Located 125 km south of Moscow, this Russian city is known for its arms manufacturing history and as the administrative center of Tula Oblast, with a population of 467,746.
Tula, a city 193 kilometers south of Moscow, has a long-standing connection to weapons manufacturing, samovar production, and pryanik gingerbread making. You can explore the 16th-century Tula Kremlin, visit the Tula State Arms Museum, or take a trip to Leo Tolstoy's Yasnaya Polyana estate just outside the city.
Exploring the Tula Kremlin
The Tula Kremlin, constructed in the 16th century, is a stone fortress with 10-meter high walls and nine towers. You can walk along the kremlin walls and visit the Assumption Cathedral inside. The kremlin played a significant role in Russia's southern defense system, helping to protect Moscow from invaders.
Weapons and Samovars: Tula's Industrial Past
Tula has a long history of weapons manufacturing. The Tula State Arms Museum displays firearms ranging from 16th-century arquebuses to modern assault rifles. The museum building itself is shaped like a helmet.
Samovars, traditional Russian tea urns, are also an important part of Tula's identity. At the Tula Samovar Museum, you'll see how these devices evolved from the 18th century to today. The museum explains how samovars became an integral part of Russian tea-drinking customs.
Tasting Tula's Culinary Symbol: Pryanik
Tula is known for its pryanik, a spiced gingerbread made in the city since the 17th century. Visit the Museum of Tula Pryanik to learn about how this sweet treat is made. You can buy freshly baked pryaniki from local bakeries as a tasty souvenir.
A Literary Journey: Yasnaya Polyana
Yasnaya Polyana, located 14 kilometers southwest of Tula, was the home of writer Leo Tolstoy. At this estate-turned-museum, you can tour the house where Tolstoy wrote "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina." The grounds include Tolstoy's grave, gardens, and apple orchards that influenced many of his works.
Green Spaces and Recreation
For a break from sightseeing, head to the P. Belousov Central Park of Culture and Recreation. This 143-hectare park has walking trails and picnic areas. In winter, the park offers ice skating and cross-country skiing.
Getting Around Tula
Trains run regularly between Moscow and Tula, with the journey taking about 2-3 hours. Within Tula, you can use trams, trolleybuses, and buses to reach different parts of the city. Many sights in the city center are within walking distance of each other, making it easy to explore on foot.
