My route
Sign in
WorldRussiaYekaterinburgPlotinka DamMy routeRoute

Plotinka Dam, Yekaterinburg

Plotinka in Yekaterinburg: a wide promenade by the Iset river with fountains, a footbridge and lawns in summer
Photo: Vyacheslav Bukharov, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free
Hours
Open 24/7; the museums around the square keep their own hours
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
45 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Open
24/7 — it is a public dam and square
Metro
Ploshchad 1905 Goda, ≈ 5 min on foot along Lenin Avenue
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Where
Lenin Avenue between Voevodina and Gorkogo streets; the square runs down along the Iset
Fountains
Warm season only, usually May to September
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Museums
Paid, with their own days off — check with each museum
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time needed
≈ 45 min for a walk, up to 2 h with a museum
Coordinates
56.83643, 60.60419YesGo MapGoogleAppleYandex

Key facts

1723the dam and ironworks were built — the start of Yekaterinburg
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia: Historical SquareSverdlovsk Region Tourist Information Centre
Pond and riverthe dam holds back the City Pond; the Iset river flows on below it
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia: Historical SquareSputnik8 guide
250th anniversarythe Historical Square was laid out in the early 1970s on the site of the old works
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia: Historical SquareE1.ru
1998the monument to the city founders Tatishchev and de Gennin was unveiled for the city’s 275th anniversary
2 sourcesRuwiki: Monument to Tatishchev and de GenninTonkosti Turizma guide
Pyotr Chusovitinsculptor of the founders’ monument; the bronze was cast at the Uralmash plant
2 sourcesRuwiki: Monument to Tatishchev and de GenninTonkosti Turizma guide
“Beavis and Butt-Head”the locals’ nickname for the founders’ monument
2 sourcesE1.ruSputnik8 guide
Late 19th centurythe granite-and-timber water tower was built
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia: Historical SquareLonely Planet
Since 1995the water tower has been a branch of the Yekaterinburg History Museum
2 sourcesYekaterinburg History MuseumRussian Wikipedia
Rhodonitea block of pink Ural stone stands in front of the waterfall below the dam
2 sourcesE1.ruRussian Wikipedia: Historical Square
1886busts of Peter I and Catherine I were put on the dam; in 1917 they were thrown into the pond
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia: Historical SquareE1.ru

What is Plotinka?

Plotinka — “the little dam” — holds back the City Pond on the Iset river, and Lenin Avenue, the main street, runs across its top. It was built in 1723 to power the ironworks that Vasily Tatishchev and Georg Wilhelm de Gennin founded here, and the town grew up around the factory. For locals this is where Yekaterinburg began.

Below the dam, along the river, is the Historical Square (Istorichesky Skver), laid out in the early 1970s for the city’s 250th anniversary on the site of the old works. Surviving factory buildings became museums, and the dam wall was faced with granite and carved with reliefs about Ural miners and metalworkers.

Is Plotinka worth visiting?

Yes — and it costs nothing. Plotinka is not a big sight in itself, but it is the natural hub of central Yekaterinburg: most of the old town is a 10–15-minute walk away, and you will cross it anyway. Give it 30–45 minutes, ideally on a warm evening.

Don’t come expecting a grand monument. The appeal is the setting — the pond on one side, the river and lawns on the other, and the sense of standing where the city started. If you only have a day, walk through it between the Church on the Blood and the Yeltsin Center rather than making a special trip.

Things to do at Plotinka and Historical Square

  • Look at the dam wall from below — granite with reliefs of Ural mining and industry; the best view is from the square by the river.
  • Find the founders’ monument — bronze Tatishchev and de Gennin on a plinth by Lenin Avenue, nicknamed “Beavis and Butt-Head” by locals.
  • Step into the water tower — granite below, timber above; inside are a visitor centre, a coffee shop and a small museum about the dam and the tower.
  • Spot the Ural stones — boulders of local rock around the square; the pink rhodonite sits in front of the waterfall.
  • Watch the fountains — in summer, including an evening light-and-music show.
  • Sit on the steps by the Iset — a favourite summer hangout with a view of the pond and the old centre.
  • Walk through “the Pipe” — the underpass beneath Lenin Avenue that links the upper and lower parts of the square.

Museums around the square

Several museums sit around Plotinka in old factory and merchant buildings. All are paid and keep their own hours, so check the museum’s website on the day.

The Museum of Fine Arts at Voevodina Street 5 is the one to choose if you have time for only one: it holds the Kasli cast-iron pavilion, an openwork iron pavilion made by Ural craftsmen. The Museum of Architecture and Industrial Technology of the Urals fills former works buildings with 19th-century machinery. The Water Tower is a quick 15–20-minute stop.

Paying in Russia: foreign Visa and Mastercard cards have not worked here since March 2022, so bring roubles in cash or a Russian bank card for museum tickets and cafés. The walk itself is free.

When do the fountains run?

Like all city fountains in Yekaterinburg, the Plotinka fountains run only in the warm season — usually May to September; exact dates are announced each year. A light-and-music fountain was added for the city’s 300th anniversary in 2023: come after dark for the show. In winter there are no fountains, but the dam is lit up at night.

How to get to Plotinka

Tap a route to highlight it on the map.

Loading the map…

on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

More tips

  1. Take the metro to Ploshchad 1905 Goda — Yekaterinburg has one metro line, so it is easy to find.
  2. Come up onto Lenin Avenue and walk towards the pond — about 5 minutes.
  3. Where the avenue crosses the water you are on the dam: the pond is on one side, the Historical Square below on the other.
  4. Take the stairs or the underpass under the avenue down into the square.
  5. No metro nearby? Trolleybuses and buses run along Lenin Avenue, and from anywhere in the centre you can walk — the map on this page plots the way.

