What sights of Ufa should I see? Photos and descriptions

The official date of foundation of the modern metropolis - the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan, is considered to be 1574. However, mentions of the ancient city at the confluence of the Belaya, Ufa and Dema rivers are found in the chronicles of the Golden Horde; under the name Paskerti it appears on the Mercador map. Today, Ufa, with its population of millions, is the most important industrial, logistics and cultural center of the Volga region. It covers an area of more than 707 km², and in terms of population density it is considered the most spacious million-dollar city in the country. The colorful sights of Ufa, photos and descriptions of which you will find in the article, are visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year.

TOP-5 main attractions of Ufa

Getting to know the city usually begins with visiting iconic attractions. Colorful business cards of Ufa emphasize the uniqueness of this wonderful city and help to understand the soul of the people who inhabit it.

Monument to Salavat Yulaev

Address: Ploshchad im. Salavat Yulaev. Transport stop "BGU".

The most recognizable symbol of the city is the monument to the national hero of Bashkortostan Salavat Yulaev. The ten-meter sculpture, cast from cast iron and covered with bronze, is considered the most massive equestrian statue in Russia and on the entire European continent. The creation of the sculptor S. Tovasiev, on which he worked for about 30 years, is amazing. The master managed to convey all the expression of the moment, so it seems that the horse and rider are about to fall off the 4-meter granite pedestal and rush into the distance across the endless Bashkir steppes. The grand opening of the monument, weighing more than 40 tons, took place in 1967.

Lyalya-Tulpan Mosque

Opening hours: daily, from 9:00 to 18:00.
Phone: +7 347 242‑22-33.
Address: st. Komarova, 5. Transport stop "UGNTU".

Many consider the most colorful attraction of Ufa to be the Lyalya-Tulpan mosque, opened in 1998. It received its name due to the similarity of the surroundings of two 53-meter minarets with blossoming tulip buds. These flowers, personifying freshness and chastity, are especially revered by the Turkic peoples. The exterior of the three-story mosque building combines the eclecticism of modern architecture with traditional Arabic motifs. The walls of the mosque are decorated with serpentine, marble, and painted with oriental ornaments. Crystal chandeliers and delightful stained glass windows are a true decoration of the interiors.

Friendship Monument

Address: st. October revolution. Transport stop "Friendship Monument".

Bashkirs, Russians, representatives of other nationalities inhabiting the lands of the republic have been living as one family for more than four centuries. During the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the voluntary entry of Bashkiria into Russia, a decision was made to build a monument symbolizing the inviolability of the friendship of peoples. In 1965, the grandiose monument was inaugurated. Its dominant feature is a paired stele, symbolizing a sheathed sword. At the base of the obelisk there are bronze figures of Bashkir and Russian women - guardians of the hearth, dressed in national clothes.

Fountain "Seven Girls"

Address: Theater Square. Transport stop "Gostiny Dvor".

There are many beautiful fountains in Ufa, but the most colorful of them is the one located near the Opera and Ballet Theater. In the center of the 18-meter pool there is a round stone pedestal, along the perimeter of which there are seven 2-meter bronze sculptures of girls in national costumes. The geyser nozzles are installed on a special elevation between the sculptures and in the main bowl. In the evenings, when the multi-colored lights turn on, you get the feeling that the beauties are floating above the water. The composition was created based on a national legend that tells the story of seven girls who once threw themselves from a cliff into the waters of the Belaya River so as not to fall into the hands of cruel conquerors.

Spassky Church

Opening hours: daily, from 8:30 to 18:30.
Phone: +7 347 272‑93-29.
Website: https://www.spas-ufa.cerkov.ru
Address: st. October Revolution, 37A. Transport stop "School of Arts".

The fate of the Spasskaya Church, which took about 20 years to build and was consecrated in 1844, is tragic. Now it is in unsatisfactory condition. At the same time, the temple is one of the architectural pearls of Ufa, because its exterior repeats the outlines of the famous Kazan Cathedral. Back in 1929, the church's property was requisitioned. At various times, its premises housed production workshops, dormitory rooms, and restoration workshops. The temple fell into the hands of the diocese again only 75 years later. Despite the fact that the condition of the side colonnades of the building leaves much to be desired, it remains an iconic landmark of the city.

