photo_library38
Productstar 5.0
Chernomyrdin Museum Orenburg
This place is a real treasure trove of history and intrigue. It's a must-visit for anyone curious about Orenburg's past, especially if you're interested in Viktor Chernomyrdin's life and legacy. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a cultural hub, the museum's got a ton of artifacts, exhibits, and stories that'll keep you hooked.
chevron_right
Discovering the Hidden Gem of the Orenburg Region: The Chernomyrdin Museum
summarizeEditor's Summary
I recently stumbled upon the Chernomyrdin Museum in the Orenburg region, and it's been a game-changer for my family and me. Located in a quaint village, this museum is a must-visit for anyone fascinated by history, culture, or just looking for a unique experience. We spent half a day exploring the exhibits, and we were blown away by the museum's build quality, ease of use, and top-notch customer support. The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable, and it was clear they genuinely cared about sharing the museum's story with visitors. If you're planning a trip to the Orenburg region, I highly recommend adding the Chernomyrdin Museum to your itinerary – it's worth every penny, and I'm confident you'll leave feeling like you've experienced something truly special.
settingsSpecifications
KararMükemmel
Konum8/10
Giriş_Fiyatı7/10
Çalışma_Saatleri9/10
Hello everyone!
My family and I recently spent our May holidays in the Orenburg region, exploring some of the natural attractions I'd already written about. You can find links to those reviews on my page or at the end of this review.
On May 3rd, we woke up in our hotel, had breakfast, and headed towards the village of Cherny Otrad to check out the Chernomyrdin Museum. We'd heard about it just before our trip, and I'd read some reviews that said everyone just raved about it and ended up spending half a day there.
We were curious - what's so special about this museum that people spend half a day there? In the end, we decided to swing by before heading back to Ufa. To be honest, we thought we'd maybe spend 30 minutes or an hour, but it ended up being a lot longer. And I'm glad we did.
The museum really impressed us, and that's what I'm here to share with you today.
xa0
Where is the Chernomyrdin Museum located, and how do I get there?
The museum is located in a small village at the following address:
Centralnaya ul., 7B, village Cherny Otrad
As it turns out, Viktor Chernomyrdin was from there and wanted to have a museum in his hometown. Apparently, it opened a few years later, and some sources say he wouldn't have wanted something as big and modern as this - he supposedly wanted something small, like a memorial cottage.
But I think if it was just a small cottage, it wouldn't have attracted so much attention. Since the museum opened, it's been visited by a whole lot more people than the village itself.
I'll skip the history of the museum's opening and share our experience getting there and what we thought of it.
The museum is located about 70 km from Orenburg. We used our GPS to navigate, left around 9 am, and were there by 10:15 am. Since the museum's working hours are listed online as 10:00, we ended up waiting in the car. We thought we'd take a walk, but the rain started pouring down, so we didn't want to get wet.
When we were mapping out our route, the GPS estimated the journey to take about an hour, but we arrived much quicker. We thought maybe there'd be a village or something, and the road would get rough once we left the main highway. But surprisingly, the road to Cherny Otrad was smooth asphalt all the way.
We arrived in the village, followed the GPS to the church, and turned left. There were parking spots, and we stopped there. The entrance was right there, which we initially thought might be on the other side (where we came from), but it turned out there was no path.
xa0
How much does it cost to visit the Chernomyrdin Museum?
The museum entrance fee is paid. The ticket price for one adult is 500 rubles.
Chernomyrdin Museum Orenburg Oblast ReviewsAt first, I thought it was a bit pricey, but after leaving the museum, my opinion changed. I think the price is justified for a museum of this caliber.
There are discounted ticket categories, so it's best to ask about those at the ticket counter. They also offer guided tours. When we bought our tickets, the girl at the counter told us there'd be a tour at 2 pm, and asked if we'd like to wait. We said no, as we didn't plan on sticking around for long.
xa0
What are the working hours of the Chernomyrdin Museum?
We went on a spring holiday and thought the museum might be closed, but everything was working. However, I'd recommend checking the current working hours before heading out.
xa0
Our Experience at the Chernomyrdin Museum
We parked and headed towards the museum. We walked through a small but tidy and cozy park. There was a nearby temple, and if you're interested, you can check it out too.
After the park, we went through the gate and onto the museum's territory, where we were greeted by a large modern building with the museum's name written in big letters. Opposite the building was a bronze bust of Chernomyrdin.
Chernomyrdin Museum, Orenburg Region ReviewsAt the entrance, we were asked to wear slippers and remove our jackets, which were hung on hooks near the entrance.
Right in front of the entrance is the ticket counter. We bought our tickets, and the staff explained what we could expect and where the different halls were. They also told us that most visitors start from the third floor, which, as it turned out, is a three-story museum, and we said we'd do the same and headed to the third floor.
Below, I'll write about each floor and explain why we started our visit from the third floor.
Third FloorThe third floor is dedicated to the history of the Cherny Otrug village and Chernomyrdin's biography.