Before you go: checklist

Ready: 0 of 6

Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.

Plotinka vs other central sights

Plotinkayou are hereDam and square where the city beganFree≈ 45 minSummer evening
Church on the BloodChurch on the site of the Ipatiev HouseFree30–45 minQuiet morning
Yeltsin CenterMuseum and cultural centrePaid museum2–3 hAny weather
VysotskySkyscraper with a viewing deckPaid viewing deck≈ 1 hSunset

Plotinka costs neither time nor money — walk through it on your way between the other central sights.

Yekaterinburg by the water

Every waterside place in Yekaterinburg rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Plotinka Damyou are here4445 minFree—
Keyboard Monument4415 minFree9 min walk
Olenyi Ruchyi Nature Park164 h557 ₽; free for Russian under-18s90.0 km

The old centre in half a day

From the Church on the Blood along the pond to Sevastyanov House, across Plotinka to the keyboard monument on the Iset, and up the Vysotsky tower for sunset. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and walks.

  1. Church on the Blood45 min · Free entry to the church
  2. 11 min walk from the previous stopSevastyanov House45 min · Free, outside only
  3. 5 min walk from the previous stopPlotinka Damyou are here45 min · Free
  4. 9 min walk from the previous stopKeyboard Monument15 min · Free
  5. 10 min walk from the previous stopVysotsky Skyscraper45 min · 600 ₽, children 5–12 400 ₽

5 places · about 3 h 50 min with walks · 35 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Sevastyanov House

Yekaterinburg, Russia

45 min · Free, outside only · 5 min walk

Keyboard Monument

Yekaterinburg, Russia

15 min · Free · 9 min walk

Vysotsky Skyscraper

Yekaterinburg, Russia

45 min · 600 ₽, children 5–12 400 ₽ · 11 min walk

Yekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theatre

Yekaterinburg, Russia

2 h 30 min · 300–20,000 ₽, depends on the show · 14 min walk

How to do it right

  • For the best shot of the carved dam wall, stand in the square by the river; for the pond, stand on the Lenin Avenue bridge.
  • Start a walking day here: Sevastyanov House is right next to the dam, the Church on the Blood about 15 minutes along the pond.
  • On public holidays it gets packed — come on a weekday or in the morning for a quiet walk.
  • In summer you can sometimes hire a boat or pedal boat on the pond for a view of the centre from the water.
  • Only time for one museum? Pick the Museum of Fine Arts and its Kasli cast-iron pavilion.
  • Combine it with the keyboard monument a short walk down the Iset — a fun, quick photo stop.

Questions

What is Plotinka in Yekaterinburg?

The dam of the City Pond on the Iset river, built in 1723 together with the ironworks that the city grew around. Below it is the Historical Square with museums, fountains and the founders’ monument.

Is Plotinka free?

Yes. The dam and the Historical Square are public spaces, free and open 24/7. Only the museums around the square charge for entry.

How do I get to Plotinka?

Take the metro to Ploshchad 1905 Goda and walk about 5 minutes along Lenin Avenue towards the pond. Trolleybuses and buses also run along the avenue.

Is Plotinka worth visiting?

Yes, as a free 30–45-minute walk — it is the hub of the old centre and you will pass it anyway. It is at its best on a summer evening.

How long do you need at Plotinka?

About 45 minutes for the dam and the square; up to two hours with a museum. In winter half an hour is enough.

What is the water tower at Plotinka?

A late-19th-century granite-and-timber tower. Since 1995 it has been a branch of the Yekaterinburg History Museum, with a visitor centre, a coffee shop and a small museum inside.

Who is the monument at Plotinka?

Vasily Tatishchev and Georg Wilhelm de Gennin, the founders of Yekaterinburg. Sculptor Pyotr Chusovitin’s monument was unveiled in 1998 for the city’s 275th anniversary.

When do the Plotinka fountains work?

Only in the warm season, usually May to September. Come after dark for the light-and-music show; exact dates change every year.

Can I pay by card at Plotinka?

The walk is free. In museums and cafés, foreign Visa and Mastercard cards do not work in Russia — bring roubles in cash.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Russian Wikipedia: Historical Square (Istorichesky Skver); Wikidata Q4204516
  • Ruwiki: Monument to Tatishchev and de Gennin
  • Tonkosti Turizma guide: Monument to Tatishchev and de Gennin
  • E1.ru: Plotinka, the heart of Yekaterinburg; reports on the light-and-music fountain for the city’s 300th anniversary
  • Yekaterinburg History Museum: Water Tower
  • Sputnik8 guide: Plotinka
  • Lonely Planet: Water Tower, Yekaterinburg
  • Sverdlovsk Region Tourist Information Centre
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedPlotinka and the square are open public spaces, so entry and opening times are self-evident. The dam’s date, the square’s origin, the founders’ monument (1998, sculptor Chusovitin), the water tower and the stones are each checked against at least two sources. Sources date the water tower differently — the 1880s or the early 1890s — so we say “late 19th century”. The fountain season (May–September) comes from city news and is marked “verifying”, as dates change every year. We don’t publish museum hours or prices, since each museum sets its own; check on the day. Event dates are not published either.

Top YesGo picks: Yekaterinburg

Church on the Blood

Yekaterinburg, Russia

45 min · Free entry to the church

Yeltsin Center

Yekaterinburg, Russia

2 h 30 min · Museum 400 ₽, building free

Ganina Yama

Yekaterinburg, Russia

1 h 30 min · Free entry

White Tower

Yekaterinburg, Russia

1 h · Free outside; interior closed for now

Olenyi Ruchyi Nature Park

Yekaterinburg, Russia

4 h · 557 ₽; free for Russian under-18s

All places: Yekaterinburg →