Students, graduate students, young scientists who use the knowledge base in their studies and work will be very grateful to you.
The concept and essence of tourism. General characteristics of tourism as a branch of the world economy. Analysis of the state of the tourism market in the Republic of Buryatia and prospects for the development of the Baikal region as a tourist center. The need to develop inbound tourism.
course work, added 01/10/2009
Features of the geographical location, natural, socio-economic and historical prerequisites for the development of tourism in the Republic of Buryatia. Potential of an ecologically clean Baikal region. Relief, climate, water resources, flora and fauna.
course work, added 06/10/2012
Basic requirements and methods of legal regulation in children's tourism. The origins of the development of children's tourism for the purpose of travel and excursions, the experience of their coordination. Basis and directions for the development of children's and youth tourism in the Republic of Buryatia.
course work, added 05/30/2012
Natural recreational resources and cultural and historical potential of the Republic of Buryatia. Types of recreation and tourism, main economic indicators and prospects for its development. Tourist infrastructure, recreational network. Recommendations for tourism development.
thesis, added 06/21/2015
Features of tourism development in the Republic of Buryatia. Economic-geographical position, climatic conditions of the Kabansky region. Development of the tourism industry in the area. Methodology for calculating statistical indicators of tourism. Profitability of tourist bases.
course work, added 12/16/2012
Information about the Kharovsky district: geographical location, historical background, current state of tourism. Natural recreational resources as a factor in tourism development. Efficient use of cultural heritage and socio-economic resources.
course work, added 03/02/2015
The main factors in the development of domestic domestic tourism. Types of cultural heritage sites in the Vladimir region. The state of the regional market of cultural and educational tourism. Brief description of the new tourism product, economic justification.
thesis, added 10/08/2015
The Republic of Buryatia is an autonomous republic, a subject of the Russian Federation, part of the Siberian Federal District, founded on May 30, 1923. The capital is Ulan-Ude. The area of the Republic of Buryatia is 351.3 thousand sq. km. The Republic borders the Irkutsk region from the north and west (along the waters of Lake Baikal), in the far west at a relatively short distance lies the border with the Republic of Tyva, in the south there is the state border with Mongolia, in the east there is the border with the Trans-Baikal Territory.
Buryatia is located in the central part of Asia. This is an amazing and beautiful land, a country of mountains and steppes, deep rivers and numerous lakes, endless taiga and green valleys. It is located inland, far from the seas and oceans, and has a contrasting climate, combining cold winters and hot summers. The climate of Buryatia is beneficial due to the abundance of sunlight, dry air and little cloudiness.
The development of the tourist and recreational complex of the Republic of Buryatia is based on large recreational potential, one of the components of which is natural, historical and cultural tourism resources. The areas of distribution of the maximum and high potential of tourism resources occupy 45.6% of the total area of the republic. At the same time, the largest resources are located within the boundaries of 14 administrative units (the coastal zone of Lake Baikal - Barguzinsky, Kabansky, Pribaikalsky, Severo-Baikalsky districts, Severobaykalsk; mountain and resort areas - Tunkinsky, Okinsky, Kurumkansky; historical and cultural areas - the city of Ulan-Ude, Kyakhta, Mukhorshibirsky, Tarbagataisky, Ivolginsky, Khorinsky districts). In the Republic of Buryatia, several main areas of mass tourism and recreation have developed, including: lakes Kotokel and Shchuchye; coast of Lake Baikal in the Posolsky Sor sections, section from the river delta. Selenga to the village. Zarechye Kabansky district, as well as from the village. Gremyachinsk, Pribaikalsky district to the Maksimikha tourist center in the Barguzinsky district; territories of the state national parks "Zabaikalsky" and "Tunkinsky"; several territories in the North Baikal region (Khakusy Bay, Lake Frolikha, Davsha, Yarki Spit, Lake Slyudyanskoye). The territories of the Khamar-Daban mountain ranges (Lake Sobolinoye, Lake Tagley, Snezhnaya River), Eastern Sayan, Barguzinsky and Baikalsky ridges.
The tourism market of Buryatia is characterized by positive dynamics.
For the period 2006-2010. The total tourist flow increased by 2.8 times, and the volume of paid services provided in the tourism sector increased by 2.3 times. According to Expert RA, Buryatia rose from 45th place in 2006 to 14th place in 2010 in terms of tourism potential and occupies a leading position among the regions of the Far East and Transbaikalia in terms of growth rates of key indicators.
