Few words about Kaluga
Kaluga is the administrative center of Kaluga Region in Central Russia. The first time Kaluga was mentioned in the letter of duke Olgerdt in 1371. This year is considered to be the year of foundation of the city. In 1389 it merged completely in Moscow Duchy. From that time on Kaluga has been inextricably linked with the formation and history of Russian state.
In December of 1777, Empress Katherine II visited Kaluga. It was then that the first educational and ecclesiastical institutions, and the city drama theatre, were established. Nearly every surviving architectural structure -- each a monument honoring Kaluga's history -- was built as part of the "regular development plan" approved by Katherine II herself.
Situated at the intersection of major thoroughfares, Kaluga grew into a large industrial and commercial center during the 18th and 19th centuries. Active trade was conducted with Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, with the Volga areas and Ukraine. Kaluga established good relations with its international neighbors including Great Britain, Persia, China, Turkey, Holland and others.