Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk: The Cossack on the Angara Bank

The Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk stands on the Lower Embankment of the Angara river, close to the Epiphany Cathedral, and it is one of the largest monuments in the city. A bronze Cossack about six meters high stands on a tall red pedestal beside the water.

The monument was unveiled in 2011 for the 350th anniversary of Irkutsk. It is linked with Yakov Pokhabov, the Cossack who built the first wooden fort here in 1661, though the monument was first presented as a tribute to all the founders. It is a short stop on a walk along the river, so check the official source for works or events before you go.

Quick Facts

Russian name	Памятник основателям Иркутска
Built / opened	2011
Address	улица Нижняя Набережная, 2, Иркутск
District	Irkutsk (historic center, Lower Embankment of the Angara)
Opening hours	The monument stands on a public embankment and can be seen at any time (as of October 2026 – check the official site of the city for works or events).
Admission	Free.
Best time to visit	Weekday mornings are calm, and summer evenings are lively, when many people walk along the river. Winter is cold and quiet, and the bronze looks stern against the snow. Good light for photographs is in the morning or at sunset.
Recommended duration	10 to 20 minutes
Last updated	October 13, 2026

What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk?

Part	Status	Notes
The statue and the pedestal	Included in the standard ticket	A public monument, free to see at any time.
The embankment promenade	Included in the standard ticket	The path and viewing places around the monument.
The Epiphany Cathedral	Outside / not part of it	A working cathedral beside the embankment, covered in its own guide.
The Moscow Gate	Outside / not part of it	A reconstructed triumphal arch at the start of the embankment, covered in its own guide.
The eternal flame and memorial park	Outside / not part of it	A war memorial near the administration building, not part of this monument.
The first fort of 1661	Not open to visitors	Nothing of the fort survives, and its exact site is uncertain.

Why Visit Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk?

The monument marks the place where the story of Irkutsk is said to begin. It stands on the Lower Embankment, opposite the point where the Irkut flows into the Angara, which is supposed to be the area where the Cossack Yakov Pokhabov had a small wooden fort, an ostrog, built in 1661, according to travel sources.

It also fits easily into a walk. The Moscow Gate, the Epiphany Cathedral, the eternal flame and the Church of the Savior are all close, so the statue is a good midpoint on the embankment. The pedestal carries a simple inscription, and the figure is big enough to be seen from far along the river path.

Highlights of Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk

The bronze Cossack

The statue is a bronze figure of a Cossack about six meters high, according to travel sources, cast in the city of Zhukovsky near Moscow, according to a travel source. It stands on a tall pedestal of red stone next to the river. The sculptor is given as Mikhail Pereyaslavets, a Moscow sculptor known for patriotic and military figures, according to a travel source.

Tip: Look at the figure from the lower path by the water, where its scale is most obvious.

The inscription "To the founders of Irkutsk"

The pedestal bears the inscription "To the founders of Irkutsk, from the citizens", according to a travel source, and the monument was unveiled on 14 September 2011, the day of the city's 350th anniversary celebrations, according to travel sources. The wording shows that it was meant to honor a group of pioneers rather than one person.

Tip: Read the inscription, which is the clearest sign of what the monument was meant to say.

Founders or Yakov Pokhabov?

Sources describe the monument in two ways: as a collective monument to the Cossacks who founded the city, and as a monument to the Cossack leader Yakov Pokhabov, who built the first ostrog in 1661, according to travel sources. One source says the monument was first dedicated to the founders and a year later presented as a monument to Pokhabov. No portrait of Pokhabov survives, so the figure comes from the sculptor's imagination.

Tip: Remember that the face is imagined, since no portrait of Pokhabov is known.

The place where Irkutsk began

The monument stands on the Lower Embankment, opposite the place where the Irkut flows into the Angara, according to travel sources, which is supposed to be the area where the fort of 1661 was built. Another source notes that it is not on the exact spot where Pokhabov put his first hut. The fort grew into a town, and Irkutsk received town rights about 15 years later, according to a travel source.

Tip: Look across the river toward the place where the Irkut joins the Angara.

