1. Observation deck over the Kama River 2. Central square of Sarapul 3. Monument to Nadezhda Durova 4. Bashenin's dacha 5. Water pumping building 6. Tsar-house 7. Monument to the steam locomotive
On the May holidays of 2022 (May 10-11), it was decided to go to the city of Sarapul, located 67 km from the capital of Udmurtia, Izhevsk, on the banks of the Kama River. In terms of the trip, the main goal was to visit Bashenin’s dacha, the main attraction of Sarapul, a very interesting unique building. Read more about this.
Do you remember in the film “The Diamond Arm” the heroine N. Mordyukova asks Yu. Nikulin to give a lecture “Istanbul - a city of contrasts”? At that time, it was clear that the lecture had an ideological bias: the splendor and poverty of capitalist society as opposed to socialist society. So, the association... Most small Russian towns can safely be called the “City of Contrasts”. And in this case, the contrast lies in the condition of city buildings: some are looked after and are a decoration of the city, others are in deplorable condition, with trees growing on their roofs. And this immediately catches your eye: after all, these buildings stand next to each other, creating a real contrast!
Sarapul is no exception in this context. On the central square ALMOST everything is well-groomed, flowers are planted in the flower beds, a clean cozy embankment on the banks of the Kama River, a new beautiful building of the Sarapul Hotel. And then mixed in with all this beauty is something shabby, with birch trees on a leaky roof. Ehhh... City authorities, ah!
However, the central square of Sarapul is worth a stroll. Moreover, one of the historical attractions of this city is located there - a monument to Nadezhda Durova, a cavalry maiden, the prototype of Shurochka Azarova from the film “The Hussar Ballad”. However, we began our exploration of the city by visiting the observation deck above the Kama.
We spent the whole day in Sarapul. We found an apartment for the night on the Sutochno.ru website, I highly recommend it:
Museum and exhibition complex "Dacha Bashenina"
Bashenin's Dacha can rightfully be called Sarapul's calling card. This is a wonderful snow-white palace located among shady trees. The highlight of the structure is its appearance, which creates an optical illusion.
At first glance, it seems that the estate was built from wooden beams. In fact, stone was used for construction, imitating a wooden surface. Until 1917, the mansion belonged to the family of the merchant Bashenin. After the revolution it became national property. And in 1995 it was transferred to the Museum of History and Culture of Sarapul. In its halls you can see exhibitions telling about merchant life.
Location: Dostoevsky street - 60.
Beautiful temples and churches of Sarapul
It is difficult to imagine any locality in Russia, even a small one, without its own church. Sarapul is no exception. There are churches here that have been around for decades, and temples that have appeared quite recently.
Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
- Address: st. Raskolnikova, 83A.
The construction of St. Nicholas Church began in 1995 with money raised by local residents, as well as working groups of Sarapul. The first divine service on the territory of the Orthodox shrine took place here only on January 6, 2009.
Today, work on painting the walls is still ongoing in the St. Nicholas Church, and preparations for the future iconostasis are also underway.
But already here the Cossacks managed to install the only Poklonny Cross in the city, at the foot of which they built a Golgotha. In addition, there is a memorial stone nearby, which is dedicated to everyone who suffered during the period of Soviet repression.
Church of Xenia of Petersburg
- Address: st. Gorky, 74, Central district.
The cathedral, dedicated to Xenia of St. Petersburg, was opened by the local Old Believer community in 1911. It existed under him until 1940. At the same time, the building was transferred to one of the military units to house a food warehouse. The cathedral was returned to the parishioners in 1991. Today there is an Orthodox parish here.
Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Address: Internationalnaya st., 2A.
Almost on the embankment of the Kama River there is a beautiful Church of the Intercession, which is the oldest in the city. It was built between 1785 and 1792, which confirms this fact.
The architect of the Orthodox Church was F.M. Roslyakov. In addition to the throne of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, there are two other thrones here - Flora and Lavra, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Church of Seraphim of Sarov
- Address: st. Seraphim of Sarov, 1.
