The region, now called the Republic of Tatarstan, was developed back in the 8th century BC. Then the first settlements of nomads (Sarmatians) began to appear here. Since the 9th century AD, Volga Bulgaria has existed in this area, inhabited by Turkic peoples. In the 13th century, the Bulgars submitted to the Mongols of Genghis Khan, and after the collapse of the Golden Horde, an independent Kazan kingdom appeared here.
In 1552, Ivan the Terrible captured Kazan and included the kingdom in Muscovy. From that time on, the Kazan kingdom (later the province) was ruled directly from Moscow, without having its own power, like many other autonomies. In 1920, by decree of V.I. Lenin, this region became known as the Tatar Republic, in 1992 - the Republic of Tatarstan.
A convenient way to travel around Tatarstan is organized excursions from Kazan; more details can be found in this article.
Cities of Tatarstan
Kazan
Detailed guide to Kazan and its surroundings
Kazan is, first of all, a magnificent Kremlin that combines two religions (like the whole of Kazan) - the Annunciation Cathedral and the Kul-Sharif Mosque. In the vicinity of the city there is also a Temple of All Religions, which decided to unite all believers - in one building a Jewish synagogue, Orthodox and Catholic churches, a Muslim mosque, a Chinese pagoda, a Buddhist temple and other characteristic religious buildings are combined.
Chistopol
How to get there from Kazan: by bus Kazan-Chistopol from the Central bus station. Travel time is 2.5-3 hours. You can get to Chistopol by traveling by boat along the Kama.
What to see in Chistopol
A small merchant town on the banks of the Kama is the geographical center of Tatarstan. Chistopol has preserved the atmosphere of the district merchant towns. During the Great Patriotic War, it became a shelter for more than 200 members of the Union of Soviet Writers. Nobel Prize winner Boris Pasternak began writing the novel Doctor Zhivago here.
In 2014, the Chistopol State Historical, Architectural and Literary Museum-Reserve was created here.
Website: chisto-muzei.ru
What to see:
- Melnikov's House, where an art salon and a children's library are located.
- In the old mansion that belonged to the merchant A.A. Poduruev, there is an exhibition of the Museum of the county town, the pearl of which is considered to be 2 wooden bicycles, invented by a local craftsman.
- Memorial Museum of Boris Pasternak, who wrote here during the years of evacuation.
- St. Nicholas Cathedral, built with the money of the Polyakov merchants by the architect Pyatnitsky in 1838.
- Skaryatinsky Garden, which was founded in 1867 with funds from local merchants.
- Not far from Chistopol, the remains of the Golden Horde city of Dzhuketau (X-XV centuries) have been preserved.
Naberezhnye Chelny
Detailed overview of the city and its attractions
Directly opposite Elabuga is the city where the plant that produces KAMAZ trucks is located, the Nizhnekamsk reservoir and many other interesting places.
Elabuga
What to see in Elabuga
Elabuga is a county town where the destinies of many wonderful people are intertwined. Shishkin painted here, Tsvetaeva wrote, and for every famous name there are museums, memorial sites, parks and monuments.
Bulgarian
More about Bolgar and its surroundings
Near Bolgar there are the remains of an ancient settlement, an archaeological site. Temples, mausoleums, baths, chambers and palaces - all this has come to us in the form of ruins and individual stones.
Tetyushi
The most interesting things in Tetyushi and around
Tetyushi is an interesting city in itself with old buildings, but it’s even more interesting to travel next to it. For example, to Dolgaya Polyana - a place with strange energy, from where you can clearly see the Great Bolgar.
White Mosque
The modern mosque is located in the city of Bolgar. Construction began in 2010, the architect is Sergey Shakurov.
The mosque was built in the style of the Kazan Kul-Sharif mosque, but is inferior to it in size. 1200 tons of white marble were used to decorate the structure. The mosque consists of a prayer hall, two minarets 46.6 meters high, a madrasah and the residence of the mufti. The complex includes a large pond with a fountain. This gives the mosque some resemblance to the Taj Mahal.
Bilyarsk and Bilyarskoye settlement
All the most important things in Bilyarsk and at the excavations nearby
Bilyarsk itself, the former capital of Volga Bulgaria, is now a small village. It is interesting primarily for the remains of the former settlement, turned into a full-fledged archaeological museum. Now, in addition to the museum exhibits, you can see the remains of the city, walls, mosques, and citadels.
Sviyazhsk Island
The most important sights of the island of Sviyazhsk
Sviyazhsk, although a village, does not deserve a separate detailed article (follow the link above). Ivan the Terrible built a wooden fortress here to capture Kazan. In order not to attract attention to the construction, all the buildings were assembled in Uglich, and then floated down the river to Sviyazhsk.
Now there are a dozen churches, cathedrals, temples and chapels and secular buildings from the 19th century left here. You can get here by boat from Kazan or by car along a causeway.
Sviyazhsk
Where to go in Tatarstan for the weekend? At a distance of 30 kilometers from Kazan, at the mouth of the crowded and fast Sviyaga River, there is a wonderful island-city of Sviyazhsk. There are many cities in Russia that have a simple and at the same time complex history. But only a few of them can boast of the same things as Sviyazhsk. This is a small village that acted as a city before.
Sviyazhsk was founded in 1551 by Ivan the Terrible in just four weeks, so that the created settlement could serve as an outpost for the siege of Kazan. It was the first Orthodox settlement in this region, then - the center of the spread of Christianity. Many tourists visit this charming island.
The uniqueness of the island is the only example of special ancient urban planning and the construction of wooden buildings. This is a great place to go to relax in Tatarstan.
The island-city of Sviyazhsk is included in the tentative list of UNESCO heritage sites. The main attractions of the settlement are the Assumption and St. John the Baptist convents. They are located in the west of the island and are easily visible from the right bank of the Sviyaga River, which is also the location of the Kazan health and sports ski complex. In addition, the historical and architectural composition of the island city of Sviyazhsk includes the following: the Assumption Cathedral (16th century), the Church of Constantine and Helen (16-18 centuries), the Trinity Church of the St. John the Baptist Convent (16th century), Sergius Church (1604), Church of the Mother of God “Joy of all who mourn” (1906).
