The study presents a comparative historical analysis of the architectural tourist and recreational environment formation from the perspective of the cluster approach. Territory clustering is considered the most effective way to influence the sustainable tourism system at the regional and local levels using the economic potential of the region. The study aims to identify the position of periodization in the comparative historical analysis due to the development of the cluster approach in national and international practice for the formation of a recreational environment in tourism. Moreover, the study is aimed at identifying the prerequisites for the cluster formation, primary problems within the cluster development model, and finding solutions on the example of the Ural region at the federal and regional levels. We used the following research methodology: to conduct a comparative historical analysis of the clustering forms in the architectural and recreational environment, to identify the stages of creation and implementation of clustering objects in the architectural tourist and recreational environment on the example of the Ural region on the basis of a comprehensive analysis. The study also determines the primary problems of complex architecture objects in regional tourism within the framework of the cluster development model, decelerating the functioning of the tourist and recreational environment of the Ural region (except for the big cities). The novelty of the study is to determine the most effective recommendations, which will contribute to improving the productivity of the developed federal and regional cluster support programs, thereby contributing to increasing the productivity of clustering in general and in the Ural region in particular. One can apply the primary provisions of the study in project practice and the educational process in the study, including the design of cluster formations of the tourist and the recreational environment with regional specifics, related to the regional tourism and social economy, as well as in the field of improving regional tourism policy.