Samara, also called Kuybyshev from 1935 to 1991, is one of the largest cities in Russia. This name remained until 1991, up to the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is situated in the south-eastern part of European Russia, in the Volga Federal District, at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is also the administrative centre of Samara Oblast.
Samara is located on the east bank of the Volga River, which acts as its western boundary. Its northern boundary is formed by the Sokolyi Hills and by the Steppes in the south and east.
During the war, Samara made an invaluable contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany. In the postwar years, Kuybyshev confirmed its status as the USSR’s industrial center. It developed the aviation industry, and soon set up the rocket industry there: Yuri Gagarin made the space flight first ever in the history of mankind by the rocket assembled by the “CSDB Progress” Samara Aerospace Enterprise. In addition, the city has a strong capacity in smelting, refining, heavy and light industries.
Along with the growth in economy, there was also a growth in population: as of 1979, Samara was home to 1.2 million people. And this is the actual maximum population in the city’s history, and today the demographic indicators keep the same level.
In the days of perestroika and Soviet collapse, Samara has lost its industrial importance. The products of Samara plants did not meet the quality, the military production became unprofitable, and the city experienced an economic crisis that was lasting almost 20 years. But with the beginning of the XXI century, the situation stabilized; the enterprises changed the line of business while the construction segment gained momentum. Today, Samara, which began its history with a small fortress, is one of leading Russian cities, in population as well as in culture, science and industry.
Nevertheless Samara is a pretty city.
The team left the hotel only by 11 am and headed towards the city. Their hotel is about 25 kms away from the city. The traffic was at the peak as well. They first went to Stalin’s bunker .
In 1991, when the Kuibyshev was renamed Samara, a building in the city center was opened to the public, which for half a century was known only to a handful of people. This building was Stalin’s bunker, which was the deepest structure created during the Second World War, today when foreign tourists come to Samara, this facility has become a very popular destination.
Stalin’s secret bunker was built in Samara so that he would be protected if Moscow fell to the German Army. It built not only to house Stalin but the Soviet government, The Central committee of the CPSU, and 22 missions if they needed to be evacuated from Moscow. Samara (Kuibyshev) was to become the official capital of the Soviet Union had this occurred. It was also considered to become the base from which all military operations would have been dispersed since it sat at a good strategic point on the Volga river. The building itself was disguised as an Apartment building as to not attract attention.
Stalin’s bunker in Samara is considered the most secretive of all now declassified bunkers.
Afterwards they walked around the city centre of this typical European city with cathedrals & squares.
Trams ply in this city but they don’t help with the traffic.
The journey back to the hotel took about 2 hrs due to the terrible condition of the road.
Samara is located on the east bank of the Volga River, which acts as its western boundary. Its northern boundary is formed by the Sokolyi Hills and by the Steppes in the south and east.
During the war, Samara made an invaluable contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany. In the postwar years, Kuybyshev confirmed its status as the USSR’s industrial center. It developed the aviation industry, and soon set up the rocket industry there: Yuri Gagarin made the space flight first ever in the history of mankind by the rocket assembled by the “CSDB Progress” Samara Aerospace Enterprise. In addition, the city has a strong capacity in smelting, refining, heavy and light industries.
Along with the growth in economy, there was also a growth in population: as of 1979, Samara was home to 1.2 million people. And this is the actual maximum population in the city’s history, and today the demographic indicators keep the same level.
In the days of perestroika and Soviet collapse, Samara has lost its industrial importance. The products of Samara plants did not meet the quality, the military production became unprofitable, and the city experienced an economic crisis that was lasting almost 20 years. But with the beginning of the XXI century, the situation stabilized; the enterprises changed the line of business while the construction segment gained momentum. Today, Samara, which began its history with a small fortress, is one of leading Russian cities, in population as well as in culture, science and industry.
Nevertheless Samara is a pretty city.
The team left the hotel only by 11 am and headed towards the city. Their hotel is about 25 kms away from the city. The traffic was at the peak as well. They first went to Stalin’s bunker .
In 1991, when the Kuibyshev was renamed Samara, a building in the city center was opened to the public, which for half a century was known only to a handful of people. This building was Stalin’s bunker, which was the deepest structure created during the Second World War, today when foreign tourists come to Samara, this facility has become a very popular destination.
Stalin’s secret bunker was built in Samara so that he would be protected if Moscow fell to the German Army. It built not only to house Stalin but the Soviet government, The Central committee of the CPSU, and 22 missions if they needed to be evacuated from Moscow. Samara (Kuibyshev) was to become the official capital of the Soviet Union had this occurred. It was also considered to become the base from which all military operations would have been dispersed since it sat at a good strategic point on the Volga river. The building itself was disguised as an Apartment building as to not attract attention.
Stalin’s bunker in Samara is considered the most secretive of all now declassified bunkers.
Afterwards they walked around the city centre of this typical European city with cathedrals & squares.
Trams ply in this city but they don’t help with the traffic.
The journey back to the hotel took about 2 hrs due to the terrible condition of the road.