Tolyatti.

History

The fortress of Stavropol was founded in 1737 by the statesman Vasily Tatishchev. In the 1950s the Kuybyshev Dam and hydroelectric station flooded the old town site, and the city was rebuilt. In 1964 it was renamed after the Italian politician Palmiro Togliatti. Since 1970 AvtoVAZ, set up in partnership with Fiat, has been building cars here.

Culture & traditions

The city's best-known collection is the AvtoVAZ Technical Museum. The local history museum tells the story of Stavropol and Tolyatti. In 1998 a monument to the founder, Vasily Tatishchev, was unveiled on the Volga bank, and in 2002 the Transfiguration Cathedral was completed.

Sport

Sport in Tolyatti is closely tied to the car plant, with hockey, football and handball clubs all playing under the Lada name. The Lada women's handball team has won European titles and formed the core of the Russian national team. The speedway team Mega-Lada has been Russian champion 17 times. Olympic gymnast Alexei Nemov comes from Tolyatti.

Practical information

The nearest international airport is Kurumoch, about 40 km away towards Samara. The M5 Ural highway runs through Tolyatti, and the city has railway stations and bus terminals. A trip combines well with Samarskaya Luka National Park; the warm season is the best time to go.

What to see

• AvtoVAZ Technical Museum — cars and machinery in the city of the Lada
• Tatishchev Monument — the city's founder on the Volga bank
• Transfiguration Cathedral — the city's main church, completed in 2002
• Local History Museum — the story of flooded Stavropol
• Samarskaya Luka National Park — Volga landscapes close to the city