Turan: A House with a History

Turan’s specific cultural and historical point of interest is the Safyanov Historical and Local History Branch of the National Museum of the Republic of Tuva. It is located in Turan, in Pii-Khem kozhuun. The branch’s building was constructed by Nikolai Ivanovich Byakov in the early 20th century and later sold to Porfiri Reshetnikov, a farmer who had moved to the area. The history of a particular house is thus linked to the local museum branch. For travelers who want to include regional history in their plans alongside landscapes, this is a clear cultural highlight.

A House and Several Historical Perspectives

The museum’s exhibitions cover the development of the Uryankhai region, the everyday lives of the Russian and Tuvan populations in the Pii-Khem area, and the years of the Great Patriotic War. The range of topics thus extends from the region’s development and the daily lives of different population groups to the war years. This gives the museum a different focus from a trip centered mainly on landscapes and outdoor activities. If you plan a specific visit to the branch, check current visiting arrangements in advance.

Culture and Landscapes in the Republic of Tuva

In the broader travel destination of the Republic of Tuva, cultural sites in Kyzyl offer other, distinct topics. The Tuvan Cultural Center holds classes for children and adults in traditional crafts, including blacksmithing, wood and stone carving, making traditional musical instruments, and sewing national clothing. Special attention is given to the throat singing style khoomei. In the center’s courtyard stands a traditional Tuvan yurt, where workshops are held on traditional cuisine, folk games, and other aspects of Tuvan culture. If you would like to include these activities in your plans, check the current schedule in advance.

In the Taiga cluster area, on the banks of the Uyuk, lies the “Valley of the Kings” archaeological site, with numerous Scythian-era burial mounds; it is considered a unique archaeological site in southern Siberia. A ski resort of the same name is also located in this cluster area. Taiga is also a popular recreation area for residents of Kyzyl. Archaeological history and a regional recreation area thus coexist there—a different thematic approach from Turan’s museum and everyday history.

The landscape of the Republic of Tuva also offers a wide range of experiences. Ush-Beldir Nature Park has about 130 glacial lakes. The Ush-Beldir cluster area lies in the far east of the Republic of Tuva, along the border with Mongolia. Ush-Beldir is also a large deposit of nitrogen-rich thermal waters: high-temperature mineral water emerges from about a dozen springs and boreholes at elevations of 1,120 to 1,127 meters, at the intersection of meridional and latitudinal faults. In the Shu cluster area, the landscape includes taiga, the glaciated ridges of the Western Sayan, and numerous rivers and lakes. The local population has revered the natural complex there as a sacred place since ancient times; annual alpine climbing events are held on the peaks for athletes from the Siberian region, with up to several hundred mountaineers taking part.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to decide on your main focus first: Turan is associated with the history of the Safyanov branch, while the cultural and landscape attractions mentioned above are in other locations within the broader travel destination of the Republic of Tuva. Direct your search toward the specific place you want to focus on during your trip.

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