Filming in Orenburg Region of Russia

Orenburg was one of Russia's most important military and trade outpost and remains one of the most lovely provincial cities.

Geography and Climate

Orenburg Region is located in the south-east of the European part of Russia. It borders three Russian regions -- Saratov, Chelyabinsk and Bashkortostan and also three provinces of Kazakhstan.

The landscape is mostly flat, with agricultural fields and forests covering most of the territory. The climate is strongly continental with the January average of -11˚C (+12˚F) and July average of +22˚C (+71˚F).

History & Culture

First traces of human in Orenburg region date back to 5,000 BC. Between 1,700 and 1,000 years BS it was populated by Sarmats and Turkic nomadic tribes.

Orenburg was founded in 1734 as a Cossack stronghold on Russia's Central Asian frontier. By that time, local Bashkir and Kazakh tribes were annexed by Russia (formally, according to their own will).

Cossacks with camels. Second half of the 19th century.

Cossacks with camels. Orenburg region, 2nd half of 19th century.

In the 1770's, Orenburg was sieged by Emelyan Pugachev, one of the main peasant rebel leaders in Russian history.

By the end of the 1800's, Orenburg was the main center of meat, cattle and other agricultural trade between Russia and Central Asia.

The region was subject to fierce battles between the White and the Red armies during the Russian Civil War. In the Soviet years, Central Asian nations received their own states and Orenburg lost its strategic importance. Orenburg became a major industrial city, with many plants being evacuated there during the Second World War.

Population and Cities

Almost 2 million people populate Orenburg Region, making it 24th of more than 80 Russian regions by population. Over 560,000 people live in Orenburg. Other key cities are Orsk, Novotroitsk and Buzuluk.

Interesting Facts

Orenburg shawl is the region's most famous produce. The kerchief is made of very think goat wool, cultivated only in the area;
Orenburg was a popular destination for political exile. Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko spent 10 years serving in a fortress there;
Orenburg Region was named Chkalov region in the 1950s, after pioneer pilot Valery Chkalov, who, however, has never been to the city;
Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, studied in Orenburg.

Ural River

Church of St. Matrona, Orenburg Region

Orenburg at Night

Orenburg from the top

Orenburg Institute for Advanced Studies and Retraining of Educators

Orenburg: Pre-1917 Revolution House on Chicherina st.

Old House in Orenburg

Repino village

Monument to First Governor Nechayev

Monument to Cossacks

Cathedral of St. George, Orsk fortress

Cathedral of the Transfiguration, Orsk