Surrounded by water, this fabulous island is a magnet for tourists and travelers. A person who once stepped on the holy land of Sviyazhsk, full of unsolved mysteries, will retain memories of this special sublime atmosphere of something indestructible and sacred, which turns this place into a magical land.
To get to Sviyazhsk Island, you should rent a tourist boat or purchase a ticket on one of the high-speed river boats from the port of Kazan (travel time is approximately an hour).
Memorial complex of Gabdulla Tukay
Address: st. Central, 4 (Novy Kyrlay village, Arsky district) Telephone: (84366) 5-67-10 Opening hours: from 8:00 to 17:00 (Monday – closed) Cost: 100 rubles – adults, 70 rubles – schoolchildren/students and pensioners, 50 rubles – children (under 5 years of age free admission)
Gabdulla Tukay is considered the founder of new Tatar poetry and his own poetic school. In the small settlement of Kyrlay, which served as an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the poet, a museum and memorial complex dedicated to Tukai was founded in the 1960s. It is housed in two buildings, next to which there are shady alleys, a flower garden and a small pine park.
In the first building, a two-story wooden house, there is a museum in memory of Gabdulla. The first floor is occupied by an exhibition, from which visitors can learn about the life and creative path of the poet. On the second floor there is an exhibition of paintings dedicated to Tukay. The total number of exhibits is 1,700; the most interesting are the personal belongings of the poet and his relatives (birth certificate, working printing press, pieces of furniture). The second house, the mansion of Sagdi (Gabdulla’s adoptive father), is occupied by an exhibition of rural life in the 19th century. It was here that the poet lived in the village of Kyrlay in 1892-95.
You can get to the complex from Arsk. Trains and buses run regularly to this city from Kazan. From Arsk itself, you should take a minibus to the village of New Kyrlay (route to New Kishet, Shurabash or Shushmabash), in its center there is a museum.
Guide to Tatar history in architectural monuments
The Tatar architectural tradition was formed in the Middle Ages under the influence of the cultural diversity of Muslim states, the nomadic lifestyle of the Turkic peoples, the cities of Volga Bulgaria and the Golden Horde and the Tatar khanates. Many elements have survived centuries - these are, for example, the shapes of minarets, stone carvings, the design and cladding of facades, an abundance of geometric and floral patterns, the shapes of arches and openings (pointed, keeled and horseshoe-shaped), carved portals (or stalactites), as well as variegated coloring and paintings, tiles in interiors and on facades, Seljuk chain The Seljuk chain, or kitabe, is a rectangular or figured panel with inscriptions in Arabic script. Seljuks are one of the Western Turkic tribes, as well as the name of the dynasties created by representatives of this tribe in different regions of the Muslim world. Some asymmetrical layout, carved platbands, ornamented fences and gates, and so on. The Tatars, being part of the global Islamic world, were guided by the best examples of Muslim architecture: Bukhara, Istanbul, Cairo were of greater interest than the capital St. Petersburg or merchant Moscow. In Kazan you can find imitation of Jerusalem, Cairo minarets and Constantinople “sails”; a “Bukhara” mosque, an abundance of “Seljukisms” and several Bulgar minarets.
Of course, having lost their own statehood in the middle of the 16th century, the Tatars did not erect monumental buildings for a long time. The original urban civilization was destroyed, state institutions were liquidated, the elite disappeared, trade and cultural ties with the Muslim world were destroyed, the population decreased, restrictions were imposed on the construction of mosques, and forced Christianization began. And although folk architecture continued to exist outside the urban space, it could not replace the state order and the demand of the elites for monumental architecture - temples, administrative and public buildings, estates, palaces.
One of the ways of existence of Tatars in the cities of the Russian Empire was the phenomenon of Tatar settlements: at different times there were several dozen of them on the territory of modern Russia. Only in Kazan there were six settlements that can be called Tatar: Old and New, Barudiya (Porokhovaya), Bishbalta (consisting of Admiralteyskaya), Pleteni (Plәtәn) and Kolmametyevo (Kolmәmәt). The architecture of the Old Tatar settlement is best preserved. Initially, settlements, as separate urban areas, concentrated service Tatars; commercial and then industrial capital began to concentrate here. They became new centers of economic, cultural, religious and spiritual life of the Tatars, creating a unique architectural environment. It was here, after the softening of the policy towards the Muslim population of the empire in the 1760s, that many unique mosques and estates of Tatar bais appeared, developed parish self-government took shape, patronage of the arts spread, and a public demand for “their own” architecture appeared.
Tatar settlements from different parts of the country could be connected by invisible bonds of trade and spiritual capital. Mosques, apartment buildings and trading places, mansions built at the expense of the merchants Yaushevs, Kazakovs, Akchurins, Khusainovs and others were in several cities of Russia. At the same time, mosques remained the spiritual and architectural framework, the main public space and the actual administrative center of the Tatar settlements until the revolution. As a social institution, the mosque gathered the mahalla (parish, community) around itself, conducted its family and marriage affairs, was a place for children’s education, and even resolved economic disputes.
Undoubtedly, pre-revolutionary Tatar architecture repeated the forms, techniques, and styles of Russian and European architecture, claiming their own interpretation. Buildings in the Baroque, Classicism, Empire, and Art Nouveau styles integrated elements of Muslim architecture. Moreover, according to the doctor of architecture Niyaz Khalit, “a simple comparison of the forms of the Tatar, Russian and Istanbul baroque immediately reveals the close relationship of the Istanbul and Kazan forms and the completely different character of the St. Petersburg style.”
In the Russian Empire, until the twentieth century, there were no professional architects of the Muslim faith due to laws that limited their education.
