TOURIST MASTER PLAN OF TOBOLSK

Tobolsk is a historic Siberian town with an ambitious goal to unlock its tourism potential and approach one million visitors annually. To achieve this, a team of specialists led by Wowhaus developed the city’s tourism master plan under the commission of SIBUR, in collaboration with the Government of the Tyumen Region and the Tobolsk town administration.

The team was given the task of creating a cohesive image of the city that would be clear and appealing both to visitors from nearby cities, towns or regions and to guests from Moscow. To achieve this, we proposed a development concept focused on three priority urban areas: Lower Posad, the Irtysh River embankment, and the Experience Center. This unified tourism framework will connect attractions, services, and infrastructure.

Tobolsk is known for being home to the only white-stone Kremlin beyond the Urals, its rich and varied history, and the Siber River, being thelegendary source of the region’s very name. Surrounded by the rugged taiga that comes right up to the Kremlin walls, the city also serves as a gateway to Siberia’s wilderness. The opening of its airport in 2021 reduced travel time from central Russian cities to just three hours flight, making Tobolsk an accessible tourist hub. This led to the creation of a concise tourist identity: “Key to Siberia.”

Tourism Master Plan for Tobolsk provides five levels of accessibility.

Pedestrian Center

Currently, the main tourist route leads from the Tobolsk Kremlin down to the ceremonial square, where the Nicholas II Museum is located. We propose to bring this historic axis to life, to expand and improve the square and restore cultural heritage sites along the street leading from the square to Alexandrovsky Garden and Znamensky Monastery.
A new pedestrian axis with a combined cycling and walking route will run along the courses of small rivers. It will allow people to get down to the embankment without using the existing staircase which is ceremonial but quite steep. In the future, visitors with limited mobility will be able to reach and leave the embankment via a cable car.

Cycling Infrastructure

Development of alternative transportation in the Lower and Upper Posads.

Eco-trails from the city to nearby forests

Water Infrastructure

At present, the Irtysh River is not integrated into the town’s transportation system as there is only a ferry to the opposite bank. We propose introducing tourist and local passenger transport along the river.

Shuttles to Remote Locations

The main tourist attraction in Tobolsk is the local Kremlin. We propose creating a shuttle stop nearby to take visitors along five main routes, including the Abalak Monastery, an important pilgrimage site. These five routes will form the foundation for five urban development projects.

The Lower Posad is a key area for the town’s development. Tobolsk began here as this district was once the town’s center until its residents gradually moved to newer neighborhoods. The concept’s authors propose to bring life back to the Lower Posad while also ensuring its connection to the Upper Posad.

New hotel complexes will appear in the Lower Posad, and the small rivers will be cleaned. To make the area popular not only with tourists but also among locals, we propose renovating residential blocks and creating infrastructure for both tourists and residents.

"Today, the potential of the Irtysh River’s waterfront remains untapped. We propose integrating it into Tobolsk’s urban life and developing water tourism in the region. As part of the master plan, a network of piers will be created to launch water transport from Abalak to Vinokurovo along with the construction of a new riverfront in the Lower Posad.

The riverfront will become an important recreational space for the town. Along the water, at the level of the existing embankment, there will be an urban promenade with a pier for boats. In the non-flooded area of the embankment, there will be a children’s zone and a landscaped park with specially equipped areas for fishing, yoga, and birdwatching."

The elevation difference between the Lower and Upper Posads exceeds 30 meters. At present, it can be overcome either by taking the wooden staircase leading to the Kremlin walls or by driving along Nikolsky Descent. The master plan proposes two alternative routes: a cable car connected to the new riverfront and a gentler cycle-and-pedestrian ascent along Kazachy Descent, which will feature a playground integrated into the terrain. Near the cable car station, a youth hub and a year-round café will be established.

The Experience Center is the emotional core of the city brand “Tobolsk is The Key to Siberia.”
This new interactive exhibition pavilion is designed to reveal the many secrets and stories of Tobolsk and Siberia as a whole to visitors. The main building of the Experience Center will be located on the Irtysh River embankment, where, together with a concert hall, it will form a new festival square. Secondary facilities will serve as local references to the main center, placed in different parts of Tobolsk.

Wowhaus was requested to adapt the historic wine warehouse complex to meet the needs of a modern scientific and educational center. We developed a new architectural design, functional program, and exhibition concept for a venue that will become a key landmark in Tobolsk. This space will serve as an educational and enlightenment hub, where complex concepts are conveyed in an engaging and accessible interactive format. In addition to the museum section, the plan includes an educational wing and coworking spaces.