Oryol

While there are no historical records, archaeological evidence shows that a fortress settlement existed between the Oka and Orlik Rivers as early as the 12th century, when the land was a part of the Principality of Chernigov. The name of the fortress is unknown; it may not have been called Oryol at the time. In the 13th century the fortress became a part of the Zvenigorod district of the Karachev Principality. In the early 15th century, the territory was conquered by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The city was soon abandoned by its population, after being sacked either by Lithuanians or the Golden Horde. The territory became a part of the Tsardom of Russia in the 16th century.

Ivan IV Vasilyevich decreed that a new fortress be built on the spot in 1566, for the purpose of defending the southern borders of the country. The fortress was built very speedily, work starting in the summer of 1566 and ending in the spring of 1567. The location chosen was less than ideal strategically, as the fortress was located on a seasonally flooded low ground easily targeted from the neighboring high ground. False Dmitry I and his army passed through Oryol in 1605; Ivan Bolotnikov in 1606; False Dmitry II camped in Oryol for the winter of 1607–1608. Polish intervention sacked it in 1611 and 1615; the population fled after the second sacking and moved to Mtsensk. Orlovsky Uyezd nonetheless continued to exist on paper.

Oryol was rebuilt in 1636. The question of moving the fortress to the more advantageous high ground was in the air up until the 1670s, but the move was never made. The fortress was deemed unnecessary and taken apart in the early 18th century.

In the mid-18th century Oryol became one of the major centers of grain production, with the Oka River being the major trade route until the 1860s when it was replaced by a railroad.

Oryol was granted town status in 1702. In 1708, Oryol was included as a part of Kiev Governorate; in 1719, Oryol Province was created within Kiev Governorate. The Province was transferred to the newly created Belgorod Governorate in 1727. On March 11 (February 28 old style), 1778 Oryol Vice-Royalty was created from parts of Voronezh and Belgorod Governorates. In 1779, the city was almost entirely rebuilt based on a new plan; and the Oryol River was renamed Orlik (lit: "little eagle").

After the October Revolution of 1917, the city was in Bolshevik hands, except for a brief period between October 13 and October 20, 1919, when it was controlled by Anton Denikin's White Army.

Oryol was once again moved between different oblasts in the 1920s and 1930s (at first as Oryol Governorate until 1928, then Central Black Earth Region between 1928 and 1934, finally in Kursk Oblast), finally becoming the administrative center of its own Oryol Oblast on September 27, 1937.

The Oryol Prison was a notable place of incarceration for political prisoners and war prisoners of the Second World War. Christian Rakovsky, Maria Spiridonova, Olga Kameneva and 160 other prominent political prisoners were shot on September 11, 1941 on Joseph Stalin's orders in the Medvedev Forest massacre outside Oryol.

During the German-Soviet war, Oryol was occupied by the Guderian's Panzer group of the Wehrmacht on October 3, 1941, burst from the south-west.

In the sky over the Oryol fought the famous squadron Normandie-Niemen.

September 19, 1943 in the Oryol was the first in the history of the Great Patriotic War parade of partisan units stationed in the Oryol region.

Oryol was liberated on August 5, 1943 during the Oryol strategic offensive operation "Kutuzov" on the Oryol-Kursk Bulge. The city was almost completely destroyed. By order №2 of I. V. Stalin of August 5, 1943, on this day in Moscow an artillery salute was given to the troops that liberated the Oryol. Since then the city is called the city of the first salute and the day of the liberation from the Nazi invaders was celebrated as the city day.

Oryol stands on the banks of the Oka River and its tributary Orlik river in the Central Russian Upland of the East European Plain, approximately 368 km (229 mi) south-southwest of Moscow.

Oryol has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). Winters are moderately cold and changeable. The first half is softer second with often warmings. Summers is warm, in separate years — could be rainy or hot and droughty.