At the same time, future architects in Russia received some understanding of Muslim architecture during their training. Thus, not having their own professional architects, the Tatars invited Russian specialists to erect monumental buildings, who at the same time adapted to the tastes of their customers. They were interested, for example, in the ruins of the ancient city of Bulgar, professional sketches of Bulgarian architecture were preserved, and this was continued in Kazan mosques and other buildings. Therefore, we can still talk about the continuation of the Tatar architectural tradition and the originality of the buildings being erected. Tatar Cathedral Mosque in Kazan (Apanayevskaya Mosque). Lithograph by Edward Tournerelli. 1839 State Committee of the Republic of Tatarstan for Archival Affairs
The first monumental buildings of the Old Tatar settlement of Kazan, entirely built of stone, were the Mardzhani and Apanaevskaya mosques, built in the Baroque style and at the same time the fruit of original creative thought. Like other “Tatar mosques”, they are distinguished by the location of the minaret (“on the roof”), tiled interiors (a tradition known since the times of the Golden Horde), and some asymmetry. More than two decades later, the Apanaev estate, built in the classical style, appeared on the outskirts of the settlement. Soon they were joined by several more large and beautiful half-stone houses, which were designed by Russian architects in the classical style, but with elements of national architecture, a different layout and more oriental interiors. In the Novo-Tatar settlement, where mostly working people, small traders, and migrants from rural areas lived, also at the beginning of the 19th century, three stone mosques, made in the classical style, with beautiful cylindrical minarets (imitation of the ancient city of Bulgar), Tatar estates appeared baev, madrasah buildings.
It is worth mentioning separately about the architecture of Seitova Sloboda (Tatar Kargala) near Orenburg: the construction of mosques was allowed here first (even before the reign of Catherine II), stone trading shops and craft workshops appeared. The ethnographic expedition of Peter Pallas in 1769 noted the solidity and amenities of the village, “where each of the 300 houses consists of two or three white, clean rooms, the inhabitants of which are distinguished by neatness and cleanliness, elegance and taste are striking in their dressing...”. In 1804, seven stone and two wooden mosques were already built here (more than in Kazan), the first of which appeared in 1746. The once two-minaret mosque of Kush-Manara (1785), which differs in shape and style from Kazan mosques, has survived to this day.
In residential buildings there was a division into male and female halves, until the middle of the 19th century there was a lack of European furniture, a lot of curtains, in rich houses - carpets on the walls, the presence of special ornaments and stucco, many transitions, the use of bright colors in painting, on the walls, and at the entrance - the use of glazed shamails Shamail is a specifically Islamic type of fine art: usually it is a painting or embroidery with a wish or parting words from the Koran, which is hung in houses or mosques. Similar features can be found in the houses of the Crimean and Siberian Tatars. At the same time, Tatar estates are characterized by isolation and closedness. Thus, one of the first “Tatar scholars” Karl Fuchs writes that houses in a Tatar settlement certainly have high fences, blind gates, and the houses themselves are located in the depths of the yard behind a dense log wall.
By the middle of the 19th century, European style began to penetrate into the interior of a rich house: furniture and mirrors were combined with Persian carpets, Chinese porcelain and oriental sofas. In the houses one could find many finely painted ornaments in green, yellow, white and blue tones. The gates of buildings were also painted: the houses were mainly depicted with the sun, geometric figures, symbols from mythology, birds, flowers and more. Carved platbands were also made for small attic windows, which had recessed niches and were enclosed with carved bars, which created the effect of a decorative balcony (for example, this is Mullin’s house, Bakirov’s estate in Zakazanye).
The growth of commercial and industrial capital among the Tatars gave impetus to the development of original Muslim-Tatar architecture, its expansion beyond the Tatar community (for example, this is the house of the merchant Kekin in Kazan). New mosques, estates, educational institutions, apartment buildings, trading shops, and mansions were erected. This surge is especially noticeable at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Art Nouveau style also had its own “Tatar” interpretation (Shamil’s house, the rebuilt Yunusov-Apanayev house, the project of the Zakabannaya Mosque). The Tatar settlements of Kazan and other cities (Orenburg, Troitsk, Ufa, etc.) were built up, joining into a single and original space.
The use of national architectural forms continued in Soviet times, despite the presence of an official state style, ideological contradictions in the interpretation of the Tatar historical and cultural heritage and a long rejection of religious architecture. Without being strongly accentuated, as, for example, in the union republics of Central Asia or the Caucasus, Tatar architecture nevertheless continued its development - for example, in the pavilion of the Tatar ASSR at the All-Union Exhibition in Moscow (1939), the Tatar Opera and Ballet Theater. M. Jalil (1936–1956), the “Skullcap” building in Kazan (1978) with a mosaic facade and the “Skullcap” hotel in Naberezhnye Chelny (1977–2002), the House of Public Life with a unique oriental pattern (1971–1977), Tatar Academic Theater named after G. Kamala (1972–1986), as well as in style, composition and facade solutions, decor of many residential and administrative buildings in the cities of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan.
Raifa Monastery
Address: Raifa village, Zelenodolsk district Telephone: (84371) 3-47-59, (84371) 3-47-07 Opening hours: from 7:00 to 21:00 every day Cost: free
The largest operating monastery in the Republic of Tatarstan is located 30 kilometers from Kazan. It was erected after Ivan the Terrible captured the capital of Tatarstan. In 1613, monk Philaret built a cell on the shore of Lake Raifa. Gradually, Orthodox pilgrims and monks began to gather around him, and with their joint efforts they built a small chapel. In 1661, the monastery received a gift of a copy of the icon of the Georgian Mother of God, which is now the main asset of the monastery. The year 1689 was marked by a fire that destroyed the wooden buildings of the monastery, and at the same time the complex began to be built in stone. By 1708 a church was built, and by 1717 the construction of stone walls with towers was completed. The Georgian Cathedral was built in 1842, the bell tower in 1903, and the Trinity Cathedral in 1910.
