hotel rwanda essay assignment

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, chaz's journal, great movies, contributors, a hotel 'diplomat' offers sanctuary from genocide.

Now streaming on:

You do not believe you can kill them all?

Why not? Why not? We are halfway there already.

In 1994 in Rwanda, a million members of the Tutsi tribe were killed by members of the Hutu tribe in a massacre that took place while the world looked away. "Hotel Rwanda" is not the story of that massacre. It is the story of a hotel manager who saved the lives of 1,200 people by being, essentially, a very good hotel manager.

The man is named Paul Rusesabagina, and he is played by Don Cheadle as a man of quiet, steady competence in a time of chaos. This is not the kind of man the camera silhouettes against mountaintops, but the kind of man who knows how things work in the real world, who uses his skills of bribery, flattery, apology and deception to save these lives who have come into his care.

I have known a few hotel managers fairly well, and I think if I were hiring diplomats, they would make excellent candidates. They speak several languages. They are discreet. They know how to function appropriately in different cultures. They know when a bottle of scotch will repay itself six times over. They know how to handle complaints. And they know everything that happens under their roof, from the millionaire in the penthouse to the bellboy who can get you a girl.

Paul is such a hotel manager. He is a Hutu, married to a Tutsi named Tatiana ( Sophie Okonedo ). He has been trained in Belgium and runs the four-star Hotel Des Milles Collines in the capital city of Kigali. He does his job very well. He understands that when a general's briefcase is taken for safekeeping, it contains bottles of good scotch when it is returned. He understands that to get the imported beer he needs, a bribe must take place. He understands that his guests are accustomed to luxury, which must be supplied even here in a tiny central African nation wedged against Tanzania, Uganda and the Congo. Do these understandings make him a bad man? Just the opposite. They make him an expert on situational ethics. The result of all the things he knows is that the hotel runs well and everyone is happy.

Then the genocide begins, suddenly, but after a long history. Rwanda's troubles began, as so many African troubles began, when European colonial powers established nations that ignored traditional tribal boundaries. Enemy tribes were forced into the same land. For years in Rwanda under the Belgians, the Tutsis ruled and killed not a few Hutu. Now the Hutus are in control, and armed troops prowl the nation, killing Tutsis.

There is a United Nations "presence" in Rwanda, represented by Col. Oliver ( Nick Nolte ). He sees what is happening, informs his superiors, asks for help and intervention, and is ignored. Paul Rusesabagina informs the corporate headquarters in Brussels of the growing tragedy, but the hotel in Kigali is not the chain's greatest concern. Finally it comes down to these two men acting as free-lancers to save more than a thousand lives they have somehow become responsible for.

When "Hotel Rwanda" premiered at Toronto 2004, some reviews criticized the film for focusing on Paul and the colonel, and making little effort to "depict" the genocide as a whole. But director Terry George and writer Keir Pearson have made exactly the correct decision. A film cannot be about a million murders, but it can be about how a few people respond. Paul, as it happens, is a real person, and Col. Oliver is based on one, and "Hotel Rwanda" is about what they really did. The story took shape after Pearson visited Rwanda and heard of a group of people who were saved from massacre.

Cheadle holds his performance resolutely at the human level. His character intuitively understands that only by continuing to act as a hotel manager can he achieve anything. His hotel is hardly functioning, the economy has broken down, the country is ruled by anarchy, but he puts on his suit and tie every morning and fakes business as usual -- even on a day he is so frightened, he cannot tie his tie.

He deals with a murderous Hutu general, for example, not as an enemy or an outlaw, but as a longtime client who knows that the value of a good cigar cannot be measured in cash. Paul has trained powerful people in Kigali to consider the Hotel Des Milles Collines an oasis of sophistication and decorum, and now he pretends that is still the case. It isn't, but it works as a strategy because it cues a different kind of behavior; a man who has yesterday directed a mass murder might today want to show that he knows how to behave appropriately in the hotel lobby.

Nolte's performance is also in a precise key. He came to Rwanda as a peacekeeper, and now there is no peace to keep. The nations are united in their indifference toward Rwanda. In real life, Nolte's bad-boy headlines distract from his acting gifts; here his character is steady, wise, cynical and a master of the possible. He makes a considered choice in ignoring his orders and doing what he can do, right now, right here, to save lives.

How the 1,200 people come to be "guests" in the hotel is a chance of war. Some turn left, some right, some live, some die. Paul is concerned above all with his own family. As a Hutu, he is safe, but his wife is Tutsi, his children are threatened, and in any event, he is far beyond thinking in tribal terms. He has spent years storing up goodwill and now he calls in favors. He moves the bribery up another level. He hides people in his hotel. He lies. He knows how to use a little blackmail: Sooner or later, he tells a powerful general, the world will take a reckoning of what happened in Kigali, and if Paul is not alive to testify for him, who else will be believed?

This all succeeds as riveting drama. "Hotel Rwanda" is not about hotel management, but about heroism and survival. Rusesabagina rises to the challenge. The film works not because the screen is filled with meaningless special effects, formless action and vast digital armies, but because Cheadle, Nolte and the filmmakers are interested in how two men choose to function in an impossible situation. Because we sympathize with these men, we are moved by the film.

Deep movie emotions for me usually come not when the characters are sad, but when they are good.

You will see what I mean.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Now playing

Brian Tallerico

The Girl in the Pool

Marya e. gates.

Robert Daniels

Hundreds of Beavers

Matt zoller seitz.

