Chekhov Gymnasium

The Chekhov Gymnasium in Taganrog on Ulitsa Oktyabrskaya 9 (formerly Gymnasicheskaya Street) is the oldest gymnasium in the South of Russia. Playwright and short-story writer Anton Chekhov spent 11 years in the school, which was later named after him and transformed into a literary museum. Visitors can see Anton's desk and his classroom, the assembly hall and even the punishment cell which he sometimes visited. History of the school The Boys Gymnasium was founded in 1809. Students of the Boys Gymnasium benefited from various grants. In mid-1870s a school church was made in the same building, and the cross may be seen on some old postcards. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the following Civil War, the building housed a cavalry school (6th Cavalry College). During the Occupation of Taganrog in 1941-1943 used by the Germans as Sicherheitsdienst headquarters. In 1954, the Boys Gymnasium was named after Anton Chekhov within the framework of events dedicated to the writer's 50th death anniversary memorial year.