most of his time there. I walked away from the tour thinking how incredible it is that one man accomplished so much in a lifetime.
Overall, our excursion to Tula was a rather relaxed adventure. The weather was great, our tours were good, and the people were not what I expected. Even though we were in a city much smaller than Moscow, the people themselves didn’t give off a small-town vibe which I liked. It was also nice to take a break from the big city and have the chance to explore a different part of Russia. The journey back to Moscow was enjoyable too because there was enough distance to unwind and reflect on the day’s events.
USA in Russia 2019 