On topic: Where to go in Ufa with a girl

Historical information about the city

In the 16th century, the winter residence of the Tatar governor of the ruler of the Nogai Horde .

The name of the city of Ufa comes from one of the versions published in a nineteenth-century memorial book of the Orenburg province: “On the right elevated banks of the Belaya River is the city of Ufa.” The Bashkir word “ufa” itself means “dark water” .

There are historical facts that Ufa has never been conquered by anyone since its foundation. Ufa was protected from attacks by nomads by high walls. Over time, the walls were no longer needed and the city stopped being attacked.

The only exception was the attack during the Pugachev uprising . Ufa withstood these attacks with dignity and repelled both assaults.

In 2015, events of an international scale took place in Ufa. It was a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS .

In the mid-eighteenth century, the coat of arms of Ufa was lost in the city of St. Petersburg. In return, they tried to create a coat of arms with a new image - in the form of a white horse running across a red field. Local Bashkirs refused the new image on the coat of arms. Half a century later, the old coat of arms was restored. It again depicted a wild animal that lives in the local forests - a marten.

Ufa history and architecture

Over its long, eventful history, the city has acquired many historical monuments and architectural wonders. You can admire them while walking along the streets of Ufa. Souvenir photos of local attractions will decorate any traveler’s album.

Rodina cinema building

Address: st. Lenina, 42. Transport stop "Cinema Rodina".

The popular cinema is located in a building that looks more like a palace in appearance. A magnificent mansion with a luxurious colonnade in the best traditions of the Stalinist Empire style, was erected in 1953. It delights with proportionality and impeccable lines, pleasing the eye with the openwork decor of the facade. The carved pediments, elegant stucco molding of the friezes of the columns, and the painting of the vault of the portico arch look amazing. It is in several halls of the cinema, equipped with the most modern rental equipment, that premiere screenings of the best films take place.

Gostiny Dvor

Address: Verkhnetorgovaya Square, 1. Transport stop "Gostiny Dvor".

The center of trade in Ufa, like most large provincial cities in the pre-revolutionary era, was the Gostiny Dvor, built in the second third of the 19th century. Like most similar buildings, it had the shape of a rectangle, limited along the perimeter by arched galleries. Gostiny Dvor regularly fulfilled its tasks until the war began. In 1941, the building housed the workshops of spinning and weaving factories evacuated from Serpukhov , and then a cotton mill. In the early 80s of the last century, the dilapidated Gostiny Dvor was almost demolished, but the public managed to defend the iconic landmark. After extensive reconstruction, it turned into a modern shopping center.

Marten house

Address: Verkhnetorgovaya Square, 1. Transport stop "Gostiny Dvor".

A sculptural composition dedicated to the charming animal depicted on the coat of arms of Ufa appeared in the capital of Bashkortostan in 2010. Its opening was timed to celebrate the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. Indeed, in nature, martens live in pairs and take touching care of their offspring. Therefore, the bronze tree, on whose branches there is a fairy-tale house and a couple of fluffy symbols of the city, has become a mandatory stopping place for wedding processions. Numerous guests of Ufa are no less willing to take photographs against the backdrop of the colorful monument.

Monument to A. Matrosov

Address: Garden of Alexander Matrosov. Transport stop “Park im. Lenin".

In the short but very bright life of the hero, who without hesitation gave his life for his Motherland in 1943, covering with his body the embrasure of the fascist bunker, much is connected with Ufa, although he was born in Dnepropetrovsk. It was in the Volga city that the character of Alexander, who was orphaned early and brought up in a local labor colony, was formed. Today in Ufa there are two monuments to the hero. The oldest of them was installed in 1951. The bronze figure of Matrosov, in full uniform and with a machine gun in his hand, stands on a granite pedestal in the garden that bears his name.

Headquarters of URALSIB Bank

Headquarters of URALSIB Bank in the city panorama

The building, which is the headquarters of the largest bank URALSIB, is the largest in Ufa. The tower consists of 20 office floors and one technical floor. The wavy structure under the roof of the structure gives it a very original look. The bank building serves as an extension to the old two-story brick building, which housed the second Mariinsky Gymnasium in the 19th and 20th centuries. Now this architectural monument has been restored and looks quite harmonious in combination with a modern skyscraper.