Film Credits

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Rated PG-13 violence, disturbing images and brief strong language

121 minutes

Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina

Sophie Okonedo as Tatiana

Nick Nolte as Col. Oliver

Joaquin Phoenix as Jack

• Terry George
• Keir Pearson

Latest blog posts

13 Films Illuminate Locarno Film Festival's Columbia Pictures Retrospective

Apple TV+'s Pachinko Expands Its Narrative Palate For An Emotional Season Two

Tina Mabry and Edward Kelsey Moore on the Joy and Uplift of The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat

The Adams Family Gets Goopy in Hell Hole

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Hotel Rwanda — Main Themes in Film Hotel Rwanda

Main Themes in Film Hotel Rwanda

• Categories: Hotel Rwanda Movie Review

About this sample

Words: 1809 |

10 min read

Published: Aug 1, 2022

Words: 1809 | Pages: 4 | 10 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, political and social issues, implications to multicultural social work practice (micro/mezzo/macro implications).

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof. Kifaru

Verified writer

• Expert in: Entertainment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1292 words

3.5 pages / 1685 words

2 pages / 925 words

4.5 pages / 2017 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Hotel Rwanda

The film Hotel Rwanda is about a battle between the Hutu and the Tutsi that lead to a major war in Rwanda. Paul Rusesabagina who is the manager of Sabena owned the hotel called des Mille Collines. Paul is Hutu but he has a wife [...]

Discrimination of all types is an issue. Before the movie Hotel Rwanda, Terry George’s film, was released, many acted as if genocide was taboo. This movie helped raise awareness to the Rwandan Genocide, which many refer to as [...]

The film “Hotel Rwanda” tells the story of Paul Rusesabagina and his family, and how his actions saved over a thousand refugees during the Rwanan genocide. During the early 90’s, tensions between Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups in [...]

Rick, a kindhearted man with a strong moral compass, is far from the most detestable of the characters in Casablanca. While he demonstrates some qualities and actions that could lead to the assumption that he is loathsome, he is [...]

A melodrama is a film which appeals to the emotions of its audience, on a higher level than the simple “drama” genre. The characters of a melodrama are often stereotyped and exaggerated to indicate something about the culture of [...]

George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ is an allegorical fairy tale which is profound in its condemnations of totalitarian regimes. The novel explores the concepts of propaganda, totalitarianism and tyranny impacting on the oppressed [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Leadership-Followership in the “Hotel Rwanda” Film Words: 2812
• “Hotel Rwanda” Directed by Terry George: An Analysis of the Film Words: 982
• Issues in the Film Industry Words: 2226
• Films and Their Role in Society Words: 2414
• Federico Fellini Films Analysis Words: 1939
• The US Film Industry’s History and Competitiveness Words: 2009
• “Hotel Rwanda” and “Equilibrium” Films Similarities and Differences Words: 1096
• Value of Film in Explaining History Words: 1471
• Ideology in “The Matrix” Film Words: 1089
• The Rwanda Genocide and the Colonial Politics Words: 2786

Hotel Rwanda Film Review

Hotel Rwanda is an interesting and well-told story that compels people to watch it. It is set in Rwanda’s capital city Kigali, during a time when the infamous Rwanda genocide took place. The film revolves around the unbelievable Paul Rusesabagina’s real story, an assistant manager at Milles Collines Hotel. Using a combination of wit, bribery, and well-established connections, Paul saved 1238 Tutsis from being killed during the genocide. It is an uplifting and encouraging film that proves the ability of human beings even during the worst of circumstances. Close to one million Rwandans were butchered systematically during the genocide, and many more lost their lives within six weeks; thus, the genocide was the worst in the world’s history.

The Rwanda genocide was associated with several causes that stirred it, among them media manipulation. It was believed that the media played a critical role in fuelling the genocide. In the film, Hotel Rwanda sets off the things by introducing RTLM dreadful radio broadcasts. The incredibly inflammatory speeches full of hate messages were the reality that was happening in Rwanda’s radio stations daily. The radios explained their hatred for Tutsis by referring to them as cockroaches and declared that Rwanda was a Hutu land. The broadcasters went on to say that the Hutus were the majority while the Tutsis formed the minorities; hence the Tutsis had to die.

The Rwanda genocide was a careful plan by the government to coincide with the eagerly awaited one man, one vote which was a move by South Africans to incorporate all races in national elections. During this period, foreign journalists in Rwanda were represented by only two individuals. All foreign journalists had shifted their attention to South Africa to cover the anticipated end of apartheid in South Africa as Nelson Mandela took over the reins of power.

As a result, the Rwandan government believed that this was the best opportunity to kill Christians of the Tutsi origin without the world knowing about the heinous crimes. For some reason, the strategic timing of the genocide occurred is not mentioned in the film. The film mentions that many foreign journalists were arriving for peacekeeping, but the truth was that only two foreign journalists were present.

The Rwanda genocide was one of the greatest violations of human rights to have been recorded in any part of the world. The US and other powerful countries should have intervened militarily to prevent the mass killings that took place in the country. What happened in Rwanda required international intervention, and this would have reduced the number of people who were killed. Intervention would have been treated as a case of just war aimed at rescuing innocent people who faced death on their faces.

The film depicts how the UN failed to stop the genocide and portrays its actions as racially motivated. As UN troops headed to the hotel, refugees were optimistic that they were to be saved. However, the UN troops announced that they were to pick only foreign nationals, not Rwandans and that they were not to stop the slaughter. The UN and the international community seemed to have intentionally left the genocide to continue.

The key moral in the film is that the UN and powerful countries were not supposed to just watch as Rwanda took the path of self-destruction. The film presents more than one side of the moral. The other side of the moral is that a government should never rise against its own people when it is supposed to protect them.

Cite this paper

• Chicago (N-B)
• Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2020, May 25). Hotel Rwanda Film Review. https://studycorgi.com/hotel-rwanda-film-review/

"Hotel Rwanda Film Review." StudyCorgi , 25 May 2020, studycorgi.com/hotel-rwanda-film-review/.

StudyCorgi . (2020) 'Hotel Rwanda Film Review'. 25 May.

