Irbit is the administrative center of the Irbitski District, Sverdlovsk Oblast. The town is situated on the right bank of the river Nitsa where the Irbit river falls into it.

Irbit is a small town. Its population doesn’t exceed 50,000 people and its total area is 6,423 hectares.

The railroad Ekaterinburg-Tavda-Uste–Akha and other important highways pass through the town, connecting it with other cities of the Sverdlovsk region.

In the north and south parts of the town are two big parks. In the south park “Bugry” you can see a scenic landscape, pine- and birch forests. At about 12 miles from the town is the natural park “Belaya Gorka” (White Hill) with a children’s spa. Near the town is another natural park “Vyasovaya Roscha” (Elm Forest).

An old house on Ordzhonikidze ul. in Irbit

First settlements appeared here in 1631.

The firs village Irbit (also known as Irbeevskaya) was founded by Ivan Spitsin near the mouth of the river Irbei or Irbit. In 1634-1635, the marketplace Torzhok started working in the village and from 1738 an annual fair took place there.

Annual trade fair in Irbit is still held in old traditions

After the Russian borders moved to the South, trade route appeared which stretched from Verkhoturye to Tumen along the Nitsa river and the Tura river. This boosted trade in the area. With the appearance of the Trans-Siberian Railway the Irbit fair lost its importance dramatically.

On 1821 Irbit developed as a “fair-town”, with a consistent architectural style. According to the building plan, this fair formed the historical downtown area that included “Gostiny Dvor” (shopping arcade, usual name of several shopping centers and historical buildings), former commercial buildings, row of stores, Sretenskaya Church (Candlemas), houses of wealthy people.

Today there are 68 buildings and architectural monuments, 11 historic monuments, such as Svyato-Troitskaya (St.Trinity) and Sretenskaya (Candlemas) Churches. Historians and architects believe that the brick ornament of ancient buildings is unique. The Irbit Drama Theatre named after the Russian writer Alexander Ostrovsky is one of the most ancient theatres in the Ural. It was built in 1846.

Way to famous Irbit spring comes through a suspension bridge

During the Soviet era Irbit turned to the industrial town.

During the World War II, the evacuated Moscow factories were located in Irbit, among them are the motorcycle factory, that produced well-known in Russia and all over the world motorcycles “Ural”.

Metal working, production of building materials, chemical and light industries started to develop in the postwar period.

Irbit is described as “The motorcycle capital of Russia”. The only museum of motorcycles in Russia is in Irbit, where priceless models of Russian and foreign rarities are exhibited.

Annual motorcycle show in Irbit attracts many visitors

Irbit Historic Ethnographic Museum is one of the best local museums of the Sverdlovsk region.
 

How to get to Irbit:

Buses №№ 733, 876 and 569 from the South Bus Terminal

Local factory produced well-known motorcycles "Ural"

Photos: official web-page of Irbit