The Old town of Rybinsk is located around Red Square, which in the 19th century was the center of the city`s business activity. The historical center of the city has been preserved and restored. There are no new houses there - only buildings built before 1917. The signs of shops and cafes in the center of Rybinsk are written in Old Russian. It gives the impression that you are in a city of the era of tsarist Russia.
Thanks to the Mariinsky Water System, it became possible to supply large quantities of grain by water from the Lower Volga regions to St. Petersburg, and from its port to European countries. The city of Rybinsk became a key hub in this system, since grain could be transported along the Volga on large-tonnage barges before it. After Rybinsk, the fairways of the Volga and Sheksna rivers became shallow, so grain transshipment to small flat-bottomed barges was required.
In 1811, Rybinsk merchants built a Grain Exchange on the Volga Embankment, where grain transactions were carried out. Merchants from the Volga region sold large quantities of grain to Rybinsk merchants, who carried it further on small flat-bottomed barges. By the end of the 19th century, multimillion transactions were being made on the Rybinsk Grain Exchange, as Russia became the largest grain exporter in the world. In 1912, its share in world grain exports reached 22%.
The business activity of Rybinsk attracted a large number of workers and merchants to the city, hotels, restaurants, a theater and other houses were built here, where people could have a good time. The old town of Rybinsk was formed in the area of the Volga embankment and Cross Street. Many foreigners lived in the city, so a Lutheran church, a Catholic church and a synagogue were built here.
A walk through the old merchant quarters of Rybinsk will give pleasure not only to fans of retro style. The city authorities can be thanked for recreating the beautiful appearance of the entire city center, and not just some attractions.