1. StudyCorgi . "Hotel Rwanda Film Review." May 25, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/hotel-rwanda-film-review/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "Hotel Rwanda Film Review." May 25, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/hotel-rwanda-film-review/.

StudyCorgi . 2020. "Hotel Rwanda Film Review." May 25, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/hotel-rwanda-film-review/.

This paper, “Hotel Rwanda Film Review”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.

Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: May 25, 2020 .

If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal . Please use the “ Donate your paper ” form to submit an essay.

• Mobile Close Open Menu

Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Hotel Rwanda"

Jul 14, 2008

About the Series

Carnegie Council's Ethics on Film series analyzes films that deal with ethical issues in international affairs, emerging technology, climate, and more.

Stay updated on news, events, and more

Join our mailing list

The decades following Rwanda's independence from Belgium in 1962 saw growing ethnic tensions and periodic violent attacks and reprisals between Rwanda's Hutu majority and its Tutsi minority. Thousands of Tutsis fled into exile in neighboring countries and in 1990 a failed invasion by a Tutsi rebel exile group sparked a civil war that officially ended in August 1993. On April 6, 1994, the Rwandan president, a Hutu, was killed when his plane was shot down over Kigali airport. Hutu politicians blamed Tutsis for the president's death and within hours, loosely organized Hutu militia groups known collectively as the Interhamwe began mobilizing across Rwanda. In a preplanned campaign, these Hutu gangs killed roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus over the course of 100 days. And, in full awareness of the situation, the international community did virtually nothing to halt the slaughter.

Hotel Rwanda tells the true story of one man's courage in the midst of this genocide.

Subscribe to the Carnegie Ethics Newsletter for more on human rights issues.

Paul Rusesabagina , a manager at a Belgian-owned luxury hotel in Kigali, Rwanda's capital, is as skilled at pleasing the hotel's (mostly white) guests as he is at currying favor with the Rwandan army officers who frequent the hotel bar and the local businessmen with whom he deals. Paul, a Hutu, is married to a Tutsi and his children are considered mixed. When the mass killings begin, Paul's Tutsi neighbors rush for safety to his house. Reluctantly, Paul takes them in and bribes a Rwandan army officer to allow him to bring them to the hotel. This is only the beginning of the flood of refugees to come to the hotel. In total, the number of Tutsis and moderate Hutus sheltering in the hotel and its grounds would rise to over 1,000.

As the violence worsens, the UN withdraws most of its peacekeeping force (there to implement the Arusha Accords that ended the civil war), leaving roughly 300 soldiers behind. Foreign governments send in troops, but only to evacuate their citizens, many of whom are guests at the hotel. The head of the UN peacekeeping force, distraught over the withdrawal of his troops, tells Paul to look at himself from a Western perspective to try and understand why the international community has abandoned them—because they are African.

Paul holds firm, and through his connections, his guile, and his courage, he manages to save not only himself and his family, but also 1,268 innocent people.

Historical Accuracy

The history of the peoples of Rwanda and its neighboring countries is complex and disputed, so inevitably this movie contains some simplifications.

For instance, a conversation between a journalist and a Rwandan at the hotel bar gives the impression that there were no social distinctions between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda before Belgian colonial rule. The reality was not so simple.

Prior to Belgian colonial rule, it seems that were distinctions between Hutu and Tutsi, but they were primarily economic rather than racial. The Tutsis were the aristocracy and the Hutu were the common people. It was not impossible to change status, and "become" a powerful Tutsi (which means "rich in cattle") or an ordinary Hutu. The Belgians heavily favored the Tutsis and exacerbated and codified the formerly flexible divide between the two groups. For a good explanation of the genocide and what led up to it, see the History section of the Human Rights Watch Report, Leave None to Tell the Story .

Another historical inaccuracy in the film concerns its portrayal of the leader of the UNAMIR mission. In Hotel Rwanda, he is Colonel Oliver, a fictional character based on Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire . To see Dallaire's version of events as well as his struggle and work after the genocide, we suggest reading Shake Hands with the Devil or watching the documentary based off the book and his experiences.

• Click here for the full list of Ethics on Film reviews

Ethical Issues and Discussion Questions

1. At the beginning of the film, Paul places far greater value on protecting his family than protecting his neighbors. But as the film progresses his sense of obligation to his neighbors and his countrymen deepens. Indeed, rather than abandon the refugees he is sheltering, he sends his family to safety while he stays behind. Is his decision the morally right one? In making decisions, how much weight should one give to the welfare of one's family compared to the welfare of one's neighbors? How much weight should governments give to the welfare of foreign peoples compared to that of their own citizens?

2. The UN Colonel tells reporters that his troops are "peace-keepers," not "peace-makers." By UN mandate, UN troops were permitted to use their weapons only in self-defense. If the Colonel had disobeyed orders and authorized his troops to fire on Interhamwe fighters, would he have done the right thing?

3. Do you agree that racism played a role in the international community's failure to act to stop the genocide, as the UN colonel says? The film makes no mention of other possible contributing factors, such as the disastrous U.S. humanitarian intervention in Somalia in 1993, less than a year before, which ended after a U.S. helicopter was shot down and the bodies of U.S. soldiers were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu. Does this justify the U.S. and the UN's refusal to intervene?

4. The film shows that there was a close relationship between the French and Hutu governments, even while the killings were going on. On the tenth anniversary of the genocide, Rwanda's president accused the French of consciously training and arming the Hutus, knowing that they would massacre Tutsis. The French deny this, yet it is indisputable that France was the Rwandan government's number-one supplier of weapons. Does this fact alone make France more culpable for the genocide than the rest of the international community? How should responsibility be allocated for what happened, both inside and outside Rwanda?

How has the international community, in particular Belgium, France, the United States, and the UN, faced up to the question of responsibility and blame in the years since the genocide?

