Townapedia
Clock tower, Yelets
Clock tower, Yelets · Alaexis, CC BY-SA 3.0
Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, Russia - panoramio - Andris Malygin (11)
Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, Russia - panoramio - Andris Malygin (11) · Andris Malygin, CC BY 3.0
Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, Russia - panoramio - Andris Malygin (10)
Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, Russia - panoramio - Andris Malygin (10) · Andris Malygin, CC BY 3.0
Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, Russia - panoramio - Andris Malygin (12)
Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, Russia - panoramio - Andris Malygin (12) · Andris Malygin, CC BY 3.0
Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, Russia - panoramio - Andris Malygin (9)
Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, Russia - panoramio - Andris Malygin (9) · Andris Malygin, CC BY 3.0
Елецкий государственный университет имени И. А. Бунина. Главный корпус
Елецкий государственный университет имени И. А. Бунина. Главный корпус · Borealex, CC BY-SA 4.0

Yelets, Russia

Елец

Yelets is a town of 115,688 people in Lipetsk Oblast, Russia, founded in 1146.

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Population115,688 GeoNames
Local nameЕлец
Elevation140 m 459 ft
Founded1146
Time zoneEurope/Moscow
Land area70.7 km²
Nearest airportLipetsk Airport (LPK) 70 km

Why visit Yelets

Townapedia lists 44 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 47 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Yelets State University, Историко-культурный центр "Прожектор", Дом-музей Т.Н. Хренникова and Елецкий городской краеведческий музей.

About Yelets

Yelets or Elets (Russian: Елец) is a city in Lipetsk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Bystraya Sosna River, which is a tributary of the Don. Population: 99,875 (2021 census); 108,404 (2010 census); 116,726 (2002 census); 120,261 (1989 Soviet census).

From the Wikipedia article Yelets (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do6

Yelets State University

School · 1.9 km

Education organization in Yelets, Russia

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Историко-культурный центр "Прожектор"

Cinema and theater

3 улица Лермонтова, Елец

Mo-Su 09:00-21:00

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"Утюг"

Scenic view · 2.4 km

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Драмтеатр "Бенефис"

Cinema and theater · 1.8 km

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Кинотеатр "Луч"

Cinema and theater · 1.7 km

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МУК «Городской дворец культуры»

Cinema and theater · 2.2 km

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Museums and landmarks44

Дом-музей Т.Н. Хренникова

Museum · 1.5 km

16 улица Маяковского

We-Su 09:30-16:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 (47467) 4-94-76

Художественный отдел Елецкого краеведческого музея

Museum · 1.1 km

3 площадь Ленина, Елец

Mo-Tu 09:30-16:30; Fr-Su 09:30-16:30

Open in Google Maps · +7 (47467) 2-91-82

Дом елецкого кружева

Museum · 0.8 km

108 Советская улица

Open in Google Maps · +7 (47467) 2-75-06

Дом-музей Н.Н. Жукова

Museum · 1.7 km

42 улица 9 Декабря

Open in Google Maps · +7 (47467) 2-31-02

Вечный огонь

Monument and historic site · 1.8 km

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И. А. Бунину

Monument and historic site · 1.1 km

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Культурный центр имени В.С.Сорокина

Museum · 0.9 km

56 Советская улица

Open in Google Maps

850-летию города

Monument and historic site · 1.2 km

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32 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds11

Ани Гайтеровой

Park

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Стадион "Труд"

Sports field and stadium · 1.8 km

27А улица Коммунаров

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Городской парк

Park · 1.6 km

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Детский парк им. Б.Г. Лесюка

Park · 1.5 km

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Парк 40-летия Октября

Park · 2.9 km

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парк Железнодорожников

Park · 0.7 km

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Паром

Marina and boat launch

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сквер Афганцев

Park · 1.0 km

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Сквер имени А. С. Пушкина

Park

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Сквер Комсомольцев

Park · 1.9 km

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сквер Харченко

Park · 2.4 km

Open in Google Maps

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Restaurants and cafes47

Милано

Cafe · Pizza · 1.2 km

Mo-Su 10:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 800 3503355

Томато пицца

Restaurant · Pizza · 1.1 km

Mo-Su 11:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +7(47467) 6-03-34;+7(47467) 6-08-13

