Tourism

Rostov region is country of glorious history, lavish nature and talented hospitable people. Due to its great historical and cultural heritage, Don land provides one of the most attractive tourist venues in the Russian Federation. When traveling throughout the region, Russian and foreign tourists are introduced to the richest history of the steppe country, its modern life and places of interest, poetic legends and originality of Don Cossacks culture who live in small communities called stanitsy. Museum expositions, seven theatres, philharmonic society, circus, zoological park are there in the region to draw your attention. Among recognized tourist centres are Rostov-on-Don, Novocherkassk, Azov, Taganrog, Aksaiskiy, Neklinovskiy, Ust-Donetskiy, Belokalitvenskiy, Tsimlyanskiy and Sholokhovskiy districts. Great tourist interest represents historical and architectural monuments of the region. In Taganrog, native town of A.P. Chekhov, exists historic and architectural reserve which includes Literary museum “Gimnasia”, house, where the writer was born, Museum of Taganrog history and town-planning, Alferaki Palace (Museum of local lore). In 30 km from Rostov-on-Don along the right bank of the Don river stretches one of the biggest stanitsy of the Rostov region – Starocherkasskaya – former Cherkassk city, the first capital of the Don host, where historical and architectural museum-reserve is now situated.

. Places of interest

The museum in Veshenskaya stanitsa, motherland of the great writer M.A. Sholokhov, is well known all over the world. Antiquity lovers can visit Archeological museum of Rostov University, Museum of local lore in the town of Azov, historical and architectural museum “Tanais”, Museum of history of the Don Cossacks in Novocherkassk.

Mild and warm climate, fertile soil, considerable reserves of mineral waters and mud with medicinal properties, all those treasures provide wonderful conditions for recreation and medical treatment.

Nowadays in the Rostov region function 132 travel agencies, 51 hotels, 48 spa institutions:13 sanatoriums, 6 spa centres for children, 22 sanatoriums-preventiums, 2 full-board hotels with treatment facilities, 1 full-board hotel without treatment facilities, 4 holiday homes.

Tourist market is steadily expanding. Transfer of licensing authority from the Ministry of economic development and trade of the Russian Federation to the Ministry of physical training, sports and tourism of the Rostov region in 2002 resulted in increased control over organization of travel agencies, over their compliance with the legislation in force and in better coordination of their work in regional tourist market development. Higher qualification requirements were introduced to travel agents and their personnel, such as obligatory experience of work in tourist industry and special training in the specialty.

Specialists in tourist and hotel industry are being prepared in 5 specialties in 10 higher education institutions of the region and in their departments.

Regional federation of sport tourism counts 2 thousand people among its members. 2002 witnessed considerable success as the federation won first places in tourist all-round competitions in Russian Winter Championship and Russian Cup.

Cossacks traditions of cooking and wine-making are carefully kept in Don land. Don varieties of grapes and Don wine are famous all over Russian for their particular mildness and exquisite bouquet.

Rostov region is a place of particular interest for hunters of game and birds. At all times, vast water lands occupying almost all the territory of the region attracted fishing lovers.   

An old Don saying goes: “Guests are welcome in Don Country”. Since olden times Don Land has been renowned for its hospitality. If you wish to experience Don antiquity, to breath fresh air, to spend some time on a lake bank with fishing-rod in your hands or go cruising along the Don river, if you would like to taste famous Cossacks fish soup ukha and excellent Don wines, to listen to old Cossack songs – feel free to come to the country of the Slow Don.

You are welcome to explore the Don land!