City temples and mosques

The multicultural metropolis is inhabited by people of different nationalities who practice their traditional religions. Orthodox, Muslims, Catholics, and Buddhists have lived here in peace for many centuries. Therefore, connoisseurs of religious architecture will find something to see in Ufa.

The first cathedral mosque

Opening hours: daily, from 8:00 to 21:00.
Telephone.
Address: st. Tukaeva, 48. Transport stop “Novomostovaya Street”.

Several interesting facts are connected with the oldest mosque in the city. It was erected in 1830 not with funds from the Mohammedan spiritual administration, but with donations from the wealthy merchant M. Khozyaseitov. Until the 20s of the last century, the temple was considered the main shrine of the country's Muslims and was not closed during times of persecution of religion. The mosque building with a 28-meter minaret has been among the main architectural monuments of Ufa for many years and was even depicted on a Russian Post stamp issued in 2001.

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

Opening hours: daily, from 7:30 to 18:30.
Telephone.
Address: st. Kirova, 102. Transport stop “Kirova Street”.

The cathedral, consecrated in 1909, is not only the largest existing Orthodox church in Ufa, but also an architectural gem of regional significance. The domes of the five-domed temple rise 25 m above the ground, and the height of its bell tower is 47 m. During the years of persecution of religion, the cathedral housed a cinema. After the building was returned, it took believers more than 12 years to restore it to its historical appearance. Today the temple looks amazing. Its interiors are decorated with white, pink, yellow marble. The church houses many shrines, including about 25 especially revered Orthodox icons.

Madina Mosque

Opening hours: daily, from 7:00 to 19:00.
Address: st. Gatchinskaya, 1. Transport stop “Gatchinskaya Street”.

The mosque, built in 2013, is interesting for several reasons. Firstly, it is an excellent example of the Sunni trend in Islamic architecture. Secondly, cabinetmakers from Egypt and artists from Samarkand were invited to decorate its interiors. According to the Sunni tradition, minarets do not stand separately from the main building, but seem to grow out of it. The height of the main of the four towers is 10 m, and the mosque itself rises to 39 m. The temple, which attracts with its original architecture, looks very elegant.

Interesting facts about buildings

Ufa occupies an area of more than 700 square kilometers . The capital of Bashkiria is considered the fourth longest city in Russia. The area of the city can be compared to the country of the Kingdom of Tonga, located in the Pacific Ocean. The capital of France, Paris, can be located on the territory of the city seven times .

There is amazing data about the presence of a huge cave system and adits . They are used to produce gypsum. At the moment, all existing entrances to the caves are closed with plugs, with the exception of one. One of the caves is used as a storage room. The exit from this cave is protected by a huge gate through which large trucks pass. The longest cave is Dudkinskaya . The length of this cave is more than two thousand meters . The entrance to the Dudkinskaya cave is closed with a plug. Other caves are no more than 800 meters .

The city has preserved many buildings of historical value. Private old houses can be found among tall new buildings.

The tallest building in the city is the office of Uralsib . The building of this bank has 26 floors and a height of about 100 meters . This structure was considered the tallest building in Russia outside of Moscow in the early 2000s.

Ufa is the only Russian metropolis that does not have isolated pedestrian streets without car lanes along them.

The city has the oldest building in which a residential building was located. It was built in the 18th century and is located on October Revolution Street. A residential building with one floor has historical significance due to the fact that the famous talented commander Alexander Suvorov .

Where to go with children in Ufa

In a city where the younger generation is treated with love, there is entertainment for a child of any age. A rich cultural program awaits young travelers.

Separate article: Where to go in Ufa with a child

Museum Intellectus

Opening hours: on weekends from 11:00 to 20:00, on weekdays from 10:00 to 19:00.
Ticket price: adult 350 rub., child 300 rub.
Telephone.
Website: http:/www.intellectus-ufa.ru
Address: st. Sofia Perovskaya, 52/2. Transport stop "TC South Pole".

