Oryol


Oryol or Orel is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast, Russia. It is part of the Central Federal District, as well as the Central economic region.
Located on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow.
Population: 315,308 ;
Oryol is the City of the first salute and the City of Military Glory.

History

[Kievan Rus']

While there are no historical records, archaeological evidence shows that a fortress settlement existed between the Oka and Orlik Rivers as early as the 12th century, when the land was a part of the Principality of Chernigov. The name of the fortress is unknown; it may not have been called Oryol at the time. In the 13th century the fortress became a part of the Zvenigorod district of the Karachev Principality. In the early 15th century, the territory was conquered by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The city was soon abandoned by its population, after being sacked either by Lithuanians or the Golden Horde. The territory became a part of the Tsardom of Russia in the 16th century.

[Tsardom of Russia]

decreed that a new fortress be built on the spot in 1566, for the purpose of defending the southern borders of the country. The fortress was built very speedily, work starting in the summer of 1566 and ending in the spring of 1567. The location chosen was less than ideal strategically, as the fortress was located on a seasonally flooded low ground easily targeted from the neighboring high ground.
False Dmitry I and his army passed through Oryol in 1605; Ivan Bolotnikov in 1606; False Dmitry II camped in Oryol for the winter of 1607–1608. Polish intervention sacked it in 1611 and 1615; the population fled after the second sacking and moved to Mtsensk. Orlovsky Uyezd nonetheless continued to exist on paper.
Oryol was rebuilt in 1636. The question of moving the fortress to the more advantageous high ground was in the air up until the 1670s, but the move was never made. The fortress was deemed unnecessary and taken apart in the early 18th century.

[Russian Empire]

In the mid-18th century Oryol became one of the major centers of grain production, with the Oka River being the major trade route until the 1860s when it was replaced by a railroad.
Oryol was granted town status in 1702. In 1708, Oryol was included as a part of Kiev Governorate; in 1719, Oryol Province was created within Kiev Governorate. The Province was transferred to the newly created Belgorod Governorate in 1727. On March 11, 1778 Oryol Vice-Royalty was created from parts of Voronezh and Belgorod Governorates. In 1779, the city was almost entirely rebuilt based on a new plan; and the Oryol River was renamed Orlik.

[Russian Republic]

After the October Revolution of 1917, the city was in Bolshevik hands, except for a brief period between October 13 and October 20, 1919, when it was controlled by Anton Denikin's White Army.

[Soviet Union]

Oryol was once again moved between different oblasts in the 1920s and 1930s, finally becoming the administrative center of its own Oryol Oblast on September 27, 1937.
The Oryol Prison was a notable place of incarceration for political prisoners and war prisoners of the Second World War. Christian Rakovsky, Maria Spiridonova, Olga Kameneva and 160 other prominent political prisoners were shot on September 11, 1941 on Joseph Stalin's orders in the Medvedev Forest massacre outside Oryol.

During German-Soviet war">Eastern Front (World War II)">During German-Soviet war

During the German-Soviet war, Oryol was occupied by the Guderian's Panzer group of the Wehrmacht on October 3, 1941, burst from the south-west.
In the sky over the Oryol fought the famous squadron Normandie-Niemen.
September 19, 1943 in the Oryol was the first in the history of the Great Patriotic War parade of partisan units stationed in the Oryol region.
Oryol was liberated on August 5, 1943 during the Oryol strategic offensive operation "Kutuzov" on the Oryol-Kursk Bulge. The city was almost completely destroyed. By order №2 of I. V. Stalin of August 5, 1943, on this day in Moscow an artillery salute was given to the troops that liberated the Oryol. Since then the city is called the city of the first salute and the day of the liberation from the Nazi invaders was celebrated as the city day.

Geography

Location

Oryol stands on the banks of the Oka River and its tributary Orlik river in the Central Russian Upland of the East European Plain, approximately south-southwest of Moscow.

Climate

Oryol has a humid continental climate. Winters are moderately cold and changeable. The first half is softer second with often warmings. Summers is warm, in separate years — could be rainy or hot and droughty.

Administrative and municipal status

Oryol is the administrative center of the oblast and, within the framework of administrative divisions, it also serves as the administrative center of Orlovsky District, even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as the city of oblast significance of Oryol—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the city of oblast significance of Oryol is incorporated as Oryol Urban Okrug.

City districts

Administratively, the city is divided into 4 districts:
In February 2012, the city duma abolished the direct election of mayor. In December 2013, a referendum was held, which 71% of the people supported the return of direct mayoral election.

Mayors

City-managers:
According to the Federal State Statistics Service, in January 2018 the number of residents came to 315 308. It is the 65th place among 1117 cities of Russia for 2019.
Largest ethnic groups in 2010:
The formation of the Oryol as an important transportation hub is due to the favorable geographical position of the city on the borders of the Central and Central Black Earth economic regions.
The city has trolley, tram and bus systems. These kinds of public transport cover the entire territory of the city. Each bus, tram and trolley is equipped with route indicators that inform about the route through the city, designated stops. There are also taxis and rental cars.
In past years, in the summer on the Oka River waterbus operated as a form of transport excursion and walking orientation.

Automotive

In the Oryol converge important highways of federal and regional values:
The main intercity terminal: Oryol Bus Station

[Trolleybus]

On 29 October 1968, a regular movement was opened. Length of the contact network. There are 4 routes for 2019.

Railway

Since 1868, there has been a railway connection between Oryol and Moscow. Here converge 5 railway lines: on Yelets, Moscow, Kursk, Bryansk, Mikhailovsky mine.
The main terminals: Oryol Station, Station Luzhki-Oryol.

Tram

On November 3, 1898 Oryol inaugurated an electric tram. The draft was prepared by the Belgian entrepreneur FF Gilon and firm «Compagnie mutuelle de tramways», which won the right to build not only a tram, but also lighting in the city. Oryol tram is one of the oldest electric tram systems in Russia. It is 1 year older than Moscow and 9 years — St. Petersburg. In 2017, the length of the lines in double-track calculation was. For 2019, there are 3 routes, which are operated: Tatra T3, Tatra T6B5, 71-403, 71-405.

Aerial

The city is served by the Oryol Yuzhny Airport, which is currently not working.

International cooperation

Twin towns – sister cities

Oryol is twinned with: