Look through the new words before reading.

Vocabulary

a fortress – крепость

to defend – защищать

a trade route – торговый путь

the most important strategic point – самая важная стратегическая точка

to link – связывать

to remind – напоминать

the Mamayev Hill – Мамаев Курган

Pavlov House – Дом Павлова

the Destroyed Mill – Разрушенная Мельница

a factory – фабрика

a plant – завод

a sight – достопримечательность

the Fallen Fighters` Square – Площадь Павших Борцов

the Planetarium – Планетарий

the New Experimental Theatre – Новый Экспериментальный Театр

the Central Department Store – Центральный Универмаг

the Central Embankment – Центральная Набережная

the Museum-Panorama of Stalingrad Battle – Музей-панорама Сталинградской битвы

an attraction – достопримечательность

especially – особенно

due to – благодаря

 

Find the new words and word combinations in the text “Volgograd”. Read them aloud and translate.

Read and translate the text. Complete the last sentence.

Volgograd

Volgograd is situated in the South-East of the European part of Russia on the river Volga. It was founded in 1589 as a fortress, defending trade routes from the Tartars. It was named Tsaritsyn.

In the 19-th century it became a big industrial city and one of the most important strategic points in the Russian State. In 1925 the city was renamed as Stalingrad and in 1961 it got the name of Volgograd.

The city is famous all over the world for the victory of the Soviet soldiers and officers over the fascists in the Battle of Stalingrad during the Great Patriotic War. Many places of the city are linked with those war days and remind us of them. They are: the Mamayev Hill, Pavlov House, the Destroyed Mill and many others.

Now it is a beautiful modern city with high buildings, schools, institutes, universities, theatresand museums. Volgograd attracts a lot of tourists, especially in spring and summer due to the warm climate, a plenty of fruit and vegetables and because of the Volga beach.

Volgograd is an industrial city. There are a lot of factories and plants. The city is rich in sights such as the Fallen Fighters` Square, the Planetarium, the New Experimental Theatre, the Central Department Store, the Central Embankment, the Museum-Panorama of Stalingrad Battle and others.

As for me my favourite attraction of Volgograd is… because…

Speaking

Answer the questions.

1. Where is Volgograd situated?

2. When was Tsaritsyn founded?

3. When was it renamed Stalingrad? Volgograd?

4. What is the city famous for?

5. What sights of Volgograd are linked with the Great Patriotic War?

6. What other places of interest do you know in the city?

7. What is your favourite attraction of Volgograd? Why?

 

Retell the text.

 

 

UNIT II. Volgograd Places of Interest

Reading

Find out some information of Volgograd sights.

The MAMAYEV HILL

 

The Mamayev Hill is the highest hill in Volgograd, Russia (102 m), which was the main height of Russia during the Battle of Stalingrad. It was built as a memorial in honour to Soviet soldiers and officers who defended Stalingrad during the Great Patriotic War. The group of sculptors and designers was headed by the People’s Artist of the USSR, sculptor Evgeniy Vutechich. The ensemble includes a sculpture “Memory of Generations”, a composition “Fight to the Bitter End!”, “Wall-Ruins”, “the Square of Grief”, and the Hall of Military Glory. On the top of The Mamayev Hill there is the Motherland Statue which is the symbol of Volgograd. This statue is well-known all over the world. It is made of concrete. It is one of the highest sculptures in the world.The statue’s total height is 85 meters. Its weight is 8.000 tons; the only 33-meter sword weighs 14 tons.It was designed by Evgeniy Vutechich and Nicolay Nikitin. It had been built from 1959 till 1967.

 

The Central Embankment

At the top of the Central Embankmentthere isthe Fountain of Friendship with the composition “Arts” in the centre of it. The fountain was erected in 1957 on the upper terrace of the Central Embankment of Volgograd. The composition is presented by the sculpture of three dancing girls in national dresses.

 

 

Then there is a long and wide staircase with two white rotundas on both sides of it.

 

The Embankment is decorated with an old church of John the Forerunner (Ivan Predtetcha). It was built in stone in 1704 (before that there was a wooden church, 1664). It was the first stony building of Tsaritsyn. In 1932 the church was totally destroyed by blowing up. Now it has been restored.

 

 

Volgograders and visitors of the city admire the beautiful embankment and a wonderful view of the river Volga.