The whole family should visit the museum of entertaining sciences, because even parents with life experience will be able to learn a lot of new and interesting things here. About 100 different devices will help you understand the essence of various phenomena that fill the world around you. Adults and young visitors will be invited to participate in exciting experiments and demonstrate several miracles with their own hands. Absolutely all exhibits in the museum can be touched with your hands. The children will receive a lot of vivid impressions and enrich their horizons with a wealth of knowledge conveyed in an accessible playful form.

Magic World Park

Opening hours: daily, from 11:00 to 23:00.
Telephone.
Website: https://www.vm-ufa.ru
Address: October Avenue, 79/1. Transport stop "Gorsovet".

This is a great place to spend a day with the whole family. There is entertainment for children of any age, as well as for their parents. Kids are welcome on the playground with safe swings, an inflatable town, and a labyrinth. For older children, the doors of the “Room of Horror” and “Room of Crooked Mirrors” attractions are open. Teenagers will be interested in riding a roller coaster and admiring the panorama of the city from the Ferris wheel. Animators work on the territory of the park; the child will be offered to ride a pony or horse.

Theater-Museum "Through the Looking Glass"

Opening hours: daily, from 8:00 to 23:00, on weekends from 9:00 to 21:00.
Phone: +7 347 244‑44-15.
Website: https://www.vostokclub.ru/content/teatr-muzey-zazerkale
Address: st. Yu. Gagarina, 29/1. Transport stop "M. Rylsky Street".

The unique theater-museum has prepared a special program for children aged 8 months to 10 years. Here the child will be able not only to watch a colorful performance, but also to become a direct participant in it. Your favorite child will meet the characters of your favorite cartoons and fairy tales, educational quizzes, fun games, sports competitions and a lot of other interesting things. A lot of bright impressions, joy and laughter are guaranteed for young visitors.

You might want to explore interesting places
Izhevsk, Ulyanovsk, Orenburg, Beloretsk,
Kirov, Perm, Saransk, Yoshkar-Ola,
Saratov, Cheboksary, Penza, Sterlitamak,
Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Kazan.

Having examined the numerous sights and interesting places of Ufa, the traveler will receive not only aesthetic satisfaction, but will also be able to touch the original culture of multinational Bashkortostan. A vacation spent in a flourishing city will be remembered for a long time.

Bashkir Drama Theater named after. Mazhit Gafuri

Bashkir Drama Theater named after. Mazhit Gafuri: night shot

The modern building of the Bashkir Academic Drama Theater named after Mazhit Gafuri, located on the site of the Resurrection Cathedral dismantled in 1932, bears the proud title of an architectural monument and is considered one of the main symbols of Ufa. The theater includes a spacious foyer with a cloakroom, a buffet, rehearsal rooms and a main hall with seating for 620 spectators.

Ice Sports Palace "Salavat Yulaev"

Ice Sports Palace "Salavat Yulaev": before reconstruction

Ice Sports Palace "Salavat Yulaev": after reconstruction

The ice sports palace "Salavat Yulaev" with a total capacity of stands of 4 thousand people was opened in 1967. In 1993, another sports ground with artificial ice and stands for 1,500 seats and a second floor with a tennis court were added to the main building. In 2012, in preparation for the 2013 World Youth Championship, another large-scale reconstruction of the Sports Palace was carried out - the roof was replaced, the facade was changed, modern ventilation and air conditioning systems were installed, and the ice rink was equipped with the latest equipment for broadcasting and commentators. During the reconstruction, the total capacity of the Palace was reduced from 4,000 to 3,500 spectators.

Church of the Intercession

Church of the Intercession: winter frame

The construction of a stone temple in the style of Russian classicism was started by the Ufa merchant D.S. Zhulyabin. Chapel in the name of St. Nicholas was consecrated in 1817. In 1823, the main temple and the chapel, restored after a severe fire in 1821, were consecrated. The church was closed in 1941 and was used for some time as a pharmacy warehouse. The temple reopened 16 years later, in 1957. Today, the Church of the Intercession is the oldest of all surviving Ufa churches.