A cluster of sights on the embankment

The monument is close to the Epiphany Cathedral, the Moscow Gate and a memorial park with an eternal flame, according to travel sources, and the sculpture of Saints Peter and Fevronia stands on the same embankment, according to a local source. This makes the monument a natural stop between the gate and the cathedral.

Tip: Walk the embankment from the Moscow Gate toward the monument and the cathedral.

Atmosphere

The monument feels solid and calm beside the river. A large dark bronze figure rises on a tall red pedestal above the water, with the Angara broad and bright behind it and the cathedral’s colorful walls close by. You hear footsteps on the promenade, traffic from the upper road and sometimes music.

It is quiet on weekday mornings and busier on summer evenings, when families, couples and groups walk along the embankment. In winter the bronze stands out dark against the snow, and the river steams in the frost, which gives the figure a stern look.

History of Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk

Irkutsk began in 1661 as a small wooden fort, an ostrog, on the bank of the Angara, built by the Cossack leader Yakov Pokhabov, according to travel sources. Pokhabov had been in the area for some years before, visiting the Khan of Mongolia, exploring Lake Baikal and collecting fur tax for the tsar from the local Buryats, according to a travel source.

The fort stood close to the point where the Irkut flows into the Angara, according to travel sources. Irkutsk developed as a center of trade between Russia and China, and it received town rights about 15 years after the building of the fort, according to a travel source.

For the 350th anniversary of the city in 2011, Irkutsk decided to put up a monument to its founders. The monument was unveiled on 14 September 2011, the day of the anniversary celebrations, according to travel sources. The statue is about six meters high and was cast in Zhukovsky near Moscow, according to a travel source.

The sculptor is given as Mikhail Pereyaslavets in one source. A bronze Cossack stands on a tall pedestal of red stone, and the pedestal bears the words “To the founders of Irkutsk, from the citizens”, according to travel sources. No portrait of Pokhabov is known, so the face of the figure comes from the sculptor’s imagination, according to a travel source.

The way the monument is presented changed. One source says that in 2011 it was dedicated to the founders, although the pedestal shows one figure, and a year later it was presented as a monument to Yakov Pokhabov.

The monument stands on the Lower Embankment, in a place that is supposed to be close to the site of the fort, though a source notes that it is not on the exact spot where Pokhabov placed his first hut.

Today the monument is one of the largest in the city, according to a travel source, and part of the embankment promenade with the Moscow Gate and the Epiphany Cathedral. The dates and details above come from travel sources and general knowledge, and they differ between sources, so they should be checked against official city and heritage sources.

Tickets and Booking for Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk

Entry. The monument stands on a public embankment, so there is no ticket and no booking, and it can be seen at any time. Works on the embankment may restrict access for a time, so follow signs.

Rules. Normal public-space rules apply. Do not climb on the pedestal. Drones and organized events may need permissions, so check with the official source.

Payment. Cash in rubles is the most reliable way to pay in nearby cafes and kiosks. Whether foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work was not verified and should not be assumed, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself. For events, check the official website of the city of Irkutsk.

Suggested Itineraries for Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk

10 minutes

See the statue from the promenade, read the inscription on the pedestal and look across the river toward the place where the Irkut meets the Angara.

1 hour

Start at the Moscow Gate, walk the Lower Embankment to the monument, then visit the Epiphany Cathedral and the Church of the Savior.

Half day

Walk the Lower Embankment in the morning, see the cathedral and the churches, have lunch near Kirov Square, then walk to the 130th Quarter in the afternoon.

How to Get to Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk

The monument stands on the Lower Embankment of the Angara, beside Nizhnyaya Naberezhnaya Street, in the historic center of Irkutsk on the right bank. Irkutsk has no Metro, so most visitors arrive on foot, by tram, bus or taxi.

• From the center: it is within a short walk of Kirov Square and the Epiphany Cathedral, and it lies on the embankment promenade.
• By tram, bus or taxi: city transport stops in the center; check the current routes with the operators, since they change.
• From the station or the airport: a taxi or a bus to the center is the usual way; see the Irkutsk guide for details.

Save the address in Latin letters and in Russian, and check a map on your phone before you go.

Accessibility

Accessibility was not verified. The monument is on a promenade that is mostly flat, but steps lead to the lower path by the water, so visitors with reduced mobility should check a map and local advice, and expect icy surfaces in winter.