Nowadays there is a shelter for orphans on the territory of the Raifa Monastery, and divine services are held regularly. An interesting feature of the lake near the complex are the “silent” frogs - they do not croak here. According to legend, the monks of the monastery prayed to God to deliver them from the sounds constantly coming from the shores of the lake (there are a lot of frogs here and now), which interfered with the performance of church singing. And to this day, no croaking can be heard near the monastery, and even the frogs brought from other places fall silent.
The monastery is located in the center of a village called Raifa Township (or simply Raifa). From Kazan you can get to the monastery by bus, which goes to Kulbashi or Urazly (the route passes very close to the object). Bus No. 405 goes here from Zelenodolsk.
What to see in Tatarstan in 1 day
Today, Tatarstan is rich in diverse attractions for tourists: from ancient burials to exquisite architectural monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, which are a must-visit first.
Kul Sharif Mosque
The mosque was built with donations from townspeople, whose names are still kept in the Book of Honor. The luxurious building is named after Imam Sayyid Kul Sharif. The world-famous mosque was built at the end of the 19th century and includes 4 huge minarets 58 meters long.
The dome is located between the minarets and is decorated with a Kazan cap, and the window openings are decorated in the form of tulips. The interior spaces are richly decorated and have viewing balconies.
Address: Kazan, Sheinkman street.
Opening hours: daily, 9.00-19.00.
How to get there: take bus 74 to the Central Stadium stop.
Get directions
Kazan Kremlin
The most popular place in the capital of Tatarstan is the Kazan Kremlin. The impressively sized complex of ancient buildings harmoniously combines Russian and Tatar cultures. Some architectural monuments date back more than a thousand years.
The territory of the Kremlin occupies about 15 hectares. It contains buildings of three eras from the 10th century: towers, walls, a mosque, a Cannon Yard, a palace, a church and squares.
The Kazan Kremlin is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today it is the official residence of the President of Tatarstan.
Address: Kazan, Kremlevskaya, 2.
Opening hours: daily, 9.00-20.00.
How to get there: by buses 6, 15, 29, trolleybuses 1, 4, 10, get off at the stops “TSUM”, “Ulitsa Baymana”; metro station “Kremlevskaya”.
Get directions
Tower Syuyumbike
The bright gem in the crown of the Kazan Kremlin is the mysterious Syuyumbike tower. Its name is associated with Queen Syuyumbike, the devoted wife of Khan Safa-Girey, who, according to legend, chose death rather than marriage to Ivan the Terrible. She threw herself from the top of the tower, which has since leaned mournfully to the north, for which the townspeople are now famous.
The height of the tower is 58 m. From its top you can see the surroundings far away, so the Syuyumbike tower for a long time served as a watch for the city residents and was a place for defensive shooting.
Address: Kazan, Sheikman Avenue.
Opening hours: every day, 9.00-20.00.
How to get there: by metro, Kremlevskaya station.
Get directions
Farmers' Palace
A controversial and at the same time spectacular landmark of Tatarstan, which is definitely worth seeing, is the Palace of Farmers. The site is occupied by the Republican Ministry of Agriculture.
The huge luxurious building is made in a mixture of Bozar, French Baroque, Italian Renaissance, Empire and Classicism styles. The architecture of the building copies the Parisian Pati Palais.
In the evening the palace is illuminated. A 20-meter bronze tree built into the middle of the ensemble is illuminated by green lights that imitate foliage.
Address: Kazan, st. Fedoseevskaya, 36.
How to get there: take bus 89, stop “KAI”.
Get directions
Wild boar mosque
The Zakabanna Mosque was built in honor of the millennium of the adoption of Islam in Kazan. Subsequently, it became a place of pilgrimage for Muslims and a unique tourist attraction. The quadrangle of the mosque's minaret contains an octagonal pillar that turns into a luminous cylinder. The top of the building is decorated with a dome with patterned ornaments.
Carved stone window casings, unusually shaped portals, red brick walls and the Moorish style of medieval architecture give the mosque a holistic representation of the greatness of Muslim culture.
The first floor of the building contains a prayer hall, the second floor contains a teaching hall.
Address: Kazan, st. Khadi Taktasha, 26.
Opening hours: daily, 9.00-21.00.
How to get there: take bus 74, stop “Ulitsa Tufana Minnulina”.
Get directions
Kazan cat
A bronze monument to the Kazan Cat, a favorite of tourists and townspeople, is installed in the city center. A fat cat, 3 meters high, lounged on a bench. The sly man squints, scratches his stomach and twirls his mustache, looking at the mouse.
The cat became famous thanks to Tsarina Elizaveta Petrovna, who ordered several dozen hunting animals from Kazan for her palace.
Address: Kazan, intersection of Bauman and Musa Jalil streets.
How to get there: take bus 63 to the stop “Ulitsa Chernyshevskogo”.
Get directions
Alexandrovsky Passage
Built in 1983 by merchant Alexandrov, Passage was an amazing product of mixing the old Baroque style with modern engineering. The building had unprecedented achievements by those standards - an elevator, electric lighting and steam heating.
Later, the building was donated to the city, where the Palais de Cristal restaurant and the Passage theater nestled.
Address: Kazan, st. Kremlevskaya, 17.
How to get there: by bus 63 to Chernyshevsky Street.
Get directions
Mausoleum of the Kazan Khans
The burial was discovered by archaeologists in the late 70s of the last century. The contents of the crypt included the silver and leather tombs of Khan Mahmud and Khan Emin, who died in 1518. Later, the tombstones of the mausoleum, things, and the tomb itself were covered with a pyramidal glass case.
Address: Kazan Kremlin, square in front of the Syuyumbike tower.
Opening hours: every day, 9.00-20.00.
How to get there: Kremlevskaya metro station.
Get directions
House Kekin
At the beginning of the 20th century, the famous merchant Leonty Kekin built this house, betting that it would be the most beautiful building in Kazan. Architect Rush did his best, and the rich man won the argument thanks to unusual architectural solutions.