In 2010, the number of tourist arrivals amounted to 471.2 thousand people, which is 30.4% more than in 2009. The volume of paid services provided to tourists in 2010 amounted to 1302.3 million rubles. and increased by 21.8% compared to 2009.
The geography of inbound tourism is vast and covers 61 countries. The number of foreign citizens who visited the republic in 2010 was 22.2 thousand people. The share of countries in the Asia-Pacific region is 53.3%, Europe - 18.1%, USA - 4.4%.
According to statistical data, the number of tourist arrivals in the Republic of Buryatia for the 1st half of 2011 amounted to 225.4 thousand people, which is 16.1% more than in the same period last year, the volume of paid services provided to tourists was 533.4 million .rub., which is 24% more than in the 1st half of 2010.
There are 27 tour operators in the tourism market of Buryatia, 10 of which operate in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the People's Republic of China on visa-free group tourist trips, 39 travel agencies, 4 professional public organizations (Buryat regional organization of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, Non-profit Partnership Buryat Tourist Alliance, Baikal branch of the Russian Hotel Association, Buryat Association of Hoteliers). There are 411 collective accommodation facilities (CAF) for tourists in the republic with a total capacity of 13,198 beds. 2 hotels have a 4 star category. The structure of the KSR includes 100 hotels, 226 boarding houses, tourist centers and holiday homes, 11 sanatorium-resort institutions, 74 guest houses. In 2010, 45 collective accommodation facilities were introduced, of which: 7 tourist centers, recreation centers, 3 hotels, the remaining 35 RACs are guest houses and mini-hotels of various capacities. Large objects: guest house "Syndbad" in the village. Ust-Barguzin, Barguzinsky district (50 places), tourist complex "Dalan" in the Eravninsky district (80 places), hotel "Princess Christina" in the village. Arshan, Tunkinsky district (96 places). 1/3 of the introduced accommodation facilities are mini-hotels in Ulan-Ude. In the first half of 2011, 11 mini-hotels with 198 beds were put into operation in Ulan-Ude.
Tourist destinations related to international tourism are gradually emerging on the territory of the republic. Such directions are the direction along the “Tea Route” (China, Mongolia, Russia), and along the Baikal-Khuvsgul route (Mongolia).
The greatest activity of the domestic and inbound tourism market is observed in the summer, which gives tourism in the Republic of Buryatia a pronounced seasonal character. The activity of the outbound tourism market is also subject to fluctuations, however, it is more stable.
In the first half of 2011, 11 mini-hotels with 198 beds were put into operation in Ulan-Ude. Tourist destinations related to international tourism are gradually emerging on the territory of the republic. Such directions are the direction along the “Tea Route” (China, Mongolia, Russia), and along the Baikal-Khuvsgul route (Mongolia). The greatest activity of the domestic and inbound tourism market is observed in the summer, which gives tourism in the Republic of Buryatia a pronounced seasonal character. The activity of the outbound tourism market is also subject to fluctuations, however, it is more stable.
Table 1 - Tourism statistics in the Republic of Buryatia
Indicators |
Growth rate, % |
Growth rate, % |
Growth rate, % |
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Number of tourists served, people. |
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Domestic tourism |
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Inbound tourism |
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Outbound tourism |
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Volume of paid services provided to tourists, million rubles. |
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Number of employees, people |
The following main trends prevail in the local market:
The greatest demand among tourists is for comfortable tourist centers (recreation centers) - 26.8%; separate cottages - 22.6%; small and medium-sized hotels with a full range of services - 18.7%. A popular means of accommodation in active and camping tourism are tents (18.9%).
Sanatoriums are in slightly less demand - 15.7%, and comfortable large hotel complexes are in even less demand - 12.1%. The demand for the services of alternative rural tourism accommodation facilities is 9.9%, which is a market reaction to these offers, as well as a consequence of the lack of available places in the summer;
Tourism infrastructure includes a set of heat and power facilities, gas supply, water supply, sewerage and waste disposal, telecommunications, and road infrastructure. A significant part of these infrastructure units relates to public infrastructure and is used for tourism purposes in parallel with other uses. At the same time, the tourism sector also creates its own internal special infrastructure, which includes access roads in the territories of tourism sites, as well as pedestrian paths and paths, autonomous sewerage and recycling systems, separate networks and energy facilities, and telecommunications.