5. In 2005, world leaders formally adopted the Responsibility to Protect [R2P]—the duty to intervene in when national governments fail to fulfill their responsibility to protect their citizens from atrocious crimes—and in 2006 the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1674 , which commits the Council to protect civilians during armed conflicts. Do you agree that under certain circumstances, R2P should override sovereignty? Can you cite any examples where R2P has been or should be implemented?

Outside Resources

Paul Rusesabagina: No 'Ordinary Man' National Public Radio interview with Mr. Rusesabagina. (April, 2006) http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/ The Responsibility to Protect-Engaging Civil Society project works to advance Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and to promote concrete policies to better enable governments, regional organizations and the UN to protect vulnerable populations. An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography Paul Rusesabagina, 2006

Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda Romeo Dallaire and Samantha Power, 2004 We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda Philip Gourevitch, 1998 " Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda ", Human Rights Watch, March 1999 " Resolution 1674 (2006) ", United Nations Security Council, April 28, 2006Subscribe to the Carnegie Ethics Newsletter for more on human rights issues.

• Click here for Carnegie Council podcasts & articles

You may also like

JUL 15, 2024 • Article

Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Origin"

This review explores global issues around race and oppression in Ava DuVernay's "Origin," based on Isabel Wilkerson's book "Caste." How can we start this discussion?

By Alex Woodson

DEC 19, 2023 • Article

Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Killers of the Flower Moon"

This review explores ethical issues in "Killers of the Flower Moon," including the treatment of the Native American victims of the Osage Reign of Terror.

AUG 1, 2023 • Article

Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Oppenheimer"

This review explores ethical issues in the Oscar-winning film, including the morality of building the bomb, empathy for victims, and the Cold War arms race.

Ethics Empowered

Using the power of ethics to build a better world

Sign up for news & events

[email protected] 212-838-4122 170 East 64th Street New York, NY 10065

• Privacy Policy
• Accessibility Policy

Not translated

This content has not yet been translated into your language. You can request a translation by clicking the button below.

Culture and Beliefs in “Hotel Rwanda” Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Ethics of safeguarding the family and the community.

Traditionally, a given society comprises of individuals who share similar interests and ideologies (Hayward, 2008). These interests were mainly guided by the language, culture and beliefs of a given community. However, with modernization, the composition of modern society has changed drastically.

Most contemporary societies comprise of individuals from different ethnic groups. While this composition is favorable for the growth and development of the society, ethnic tension is usually present. In the United States, ethnic tension between the white and the colored communities has been present for several centuries. The same trend is present in African communities where ethnic differences are present between members of different tribes.

This paper will thus focus on ethnic differences and the ethics of safeguarding the family and the community at large as a result of ethnic tension and violence. To realize its goals, this paper will use the Kantian ethical theory to critically analyze the movie, “Hotel Rwanda”, that dramatized the genocide Rwanda faced in 1994 as a result of ethnic differences between its two main ethnic groups.

The family is considered as the basic unit of the society. In most societies, it is the role of the man to provide for his family and ensure that it is safe from any threats (Pojman, 2000). Mr. Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu, was too familiar with this role especially given the political tension that was present in Rwanda after the Tutsi rebels sparked a civil war between 1990 and 1993.

While the then president of Rwanda is expected to sign a peace agreement with the Tutsi rebels, the Hutus, who are the majority, were mobilizing themselves under a militia group known as Interhamwe who slowly start to attack the Tutsi population all across Rwanda (Gourevitch, 1998). The situation gets worse after the president’s plane is shot down resulting to his death and the Interhamwe quickly blame the attack on Tutsi rebels. This sparks violence all across the nation resulting in the death of close to 1 million Tutsis (Dallaire and Power, 2004).

While several ethical theories present themselves in this movie, the Kantian ethical theory can be used to best explain the actions of the agent (Paul) and the issue the movie is trying to describe. The Kantian theory is based on categorical imperative, a concept that is used to describe the supreme principle of morality in any given societal setting (Attfield, 2013).

In accordance to this theory, there are different means through which the categorical imperative can be described. The first approach is through the universal law formulae in which individuals are expected to act and conduct themselves in a manner that can be universally applied to others without causing harm (Attfield, 2013). This is consistent with the common saying of, ‘do to others what you expect to be done to you.’ The application of this law is to maintain a moral standard across the society with regards to our actions.

The second approach of the categorical imperative is through the principle of humanity. In accordance to this principle, individuals should always treat others as ends and not as means of achieving something (Schweitzer, 2013). In this respect, we should value other individuals and treat them in a selfless manner that will result in mutual benefit and societal growth and not in a selfish manner to achieve personal gain.

From the onset of the film, it is evident that Paul is seeking favors from army generals, tourists, and diplomats who frequent the hotel where he works. The main aim of doing this is to create good relations with these individuals who have influence within the Rwandan government just in case his family or himself is in dire need for help.

From an ethical perspective, it is clear that Paul is willing to go to any extent to protect his family especially given the fact that he is married to a Tutsi woman. This fact puts his family at high risk given the political tension that is present in the nation at the time. In the scene where his Tutsi neighbor is confronted, beaten, and arrested by the Rwandan army, Paul watches from a distance and refused to take any action despite the fact that he could help him given the connections that he had.

He makes it clear to his wife that his family comes first. By analyzing Paul’s action at this juncture, it is evident that he is acting against the universal law formulae since he is not treating his neighbors in a manner that he would wish other people to treat him. However, after considering the prevailing circumstances, Paul’s decision to act in this manner is justified since he has the sole mandate of first safeguarding his family.

However, Paul’s mandate of safeguarding his family drastically changes to safeguarding the community after violence broke our due to the assassination of the president. When he reaches home, he finds that his Tutsi neighbors are seeking refuge in his home. At this point, Paul uses any means necessary including bribing an army general to ensure that all the refugees who were at his home safely arrive at the Hotel where he works.