The new church of the city is the Seraphim Temple, located in South Sarapul - it was built in the 21st century, between 2008 and 2013, in the original wooden design. Reviews confirm that there is a sincere atmosphere, wonderful servants and beautiful, original architecture.
Sarapul Annunciation Convent
- Address: st. Soboleva, 15.
In the northern part of the city there is the only monastery in Sarapul - Blagoveshchensky. The convent in these places was founded in 1811, and since 1923 it was closed by the Soviet authorities, almost completely destroyed. The current monastery complex is a new building, since construction work began only in 2015 and elsewhere.
Fire Tower
In 1889, a fire tower was erected in Sarapul. This is a large two-story building with a massive tower. According to city legend, a goat lived in the firemen's warehouse. He guarded the tower and scared away mice from the grain that was intended for the horses.
The animal came independently in the evening and left in the morning to the shopping area to refresh itself. Local traders immediately recognized him and fed the animal. This may be fiction, but locals still consider the legend to be reliable.
Location: Freedom Square.
What to bring from Sarapul
It is customary to bring souvenirs and gifts to loved ones from trips. I can offer several options that will remain as a memory or simply delight your family:
- cute souvenirs and magnets with images of P.A. Bashenin’s dacha and views of the city;
- vodka - the local distillery produces good alcohol, which many take away as a souvenir;
- “Bird's Milk” candies - in my opinion, no one makes them tastier than our factory;
- smoked sterlet - it is simply impossible to visit the Kama River and not bring back sterlet; this fish has long been delivered by locals to the court of Empress Catherine the Great;
- a painting by some local artist - they are sold and painted right on the embankment.
More recently, Sarapul was included in the list of cities with historical heritage and became one of 100 tourist cities. But no one is in a hurry to come here specifically for sightseeing. You can walk around the entire city and see everything in 1 day. You need to go to Sarapul to relax, enjoy nature and carefree days. Which, by the way, is what our guests do.
Marina, housewife, 41 years old
Estate of P. Koreshev
The house of timber merchant Pavel Koreshev differs from other city attractions in its quaint architecture. Before the revolution, the owners of the house lived on the second floor of the building, and on the first floor they kept a store and outbuildings.
Nowadays, Koreshev's estate has been restored and given the status of a historical monument. The Sarapul Wedding Palace began operating within its walls in 2011.
Location: Red Square - 7.
Tsar-house
Tsar-house in Sarapul
In 1904, an outstanding entrepreneur and mayor of Sarapul, Pavel Bashenin, built a house in the Art Nouveau style. The building amazed contemporaries with its beauty. The arrow-shaped battlements that crowned the building resembled a crown, for which the townspeople nicknamed it “the king’s house.”
Bashenin’s “Tsar House” is one of the best buildings of its kind in the entire Kama region. It was in this building in Sarapul that an electric light bulb first lit up. After the revolution, the Palace of Labor was located here, and then a children's hospital. For a long time the object was in a dilapidated state, then it was under restoration. Now the building houses a diagnostic and treatment center.
Address: Sarapul, st. Truda, 15. Located a 5-minute walk from the embankment.
Museum of History and Culture of the Middle Kama Region
The building of the Sarapul Museum of History and Culture is considered an architectural value of republican significance. This is the oldest museum in the Udmurt Republic. Within its walls are preserved exhibits with a centuries-old history.
During the Great Patriotic War, the museum staff managed to preserve the personal belongings of the royals, brought from St. Petersburg. These days, the museum hosts literary evenings, traveling exhibitions and history lessons for schoolchildren.
Location: Pervomaiskaya street - 68.
Sights of Sarapul
- Museum of History and Culture of the Middle Kama Region
Located in Sarapul on Pervomaiskaya street. The museum building itself is declared an architectural value of republican significance.
Now this museum is called the Sarapul Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve. The museum was founded in 1909.