Administratively, the city is divided into 4 districts:

• Severny (Северный) — population: 67 348 (2018)
• Sovetsky (Советский) — population: 78 587 (2018)
• Zheleznodorozhny (Железнодорожный) — population: 62 563 (2018)
• Zavodskoy (Заводской) — population: 106 810 (2018) — the biggest, old and most populous

• 1991–1997: Alexander Kislyakov
• 1997–2002: Yefim Velkovsky
• 2002–2006: Vasily Uvarov
• 2006–2009: Alexander Kasyanov
• 2009–2010: Vasily Eremin
• 2010–2012: Viktor Safianov
• 2012–2015: Sergey Stupin
• 2015–present: Vasily Novikov

City-managers:

• 2012–2015: Mikhail Bernikov
• 2015–2017: Andrey Usikov
• 2017–present: Alexander Muromsky

In the Oryol converge important highways of federal and regional values:

• E105 / M2 "Crimea"
• R92
• R119
• R120
• 54А-1
• 54К-16

The main intercity terminal: Oryol Bus Station

ZiU-682 trolleybus

On 29 October 1968, a regular movement was opened. Length of the contact network 76.51 km (47.54 mi). There are 4 routes for 2019.

Since 1868, there has been a railway connection between Oryol and Moscow.[13] Here converge 5 railway lines: on Yelets, Moscow, Kursk, Bryansk, Mikhailovsky mine.

The main terminals: Oryol Station, Station Luzhki-Oryol.

Tatra T3SU tram

On November 3, 1898 Oryol inaugurated an electric tram. The draft was prepared by the Belgian entrepreneur FF Gilon and firm «Compagnie mutuelle de tramways», which won the right to build not only a tram, but also lighting in the city. Oryol tram is one of the oldest electric tram systems in Russia. It is 1 year older than Moscow and 9 years — St. Petersburg. In 2017, the length of the lines in double-track calculation was 18.3 km (11.4 mi). For 2019, there are 3 routes, which are operated: Tatra T3 (74 units), Tatra T6B5 (13 units), 71-403 (1 unit), 71-405 (1 unit).

Monument (MiG-15) to Soviet pilots who fought for the liberation of Oryol land from Nazi invaders (photo 2018)

The city is served by the Oryol Yuzhny Airport, which is currently not working.

Oryol State Academic Theater

Oryol is twinned with:[14]

• Орловский областной Совет народных депутатов. Закон №522-ОЗ от 6 июля 2005 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Орловской области», в ред. Закона №1187-ОЗ от 1 апреля 2011 г «О внесении изменений в законодательные акты Орловской области». Вступил в силу с момента официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Орловская правда", №116, 13 июля 2005 г. (Oryol Oblast Council of People's Deputies. Law #522-OZ of July 6, 2005 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Oryol Oblast, as amended by the Law #1187-OZ of April 1, 2011 On Amending the Legislative Acts of Oryol Oblast. Effective as of the moment of the official publication.).
• Орловский областной Совет народных депутатов. Закон №467-ОЗ от 28 декабря 2004 г. «О статусе и границе города Орла как муниципального образования Орловской области», в ред. Закона №1059-ОЗ от 11 мая 2010 г «О внесении изменений в Закон Орловской области "О статусе и границе города Орла Орловской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Орловская правда", №233, 30 декабря 2004 г. (Oryol Oblast Council of People's Deputies. Law #467-OZ of December 28, 2004 On the Status and Borders of the City of Oryol as a Municipal Formation of Oryol Oblast, as amended by the Law #1059-OZ of May 11, 2010 On Amending the Law of Oryol Oblast "On the Status and Borders of the City of Oryol of Oryol Oblast". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
• Орловский областной Совет народных депутатов. Закон №466-ОЗ от 28 декабря 2004 г. «О статусе, границах и административных центрах муниципальных образований на территории Орловского района Орловской области», в ред. Закона №1327-ОЗ от 2 марта 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Орловской области "О статусе, границах и административных центрах муниципальных образований на территории Орловского района Орловской области" и признании утратившими силу отдельных положений Закона Орловской области "О внесении изменений в Закон Орловской области "О статусе, границах и административных центрах муниципальных образований на территории Орловского района Орловской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Орловская правда", №233, 30 декабря 2004 г. (Oryol Oblast Council of People's Deputies. Law #466-OZ of December 28, 2004 On the Status, Borders, and Administrative Centers of the Municipal Formations on the Territory of Orlovsky District of Oryol Oblast, as amended by the Law #1327-OZ of March 2, 2012 On Amending the Law of Oryol Oblast "On the Status, Borders, and Administrative Centers of the Municipal Formations on the Territory of Orlovsky District of Oryol Oblast" and on Rescinding Parts of the Law of Oryol Oblast "On Amending the Law of Oryol Oblast "On the Status, Borders, and Administrative Centers of the Municipal Formations on the Territory of Orlovsky District of Oryol Oblast". Effective as of the day of the official publication.).