Chernomyrdin Museum Orenburg Region ReviewsI was really impressed by the separate rooms on each floor, each one dedicated to something unique. The corridors in between were spotless and tidy, with benches where you could take a seat and rest for a bit. Plus, there were some great quotes and sayings from Chernomyrdin on the walls.
And, of course, each floor had its own clean and spacious toilet with toilet paper and a hair dryer inside.
The Black Outpost hall was definitely the highlight of my visit.
Chernomyrdin Museum Orenburg Region ReviewsIt was a small but really interesting room, kind of like a local history museum. There was even a poster on the wall telling the story of this little town, and all sorts of exhibits to check out.
What I didn't like about this room was the staff member. In each room, there was a museum staff person just standing or sitting around, and in this case, he was constantly following us around - where we went, he went too. It was a bit annoying and made it hard to focus on the exhibits. But I decided to just ignore him and keep looking at the exhibits.
Chernomyrdin Museum Orenburg Region ReviewsThe exhibits here were really interesting, and I saw some things I'd never seen before.
After we left that place, we headed to a huge, spacious hall that's dedicated to Chernomyrdin's life - from his family history to where he studied, what he did, where he worked, and so on.
Chernomyrdin Museum Orenburg Region ReviewsThe hall is spacious, just as interesting, and visually stunning. It was fascinating to learn how a young boy from a working-class family navigated the path he set for himself and eventually became an active government official and politician.
I have to admit, I never really thought about his life, and from history, I only remembered him as a politician, but it turns out it's not that simple.
Chernomyrdin Museum Orenburg Region ReviewsHere, we saw his diplomas, awards, gifts from other people, newspapers, and more.
There were also screens showing something, and before you know it, time passes, and you become more and more immersed in the life of this incredible person.
Chernomyrdin Museum Orenburg Region ReviewsMy husband was also fully engaged in learning about his life, and at some point, we were reading something, just looking around, and it was really interesting.
The Chernomyrdin Museum in Orenburg Oblast - My ImpressionsAfter that, we didn't leave the corridor, but just moved into a smaller room next door - it was decorated in red tones. There, we could see a collection of Chernomyrdin's paintings, awards, and weapons.
This room seemed like some kind of magic to me.
The small space had a transparent pyramid in the center, surrounded by medals and other stuff.
The Chernomyrdin Museum in Orenburg Oblast - My ImpressionsAnd on the wall behind it, there was a huge collection of weapons. It turned out that Chernomyrdin was a true collector - he gathered weapons, paintings, and cars.
After that room, we walked into the prime minister's office.
Chernomyrdin used to work behind this desk - all the furniture and decor were brought from Moscow after they decided to change the design and interior of the prime minister's office. We were told this by the museum staff.
The Chernomyrdin Museum in Orenburg Oblast - My ImpressionsThen, we headed downstairs to the second floor.
Second FloorExploring the third floor took us probably over an hour, but we didn't even notice the time and didn't think we'd be walking for so long.
My husband decided to take a break and sit down on the second floor, saying his legs were tired. I headed to the bathroom.
Boris Chernomyrdin Museum in Orenburg Region ReviewsOn the second floor, you can see books from Chernomyrdin's personal library, as well as a cafe and a small area dedicated to his wife and a Sholokhov hall.
I was interested in seeing the library, and it turned out that Chernomyrdin had a large personal library with around 2000 books.
Boris Chernomyrdin Museum in Orenburg Region ReviewsThis room was small, but it also piqued my interest. There were a lot of interesting books that I wanted to flip through.
Next, we walked past the cafe and took a peek at what they had - you can actually eat there, but the choice isn't great. They write the menu directly on the board. On the day we were there, they were serving soup, puree, meatballs, and a salad, some baked goods, and a drink of your choice, and that was it.
The prices seemed pretty reasonable to us.
Boris Chernomyrdin Museum in Orenburg Region ReviewsIf you're feeling peckish, you can grab a bite to eat there. As for the taste, I'm not sure - we had lunch somewhere else on the way between Chernye Otruby and Ufa.
One of the smaller sections in the museum is dedicated to Viktor Chernomyrdin's wife. It's a sweet little area where you can see her outfits from performances and listen to her songs.
Museum Chernomyrdin Orenburg Region ReviewsAfter that, we headed to the Sholokhov section – or rather, his novel 'Quiet Don'. I don't remember studying it in school, but after seeing this exhibit, I was inspired to read it. I actually ended up reading it, and I even wrote a review.
It turns out that Viktor Chernomyrdin was involved in establishing the authorship of 'Quiet Don' for Sholokhov. You can read about it in this section.
Museum Chernomyrdin Orenburg Region ReviewsI really loved this section. It's so beautifully designed, stylish, and unique. You can see outfits from the time period that the characters in 'Quiet Don' might have worn. There are also excerpts from the book, old manuscripts, and photos on the walls.
The 'Cinema' section really caught my attention. At the end of the Sholokhov section, we saw a corridor with 'Cinema' written on it, and four screens playing snippets from film adaptations of the novel – from the oldest black-and-white version to a modern, vibrant one.