The building was built in eclectic and modernist styles. The windows, columns, and roof spiers are Moorish in style. Today the mansion contains 4 floors containing shopping complexes and offices. The courtyard is equipped for relaxation of enterprise employees.
Address: Kazan, st. M. Gorky, 8/9.
How to get there: by bus 10, stop “Tinchurina Theater”.
Get directions
Spasskaya Tower
The tower was erected in the 16th century where Tsar Ivan the Terrible planted a flag when he took Kazan. The Spasskaya Tower was built by architects who participated in the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral. The main passage of the gate of the white tower is decorated with the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands. Hence the name.
Initially, the building was laid out with a log frame covered with white lime. Two centuries later, brick quadrangles were built, decorated with a dome-tent. The clock with chimes strikes the “Crimson Ring” motif.
Address: Kazan, Kremlin, 8.
Opening hours: all days, 9.00-20.00.
How to get there: take trolleybuses 1, 4 to the stop “Ulitsa Baumana”.
Get directions
Devil's settlement in Yelabuga
Previously, the settlement was the place of formation of the Bulgarians of the eastern Cis-Kama region. The modern tract is marked only by preserved arches, windows, and ancient masonry of unprocessed stone blocks.
Two decades ago, the site was put in order: the collapsed fragments of the old tower were removed, the gates and fence were restored, and tourist paths were laid.
Tourists rush here to see the beautiful panorama of the surrounding area.
Address: Elabuga, Millennium Square.
How to get there: by minibus 1.
Get directions
Epiphany Cathedral
The main attractions of Tatarstan would not be complete without the Epiphany Cathedral. Built 4 centuries ago, the sky-blue temple is decorated with golden onion domes. Nearby is an untouched by time red brick stone bell tower with turrets, carved cornices and stars. The height of the tented bell tower is 74 meters.
Address: Kazan, st. Bauman, 78.
Opening hours: daily, 7.00-18.00.
How to get there: take bus 10 to the stop “Gabdulla Tukay Square”.
Get directions
Alexandrovsky Park
Elabuga Alexander Garden is a place where townspeople like to walk on summer evenings, and events are held. The park was founded in honor of Emperor Alexander II and is designed in the English landscape style. The center of the gardens was decorated with a theater and a fountain. Bushes and trees are not trimmed here for the sake of unity with nature. Stone winding paths are laid through thickets of juniper, pine, and old linden.
Address: Elabuga, st. Kazanskaya, 1.
Opening hours: you can visit the park around the clock.
How to get there: 30 minutes walk towards the city center or as part of a tourist group on a sightseeing bus.
Get directions
Monument to Musa Jalil
The heart of the capital of Tatarstan is decorated with an 8-meter monument to the poet Musa Jalil, beloved by the Tatar people, opened 60 years ago. The sculptor depicted the poet tearing the barbed wire of Hitler’s dungeons, which constrained the hero’s movements.
The granite wall, part of the monument complex, includes carved poems by Jalil, who was executed in Plötzensee prison.
Address: Kazan, 1 May Square.
How to get there: by metro to Kremlevskaya station.
Get directions
Marjani Mosque
The year 1767 was marked by the construction of the stone Marjani mosque, later named after the famous imam.
The unusualness of the building lies in the mixture of St. Petersburg Baroque styles with the architecture of the Middle Ages, complemented by traditional Tatar ornaments. The mosque stores a valuable artifact - the gravestone of Muhammad Gali Bey. For many years, the Muslim temple has been conducting the rituals of Nikah, Kurban Bayram, and Eid al-Adha.
Address: Kazan, st. Kayuma Nasyri, 17.
Opening hours: daily, 7.00-19.00.
How to get there: travel by buses 5, 6, 23, stop “Kayum Nasyri Street”.
Get directions
Volzhsko-Kama Nature Reserve
Address: Sadovy village, Zelenodolsk district (and surrounding area) Telephone: (84371) 34720 Opening hours: from 10:00 to 17:00 (ticket office until 16:00, closed on Mondays) Cost: 100 rubles for adults and 50 – for children in the arboretum; 60 and 30 rubles respectively – to the nature museum (excursion cost: 200 rubles – adults, 100 – children)
The Raifa Monastery is part of a large complex - the Volga-Kama Biosphere Reserve. The complex was founded in 1960 with the aim of preserving the unique natural landscapes of the Volga region. In 2005, the reserve received the status of a UNESCO reserve. Now the complex is spread over an area of 10 thousand hectares (the protected area is more than 15 thousand).
The collection of the reserve includes one of the most ancient forests in all of Eastern Europe (individual trees are up to 300 years old), 2038 species of plants, 12 of which are listed in the Red Book of Russia, 2644 species of fauna. An arboretum and a nature museum are available for visiting. In the arboretum, which traces its history back to 1921, you can see a collection of 500 species of flora (they are organized in exhibitions according to parts of the world). The Museum of Nature invites visitors to learn about the flora and fauna of the region; it contains more than 50 stuffed animals in several compositions with scenes of animal behavior.
Not far from the mentioned Raifa Monastery there is a special visitor center where tourists can watch a film about the reserve or take a virtual tour of the territory.
You can get to the reserve from Kazan by bus in the direction of Kulbashi or Bishni. The stop you need is Sadovyi.
Ananyinsky burial ground
Address: Ananyino village (near Yelabuga) Opening hours: 24 hours Cost: free
Not far from Yelabuga, in the vicinity of the village of Ananino, in 1858, by pure chance, one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of Tatarstan, and indeed all of Russia, was made. During the spring flood of the river located next to the village, one of the hills was washed away. As a result, ancient burials, fragments of skeletons and household items appeared. Merchant Ivan Shishkin (father of Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin, the great Russian artist) was the first to realize what had happened, and the discovery of the burial ground is attributed to him. After this, archaeologists immediately came here and began to “open up” the burial ground in an organized manner.