Paul could have easily abandoned the refugees and save his family alone but his conscious and morals drove him to use any means possible to save all the refugees. This is consistent with the principle of humanity where Paul treats all the refugees as ends and not as means.

With time, Paul finds himself handling over 1000 refugees from ethnicities and races and to ensure their safety, he uses all the connections that he has to ensure their safety. In the end, he manages to safely lead these refuges behind Tutsi rebel lines. It is through his courage, selflessness and the connections that has that enables Paul to save his family and other refugees through the civil war that resulted in the death of over 1 million people.

This movie clearly portrays the challenges that Paul faced and the ethical decisions he had to make to ensure the safety of his family and the community at large. Racism and ethnicity are one of the biggest ethical problems we are currently facing in the modern society. If we can apply the concepts of the Kantian theory, we can significantly eliminate these vices and live in harmony irrespective of our ethnic background, gender or race. This will make the world a better place and will also play a significant role in social and economic development.

Attfield, R. (2013). The Ethics of Environmental Concern . Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

Dallaire, R. and Power, S. (2004). Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda. New York: Sage.

Gourevitch, P. (1998). We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. New York: Reed Business Inc.

Hayward, T. (2008). Political Theory and Ecological Values . Cambridge: Polity Press.

Pojman. L. (2000). Global Environmental Ethics . Mountain View, California: Mayfield Publishing Company.

Schweitzer, A. (2013). Civilization and Ethics . London: A & C Black Publishers.

• Negotiation Styles in "Carnage" Film
• "Hotel Rwanda" - International Ignorance
• Genocide in Rwanda: Insiders and Outsiders
• Genocide in the "Ghost of Rwanda" Documentary
• "Sometimes in April" by Raoul Peck
• Future of Architecture in "Blade Runner" Film
• "Farewell, My Concubine" by Chen Kaige
• Odessa Steps Scene in "Battleship Potemkin" Film
• Battleship Potemkin: Film Styles and Elements
• Hollywood Success in the Film "Sunset Boulevard"
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, May 6). Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda". https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/

"Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"." IvyPanda , 6 May 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"'. 6 May.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"." May 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/.

1. IvyPanda . "Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"." May 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"." May 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

My Story Was Told in ‘Hotel Rwanda.’ Here’s What I Want the World to Know Now.

By Paul Rusesabagina

Mr. Rusesabagina is the president and founder of the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation.

This week, the world will again turn its eyes toward Rwanda. April 6 marks 30 years since the start of one of the most horrific events in modern history, the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Nearer in time but not unrelated, it has been just over one year since I left Rwanda and returned to the United States, released from prison after 939 days in captivity .

I have not yet spoken at length about what those years in a Rwandan prison were like, or about the daily reality for Rwandan political prisoners who, like me, found themselves behind bars for exercising their freedom of expression. It has been a long year of physical and emotional recovery that has allowed me finally to put pen to paper again, and I expect the healing process will last the rest of my life.

The experience of being kidnapped, tortured, imprisoned and silenced by those whom I had used my voice to criticize is difficult to describe. At many times during my captivity I believed I would be silenced for good, and that I would never again see my wife, my children and my grandchildren. But today I am a free man. And as we face this important and difficult milestone, I feel grateful to be able to join with my fellow Rwandans and reflect on what, if anything, we can take from this terrible chapter of our shared history.

For me and for so many Rwandans, the 1994 genocide remains the focal point of my life. The months of April to July 1994 were a time of incomprehensible horror, in which our beautiful country was dragged into hell by brutal violence and killings on a scale previously unimaginable. At some points in the crisis, as many as 10,000 people were butchered in a day, primarily by machetes and other crude weapons. Even now, three decades later, and even for those of us who saw the killings firsthand, it is impossible to process the depravity and the gravity of the loss.

At the time, I was the manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, where I tried to protect not only my own young family but also the 1,268 people who sought shelter within the walls of the hotel. Their bravery, and our daily macabre dance with death, became the backdrop of the 2004 film “Hotel Rwanda.” This film brought to the screen our compromising, negotiating and begging with our would-be executioners to try to keep the waiting militia at bay.

This experience is still difficult for each one of us to relive. I am grateful to have survived it. I am also grateful for the two personal lessons I decided to take from living through this atrocity. The first: Never, ever, ever give up. This is what sustained me when I was kidnapped in August 2020 by an operative of the Rwandan intelligence services and wrongfully detained in Rwanda on charges of terrorism and other crimes, along with others who were critical of the current government. The second: Words are our most effective weapons when we are confronted by those who seek to oppress and victimize others.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

• Visit Our Blog about Russia to know more about Russian sights, history
• Check out our Russian cities and regions guides
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to better understand Russia
• Info about getting Russian visa , the main airports , how to rent an apartment
• Our Expert answers your questions about Russia, some tips about sending flowers

Russian regions

• Belgorod oblast
• Bryansk oblast
• Ivanovo oblast
• Kaluga oblast
• Kostroma oblast
• Kursk oblast
• Lipetsk oblast
• Moskovskaya oblast
• Orlovskaya oblast
• Ryazan oblast
• Smolensk oblast
• Tambov oblast
• Tula oblast
• Tver oblast
• Vladimir oblast
• Voronezh oblast
• Yaroslavl oblast
• Map of Russia
• All cities and regions
• Blog about Russia
• News from Russia
• How to get a visa
• Flights to Russia
• Russian hotels
• Renting apartments
• Russian currency
• FIFA World Cup 2018
• Submit an article
• Flowers to Russia
• Ask our Expert

Ryazan city, Russia

The capital city of Ryazan oblast .

Ryazan - Overview

Ryazan is a fairly large city in Russia located on the high right bank of the Oka River, about 180 km south-east of Moscow, the administrative center of Ryazan Oblast, a major scientific, military, and industrial center.