Cinema "Rodina"

Cinema "Rodina": night shot

The Ufa cinema "Rodina" was built in 1954. It included two halls - blue and red, each of which was designed for 350 spectators. Due to the large influx of spectators, it was decided to add another hall with 60 seats, which was called “green”. The cinema building is a massive, tall structure with a pointed roof. The building, designed in the Stalinist Empire style, has white columns with openwork pilasters and large windows around which various decorative elements are located. The main entrance to the building, crowned with a domed arch with openwork ornaments, is also very unusual.

Famous Ufa residents

Many names of outstanding people of Ufa are on everyone’s lips. Fyodor Chaliapin, Yuri Shevchuk and Zemfira, Zagir Ismailov, Sergei Dovlatov and Arkady Bukhov, Rima Batalova and Igor Kravchuk, Evelina Khromchenko and Andrey Gubin were born or lived here. Singers, composers, writers, athletes, scientists and politicians - Ufa is rich in talent.

Fyodor Chaliapin cannot be called a native of Ufa. He was born in Kazan in 1873. But it was here that his singing talent blossomed. The concert hall of the State Academy of Arts was named in his honor, and a monument was erected. Since 1991, many talented performers have come to the Shalyapin Evenings festival.

Zagir Ismagilov (1916 – 2003) glorified his native land with his gift as a composer. During his life he wrote about 300 songs and operas.
The name of Sergei Dovlatov (born in 1941) is known to literary scholars and readers. The famous writer and journalist published in Russian. His works were translated into European and Japanese languages.
Rima Batalova (born 1961) is an outstanding cross-country athlete. Multiple champion of the world, Europe, Russia and Bashkortostan. She occupies a worthy place in the Guinness Book of Records and has been awarded honorary medals, orders and titles.
Zemfira Ramazanova (born in 1976) is remembered not only by the streets of Ufa and concert halls, but also by many admirers of her talent. Author and performer of his own songs in the pop-rock genre.

Bashkir State University

The building of the Bashkir State University was inaugurated in 1957. Externally, the building resembles the best examples of ancient Greek order architecture. Today, the university in Ufa is one of the country's largest centers for training specialists in various fields and professions.

Gostiny Dvor

A favorite place for residents and one of the main attractions of Ufa, Gostiny Dvor is located in the historical center of the city. The building was built at the beginning of the 19th century, but today it houses modern shops and an entertainment and business complex. It is this combination of historical architecture and modernity that makes this place so attractive and popular.

It is worth noting that fairs have been held in Gostiny Dvor from time immemorial. Merchants from all over Russia and Europe came here, and then it became an elite place for the governor, his entourage and wealthy merchants to live. In Soviet times, it was repurposed as workshops and factory premises, as a result of which it completely lost its former appearance. They even wanted to demolish the building, but city residents came to its defense. As a result, it was reconstructed and made the main cultural and business complex of the capital.

Mansion house E.A. Ponosova-Mollo

Mansion house E.A. Ponosova-Mollo in the Kirov region was built by order of the merchant and miner S.S. Manaeva for merchant E.A. Ponosova-Mollo in 1910. The mansion house became the first building in the Art Nouveau style in Ufa. The building consists of two floors, the entrance is located in the central part, there is an external porch in the form of a two-column portico with square columns and a triangular pediment. The main façade is decorated with rustication, artistic cornices, moldings and window casings. On the territory of the mansion there is also a garden, a fountain and utility rooms. Today this building houses the Museum of Archeology and Ethnography.

Mansion house P.I. Kosterina and S.A. Chernikova

Mansion house P.I.
Kosterina and S.A. Chernikov The luxurious mansion at the intersection of Pushkin and Karl Marx streets was built in 1907 according to the design of the famous architect A.A. Shcherbachev for Samara grain merchant P.I. Kosterin and his companion, merchant S. A. Chernikov. Kosterin arrived in Ufa in the early 1890s. and built his own large three-story house with two exits, an originally decorated facade and balconies with forged openwork grilles. The cost of building the mansion was a huge amount for those times - 30 thousand rubles. Throughout its history, the house was restored twice - in 1985 and in 2006. It is a monument of history, architecture and an example of “fine modernism”. Today it houses the Customs House of the Republic of Bashkortostan.