In total, its collection contains more than 200 thousand exhibits. Most of them have a centuries-old history. There are such rarities as the banner of the Napoleonic Guard, ancient Egyptian cult figurines, an old printed “Teaching Gospel” from 1595, newsreels from the early 20th century, and daguerreotypes from the 1850s.
This museum complex consists of several historical buildings - the art exhibition complex "Dacha Bashenina", the Museum of History and Local Lore, the Memorial House-Museum of Academician N.V. Melnikov and children's museum.
- Koreshev Estate
Located in Sarapul, on Red Square street.
This beautiful mansion was built by timber merchant Koreshev in 1907. Its architecture combines eclecticism, Art Nouveau, Gothic and Byzantine style. The appearance of the building is more reminiscent of a palace than a merchant's house. The building is two-story. This mansion is all the more interesting because its interior decoration has been completely preserved - ceiling paintings, stucco decorations, tiled stoves and fireplaces, all doors are decorated with elegant patterns and decorative handles. In 1995, the President of the Russian Federation issued a decree assigning the Koreshev House the status of an architectural and historical monument of federal significance. In 2011, the building was restored. Currently, the building houses the city registry office and the Wedding Palace.
- Bashenin's dacha
The dacha is located in Sarapul, on Dostoevsky Street. The history of this magnificent building dates back to 1909. At that time, the head of Sarapul was the merchant, philanthropist and industrialist Pavel Andreevich Bashenin. The building was built in the Art Nouveau style, according to the design of the architect I.A. Charushina. The most advanced technologies of those times were used during construction.
Reinforced concrete structures were installed, electrical and water communications were carried out. The greatest interest is caused by the material from which the building was built. Upon external inspection, it may appear that the building is made of wood. It is actually a stone that imitates a wood finish. A very interesting and unusual solution! Near the mansion there is a park with lanterns, paths, a fountain, a gazebo and flower beds.
This mansion was nationalized after the revolution. Consistently, it housed a sanatorium for street children, a surgical building, a tuberculosis clinic and a commissariat.
The mansion was transferred to the Museum of History and Culture of the Middle Kama Region in 1991.
- Monument to Nadezhda Durova
This unusual monument was erected in Sarapul in 2013, in honor of the famous countrywoman, heroine of the Patriotic War of 1812, Nadezhda Durova. She was the only hussar girl who had an officer rank and took part in the Battle of Borodino. In addition, she was a holder of the St. George Cross and an orderly of Field Marshal M.I. Kutuzova. It was she who was the prototype of the main character in the feature film “The Hussar Ballad”.
A monument was erected in the place where there was a house in which the family of Nadezhda Andreevna Durova lived. Her father was the mayor of Sarapul. Nadezhda Durova is also famous for writing memoirs about which Alexander Pushkin himself spoke positively.
The monument is an equestrian sculpture of People's Artist of the Russian Federation V.A. Surovtseva.
- Temple of Blessed Xenia of Petersburg
Located in Sarapul, on Gorky Street. This temple was built in 1911 by the Old Believers of Belokrinitskaya consent.
The temple is a red brick building in the style of pseudo-Russian architectural style. Until 1940, the temple was the St. Nicholas Old Believer Church, but since 1938, services have not been held in the temple.
In 1940, the authorities closed the temple and transferred it to a military unit for food warehouses.
The temple was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1991. A year later, the temple was consecrated in the name of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, who several years earlier was canonized.
Thus, the Sarapul Church became the first in Russia to be illuminated in honor of Saint Xenia of St. Petersburg.
- Church of Seraphim of Sarov
This new church was erected in Sarapul on Furmanov Street. Its construction took place from 2008 to 2013.
The magnificent wooden building appears in the form of a single-domed quadrangle with a hipped bell tower. In October 2013, the temple was consecrated by Metropolitan Nikolai of Izhevsk and Udmurtia. The Temple was built with donations from parishioners.
- Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Resurrection Church)
Funds for the construction of this church in 1817 were given by merchants Grigory and Fyodor Izhboldin.
