Gagarin, Municipal center in Smolensk Oblast, Russia
Gagarin is a small town on the banks of the Gzhat River, about 230 kilometers southwest of Moscow in Smolensk Oblast. The built-up areas follow the course of the river and the road connecting to the capital.
The settlement was founded in 1718 under Peter the Great as a grain transfer point on the Gzhat River. It carried the name Gzhatsk until 1968, when it was renamed after the first human in space.
The town has carried the name of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin since 1968, who was born in the nearby village of Klushino. Several monuments and a museum in the center recall his life and achievements.
The town is accessible by road and rail from Moscow and Smolensk, with regular connections running between them. The center is small enough to explore on foot.
The triangular street layout follows both the river course and the old trade route to Moscow. This shape arose from the settlement's function as a node in goods transport.
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