RU-3319091 Tula (Тула)

Tula (Тула) is an industrial city famous at one time for its manufacture of armaments.  It is the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia, located 193 kilometers (120 mi) south of Moscow, on the Upa River. It is actually 1 year older than Moscow.

When the Russian tsar Peter the Great visited the town in 1712 he commissioned Demidov’s blacksmiths to set up the first armament factory in Russia. Several years later Tula became the largest iron working centre of Eastern Europe.

During the Great Patriotic War (World War II) of 1941–1945, the city was important in the production of armaments. Tula became the target of a German offensive to break Soviet resistance in the Moscow area between October 24 and December 5, 1941. The heavily fortified city held out, however and the Second Panzer Army was stopped near Tula. The city secured the southern flank during the Battle of Moscow and the subsequent counter-offensive. Tula was awarded the title ‘Hero City’ in 1976.

Tula is also famous for samovars and other confectionery.

This postcard from Dmitry (27 January 2015 Postcrossing) shows the Tula Kremlin in winter and on the side panels, other buildings, notably Tula Church.