Tula without the Kremlin and gingerbread: unusual places worth seeing

Tula is strongly associated with the Kremlin, samovars, weapons and the famous gingerbread. And if you're coming to the city for the first time, it's really worth starting with its main symbols. But Tula doesn't end with them.

It is worth moving a little away from the usual tourist route — and the city opens up from a completely different side. Here, former industrial buildings are transformed into creative spaces, the history of Tula factories becomes the basis of multimedia museums, and old city neighborhoods are adjacent to modern culture and gastronomy.

We have collected unusual places in Tula that should be included in the itinerary if you want to see more than just classic sights.

Octave: industrial Tula in its modern interpretation

Tula has always been a city of craftsmen and industrialists, therefore one of the most interesting modern spaces of the city appeared precisely on the territory of the existing production.

The creative industrial cluster "Octava" combines industrial history, modern art, education and urban culture. Exhibitions, lectures, concerts, workshops and other events are held here.

The cluster itself is located on the territory of the company of the same name, known for the production of professional audio equipment. Therefore, the industrial atmosphere here is not artificially created — it is part of the history of the place.

If you are already familiar with classical museums and you are looking for unusual places to go in Tula, Oktava will be an excellent option to continue exploring the city.

The Machine Tool Museum: when light and sound tell the story

On the territory of the Octave there is another unusual attraction in Tula — the Machine Tool Museum.

Don't let the name mislead you: there is no usual exposition with rows of industrial equipment here. This is a multimedia museum dedicated to the history of Russian industry and the people who created it.

Light, sound, projections and modern technologies turn an introduction to the history of production into a real performance. Therefore, the Machine Tool Museum may be of interest even to those who are not at all interested in technology.

It's worth a look here to better understand why Tula has been called the city of craftsmen for centuries.

Iskra: see modern Tula

Another place that shows a completely different side of the city is the Iskra space in the historical center of Tula.

Today it is one of the centers of urban life with cafes, restaurants and other establishments. It is especially interesting to come here after a walk through the historical part of the city: just a few minutes — and the classic Tula is replaced by a completely different atmosphere.

You can stop by Iskra for a cup of coffee, a leisurely lunch, or spend an evening here after a busy sightseeing program.

If you are looking for interesting places in the center of Tula that are easy to add to the main tourist route, Iskra is one of the suitable options.

Liqueur Loft: from the industrial area to the creative quarter

Another example of how historical industrial architecture has received a new lease of life is the Liqueur Loft space on Lenin Avenue.

The history of the territory is connected with production: wine warehouses were located here, and later a distillery. The historic brick buildings have been preserved, but the space itself has completely changed its purpose.

Today, cafes and restaurants, shops and showrooms are open here, events are held, and graffiti and art objects can be found in the courtyards.

Pay attention to the unusual details of the space, for example, a Lefty shoeing a cyberbloch, and a portrait of Leo Tolstoy on a former factory chimney.

It turns out to be an interesting combination of industrial architecture and modern urban culture — not at all the Tula that is usually presented before the first trip.

Turn off the tourist route and look at old Tula

To see an unusual Tula, sometimes you don't need a museum ticket at all. It is enough to turn off the main tourist streets and take a closer look at the city itself.

One of the options for such a walk is Gogol Street. There are preserved historical buildings, wooden houses and mansions, reminiscent of Tula of the XIX — early XX century.

You can continue exploring old Tula on Bundurin Street. Here it is worth paying attention to the preserved wooden houses, carved architraves, facade decoration and other characteristic details of pre-revolutionary urban architecture.

Zhukovsky Street is also interesting for a walk, where you can also find examples of old Tula buildings.

The route can be continued along Turgenevskaya and Pushkinskaya streets. It is interesting not to look for one specific landmark here, but to look at the whole city: old facades, gates, small courtyards and buildings from different eras.

It is on such walks that it becomes especially noticeable how different Tula is. Merchant architecture juxtaposes with industrial heritage, old wooden houses with modern spaces, and a completely different atmosphere of the city remains outside the main tourist streets.

What if this is your first time in Tula?

Unusual places are the best way to complement your acquaintance with the city, but you definitely shouldn't give up the main attractions for them.

If you are coming for the first time, start with the Tula Kremlin, Kazanskaya Embankment, the Museum Quarter and Metallistov Street, and then add a few less obvious places to the route.

For example, you can devote the first half of the day to the historical center, and then go to Iskra or Octave. If you have more time, take a walk along the old streets or take a look at the Loft Liquor Store.

Read also the article "What to see in Tula in 1 day".

Places to stay in Tula

If you want to combine classic attractions with lesser—known places, it's more convenient to stay in the center - so you don't have to spend a significant part of the trip on the road.

The AMAKS Tula Hotel is located in the city center, so it is convenient to travel from here both to the main tourist spots and to explore less obvious corners of Tula.

After a busy day, you can return to the hotel, relax, have breakfast in the morning and continue your journey without too much haste.

Tula really has a lot more of its famous symbols. The Kremlin, weapons, samovars and gingerbread are an important part of the city, but far from the only one. Sometimes it's enough to turn off the usual route to see another Tula — old and modern, industrial and creative — and find another reason to return.