Historical city centre

The lay-out of Kungur historical center was formed during XVIII-XX centuries. As well as many other the cities-fortresses which was built in XVII century, the first center of Kungur was the wooden Kremlin erected on a high place. In 1700 the construction of Annunciation cathedral on territory of the Kremlin began. It was the first stone building in the city. In 1740 on the place of wooden church of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa the construction of Epiphany cathedral began. Unfortunately, we can’t see the ensemble of these two oldest stone temples of Kungur, which earlier were the important architectural dominant of city centre now. At the beginning of 30th of XX century, City Council made a decision to destroy both temples.

One of the sights of Kungur historical center is the architectural ensemble of the House of Commander and court yards. The building of city council, more often called the House of Commander became one of the first stone civil constructions in Kungur. Its construction was conducted since 1758 till 1762. The architecture and the lay-out of the building combining administrative and defensive functions, are typical for a similar sort of structures of the middle of XVIII century. Thickness of walls of the House of Commander is about 115-130 centimeters. According to the legend, Alexander Radishchev who was going to his exile to Siberia stayed in the House of Commander in 1790. Kungur local lore museum is in the House of Commander now. Small court yard adjoining the House of Commander was constructed with support of one of the largest Kungur merchants-tea dealers Michael Gribushin and was opened in 1874. The court yard was given to the city by Gribushin with a condition that half of incomes should go to the city treasury, and another - was endowed for needs on training and the maintenance of students from poor families. Construction of Large court yard located opposite the Small one was conducted under the project of architect R.Karvovskiy since 1865 till 1876. Today city trade enterprise conduct trade activity in it.

At the end XIX - the beginning of XX centuries one of the main office buildings of Kungur stood near to the central area of city, was the House of City Society in which there was public Fomins’ bank, the Trading Society of Consumers, etc. In 1893 opposite to the House of City Society solemn opening and consecration of a monument in honor of protection of Kungur during Yemelyan Pugachev's attacks took place. The street Kittarskaya (Charles Marx's street) was the main street of the city. Manors, private residences and trading premises of the most influential and rich Kungur’s merchants were built along this street. Now, this street can be considered as original complex representing many uncommon monuments of merchant architecture and history of Kungur of XVIII-XIX centuries.