The design of this church was developed by the architect Dudin. The stone temple was built in the style of early classicism. At the same time, a cemetery was opened near the temple. In 1930, the cemetery was closed and demolished, and the bell was thrown down from the bell tower. Fortunately, the church survived, and for many years it was the only functioning church in Sarapul.
I agree with the federal target program “Culture of Russia”; restoration work began in the church in 2019.
- Churches of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Peter and Paul
Located in Sarapul on Truda Street. The complex is a beautiful architectural ensemble that unites two temples. The Church of the Intercession was built in 1791. Before that there was a wooden church there. In 1813, a stone bell tower was erected, in the lower tier of which a temple was built in honor of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
At that time, the largest bell was installed in the Pokrovsk Church, weighing 600 pounds.
The authorities closed the church in 1932, and almost until the end of the 20th century there was a bakery there from the Sarapul bakery. In the end, the long-suffering temple complex was again transferred to the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was in poor condition and required major repairs and restoration. These works are still being carried out today, but you can admire the temple.
- Sarapul Radio Plant Museum
This is one of the oldest operating Russian radio factories. The Radio Factory Museum cannot boast of a large number of visitors, but those who have visited there note a very interesting exhibition. Entry to the plant's territory is strictly limited to passes, as the plant works for the defense industry. In the museum you can get acquainted with the plant's products (communications and radio), which were produced there in different years.
- Fire Tower
Located in Sarapul, on Freedom Square. Interest in this tower is caused by the year of its construction - 1889. The bell towers were erected by the Perm merchant Pavel Dragunov. Architect Charushin made a project in the Russian-Byzantine style.
This is a stone building of impressive size, with a large tower. The height of the tower is 24.7 m. It is classified as a monument of federal significance and is a valuable object of cultural heritage.
Also in Sarapul it is worth visiting the Ural Mountain observation deck and Sarapul Red Square. An overview of Red Square will be of interest to architecture lovers - it is surrounded by merchant mansions of the late 19th century.
Monument to N. Durova
In Sarapul, a monument was erected to the first woman, a hussar, who fought as an officer in the Battle of Borodino. Her name is Nadezhda Durova. She lived in the city for more than 30 years, and it was from here that she left to serve for the good of Russia. The famous Soviet film “The Hussar Ballad” was made in her honor.
The monument to Durova was erected in the summer of 2014 on the site where her parents’ house was previously located. The opening was timed to coincide with Sarapul City Day.
Monuments and sculptures in Sarapul
In the city of Sarapul there are a lot of monuments dedicated both to individual events in the history of Russia or a locality, and to personalities who glorified their homeland. Some of them are unique to modern Russia.
Cenotaph
- Address: DK Electron square.
The monument is located near the Elekond plant. It was dedicated to all the soldiers who died during the Second World War. More than one hundred mothers came here instead to the graves of their sons to honor their memory. And each of them always saw her own child in the figure standing on the pedestal. Veterans see their comrades in the sculpture’s outlines.
Monument to the Prisoners of the Death Barge
- Address: Kama River embankment.
During the Civil War, death barges were the floating prisons in which all detained and captured White Guards were kept. When they left the city, they placed there all those whom they suspected of sympathizing with the Bolsheviks as hostages.
The barge itself was placed at a pier located not far from Sarapul, in the village of Golyany. All of them were then subjected to torture by hunger, and some by cold due to the lack of normal clothing.
Periodically, the White Guards took some of the captured people out of the hold to shoot them. They were released in 1918 on October 17. But by that time, of the 600 people who were there initially, only 432 were able to survive.
Monument to Durova
- Address: Red Square, 6.
The monument was erected in Sarapul in 2013 in memory of the first female cavalryman, Nadezhda Durova, whose childhood years were spent in the city. She took part in a huge number of battles, in which she always showed herself to be a brave soldier. One of her main awards was the St. George Cross, received for saving an officer during the battle.