The population of Ryazan is about 529,400 (2022), the area - 224 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 4912, the postal codes - 390000-390048.

Ryazan city flag

Ryazan city coat of arms.

Ryazan city map, Russia

Ryazan city latest news and posts from our blog:.

8 August, 2017 / Ryazan Kremlin - one of the oldest museums in Russia .

27 February, 2017 / Vvedensky Church in Pet - the gem of the Ryazan region .

15 July, 2010 / The architectural monuments of Ryazan oblast photos .

24 May, 2010 / Ryazan oblast beautiful abandoned cathedral photos .

History of Ryazan

Foundation of today’s ryazan.

The first settlements arose on the territory of today’s Ryazan as early as the Middle Paleolithic era (from 300,000 to 30,000 years ago). Near the city, in the village of Dubrovichi, archaeologists discovered a flint ax made more than 80 thousand years ago - the most ancient material monument found in the Ryazan region.

Slavic tribes, in this case the Vyatichi, came to the Oka around the 6th century AD. Already in the 7th-8th centuries, a whole network of settlements was founded around the future Ryazan. These people were mainly engaged in arable farming.

Until the middle of the 10th century, the Vyatichi, like several other East Slavic tribal unions, were politically dependent on the Khazar Khaganate (650-969). The Old Russian state played the decisive role in its decline. In 964, Prince Svyatoslav freed the last Slavic tribe of the Vyatichi dependent on the Khazars. The Ryazan and Murom lands were included into the Old Russian state.

The presence of several large settlements on this territory led to the need to create a single military center. In 1095, the town of Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky was founded on a high hill at the confluence of the Trubezh and Lybid rivers.

More Historical Facts…

Ryazan in the 12th-17th centuries

At the beginning of the 12th century, the Ryazan lands separated into an independent Murom-Ryazan principality. It was a time of rivalry between its two largest towns - Ryazan and Murom - for the right to be the capital of the new principality.

As a result, Ryazan, which was located about 50 km down the Oka River from Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky, won, since it was here that the princely court was taking place, the episcopal see was located, feudal unions were concluded, from here the princely troops went on military campaigns. Moreover, Ryazan was well fortified. Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky by this time was one of the fortified outposts of the principality, surrounded by a network of guard posts.

In the winter of 1237, a large Mongol army (tens of thousands of people) approached the walls of Ryazan. This was one of the first episodes of the Mongol invasion of Rus and the western campaign of the Mongols. The town was captured after several days of siege.

The main military forces of the principality were defeated earlier in the battle on the Voronezh River. Ryazan with a population of up to 8 thousand people was completely destroyed. It was never able to recover and soon the few surviving residents left it. Today, this place is known as Old Ryazan. The capital of the principality was moved to Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky.

By the 14th century, Pereyaslavl was finally formed as the capital of the principality. The heart of the town was the fortress (kremlin) with wooden walls and twelve towers. At the beginning of the 15th century, the construction of the Ryazan Kremlin with stone buildings began. In 1611, during the Time of Troubles, Ryazan initiated the convening of the first people’s militia to free Moscow from the Poles. The Ryazan nobleman Prokopiy Lyapunov was elected its head.

Ryazan in the 18th-19th centuries

In 1778, with the formation of the Ryazan Governorship, Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky received the name Ryazan and its own coat of arms depicting the figure of the Prince with a sword in his hand. In 1780, the regular plan of Ryazan was approved.

The ensemble of the Ryazan Kremlin with the beautiful Assumption Cathedral (1693-1699) remained the center of the town. In 1787, an opera and drama theater, one of the oldest in Russia, was opened in Ryazan. By the end of the 18th century, about 8 thousand people lived in Ryazan.

In 1837, a large fire destroyed a lot of wooden buildings. The construction of new stone buildings began, including artillery barracks (the building of the hospital on Pervomaisky Avenue). In 1860, about 21.6 thousand people lived in Ryazan. In 1863, a railway line connected Ryazan with Moscow. Ryazan became a major railway hub. By 1897, the population of the city was 46 thousand people.

Ryazan in the 20th century

In 1913, the city power plant was put into operation. In December 1915, the first female teacher’s institute in the Russian Empire was founded in Ryazan. In 1930, after the liquidation of the Ryazan Governorate, Ryazan became a district center of Moscow Oblast. In 1937, it became the administrative center of the newly formed Ryazan Oblast. In 1939, its population was about 95,000.

In the fall of 1941, during the Second World War, the front line reached the Ryazan region. Ryazan was of great strategic importance, as highways connecting Moscow with the central and eastern regions of the country passed through it. German troops were stopped 30 kilometers from the city.

The rapid development of Ryazan began immediately after the war. The city turned into a large industrial, scientific, and military center of the European part of Russia, home to giant factories that occupied entire urban districts: the Ryazan oil refinery (the largest in Europe), “Ryazselmash” (the only manufacturer of potato harvesting equipment in the USSR), the calculating and analytical machine plant, the heavy forging and pressing equipment plant, the chemical fiber plant, etc.

Several large universities were opened in Ryazan - a medical university, a radio engineering academy, an agricultural institute, and an institute of culture. The military potential of the city was finally formed. Ryazan becomes the main training center for the Soviet Airborne Forces. The city was surrounded by numerous training centers and military training grounds.

Greening became one of the city’s fundamental development strategies. Ryazan was surrounded by green rings of forests and parks. Large parks were laid out in every district of the city. Ryazan was repeatedly declared the winner in greening among the cities of the Soviet Union. By 1987, the city’s population exceeded half a million people.

