What is Kursk, Russia?

Kursk is one of the oldest Russian towns, entered the structure of Kiev Russia at first, and then to Moscow state. First people appeared at Kursk region more than 100,000 years ago. The age of Kursk, as a town, counts nearly 1000 years old. Its fist mention in chronicles is dated by 1032. Kursk's warriors are mentioned in the ancient Russian poem "The Word of Igor's regiment" as skilful and brave warriors. In the end of the 10th century Kursk became a political, trade and culture-religious center of Kiev Russia. In 1708 Peter I created new territorial system of Russia. The whole territory of Russia was divided into gubernii (regions). May the 23rd of 1779 Katherine II signed the order of creating Kursk's gubernija. At that time Kursk's gubernija counted 15 uezds. Such territorial system lasted until the Soviet time, and then it was changed. On the territory of Kursk's gubernija appeared two oblasts, Kursk's oblast and Belgorod's oblast. July the 5th of 1876, the national emblem of Kursk's gubernija was approved: on top of a shield there is Imperator crown; on the field of the shield there are three flying partridges. Golden oak leaves, tied with stripe of St. Andrey, surround the shield. In Soviet time on map of Kursk oblast appeared two widely known towns: Zheleznogorsk - the town of miners and Kurchatov - the town of nuclear energetic. It is counted that the name of town Kursk derivates from a small river, named the Kur. Name - Kur goes from ancient Slavic language, which means cock. The biggest river in Kursk and its region is the Seim. The first name of the river was the Sem, which meant seven (such quantity of tributaries go in the Seim river). Beside the rivers, described above, there are many other rivers and lakes in our region. So one of the most popular kinds of active rest is fishing. In Kursk region there is one of the greatest layers of iron ore in the World. For example, Michailovsk layer is counted to have ore supply about 430,000,000 tons. In Kursk there are Polytechnic, Pedagogical, Medical universities and an Agricultural Academy. All those high schools are the schools of state. Beside them there are some high schools in Kursk that are not the schools of state. In addition to high schools, in Kursk, there are lots of colleges and secondary schools. Kursk has cinemas, stadiums and sport complexes, Drama Theater, philharmonic and Theater of Young Spectator. For sightseeing in Kursk region there are Korennaja Pustin (The holy place for Orthodox church), Strelescaja and Kazaksaja steppes (nature, biosphere reserves), Marino sanatorium (The estate of Duke Borjatinsky), Mokva sanatorium, Znamensky cathedral, Sergievo - Kazansky cathedral (built in honor of icon of Kazan Godmother) and Triumph arch (built in honor of Russian victory in Kursk battle in 1943). The most famous annual events are spring and autumn sacred processions, contest of bard songs - Solovinaja trel, the Day of Town, Jazz festival. The main value of Kursk is its citizens. Welcome to the old and at the same time very young town - Kursk.