The public infrastructure in the republic includes a number of objects with different characteristics:
Heat and electricity supply, water supply, sewerage and recycling systems operate mainly in populated areas, primarily in cities. The gas supply infrastructure is not yet developed. However, in tourism and recreation areas these systems are not developed or are absent altogether.
Telecommunication systems, including television and radio broadcasting, cover most regions of the republic; however, in tourism and recreation areas the signal is often insufficiently stable, which makes it impossible to use receiving devices. Satellite and radio communication systems are also underdeveloped.
The road network of the Republic of Buryatia has few paved roads. Basically, paved roads connect the city of Ulan-Ude with regional centers, as well as with the cities of Irkutsk and Kyakhta. At the same time, in certain areas (Barguzinsky, Pribaikalsky, Eravninsky, Okinsky districts) there are sections of dirt roads, which worsens the traffic conditions for passenger vehicles and tourist buses. The road network is not developed, or there are few paved roads in tourism and recreation areas (Zabaikalsky National Park, the right bank of the Selenga River near Lake Baikal). This circumstance, along with the underdevelopment of roadside services, is a serious obstacle to the development of automobile tourism and the delivery of tourists to vacation spots. Considering that 53.3% of tourists use personal cars to travel to vacation spots, and 40.4% of tourists use buses, the underdevelopment of the road network and roadside services is a problem that requires quick resolution.
There is 1 airport of federal significance in the Republic of Buryatia, but its reconstruction has not been carried out, there is no equipped checkpoint, which impedes the organization of international tourist air transportation. The activities of most regional airports have been suspended. There are not enough comfortable aircraft suitable for organizing air travel and transporting tourists on local routes; there are no tourist-class helicopters and small aircraft.
There are several railway lines in Buryatia, connecting it with the western and eastern regions of Russia, as well as with Mongolia. 21.9% of tourists use the services of the railway, mainly for trips to and from the republic. Internal rail transportation within its borders is poorly developed, but at the same time the demand for this type of transportation is quite high.
The development of public infrastructure in the Republic of Buryatia is carried out in accordance with sectoral federal and republican programs, and the needs of the tourism sector are not sufficiently taken into account. Investment support for the development of the tourist and recreational complex of the Republic of Buryatia is carried out through the mechanism of state support and market mechanisms, the influence of which on the tourism process is increasing. Provision from budgets is carried out through the financing of targeted programs for the development of tourism and resorts.
Buryatia, due to its geographical location, rich history and unique natural resources, is ideal for tourism. Buryatia has everything for the development of tourism: impressive natural sites, rich cultural heritage, interesting national and environmental traditions and a variety of tourist routes - horseback riding, hiking, water, mountain. Everyone notes the exceptional originality of the main natural object of the region - Baikal. The climate on Lake Baikal is special; its main feature is the huge mass of clean water. On Baikal, summers are not very hot, and winters are milder than in the continental part. The number of days a year in the Baikal region exceeds even the resorts of the South of Russia.
The Republic of Buryatia has a recreational potential, the full use of which can largely satisfy the need for sanatorium treatment, tourism and recreation of the population both in the republic itself and in other regions of Russia, the CIS, as well as foreign tourists from Asia, Europe, and America. This is a sufficient prerequisite for the creation of a highly profitable tourist and recreational complex in Buryatia as one of the promising sectors for the development of the republic’s economy. The uniqueness of the ecosystem of Lake Baikal and the natural and cultural landscapes of its basin, which meet all the characteristics of a World Heritage Site, creates broad prospects for the development of the recreational sector of the economy.
There are 3 nature reserves in Buryatia: Barguzinsky, Baikalsky, Dzherginsky and two national parks - Zabaikalsky and Tunkinsky. The main tourist attractions of the republic are concentrated in three geographical regions: Northern Baikal, Podlemorye and Tunka. The most promising areas for tourism development are the Pribaikalsky, Barguzinsky, Kurumkansky, Kabansky, Kyakhtinsky, Tunkinsky and Okinsky districts.
The Republic of Buryatia has unique opportunities for developing a network of holiday homes and sanatoriums. This is facilitated by the rich nature of Lake Baikal and the presence of multiple natural healing springs that contribute to the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system.