During the years of Soviet power, the population of Ryazan grew more than fivefold. The city participated in the state program for providing housing to builders of the North - a lot of workers of enterprises located beyond the Arctic Circle subsequently received apartments and registration in the city. Some decline in growth was observed in the 1990s, coinciding with the general demographic decline in Russia. In 1995, Ryazan celebrated its 900th anniversary.

Streets of Ryazan

Architecture of Ryazan

Author: Zapletkin Pavel

Modern architecture in Ryazan

Author: Mikhail Maksimov

On the street in Ryazan

Author: Sytnikov Vitaliy

Ryazan - Features

Ryazan, one of the oldest cities in Central Russia, is located in the center of the East European Plain, in the northwestern part of Ryazan Oblast. It is included in the so-called inner ring of large cities located 150-200 km from Moscow.

About 50 km downstream of the Oka River there is a historical and landscape museum-reserve Old Ryazan - the old capital of the Great Ryazan principality. The present city (initially known as Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky) was renamed in its honor in 1778.

The climate of the city is moderately continental. Summer in Ryazan is warm, winter is moderately cold. The average temperature in July is plus 19.2 degrees Celsius, in February - minus 7.9 degrees Celsius.

The coat of arms and flag of Ryazan represent the image of the Prince holding a silver sword in his right hand, and a silver scabbard in his left. The sword raised to the chest symbolizes defense. The Prince is a collective image of the defender of the Motherland and has nothing to do with a specific person. The City Day of Ryazan is celebrated on the first Saturday in August.

The favorable economic and geographical position of Ryazan on the navigable Oka River, proximity to Moscow predetermined the significant development of the city. Ryazan is crossed by the M5 Ural Highway, railway lines to the south and to the center of Russia. The leading local industries are tool making, machine tool building, power engineering, petrochemistry, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, building materials industry, woodworking, food and flour-and-cereal industries.

Main Attractions of Ryazan

Ryazan Kremlin - the oldest part of Ryazan, a historical and architectural open-air museum-reserve, an architectural monument of federal importance. The construction of stone fortifications in Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky (today’s Ryazan) began in the 15th century. The main structures built in the 17th century have survived to this day. In total, the Ryazan Kremlin ensemble includes 18 monuments of history and culture of the 11th-19th centuries. You can reach it by any public transport that goes to Sobornaya Square.

Assumption Cathedral (1663-1699) - the main dominant of the Ryazan Kremlin built in the Naryshkin Baroque style. The stylized image of this cathedral is one of the symbols of Ryazan. The Assumption Cathedral and its bell tower are built in such a way that they can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. For a long time, they served as a visual reference point when navigating on the Oka River. Inside there is a magnificent 27-meter iconostasis, consisting of 7 tiers and decorated with stone carvings - a real masterpiece of decorative art.

Nativity of Christ Cathedral - the first stone building on the territory of the Ryazan Kremlin and one of the oldest buildings in Ryazan Oblast. The cathedral was founded by the Grand Prince Oleg Ryazansky on the territory of his court at the end of the 14th century. In the 14th-15th centuries, five Ryazan princes and three princesses were buried in the Nativity of Christ Cathedral. As a result of numerous reconstructions, the current architectural appearance of this cathedral combines elements of baroque and classicism.

Palace of Prince Oleg - the largest civil building on the territory of the Ryazan Kremlin, which was built in stages over the 17th-19th centuries. Until the 16th century, a princely court with bishops chambers was located here. Today, the premises of the palace house the exposition “From Rus to Russia”, as well as exhibitions “Old Ryazan” and “The Legend of Evpatiy Kolovrat”.

Soborny (Cathedral) Park - a public garden located near the Ryazan Kremlin, where residents and visitors of the city like to stroll in the shade of trees. The most convenient way to get to Soborny Park is from Sobornaya Square, through the front entrance with columns. The main alley of this park leads to the Ryazan Kremlin and the Ryazan Embankment. There are several interesting sights here: the Church of the Savior on Yar, Ilyinsky Cathedral, the monument to Sergei Yesenin, the chapel of the 900th anniversary of Ryazan. It is a place where you can buy Ryazan souvenirs, ride horses.

Ryazan Art Museum named after Ivan Pozhalostin - one of the oldest art museums in Russia. The collection includes about 12,000 works of Russian and Western European art of the late 15th-20th centuries: paintings, graphics, sculptures, decorative and applied art, folk art. The collection of Western European art includes paintings by Italian, Dutch, French artists, porcelain from Germany, France, and England.

The collection of Russian art includes Old Russian icons and sculptures, Russian paintings, sculptures and graphics of the 18th-20th centuries, including works by local artists, porcelain, glass, and furniture. A significant section of the collection is the folk art of the Ryazan land: costumes, weaving, embroidery, lace, ceramics, clay toys. Svobody Street, 57.

Museum of the History of the Airborne Forces - the first and largest official museum on this subject. On both sides of the entrance, on the pedestals, you can see combat vehicles, artillery and airborne self-propelled guns. The basis of the exposition is made up of banners of airborne divisions and brigades that participated in the Second World War, examples of Russian and foreign small arms, parachutes, military equipment. Margelova Square, 1. The historical and memorial hall of military equipment and weapons of the Airborne Forces, a branch of this museum, is located at Voyennykh Avtomobilistov Street, 12.

Memorial Museum-Estate of Academician Ivan Pavlov - one of the most famous sights of Ryazan located in its center. The complex consists of picturesque wooden buildings, among which there is a two-storey house of the early 20th century, where the world famous physiologist Ivan Pavlov, the first Russian Nobel Prize winner, lived. Inside, the historic interior was recreated with Pavlov’s personal belongings. Pavlova Street, 25.

Summer Club of the Noble Assembly (1905) - a beautiful wooden house decorated with skillful carvings, the main decoration of the Ryazan City Park. Until 1917, the local aristocracy met here to chat, discuss current events, or just relax on pleasant summer evenings. Today, it houses the center of folk art. Uritskogo Street, 72.

