Perm “36” Gulag Camp Museum

Discover the haunting history of Russia’s last remaining gulag camp

The Museum of the history of political repression was once a GULAG prison, a forced labour camp for political prisoners and criminals between the periods of 1946 to 1988. “Perm 26” was one of the many labour camps that was established under the Soviet regime, and it is now the last remaining camp that has been reformed to demonstrate the conditions, under which, convicted inmates were confined and enslaved.

Your historical adventure begins when your tour guide collects you from your hotel, after which, you will commence your journey to the west of Perm, passing secluded landscape. As you proceed to explore the camp grounds, you get a forceful glimpse of what life was like behind the eroded barbed wires, and then you are struck by some of the haunting remainders of the punitive circumstances that the prisons were forced to endure.

Venture inside the museum and allow you tour guide to lead you to explore the original four wooden barracks, built to house over 250 prisoners. Upon entering the museum, feel as though you are traveling through the history of the soviet era. The pictorial exhibits provide insight into a dark period in history, and will evoke a heart-wrenching impression of the conditions, in which, the exiled convicts subsisted.

Wander into the dim and isolated cells in the blocks to see where prisoners were kept and punished, and then listen as your guide reveals the history of the repression.

After you have had lunch, you will visit an open-air Chusovaya Historical Museum that displays the exhibits of peasant life of 19-20th centuries, as well as a peasant hut (izba), a small shop, a forge, a country fire station, the windmills and other rural structures. At the end of the tour your tour guide will accompany you back to your hotel.

Excursion details

Location: Russia, Perm

Category: Culture and History

Duration: 8 hours

What’s included:

Lunch and transfer.

A local guide and any other fees including any museum entrance fees. Meals and transfers included only where stated

Notes:

Comfortable clothing is advised, and travellers are encouraged to not take too much hand luggage.

For groups of more than 6 people, price will be provided on application.

Restrictions:

Physical rating: Easy – Suitable for all