On the territory of the Republic of Buryatia there are 35 tourism enterprises with a license to conduct international tourism activities (12 of them received licenses in 2001), 5 sanatorium and resort institutions, 270 tourist accommodation facilities providing various services, incl. hotels, camp sites, recreation centers, boarding houses, sanatoriums, fisherman's and hunter's houses, etc.
The nature of the republic has given people over three hundred healing springs, which are called arshans, which means “healing water”, “drink of the gods”. Carbon dioxide, thermal and cold waters are developed in the Eastern Sayan Mountains. Within the Baikal rift, nitrogen-silicon thermal waters containing radon and hydrogen sulfide are common; in addition, there are cold sulfide and ferruginous waters in the region. Accommodation conditions at the resorts are very different: separate cottages, hotel-type dormitories, separate summer houses, tent camps. The most famous health resorts in Buryatia are the sanatoriums “Arshan”, “Sayany”, “Goryachinsk”, “Baikalsky Bor”.
State nature reserves are territories (water areas) that are of particular importance for the conservation and restoration of natural complexes or their components and maintaining the ecological balance.
As of January 1, 2002, in the Republic of Buryatia there are 3 state natural reserves of federal significance - Altacheysky, Kabansky, Frolikhinsky (with a total area of 181.3 thousand hectares; the Kabansky state natural reserve is a structural subdivision of the Baikal State Natural Biosphere Reserve), 17 regional nature reserves values (total area 884.8 thousand hectares).
The reserves of Buryatia do not have a zoning regime, with the exception of the Pribaikalsky reserve, in which zoning of the territory was carried out in accordance with the TACIS program “Management of Natural Resources in the Lake Baikal Region” in 1999.
Natural monuments are unique, irreplaceable, ecologically, scientifically and aesthetically valuable natural complexes, as well as objects of natural and artificial origin.
In the Republic of Buryatia, 266 natural monuments have been identified (93 of them have decrees of the Government of the Republic of Belarus): 19 landscape, 82 geological, 111 aquatic, 25 botanical, 9 zoological, 20 natural-historical.
The Main Directorate of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia for the Republic of Buryatia is reviewing documents on the organization of two botanical monuments of regional significance “Relict Grove of Japanese Elm” in the Baikal region (Tataurovo village, Mostovka village).
In the structure of tourist flow, domestic tourism accounts for more than 80%, inbound tourism 13%, outbound tourism 7%. The ratio of types of tourism indicates the predominant development of domestic tourism, which is a positive factor, amounted to 186,729 people, including domestic tourism - 165,404, inbound - 21,296 people, tourist and sanatorium-resort resources of the republic, issues of creating information (visiting) are being worked out. centers in the regions of Buryatia.
Promoting the tourism product of Buryatia in professional tourism markets contributes to the development of international relations, attracting investment resources not only in the tourism sector, but also in other promising sectors of the economy, the development of promising enterprises and projects, which ultimately leads to an increase in tourist flow to the republic.
Positive changes are taking place in the field of tourism development planning and organization at the local level, which is a factor that increases the manageability of the industry and reduces the negative economic, environmental and socio-cultural results of uncontrolled tourism development. Development programs and plans have been prepared and are being prepared in the Kabansky, Barguzinsky, Tunkinsky, Okinsky, Pribaikalsky, Muisky districts, municipal tourism enterprises and sanatorium-resort associations have been organized in the Tunkinsky, Kurumkansky, Severobaikalsky districts.
Work has begun to create a mechanism for managing and protecting the resources of territories actively used for tourism, recreation and treatment. The concept of tourism development in the Republic of Buryatia for the period until 2010 was approved. The materials necessary to give the status of specially protected natural areas of local importance to areas that have valuable health-improving and recreational resources suitable for organizing tourism and recreation are currently being prepared.
The revival of domestic tourism is also evidenced by the fact that since the beginning of 1999, the railway has served, according to republican departments, about 200 thousand people who went on vacation through Buryatia.
The Republic of Buryatia has a rich historical and cultural heritage. The republic is home to peoples with different historical backgrounds and cultural traditions. The combination of at least two types of cultural mutual influences (Mongol-Buryat and Slavic-Russian), as well as two religions (Buddhism and Christianity) determines the uniqueness of these places, the originality of the culture, as well as cultural and historical values.