After her childhood, Durova visited Sarapul again in 1812, when she came here for treatment after being wounded during the Battle of Borodino. Later she was Kutuzov's orderly. But already in 1813 she returned to the cavalry again and took part in the battles to liberate German lands.
Durova retired only in 1816 - after her father’s urgent request. Then she returned to her hometown, where she surprised everyone with her men's suit. Nadezhda Durova died in 1866. She was buried with all the honors due to soldiers.
Fragment of a railway line
- Address: Naberezhnaya street.
This historical sign was opened in Sarapul in 2014. This was done early in the morning of June 22. In fact, these are the remains of a preserved railway line that operated during the war. Many trains carrying wounded people passed along it and came to local hospitals for treatment.
It was also along this route that in 1941 a train arrived with equipment from the Ordzhonikidze plant, which was previously located in Moscow. Quite a few food trains with products for both residents of Sarapul and other neighboring settlements passed through it.
Monument to Sivkov
- Address: st. Sivkova, 24G, Northern district.
A monument dedicated to the hero of the Soviet Union Sivkov was erected on the territory where the city school No. 17 is located. It was in Sarapul that the future soldier once spent his childhood, although he was born in Izhevsk.
He moved here in 1938, and subsequently graduated from high school here. By the end of 1943, he graduated from a tank school located in Kazan, after which he was sent to the 212th tank regiment.
In 1944, on the night before March 14, he managed to break into the village of Yavkino. There he independently managed to kill more than a hundred Germans, as well as destroy 3 guns and 12 armored personnel carriers belonging to them.
After that, in the process of maneuvering through the village to repel the fierce attacks of the Nazis, he got stuck in an anti-tank ditch. As a result of this, the entire crew immediately found themselves trapped. After they had completely used up all the remaining ammunition, Sivkov decided to set fire to the tank and blow up himself and his driver along with the car.
Monument-steam locomotive Ov-3705
- Address: Privokzalny residential area.
The locomotive was installed in memory of the Sarapul peasants, who in 1919, despite the scarcity of their own reserves, were able to send 80 pounds of bread they collected to St. Petersburg and Moscow. On the monument on the tender there is an inscription in memory of that gift from Sarapul to all the starving people from these cities.
Red Square Sarapul
To get a truly unforgettable experience of Sarapul architecture, visit the city's Red Square. From here you can enjoy a picturesque view of the Kama River. The square is located in the city center, framed on both sides by beautiful merchant houses of the late 19th century. Most of them are used as administrative institutions.
Monument to Nadezhda Durova
Another historical landmark of Sarapul, located on the central square of the city, is the monument to Nadezhda Durova, a cavalry maiden, the prototype of Shurochka Azarova from the film “The Hussar Ballad”. In general, Nadezhda Durova has an amazing fate. Her mother was really looking forward to a boy, and Raisa Zakharovna was born a girl. Her mother did not love her very much, to such an extent that one day she simply threw the little crying child out of the carriage. After this incident, the father took the daughter from the mother and from then on she was raised by her father's orderly. By the way, Nadezhda Durova’s father is the mayor of Sarapul, and it is in his memory that there is a stone on the observation deck.
Monument to Nadezhda Durova in Sarapul
As N. Durova herself writes in her autobiographical book “Notes of a Cavalry Maiden,” the saddle was my first cradle; horse, weapons and regimental music were the first children's toys and amusements. There is a lot of information on the Internet about the biography of Nadezhda Andreevna Durova; read about this amazing fate on the pages of other sites. I will only say that she dedicated her life to serving the Fatherland. Her courage and dedication, as well as her great desire to serve her homeland, admired her colleagues, and her military career was successful, even after her “deception” was revealed. After 10 years of service in 1816, she was transferred to the reserve with the rank of headquarters captain.
Monument to the cavalry maiden in Sarapul
Observation deck "Mount Ural"
The site from which panoramic excursions are conducted was given the name “Mount Ural”. Although outwardly, it is most likely a large hill. A memorial sign to Andrei Durov (father of N. Durova) was installed on the hill. For a long time he was the mayor of Sarapul.
