Tomsk State University, founded in 1878, was the first university in Siberia — a designation that still carries enormous local pride. The campus sits in the university district south of the centre, centred on a handsome neoclassical main building and surrounded by parks and student dormitories. The Siberian Botanical Garden, established in 1880 on the campus grounds, is one of the oldest in Russia and covers 14 hectares of landscaped gardens and greenhouses.
The campus is pleasant for a walk even if you have no academic business there. The university houses several small museums open to the public, including a natural history museum with mineralogy and zoological collections. In summer the campus lawns fill with students; in winter the paths through deep snow have their own austere beauty.
The university library, housed in a separate neoclassical building, holds millions of volumes including rare Siberian manuscripts and early scientific expedition records. Guided tours of the campus can be arranged through the university's international office, though simply wandering the grounds is equally worthwhile.