The burial itself was located inside a sand mound, the diameter of which was 200 meters and the height was only 4 meters. As a result of excavations, more than 1,500 objects of everyday life, weapons, cultural objects and skeletons of representatives of the past buried here were found here. At the foot, two graves of noble persons, built in the form of stone boats, were discovered. The boats were filled to capacity with jewelry and weapons. As a result of research on the mound, a new term even appeared in science - “Ananyinskaya culture”, which describes representatives of the Finno-Ugric tribes who lived in these places in the 9th-3rd centuries BC.
The village of Ananyino is almost included in the city limits of Elabuga, so almost every route from the city in this direction passes by the burial ground. Buses run all the way to Yelabuga from Kazan, Izhevsk, Naberezhnye Chelny and Nizhnekamsk. You can also get to this city along the Kama River from Kazan (by speedboat) and Nizhnekamsk (by motor ship).
Sights of the Republic of Tatarstan
Sights of the Republic of Tatarstan. The most important and interesting sights of the Republic of Tatarstan - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.
- May tours
to Russia - Last minute tours
to Russia
- Naberezhnye Chelny, Borovetskoye, Chulman Ave., 127
the very bestBorovets Church in Naberezhnye Chelny
Naberezhnye Chelny, Borovetskoye, Chulman Ave., 127
The Borovets Church, or the Holy Ascension Church in Naberezhnye Chelny, is an architectural monument of republican significance, protected by the state. The three-altared wooden Borovets Church, erected in 1872, later acquired stone walls.
- Elabuga, st. Embankment, 12
the very best
House-Museum of Ivan Shishkin
Elabuga, st. Embankment, 12
The great Russian artist Ivan Shishkin was born and raised in Elabuga, living here until 1852. He came from the ancient merchant family of the Shishkins, his father, Ivan Vasilyevich, did a lot of useful things for Elabuga, constantly donating funds to preserve and exaggerate its history.
- Bolgar, st. Nazarov, 67
the very best
Reserve "Bulgar Settlement"
Bolgar, st. Nazarov, 67
Founded in 1969, the Bulgarian Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve is the oldest institution of its kind in Tatarstan. “Bulgar Settlement” is a large-scale complex of buildings erected between the 10th and 13th centuries.
- Naberezhnye Chelny, village. Hydroelectric power station, st. Central
the very best
Tauba Mosque in Naberezhnye Chelny
Naberezhnye Chelny, village. Hydroelectric power station, st. Central
Tauba (translated from Arabic as “repentance”) is a wonderful religious landmark of the old part of Naberezhnye Chelny, a mosque that organically fits into the buildings of the picturesque bank of the Kama River, but is still an architectural dominant among them.
- fabulous
Bolgar, st. Nazarov, 67
the very best
Bolgar Cathedral Mosque
fabulous
1 review
Bolgar, st. Nazarov, 67
One of the pearls of Tatarstan is the ancient city of the Great Bulgar with a huge number of architectural attractions. The Tatars have a proverb: “Whoever does not know the history of their ancestors does not feel the taste of life.” Therefore, to enjoy all its delights, you need to visit these places.
- Naberezhnye Chelny, Naberezhnye Chelny Ave., 37 A
the very best
Temple of Cosmas and Damian in Naberezhnye Chelny
Naberezhnye Chelny, Naberezhnye Chelny Ave., 37 A
There are many architectural religious monuments in Naberezhnye Chelny. In the small village of Orlovka, not leaving the city limits, there is the Church of the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian, built in 1859 - the oldest building in Naberezhnye Chelny.
- Elabuga
the very best
Devil's settlement in Yelabuga
Elabuga
You are in the Yelabuga settlement, which means you have come to visit the devil! Don't be alarmed, these are just legends. And here's what history says. In the Bulgar period, 10-14 centuries, here was a stronghold of the Bulgarians in the eastern Cis-Kama region. All that remains today is a stone tower. In 1844 it collapsed.
- Elabuga, st. Embankment
Alexander Park in Elabuga
Elabuga, st.
Embankment Today, Alexander Park in Yelabuga is a favorite vacation spot for local residents and tourists who come here. However, before it became like this, the park experienced several “ups and downs” - from its foundation back in 1856 to abandonment and vice versa. - Republic of Tatarstan, Yelabuga district, village. Ananino
Ananyinsky burial ground
Republic of Tatarstan, Yelabuga district, village.
Ananyino Ananyinsky burial ground is a unique ancient monument in its significance. It was discovered in the vicinity of Yelabuga in 1868 and is still being carefully studied. Many items found here were included in the collections not only of city museums, but also spread to other museums and exhibitions in Russia. - Republic of Tatarstan, Alekseevsky district, Bilyarsk
Bilyarsky tract "Holy Key"
Republic of Tatarstan, Alekseevsky district, Bilyarsk
This tract is a very beautiful place, which is located at the foot of the owner’s Mountain, “Khuzhalar Tava”, north-west of Bilyarsk. The source of the icon was known and revered not only by Muslims, but also by Christians and pagans. In time immemorial, a pagan sanctuary was built on the Mount of the Master. - Republic of Tatarstan, Zelenodolsk district
Volzhsko-Kama Nature Reserve
Republic of Tatarstan, Zelenodolsk district,
the Volzhsko-Kama Nature Reserve is the only one on the territory of Tatarstan and has been around for more than 5 decades. The reserve is home to one of the oldest forests in Eastern Europe; 300-year-old woody plants have been preserved here. - fabulous
Naberezhnye Chelny, village. Hydroelectric power station, Tukay embankment, 12/1
Dolphinarium in Naberezhnye Chelny
great
1 reviewNaberezhnye Chelny, village. Hydroelectric power station, Tukay embankment, 12/1
The Naberezhnye Chelny Dolphinarium is a landmark of the city, the first stationary dolphinarium in Tatarstan and the only one in the Volga region, designed for 350 spectators, an inexhaustible source of joy, unique emotions, happiness of citizens and guests of the city.