Another attraction of the hill is the Siberian larch tree. Its age is more than 200 years, it is considered the oldest tree in Sarapul. Local residents love this picturesque place. Wedding ceremonies and mass celebrations are often held here.
Central square of Sarapul
Since we arrived in Sarapul on the May holidays of May 10-11, when Victory Day was celebrated, the central square was decorated with flags. It’s very pleasant to walk around the square, everything is very clean and well maintained.
Central square of Sarapul
Here are some more photos:
A small digression. We were very lucky with the weather on this trip - it was very sunny and warm, which is clearly visible in the photographs. We can say that on May 11 our Ural summer in 2022 ended...
On the central square there is another city attraction: a fountain in the shape of a sterlet fish. The symbol of Sarapul is the sterlet, because the name of the city comes from the Chuvash word “sarapul”, which literally translates as “yellow fish” - this is how the Chuvash call sterlet. This fish crowns the fountain on the city embankment, but on the day we visited, the fountain was not working and was apparently under reconstruction (or maybe they simply had not yet turned it on after the winter).
Symbol of Sarapul
Sarapul Radio Plant Museum
In order to enter the territory of the radio plant and see the exhibits that are in its museum, you need to issue a special pass. This is because the Sarapul Radio Plant is considered a strategically important facility. The museum premises are spacious and bright.
Most of the collected exhibits are in working condition. To verify this, museum workers allow visitors to try them on their own.
Location: Gogol street - 40.
Water pump building
The Sarapul merchant Pavel Bashenin built towers in accordance with his surname. The building of his dacha and the building of the water pump were built in the form of towers. The photo below shows the most beautiful water pumping building in Sarapul, located on the Kama embankment. The station operated for its intended purpose until the mid-1980s of the last century. Today this building houses the modern restaurant and hotel complex “Old Tower”. Address: Sarapul, Opolzina street, 1
Sarapul. City water pump building
Temple of Blessed Xenia of Petersburg
Until 1911, the temple in the center of Sarapul was considered the parish of the Old Believers. Eighty years later, the building was consecrated and received the status of the Orthodox Church of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg.
The church was named after a woman whom the locals considered blessed. During the Great Patriotic War, the temple was transferred to the storage facilities of a military unit. Today, a large number of pilgrims come to Sarapul to visit the Temple of Xenia of St. Petersburg.
Location: Gorky street - 74.
General information and history of Sarapul
Sarapul is one of the oldest cities in the Kama region, a city located in the southeastern part of the Udmurt Republic, on the right bank of the Kama River.
The distance to Izhevsk is 62 km, to Moscow – 1250 km. A village called Sarapul appeared in 1707, and city status was received in 1780. A fairly favorable geopolitical and geographical location helped Sarapul gain the unofficial status of one of the most successful cities in the Kama region.
Sarapul. View of the city center from the Kama River
Sarapul is home to a large number of architectural monuments. Previously, the city had 33 churches and 2 monasteries. Currently, the Church of the Ascension, Intercession and Xenia of St. Petersburg have been preserved.
Ascension Church
Today Sarapul is a major industrial center of the Udmurt Republic. The joint-stock enterprises radio and electric generating plant are the industrial face of the city.
Filming location for the film "Volga-Volga"
Local residents of Sarapul are proud of the history of their city, its temples, merchant buildings, as well as such facts as the filming of the film “Volga-Volga” in 1938. People remember how the main character Lyubov Orlova lived in one of the houses in the village of Yaromsk. On the territory of the village there is the only two-story church in the Kama region, as well as the purest springs.
Church of Seraphim of Sarov
The modern architecture of Sarapul is in no way inferior to the ancient buildings. In 2008, on the outskirts of the city, near the forest, construction began on the wooden church of Seraphim of Sarov. The work was completed in 2013. Its appearance corresponds to the general ensemble of urban buildings. Metropolitan Nikolai of Izhevsk and Udmurtia consecrated the temple.
Location: Furmanova street.