Monuments of outstanding significance or especially characteristic of the architecture of the region, of interest for cultural and educational use (museums, exhibitions, excursion displays), datsans, churches, temple complexes, monasteries, buildings associated with memorable historical events and persons, etc. , are in extremely unsatisfactory or emergency condition. For this group of monuments, there are practically no other opportunities to attract significant one-time investments for conservation and restoration, except for state and local budget support with the participation of communities of believers, as well as individual users for a number of objects.
Buildings intended for commercial purposes (hotels, shopping arcades, shops) and buildings whose purpose does not conflict with commercial tourist use (residential buildings, estate complexes, outbuildings) require reconstruction. For this group of monuments, along with budget support, the organization of private investment financing is necessary.
It is required to conduct research ahead of archaeological work on historical and cultural monuments that are subject to restoration in areas of reconstruction and new construction in the historical zones of cities, rural settlements, and along the routes of historical roads.
The urgent issue is the development of a network of craft houses, art schools, and workshops; wider involvement in training of teenagers, pensioners, migrants, and demobilized military personnel; participation in teaching by craftsmen who master production techniques characteristic of a given territory. It is necessary to expand and develop home-based work and to assist craftsmen in providing materials and equipment.
The need to overcome the economic crisis by implementing specific tourism development programs for each region is associated with the characteristics of the current period of market formation in the country, and in particular, with the possibilities of managing and financing program activities and the subsequent distribution of tourism revenues to solve pressing problems of the region’s population and further development.
Currently, the republican tourism management bodies should be tasked with the following tasks:
Based on the analysis, it should be noted that the potential of the analyzed territories makes it possible to develop the necessary systems of cultural, trade, food, production and sale of folk crafts and tourist accommodation facilities in historical centers and other actively visited areas of historical cities and villages, but this requires reconstruction , modernization and restructuring of the existing tourism infrastructure, administrative, cultural and business facilities, housing and related social facilities, economic and industrial facilities.
To expand the geography of tourist trips, it is necessary to develop routes (tours) based on a more complete use of the outstanding historical, cultural and natural potential of the region, which will be able to satisfy the needs of domestic and foreign citizens with different income levels and spiritual needs (cognitive, business, religious, scientific and educational, environmental, sports and recreational, equestrian, specialized in interests).
According to world experience, a catalyst for the development of tourism in similar territories can be the organization of cultural projects, festivals, holidays, congresses, exhibitions, and competitions.
The task of preserving and consolidating, stabilizing the tourism sector involves reaching the previously existing flow parameters (1991), but at a qualitatively new level; creating conditions for the further development of tourism mainly by improving the reconstruction and functional restructuring of the existing base simultaneously with changing its structure, including through the new construction of hotels, tourist villages, club hotels, motels and campsites on the main routes.
The Republic of Buryatia is attractive to tourists not only for its indescribable beauty, but also for the opportunity to have a good rest. Sports tourism in the Republic of Buryatia began to develop relatively recently, but despite this, it becomes more and more popular every season.
Buryatia, to the delight of tourists, has all possible resources for sports tourism. One of the most popular types of sports tourism is conquering mountain peaks.
In Buryatia, this can be done by climbing to the top of Munku-Sardyk. This peak, with a height of 3491 meters, is the highest point in Eastern Siberia. The slopes of the peak are covered with glacier all year round. And at the very top there are amazing views of the whole of Buryatia. Bicycle travel is no less popular here. The mountain ranges and hills of Buryatia will make the ride even more interesting. When a tourist flies on a mountain bike, the most beautiful landscapes will float past him and change incredibly quickly. You can take a bicycle with you from home, or you can rent it.
Walking is suitable for almost all people. It is by taking such walks that you can see the most remote corners of Buryatia, which are hidden from prying eyes and not accessible by transport. Such trips can run along mountain slopes, along steppes, and even along incredible paths over cliffs or river valleys.
The Baikal region can easily be called the best in all of Russia for river rafting. It is in Buryatia that you can go all rafting on mountain rivers. By the way, everyone can choose the difficulty level that suits them. A variety of routes, unusually clean air and grandiose canyons attract tourists to Buryatia. Here, kayaking, rafting and canoeing are held annually on the slopes of rivers such as Irkut, Oka, Zun-Murin, Khara-Murin, Barguzin, Snezhnaya, Turka, Temnik, Utulik, Selenga and others.