- Elabuga, st. Malaya Pokrovskaya, 20
House of memory of Marina Tsvetaeva in Yelabuga
Elabuga, st.
Malaya Pokrovskaya, 20 The House of Memory of Marina Tsvetaeva is part of the memorial complex in Elabuga, which is entirely dedicated to the famous poetess. This is the same house where Marina Ivanovna lived the last few days of her life. In August 1941, according to the distribution of the city council, she and her son received a room in the Bodelshchikovs’ house. - Elabuga, st. Maxim Gorky, 119a
Kazan-Bogoroditsky Monastery in Yelabuga
Elabuga, st.
Maxim Gorky, 119a The Kazan-Bogoroditsky monastery in Yelabuga is active today, it is for women and belongs to the Orthodox Church. It was once inhabited by many nuns, but today only about 20 novices live in the monastery. - Elabuga, st. Embankment, 14
Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands in Yelabuga
Elabuga, st.
Embankment, 14 Churches and cathedrals of Elabuga deserve special attention. And even if you are indifferent to the ringing of bells and beautiful religious services, it is worth looking at these majestic buildings from the point of view of architectural and historical value. - Bolgar, Small Town
Well of Gabdrakhman
Bolgar, Maly Gorodok
There is an interesting legend associated with this well near the Volga bank. The well received its name in honor of Captain Rychkov, who studied the local region in the 18th century as part of an expedition of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences in search of minerals. But the locals call the well differently - “Gabdrakhman sazabe”. - Elabuga, st. Kazanskaya, 26
Elabuga Local History Complex
Elabuga, st.
Kazanskaya, 26 The Elabuga local history complex was opened in August 2007 in honor of the 1000th anniversary of the city. Today it occupies a building in the historical center of Yelabuga - an architectural monument of the 19th century, a former residential building of the merchant Nikolaev, built in the eclectic style with Baroque elements. - Bugulma, st. Herzen, 88
Bugulma Local Lore Museum
Bugulma, st.
Herzen, 88 Bugulma Museum of Local Lore, one of the oldest in the Republic of Tatarstan, was opened on October 1, 1929. The museum's exposition tells the history of the city from the moment of its inception, about the Pugachev uprising, fairs of the 19th century held in Bugulma, the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars. - Naberezhnye Chelny, Syuyumbike Ave., 44
Ice Sports Palace in Naberezhnye Chelny
Naberezhnye Chelny, Syuyumbike Ave., 44
The indoor ice sports palace appeared in Naberezhnye Chelny only in 2005, although attempts to build it were made back in the 80s. last century. Then there was not enough money, and the KAMAZ hockey team was soon disbanded. - Republic of Tatarstan, New Kyrlay, st. Central, 4
Literary and memorial complex of Gabdulla Tukay
Republic of Tatarstan, New Kyrlay, st.
Tsentralnaya, 4 The museum complex has a pleasant, landscaped area fenced with bars. This is a real garden where you can see coniferous trees, which Tukay wrote about in his famous “Shurala”. - 1
- Next pageNext
Tatarstan is very diverse, and depending on where you find yourself, you can find a wide variety of attractions.
At least on the territory of Tatarstan there are two monuments included by UNESCO in the List of World Heritage Sites. Kazan is the capital, a large and beautiful city, and this is where you need to start getting acquainted with Tatarstan. Here tourists will find an impressive Kremlin, the largest mosque in Russia and a complete immersion in Tatar culture. Today's Kazan is probably the busiest and most interesting city in the entire Volga region. A must-see is the Syuyumbike Tower, the beauty of the Kazan Kremlin, which is also one of the “Leaning Towers”; Kul Sharif Mosque; Bulgar Mosque; new Marjani mosque; National Museum with a magnificent collection of artifacts from Ancient Egypt and antiquity; Peter and Paul Cathedral; the monumental Palace of Farmers built in 2010 and the Millennium Bridge, opened in 2007. You should also definitely pay attention to the Kazan Cat on Bauman Street and the Temple of All Religions, which began to be built in 1994.
Bolgar is very interesting, where you can see the ruins of the historical capital of Volga Bulgaria, the ancient settlement of Bulgar.
Elabuga is a small cozy town, famous, firstly, for the ruins of an 11th century castle; secondly, by the fact that Ivan Shishkin was born here, and thirdly, by the fact that Marina Tsvetaeva committed suicide here. The main attractions of Yelabuga are the Shishkin House-Museum, the beautiful Kazan-Bogoroditsky Monastery and the Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands; Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and Marina Tsvetaeva Memorial Complex. Near Yelabuga there is a unique Ananyinsky burial ground.
Kamaevo is a small village not far from Yelabuga and Naberezhnye Chelny. Those interested in archeology should go to Kamaevo: the Old Kazan Museum-Reserve is located here. And Zelenodolsk is interesting because the famous Raifa monastery is located nearby.
In the city of Naberezhnye Chelny there is the most interesting Tauba Mosque, built in 1992. This is a rare example of the Art Nouveau style in architecture for such buildings. And since 2009, the monumental Jamig Mosque has been built in the city center.
Bolgar is very interesting, where you can see the ruins of the historical capital of Volga Bulgaria, the ancient settlement of Bulgar. At one time it was the spiritual center of Tatarstan, and to this day this place with city walls, towers and mosques remains a point of pilgrimage for Muslims from all over the former Soviet Union, who perform the “little hajj” here.
A separate destination is the island of Sviyazhsk, which is located at the confluence of the Sviyaga River and the Volga. Sviyazhsk was not always an island: it was separated from the world by the Kuibyshev reservoir in 1957. Today in the center of the island city you can see two stunning monastery complexes: the Mother of God-Uspensky and St. John the Baptist.
You should definitely pay attention to the nature of Tatarstan. In particular, the Lower Kama National Park or the Volga-Kama Nature Reserve. The latter is the only nature reserve on the territory of the republic, located in the Zelenodolsk region. One of the oldest forests in Eastern Europe grows here, and more than 2,600 species of animals live here.