Sculpture “Mushrooms with Eyes” - an interesting sculpture dedicated to the famous Ryazan proverb about mushrooms - “In Ryazan, mushrooms have eyes.” Allegedly, because of this, it is difficult to gather mushrooms in the surrounding forests. The art object depicts a whole family: a father mushroom and his two sons surrounded by forest dwellers. It was installed on the territory of the Lower City Garden in 2013. Lenina Street, 26.

Long-range aviation museum at the Dyagilevo air base . The exposition of this thematic museum and exhibition complex brings together a large number of objects related to the history of the development and use of military aviation of the USSR and Russia: combat aircraft, examples of weapons and equipment, uniforms, equipment, personal belongings and awards of pilots, documents, maps, photographs, etc. It is located about 11 km west of Ryazan. A visit to this museum is possible only as part of an excursion group (5+ people) and by prior arrangement. The tour takes two hours and you can take pictures for free.

Sergei Yesenin Museum-Reserve in Konstantinovo . This museum complex located about 40 km from Ryazan is devoted to one of the most well-known Russian poets of the 20th century. The main building is the wooden house of the poet’s parents, where his personal belongings and old photographs of the family are kept. In the 1980s, a whole ensemble of museum buildings was formed in Konstantinovo, which included the estate of L. I. Kashina with an adjoining park, a village school building, the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, and other objects.

Starozhilovsky Stud Farm . It was founded by order of Baron von Dervies in the 1890s. The stud farm building constructed in the Gothic style by the architect Fyodor Shekhtel is of particular interest. Unfortunately, during the Second World War, during the evacuation across the Oka, all the horses died. Today, about 300 horses are kept here. The stud farm is located about 55 km south of Ryazan in the village of Starozhilovo.

Ryazan city of Russia photos

Sights of ryazan.

Monument to Ryazan firefighters (GAZ-AA)

Author: Kiyanovsky Dmitry

Tulips and a fountain in front of the concert hall Moskva in Ryazan

Assumption Cathedral in the Ryazan Kremlin

Author: Sergey Duhanin

Churches of Ryazan

Boris and Gleb Church in Ryazan

Church of Alexander Nevsky in Ryazan

Nikolo-Yamskaya Church in Ryazan

Author: Alexander Glebovsky

The questions of our visitors

The comments of our visitors.

I came to Ryazan in 1990 to fly hot air balloons! We all had great time and your hospitality was wonderful. Our translator was a girl called Olga who later came to visit us, with her mother, in the UK.

I never realised the incredible history of the area when I was there. It was such a short stay. I'm getting older now but will never forget your kindness. Maybe I'll plan another visit!

Great to read your website, I'm glad I found it. When Olga visited she gave us three small glass hedgehogs as a present which I still have and I was trying to find their origin! If you know Olga and mum say hallo from me!

• Currently 3.08/5

Rating: 3.1 /5 (154 votes cast)

THE 10 BEST Hotels in Ryazan 2024

Ryazan Hotels

Property types, distance from, traveler rating, hotel class, popular hotels in ryazan right now.

• Best Value Properties ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data, including traveler ratings, confirmed availability from our partners, prices, booking popularity and location, as well as personal user preferences and recently viewed hotels.
• Traveler Ranked Highest rated hotels on Tripadvisor, based on traveler reviews.
• Distance to city center See properties located closest to the center first with confirmed availability for your dates from our partners

1. Aragon Hotel

2. Hotel Old Town

3. V Nekotorom Tsarstve Hotel

5. Hotel Ryazan

6. Congress Hotel Forum

7. AMAKS Congress-Hotel

9. Konyushennii Dvor

10. Geneva Hotel

11. Kremlyovskiy Park

12. Hotel Odisseya

13. pik hotel.

14. Ecopark Polyany

15. borovnica hotel, 16. lovech apart hotel.

17. Oka Hotel

18. a`liva hotel.

20. Lesnoi Bunker

21. atlantic hotel.

23. Na Ribatskoy Guest House

24. priokskaya, 25. hostel stilyagi, 26. autodvor, 28. nice hostel, 29. love hotel at the ryazan kremlin, 30. gnezdo khorosheye mesto, ryazan hotels information.

Hotels near the sights

Results Similar to Ryazan

Ryazan Oblast

• 2 Other destinations
• 3 Understand
• 6 Get around
• 11 Stay safe

<a href=\"https://tools.wmflabs.org/wikivoyage/w/poi2gpx.php?print=gpx&amp;lang=en&amp;name=Ryazan_Oblast\" title=\"Download GPX file for this article\" data-parsoid=\"{}\"><img alt=\"Download GPX file for this article\" resource=\"./File:GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\" decoding=\"async\" data-file-width=\"20\" data-file-height=\"20\" data-file-type=\"bitmap\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" class=\"mw-file-element\" data-parsoid='{\"a\":{\"resource\":\"./File:GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\",\"height\":\"20\",\"width\":\"20\"},\"sa\":{\"resource\":\"File:GPX Document rev3-20x20.png\"}}'/></a></span>"}'/>

Ryazan Oblast is a region in Central Russia , which borders Lipetsk Oblast to the southwest, Tula Oblast to the west, Moscow Oblast to the northwest, Vladimir Oblast to the north, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast to the northeast, Mordovia to the east, Penza Oblast to the southeast, and Tambov Oblast to the south.

• 54.63 39.7425 1 Ryazan — Ryazan is one of the older cities of Russia, which has its own kremlin that served as a major fortress on the border of Tatar and Russian lands for centuries
• 54.789722 39.833333 4 Solotcha — once known (with some pretence) as an "Italy in Ryazan," Solotcha is a quiet town in the suburbs of Ryazan and home to the Solotchinsky Convent, which dates back some 700 years

Navigation menu