Karachev

First chronicled in 1146, it was the capital of one of the Upper Oka Principalities in the Middle Ages, until its rulers moved their seats to Peremyshl. In the 14th century it became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and in 1503 it passed to the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Karachev was part of the Oryol Governorate from 1796 to 1920.

Its old architecture was heavily damaged during World War II. Karachev was occupied by the German Army from 5 October 1941 to 15 August 1943. The Germans operated a Nazi prison and temporarily also the Dulag 185 prisoner-of-war camp in the town. Local Jews were confined in a ghetto and eventually massacred by the occupiers on 12 December 1941, with some 100 victims.

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Karachev serves as the administrative center of Karachevsky District. As an administrative division, it is, together with thirty-one rural localities, incorporated within Karachevsky District as Karachevsky Urban Administrative Okrug. As a municipal division, Karachevsky Urban Administrative Okrug is incorporated within Karachevsky Municipal District as Karachevskoye Urban Settlement.

Near Karachev, there is a 300-meter (980 ft) tall radio mast used for the CHAYKA radio navigation system.