This city is also known as the younger brother of St. Petersburg. It was founded on the place of confluence of two Siberian Rivers in 1709 by Peter I decree. In Peter`s decree stated as follows: "On the Biya and Katun Rivers in a decent place for gathering of our great sovereign of treasury and to the settlement of peasants a stockade town with any fortresses should be constructed."

Nowadays Biysk is the second largest and the oldest city of Altai Territory.

Biysk is located in the south-eastern part of the Altai Territory on the Biya River, near its confluence with the Katun River, on the southwest slope of the Biysk-Chumysh hill. A part of the city is located on the left low-lying bank and surrounded by the pine forest. The distance to the city of Barnaul - 163 km, to Novosibirsk - 356 km, to Moscow - 3700 km, to the Mongolian border - 617 km.

Founded in 1709 the fortress entered in Biysk and Kuznetsk Cossack line and in 1782 Biysk became a city. Soon he received his coat of arms, with a running silver horse on a green field on the top and gold mountain penetrated by mine – on a blue lower field.

Some decades later fortress and Petropavlovsk church were sorted. However today, the city administration has implemented the intention to recreate the model of Bikatunsky fortress, which can be seen in Biysk museum.

After fortress elimination Byisk from a military administration centre became an industrial centre.

At the end of 19th - beginning of 20th centuries in Biysk enterprises for processing of local raw materials laid down, such as: tanning, distilling and sawing plants, tobacco and linen weaving factories, steam mill, refrigerator and number of brickworks. 

In 1915 Biysk was connected the railroad with the Trans-Siberian Railway. Offices of the largest banks worked in the city. Biysk was the center of Altai Spiritual mission for decades. By the invitation of merchants and businessmen, the best architects of Siberia came to Biysk for a work. Today tourists can see some of those buildings. The building of People`s House (Municipal Drama Theater at present) was constructed in 1913-1916 year and a mansion of merchant Nassanov, where today the historical exposition of Regional Museum is located.

In 1925-1938 Biysk was a distinct center of Siberia. In this years in the city a sugar plant, bacon factory and a big distinct hospital were built. The famous Chuysky Tract was built in those years. Today in the museum exhibit you will see the history and construction of this historical road.

The last half century Biysk is the largest scientific industrial center. Such branches as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, electronics and instrumentation, building suppliers, furniture manufacturing, and food industry develop here. Today Biysk entered in a new phase of development. Biysk was given the science city status.

Biysk is a starting point to all journeys around the Altai, Chuysky tract leads to Belokurikha resort, Chemal village, Mount Belukha, the Ukok Plateau, Lake Teletskoye and Mongolia. More than 2 million tourists travel annually via Biysk; it's a great platform, "base camp" for a close acquaintance with the Altai.

All visitors are usually surprised to clean on streets, to a good state of cultural, educational and medical establishments. Biysk is not only “the gate to the Altai Mountains” and not only the city, where the Chuysky path begins, it is a big cultural and spiritual center of region. Here are lots of sights, which attracted more and more tourist every year.

And if you are in Biysk, you should definitely visit a Local Museum and its exhibits. Unique Biysk temples affect visitors by their spiritual treasures. The Uspensky Cathedral has the most beautiful iconostases. But the Museum of Vasily Shukshin, located in the Srostky village, is a real pearl of Biysk land. Only 35 kilometers on the Chuysky tract and you will appear in the homeland of the person who has become an symbol of Russian character.

The time zone is GMT+7