Well, Buryatia, as it turned out, is a rather favorable area for sports tourism. It successfully combines mountain ranges and wild rivers, the freshest air and beautiful nature. It is worth noting that sports tourism in Buryatia will bring pleasure and enjoyment, regardless of which route and sport is chosen.
Tourism- a priority sector of the economy of Buryatia. Tourism assets allow the republic to be one of the most competitive regions of Russia. According to the Expert RA agency, Buryatia’s tourism potential in the investment ranking of Russian regions rose from 45th place in 2006 to 14th place in 2010.
Buryatia attracts tourists from all over the world with Lake Baikal and other unique natural, historical and cultural attractions.
In 2011, Buryatia received 586.5 thousand tourists from more than 60 countries and regions of Russia. The volume of paid services amounted to 114.2 million rubles. The number of employees in the tourism industry of Buryatia is 4.8 thousand people.
Over the nine months of 2013, the influx of tourists in Buryatia increased by 7.5% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 617 thousand people, of which 53.9% were in the Tunkinsky district.
The flow of tourists to Buryatia increases annually by an average of 10-20%. According to the forecasts of the government of Buryatia, in the coming years the republic will receive up to 1 million people per year.
№ | Municipal district of Buryatia | Administrative center |
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1 | Barguzinsky district | Barguzin village |
2 | Bauntovsky district | Bagdarin village |
3 | Bichursky district | Bichura village |
4 | Dzhidinsky district | Petropavlovka village |
5 | Eravninsky district | Sosnovo-Ozerskoe village |
6 | Zaigraevsky district | Zaigraevo village |
7 | Zakamensky district | Zakamensk city |
8 | Ivolginsky district | village Ivolginsk |
9 | Kabansky district | village of Kabansk |
10 | Kizhinginsky district | Kizhinga village |
11 | Kurumkansky district | Kurumkan village |
12 | Kyakhtinsky district | Kyakhta city |
13 | Muisky district | Taksimo village |
14 | Mukhorshibirsky district | village of Mukhorshibir |
15 | Okinsky district | Orlik village |
16 | Pribaikalsky district | village Turuntaevo |
17 | Severo-Baikalsky district | Nizhneangarsk village |
18 | Selenginsky district | Gusinoozersk city |
19 | Tarbagatai district | Tarbagatai village |
20 | Tunkinsky district | village of Kyren |
21 | Khorinsky district | village of Khorinsk |
Mystery Tsam-2.JPG
Mystery Tsam
Budazhap Tsyretorov.JPG
Buryat shaman Budazhap Shiretorov
Boy at a shamanic ritual.jpg
At a shamanic ritual
Holy Trinity Selenga Monastery (walls).jpg
Holy Trinity Selenga Monastery
Russian Ancient Orthodox Church (Tarbagatai).JPG
Ancient Orthodox Church in Tarbagatai
Cranes in Jida.JPG
Cranes in the Dzhida Valley
In the Valley of Volcanoes.jpg
In the valley of volcanoes in the Okinsky region
Ulan-Ude Center.JPG
Center of Ulan-Ude
Opera and Ballet Theater in Ulan-Ude.jpg
Opera and Ballet Theater in Ulan-Ude
Fountain on Theater Square Ulan-Ude.JPG
Light and music fountain in Ulan-Ude
Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyakhta.JPG
Church of the Resurrection in Kyakhta
Khoroy-Shuluun.jpg
Stone fortress Khoroi-Shuluun in the Marakta Valley
In the valley of volcanoes, mountain lake.jpg
Mountain Oka
Horse ride.jpg
Horseback riding in the Khoito-Gola mountains
Eagle dance
Tree near Bolshaya Eravna.jpg
On the shore of Bolshaya Eravna
Semeyskiy House in Novaya Bryanya.jpg
Semey family house in Novaya Bryansk
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Pierre, after the matchmaking of Prince Andrei and Natasha, without any obvious reason, suddenly felt the impossibility of continuing his previous life. No matter how firmly he was convinced of the truths revealed to him by his benefactor, no matter how joyful he was during that first period of fascination with the inner work of self-improvement, which he devoted himself to with such fervor, after the engagement of Prince Andrei to Natasha and after the death of Joseph Alekseevich, about which he received news almost at the same time - all the charm of this former life suddenly disappeared for him. Only one skeleton of life remained: his home with his brilliant wife, who now enjoyed the favors of one important person, acquaintance with all of St. Petersburg and service with boring formalities. And this former life suddenly presented itself to Pierre with unexpected abomination. He stopped writing his diary, avoided the company of his brothers, began to go to the club again, began to drink a lot again, again became close to single companies and began to lead such a life that Countess Elena Vasilievna considered it necessary to make a stern reprimand to him. Pierre, feeling that she was right, and in order not to compromise his wife, left for Moscow.
