The Gostiny Dvor was built between 1703 and 1708 by the project of S. Remezov, a famous Russian mapper and architect. It looks like a strong Old Russian fortress. The size of the building is 49 х 66 meters. In those years it was only smaller than the Moscow Gostiny Dvor.
The Gostiny Dvor has the shape of a square with the walls reaching the height of over 4 meters. The square feature 4 round corner towers and 2 gate towers. The customs was above the eastern gate and a chapel — above the western gate.
The building has two floors and vast basement spaces. The ground floor was occupied by 35 shops while 30 hotel rooms were on the first floor. The goods were stored in basement spaces. Trade was conducted within the court of the Gostiny Dvor.
The main purpose of the Gostiny Dvor was to provide for comfortable conditions for trade with the strong walls ensuring the necessary protection from fires and robberies. It also represented the image of Tobolsk as a trade center of Siberia. After the Gostiny Dvor was finished the authorities of Tobolsk were given an order to intensify the trade with the countries of Central Asia, India, China and Afghanistan.
Now one of the buildings of the Gostiny Dvor is occupied by a museum devoted to the history of Siberian enterprise. Several museum rooms are devoted to thematic expositions: «Siberian Trade Route», «Tea Trade Route», «Torg», «Siberian Torg», and «Tobolsk as the Center of Siberia in 18-19 Centuries». There are a lot of authentic things of that time at the museum.
