Tomskaya Pisanitsa
About This Museum
People come to Tomskaya Pisanitsa for a remarkable encounter with ancient art, where prehistoric artists carved more than 300 petroglyphs of moose, bears, and sun gods directly onto the sandstone cliffs above the Tom River. It's not just an open-air museum; it's a vast forested reserve perfect for a long walk among the pines, where the air is fresh and the history is palpable. You can break up your exploration by visiting the surprisingly lively small zoo or hearing the excited barks of the resident sled dog team. The whole place feels like a peaceful escape that connects you deeply to Siberia's distant past and its natural beauty.
Collection Highlights
The main event is the rock art itself—ancient drawings of shamanic figures, hunting scenes, and wildlife etched into the rock face. Beyond the carvings, you'll find reconstructed ethnographic zones like a Siberian village and a Slavic homestead, plus enclosures with native animals like sables and lynx.
Visitor Information
Wear comfortable shoes because you'll be doing a fair bit of walking on woodland paths. It's a great day-trip destination from Kemerovo, especially in summer when everything is green and accessible.
Architecture & Building
The 'architecture' here is primarily natural—the dramatic cliff face itself serves as the main gallery. The man-made structures are mostly rustic wooden buildings, like traditional log cabins and viewing platforms, designed to blend into the forest setting.
Contact & Location
Address: Музей-заповедник «Томская писаница», Кемерово — Яшкино — Тайга, Яшкино, Яшкинский муниципальный округ, Кемеровская область, Сибирский федеральный округ, 652010, Россия
Phone: +7 800 600-92-93
Website: Visit Website