In Moscow, as soon as he entered his huge house with withered and withering princesses, with huge courtyards, as soon as he saw - driving through the city - this Iverskaya Chapel with countless candle lights in front of golden vestments, this Kremlin Square with untrodden snow, these cab drivers and the shacks of Sivtsev Vrazhka, saw old Moscow people who wanted nothing and were slowly living out their lives, saw old women, Moscow ladies, Moscow balls and the Moscow English Club - he felt at home, in a quiet refuge. In Moscow he felt calm, warm, familiar and dirty, like wearing an old robe.
Moscow society, everyone, from old women to children, accepted Pierre as their long-awaited guest, whose place was always ready and not occupied. For Moscow society, Pierre was the sweetest, kindest, smartest, cheerful, generous eccentric, absent-minded and sincere, Russian, old-fashioned gentleman. His wallet was always empty, because it was open to everyone.
Benefit performances, bad paintings, statues, charitable societies, gypsies, schools, subscription dinners, revelries, Freemasons, churches, books - no one and nothing was refused, and if not for his two friends, who borrowed a lot of money from him and took him under their custody, he would give everything away. There was no lunch or evening at the club without him. As soon as he slumped back in his place on the sofa after two bottles of Margot, people surrounded him and conversations, arguments, and jokes ensued. Where they quarreled, he made peace with one of his kind smiles and, by the way, a joke. Masonic lodges were boring and lethargic without him.
When, after a single dinner, he, with a kind and sweet smile, surrendering to the requests of the cheerful company, got up to go with them, joyful, solemn cries were heard among the youth. At balls he danced if there was no gentleman available. Young ladies and young ladies loved him because, without courting anyone, he was equally kind to everyone, especially after dinner. “Il est charmant, il n"a pas de sehe,” [He is very cute, but has no gender], they said about him.
Pierre was that retired good-natured chamberlain living out his days in Moscow, of which there were hundreds.
How horrified he would have been if seven years ago, when he had just arrived from abroad, someone had told him that he didn’t need to look for anything or invent anything, that his path had been broken long ago, determined from eternity, and that, no matter how he turn around, he will be what everyone else in his position was. He couldn't believe it! Didn’t he want with all his soul to establish a republic in Russia, to be Napoleon himself, to be a philosopher, to be a tactician, to defeat Napoleon? Didn’t he see the opportunity and passionately desire to regenerate the vicious human race and bring himself to the highest degree of perfection? Didn't he establish schools and hospitals and set his peasants free?
And instead of all this, here he is, the rich husband of an unfaithful wife, a retired chamberlain who loves to eat, drink and easily scold the government when unbuttoned, a member of the Moscow English Club and everyone’s favorite member of Moscow society. For a long time he could not come to terms with the idea that he was the same retired Moscow chamberlain whose type he so deeply despised seven years ago.
Sometimes he consoled himself with thoughts that this was the only way he was leading this life; but then he was horrified by another thought, that so far, how many people had already entered, like him, with all their teeth and hair, into this life and into this club, and left without one tooth and hair.
In moments of pride, when he thought about his position, it seemed to him that he was completely different, special from those retired chamberlains whom he had despised before, that they were vulgar and stupid, happy and reassured by their position, “and even now I am still dissatisfied “I still want to do something for humanity,” he said to himself in moments of pride. “Or maybe all those comrades of mine, just like me, struggled, were looking for some new, their own path in life, and just like me, by the force of the situation, society, breed, that elemental force against which there is no a powerful man, they were brought to the same place as I,” he said to himself in moments of modesty, and after living in Moscow for some time, he no longer despised, but began to love, respect and pity, as well as himself, his comrades by fate .