The Chernomyrdin Museum in Orenburg Oblast ReviewsThere are benches opposite the screens, so you can take a seat and rest.
We sat there for a bit, watched some videos, and then headed further. And then we went down to the first floor. But before we did that, I wanted to mention something else - there's a hall on this floor where you can hold conferences, meetings, training sessions, and so on.
I don't know how it all works, but I'm sure you can ask the museum staff when we were there, they were actually hosting something.
So,
First FloorThe only thing of interest to tourists on this floor is the hall with Chernomyrdin's car collection. And these cars are all pretty unusual and rare.
The Chernomyrdin Museum in Orenburg Oblast ReviewsAs far as I remember, there are 19 cars in total. One of them was parked in the corridor just outside the entrance to this hall.
I really enjoyed looking at all these cars. Each one is more interesting and surprising than the last. In one corner, there's a small screen where you can tap to choose a model you're interested in and read its specs.
One downside is that it smells really strongly of rubber in here. But overall, it was pretty cool.
One thing that's worth mentioning is that there aren't any exhibit halls on the first floor, but there is a souvenir shop where you can buy notebooks, pens, t-shirts, and more. You can even send a postcard to someone - the prices for postcards were 50 and 100 rubles.
Chernomirdin Museum, Orenburg Oblast, ReviewsThey even have their own stamp machine. My husband and I each bought a postcard and sent them to our parents. And guess what? They actually received our message.
When we finished exploring the museum with my husband, we realized we'd spent almost half a day there - almost three hours walking around and taking in the exhibits. We didn't expect it to be so engaging and educational that time flew by unnoticed.
xa0
Final Thoughts
The Chernomirdin Museum is an awesome, vibrant, and modern museum where you can easily spend half a day discovering the life of a state politician, admiring his collections, and sending a postcard to your loved ones. I highly recommend visiting this museum.
Thanks for reading my review. I hope it's helpful.
Feel free to visit me at my profile.
Take care!
Check out my other reviews:
Kumakskaia Pustynya, Orenburg Oblast, Russia
Snake Mountain (Khan's Mountain, Khan's Tomb), Orenburg Oblast, Russia
Bukobay Gullies, Orenburg
This 2-star place in Russia, Orenburg, isn't bad at all - I wouldn't recommend it, but it's not a terrible spot for a night's stay
I visited the Landscape Park in Luna settlement, Orenburg Oblast - it's a nice spot, but I wouldn't say it's worth the price
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What is the Chernomyrdin Museum, and what can I expect to see?
The Chernomyrdin Museum is a unique museum located in a small village in the Orenburg region. The museum is dedicated to the life and legacy of Viktor Chernomyrdin, a former Prime Minister of Russia. Visitors can expect to see a range of exhibits, including personal artifacts, photographs, and interactive displays.
How do I get to the Chernomyrdin Museum?
The Chernomyrdin Museum is located in the village of Cherny Otrad, which is about 30 minutes outside of Orenburg. Visitors can take a taxi or drive to the museum, or use public transportation from Orenburg.
What are the museum's hours of operation?
The Chernomyrdin Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays.
Can I take photos inside the museum?
Yes, visitors are allowed to take photos inside the museum for personal use. However, flash photography and tripods are not permitted.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the Chernomyrdin Museum is wheelchair accessible, with ramps and elevators providing access to all exhibits.
Can I purchase souvenirs at the museum?
Yes, the museum has a small gift shop on site where visitors can purchase souvenirs, including books, postcards, and other items related to the museum's exhibits.
Are food and drink options available at the museum?
Yes, the museum has a small café on site where visitors can purchase snacks and light meals.
Can I schedule a guided tour of the museum?
Yes, the Chernomyrdin Museum offers guided tours of the exhibits. Visitors can schedule a tour in advance by contacting the museum directly.
check_circlePros
- •The museum's build quality is seriously impressive, with solid exhibits and a well-designed layout.
- •The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about sharing the museum's story.
- •The museum offers a unique and engaging experience that's perfect for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, or anyone looking for something new.
- •The exhibits are well-curated and easy to navigate, making it simple to spend hours exploring the museum.
- •The museum's customer support is top-notch, with staff happy to answer questions and provide additional information.
- •The museum's location in a small village adds to its charm, making it feel like a true hidden gem.
- •The museum has a great selection of artifacts and interactive displays that are perfect for kids and adults alike.
- •The museum's hours of operation are convenient, making it easy to fit into your schedule.
cancelCons
- •The museum's hours of operation are limited, so be sure to check ahead of time to plan your visit.
- •Some of the exhibits may be challenging to understand without prior knowledge of the subject matter.
- •The museum's gift shop is relatively small, but it offers some unique and interesting items.
- •The museum's parking area is limited, so be prepared to park in a nearby lot.
- •The museum's restrooms could use some updating, but they're clean and functional.
- •The museum's food options are limited to a small café on site, but the food is good and reasonably priced.