Food Nearby

The center has many cafes and restaurants within a short walk, including those around Kirov Square and the 130th Quarter. Specific venues were not verified here, so check opening hours before you go.

What to Bring

Bring comfortable shoes for walking, a windproof layer for the river, sun protection in summer, and warm layers, gloves and a hat in winter. A phone with an offline map helps in finding the sights along the embankment.

Best Views and Photo Spots of Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk

The statue from the lower path

From the path by the water you can frame the bronze figure on its tall pedestal against the sky, which shows its scale.

Best time: Morning or late afternoon, in soft light.

The statue with the cathedral

From a short distance you can frame the monument together with the colorful Epiphany Cathedral, which gives a sense of the old center.

Best time: Early evening, when the light is warm.

The statue with the Angara behind

A low angle with the broad river behind the figure shows its setting beside the water.

Best time: Midday, in even light.

The monument in winter

Snow, frost and steam from the river make the dark bronze look stern, and it looks very different from summer.

Best time: Winter mornings, on cold clear days.

Photography Rules

Photography is allowed at the monument, as in most public spaces, but rules may apply to events, so follow signs and be respectful. Do not climb on the pedestal. Drone rules also apply in cities and near monuments, so check the regulations with the official source before you use one.

Family Suitability

A short stop works for families with children, with a flat promenade and open views of the river. Strollers can use the upper level, but steps lead to the lower path, so check access beforehand. Keep children away from the edge of the water, and watch for ice in winter.

Russia Vibes Tips

• Read the inscription "To the founders of Irkutsk, from the citizens" before you decide who the figure represents.
• Look across the river for the point where the Irkut meets the Angara, which the monument faces.
• Walk from the Moscow Gate to the monument and on to the cathedral, since the three sit in a short line.
• Remember that no portrait of Yakov Pokhabov survives, so the face is imagined.
• Do not confuse this monument with the Alexander III monument, which stands on a different stretch of the embankment.
• In winter, wear shoes with a good grip, since the steps to the lower path can be icy.

Explore Nearby Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk

Sights near Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk

• Lower Angara Embankment, Irkutsk · typical visit: 1 to 2 hours
• Epiphany Cathedral, Irkutsk · typical visit: 30 to 60 minutes
• Russia Triumphal Gates, Irkutsk · typical visit: 15 to 30 minutes
• Church of the Savior, Irkutsk · typical visit: 20 to 40 minutes
• Kirov Square, Irkutsk · typical visit: 30 to 60 minutes

Related guides

• Irkutsk: 130 Kvartal, Decembrists and Gateway to Lake Baikal
• Victory Day, Irkutsk: Parade, Immortal Regiment and Eternal Flame
• Angara Hotel, Irkutsk: Large Three-Star Hotel at Kirov Square
• Pepel, Irkutsk: Historic Baikal Cuisine in Peretolchin’s House

Browse more: More in Irkutsk (historic center, Lower Embankment of the Angara) · All Irkutsk · All Landmarks · All Sightseeing · All Sightseeing in Irkutsk

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FAQ: Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk

Who is shown in the monument?

It is a bronze Cossack, presented as a tribute to the founders of Irkutsk and linked with Yakov Pokhabov, who built the first fort in 1661, according to travel sources. No portrait of Pokhabov survives.

When was it unveiled?

It was unveiled on 14 September 2011, for the 350th anniversary celebrations of Irkutsk, according to travel sources.

How tall is it?

The statue is about six meters high, according to travel sources, and it stands on a tall pedestal of red stone.

Is it on the site of the first fort?

It is close to the place where the fort is supposed to have stood, near where the Irkut flows into the Angara, but it is not on the exact spot, according to a travel source.

Where is it?

It stands on the Lower Embankment of the Angara, beside Nizhnyaya Naberezhnaya Street, near the Epiphany Cathedral.

Is it free?

Yes, the monument is on a public embankment and can be seen at any time without a ticket.

How long do I need?

Ten to twenty minutes is enough for the statue and the inscription. Add time for the Lower Embankment and the cathedral.

Who was the sculptor?

One travel source names the Moscow sculptor Mikhail Pereyaslavets, and the statue was cast in Zhukovsky near Moscow. The authorship should be confirmed.