Pierre was not, as before, in moments of despair, melancholy and disgust for life; but the same illness, which had previously expressed itself in sharp attacks, was driven inside and did not leave him for a moment. "For what? For what? What is going on in the world?” he asked himself in bewilderment several times a day, involuntarily beginning to ponder the meaning of the phenomena of life; but knowing from experience that there were no answers to these questions, he hastily tried to turn away from them, took up a book, or hurried to the club, or to Apollo Nikolaevich to chat about city gossip.
“Elena Vasilievna, who has never loved anything except her body and is one of the stupidest women in the world,” thought Pierre, “seems to people to be the height of intelligence and sophistication, and they bow before her. Napoleon Bonaparte was despised by everyone as long as he was great, and since he became a pathetic comedian, Emperor Franz has been trying to offer him his daughter as an illegitimate wife. The Spaniards send up prayers to God through the Catholic clergy in gratitude for the fact that they defeated the French on June 14th, and the French send up prayers through the same Catholic clergy that they defeated the Spaniards on June 14th. My brother Masons swear on blood that they are ready to sacrifice everything for their neighbor, and do not pay one ruble each for the collection of the poor and intrigue Astraeus against the Seekers of Manna, and are busy about the real Scottish carpet and about an act, the meaning of which is not known even to those who wrote it, and which no one needs. We all profess the Christian law of forgiveness of insults and love for one’s neighbor - the law, as a result of which we erected forty forty churches in Moscow, and yesterday we whipped a fleeing man, and the servant of the same law of love and forgiveness, the priest, allowed the cross to be kissed by a soldier before execution.” . So thought Pierre, and this whole, common, universally recognized lie, no matter how accustomed he was to it, as if it were something new, amazed him every time. “I understand these lies and confusion,” he thought, “but how can I tell them everything that I understand? I tried and always found that deep down in their souls they understand the same thing as me, but they just try not to see it. So it must be so! But for me, where should I go?” thought Pierre. He experienced the unfortunate ability of many, especially Russian people - the ability to see and believe in the possibility of good and truth, and to see too clearly the evil and lies of life in order to be able to take a serious part in it. Every area of labor in his eyes was associated with evil and deception. Whatever he tried to be, whatever he undertook, evil and lies repulsed him and blocked all paths of activity for him. Meanwhile, I had to live, I had to be busy. It was too scary to be under the yoke of these insoluble questions of life, and he gave himself up to his first hobbies just to forget them. He traveled to all sorts of societies, drank a lot, bought paintings and built, and most importantly read.
He read and read everything that came to hand, and read so that, having arrived home, when the footmen were still undressing him, he, having already taken a book, read - and from reading he passed on to sleep, and from sleep to chatting in the drawing rooms and club, from chatter to revelry and women, from revelry back to chatter, reading and wine. Drinking wine became more and more a physical and at the same time a moral need for him. Despite the fact that the doctors told him that, given his corruption, wine was dangerous for him, he drank a lot. He felt quite good only when, without noticing how, having poured several glasses of wine into his large mouth, he experienced a pleasant warmth in his body, tenderness for all his neighbors and the readiness of his mind to respond superficially to every thought, without delving into its essence. Only after drinking a bottle and two wines did he vaguely realize that the tangled, terrible knot of life that had terrified him before was not as terrible as he thought. With a noise in his head, chatting, listening to conversations or reading after lunch and dinner, he constantly saw this knot, from some side of it. But only under the influence of wine did he say to himself: “It’s nothing. I will unravel this - so I have an explanation ready. But now there’s no time—I’ll think about it all later!” But this never came afterwards.
On an empty stomach, in the morning, all the previous questions seemed just as insoluble and terrible, and Pierre hastily grabbed the book and rejoiced when someone came to him.
Sometimes Pierre recalled a story he had heard about how in war soldiers, being under cover fire and having nothing to do, diligently find something to do in order to make it easier to endure danger. And to Pierre all people seemed to be such soldiers fleeing from life: some by ambition, some by cards, some by writing laws, some by women, some by toys, some by horses, some by politics, some by hunting, some by wine, some by state affairs. “Nothing is insignificant or important, it’s all the same: just to escape from it as best I can!” thought Pierre. - “Just don’t see her, this terrible one.”