Lenin

Cafe · 1.3 km

Lounge bar

114 улица Мира

Mo-Th,Su 12:00-01:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-03:00

Open in Google Maps

cafe Jem

Cafe · 1.2 km

17 улица Свердлова

Open in Google Maps · +79051785221

Арт-кафе Сцена

Cafe · 1.4 km

133 улица Мира

Mo-Su 17:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +79042836898

Родные просторы

Bakery · 1.1 km

Кондитерская и пекарня

98 улица Мира

10:00-22:00

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Baku

Restaurant · Russian · 1.3 km

Mo-Su 12:00-00:00

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Кафе-студия Ельчик

Cafe · 1.4 km

10А улица Коммунаров

Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00

Open in Google Maps

Soul Румянцев

Cafe · 1.3 km

110 улица Мира

Open in Google Maps · +7 (980) 261-07-88

Ежика нет в тумане

Bar and pub · 0.8 km

10 улица Яна Фабрициуса

Open in Google Maps · +7 (910) 259-09-05

Жара

Bar and pub · 2.2 km

Mo-Su 11:00-02:00

Open in Google Maps

Кекс

Cafe · Regional, Japanese · 2.5 km

9 Юбилейная улица, Елец

Open in Google Maps

35 more on the map.

History

Yelets is the oldest center of the Central Black Earth Region. It was mentioned in historical documents as early as 1146 or 1147, when it was a fort belonging to the princes of Ryazan. The town's position at the very south of the Russian lands made it an easy prey for Turkic conquerors. The Mongols burned it in 1239, Uzbeg Khan ravaged it in 1316, Timur sacked it in 1395, and the Tatars devastated it in 1414.

In 1483, the Principality of Yelets was absorbed by the Grand Duchy of Moscow, while the local Rurikid rulers (last heard of in the 19th century) entered the service of Ivan III. In 1591, Boris Godunov revived the largely deserted town by establishing a fortress there. In 1618, the fortress was captured "by subterfuge" by 20,000 Cossacks under Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny, allied with Władysław IV of Poland. They dismantled a large part of town fortifications.

In the 19th century, Yelets became the largest trade center of the region. Handmade lace has been a notable product of the city since then; other important industries are grain milling and the manufacture of machinery. The town's chief landmark is the vast Ascension Cathedral, built over the years 1845–1889 to a Neo-Muscovite design by Konstantin Thon.

In the 1930s the city's Kazanskoe cemetery was one site of execution and burial, especially of priests. In 2006, a monument was erected there.

From the History section of Yelets on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay11

Churches and places of worship17

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Shopping45

Gas and EV charging12

Schools, colleges and libraries35

  • Елецкий техникум железнодорожного транспорта

    School · 1.6 km

    Open in Google Maps

  • Главный корпус ЕГУ им. И.А. Бунина

    School · 1.9 km

    28 улица Коммунаров

    Open in Google Maps

  • Детско-юношеская спортивная школа № 1

    School · 1.7 km

    улица Горького

    Open in Google Maps

  • МБСКОУ СКОШ VIII вида № 14

    School · 1.8 km

    113 улица Горького

    Open in Google Maps

  • Профессиональный лицей № 1

    School

    45 Красноармейская улица

    Open in Google Maps

  • Учебный корпус № 1 ЕГУ им. И.А. Бунина

    School · 1.5 km

    91 улица Ленина

    Open in Google Maps

  • Учебный корпус № 12 ЕГУ им. И.А. Бунина

    School · 0.7 km

    1/2 улица Допризывников

    Open in Google Maps

  • Учебный корпус № 15 ЕГУ им. И.А. Бунина

    School · 1.9 km

    39 улица Коммунаров

    Open in Google Maps

  • Учебный корпус № 2 ЕГУ им. И.А. Бунина

    School · 1.5 km

    15 улица Коммунаров

    Open in Google Maps

  • Учебный корпус № 3 ЕГУ им. И.А. Бунина

    School · 2.0 km

    72 улица 9 Декабря

    Open in Google Maps

  • Учебный корпус № 4 ЕГУ им. И.А. Бунина

    School · 1.4 km

    86 улица Ленина

    Open in Google Maps

  • Школа №1

    School · 1.7 km

    121 Советская улица

    Open in Google Maps

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Healthcare23

Map of Yelets

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Lipetsk Airport (LPK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 70 km away.

  • Kazaki 17 km west, about 17 min by car
  • Stanovoye 20 km northwest, about 20 min by car
  • Donskoye 31 km east, about 31 min by car
  • Krasnoye 33 km northeast, about 33 min by car
  • Dolgorukovo 34 km south, about 34 min by car
  • Zadonsk 38 km southeast, about 38 min by car
  • Izmalkovo 38 km west, about 38 min by car
  • Terbuny 54 km south, about 54 min by car
  • Yefremov 64 km northwest, about 1 h by car
  • Lipetsk 70 km east, about 1 h 15 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.