Dolgaya Polyana
Address: Dolgaya Polyana village, Tetyushsky district Opening hours: 24 hours Cost: free
The Dolgaya Polyana natural park includes the village of the same name on the banks of the Volga in the Tetyushsky Mountains. The family estate of the local Molostov family is also located here. At the beginning of the 20th century, Count Molostov brought to Dolgaya Polyana trees and shrubs unique to the area, which still grow in the area today. Examples of such species include Phrygian cornflower, steppe plum, and Andrzeevsky's carnation. Many species of the park's flora are included in the Red Book. The complex itself became a protected area only in 2000.
In addition, “Dolgaya Polyana” is considered one of the most powerful energy zones in the entire republic. Ufologists and psychics often come here for visits. Anomalous points in the park are two clearings on the way to the Volga bank. They have not been overgrown throughout the history of the complex; interference in mechanical and digital devices is observed here. At the same time, people in the clearings feel extraordinary calm, cases of wound healing and blood pressure stabilization have been noted.
You can go to Dolgaya Polyana directly from Kazan, but you will need your own transport for this. From the capital you need to move towards Buinsk, the total distance is 135 kilometers. At the entrance to Tetyushi you will see an alley of larch trees - this is where you need to turn. In addition, you can go from Tetyushi itself (to which there are buses from Kazan).
Tatarstan has historical and natural monuments
Kama estuary
A place located on a cliff along the Volga bank not far from the village of the same name. The steep terrain of this area attracts rock climbers, and the Yuryevskaya Cave and gypsum adits attract speleologists.
Yuryevskaya is the only cave in Tatarstan that is accessible to unprepared visitors. In the plaster adits, which are a labyrinth of branched corridors, you can find old support beams, trolleys and rails.
Posted by Katerina (@heimkatee) Sep 3, 2022 at 12:06 pm PDT
Tetyushi, Molostvov estate, Syukeevskie adits
Within a radius of 20 km from each other, tourists can visit cultural, historical and natural recreation areas on the banks of the Volga.
Tetyushi is a small town founded in 1578. Over four centuries, merchant houses have been preserved here, which now house shops, banks and other modern institutions. The history of the city is closely connected with fishing, and evidence of this is a monument to a beluga weighing about a ton, caught in the hungry year of 1921.
Publication from the 'Vorotorot' project (@vodovorot_kazan) May 25, 2022 at 12:27 PDT
In the northeast of Tetyush in the village of Dolgaya Polyana you can visit the Molostvov Estate, which once belonged to a noble family from Novgorod. Inside the estate there is a house-museum, in which the interior, furniture and fittings of the 19th century have been partially preserved.
Posted by Albina Gizatullina (@albina_belko) Aug 27, 2017 at 12:53 PDT
From the estate there is a path down to the banks of the Volga. Along the steep coast, or by boat, you can get to the Syukeevsky adits - another place for gypsum mining in Tatarstan.
As in the Kama Ustye, the Syukeevsky adits branch into kilometers of corridors deep into the rock. In one of these corridors you can stumble upon a research base where geologists and speleologists periodically gather.
Island town Sviyazhsk
Sviyazhsk was renovated in 2011 thanks to the work of the Revival Foundation. Since then, the museum-reserve has been reconstructing old buildings and opening new museums.
The island-city will attract the attention of tourists interested in history and pilgrims: there are three monasteries on the territory of the reserve, as well as the historical reconstruction complex “Lazy Torzhok”, where thematic festivals and holidays are held.
In May 2022, electric trains began running again to Sviyazhsk. Once a day you can get to the island from Kazan by boat. You can also get to Sviyazhsk by private car.
Ancient Bolgar
Another museum city on the Volga is Bolgar. The settlement appeared on the site of the capital of Volga Bulgaria - the first state on the territory of Tatarstan, one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. The city is considered the place where Islam spread in the republic, which also attracts pilgrims.
As in the case of Sviyazhsk, the Renaissance Foundation helped renovate the museum-reserve in the early 2010s.
On the territory of the reserve you can visit the mausoleums of the rulers of Volga Bulgaria, mosques, as well as estates of the 19th century. Going down to the Volga along the embankment, near the river port you can visit the Museum of Bulgarian Civilization. At the entrance to the reserve, the White Mosque is open to guests.
Lake Kara-Kul
Address: Bolshie Lyzi village, Baltasinsky district Opening hours: 24 hours Cost: free
Lake Kara-Kul in the Baltasinsky district can be called the Tatar Loch Ness. A local legend is associated with the reservoir, according to which a huge snake lives here. Local residents call it “su ugese”, which means “water bull”. Legends and myths have preserved for us stories about unsuccessful hunters and fishermen who disappeared in the lake area. The reason for this was the reluctance of people to make sacrifices to the owner of the lake - the snake.
In general, the name Kara-Kul can be translated as “Black Lake”. Indeed, the waters of the lake are distinguished by their blackish color (in cloudy weather, from certain points under the shade of a dense forest, the lake looks bluish-black). Perhaps this circumstance prompted local residents to think about a monster in the pond. In fact, the black tint to the water is given by the karst rocks dissolved in it, from which the shores are made.
Now Kara-Kul is ennobled. A tourist base and a boat rental point have been built here, and there are bridges along the banks. In summer, tourist rallies and other events are often organized near the lake. Fishermen love Kara-Kul for its natural resources - minnows, silver carp and carp are found here.
You can get to the lake from the villages that are located next to it. These are Bolshie Lyzi, Yarak-Churma, Nizhnyaya Sosna. A little further, 4 kilometers away is the center of the district - Baltasi, which has a bus connection with Kazan.
Beautiful places in Tatarstan that are worth visiting
Tatarstan is rich in unique and rare places that tourists should visit at least once. The republic has 132 natural monuments, including nature reserves, mountains, forest tracts, river valleys, lakes, caves, waterfalls and springs.
Volzhsko-Kama Nature Reserve
The reserve is located on a picturesque terrace on the left bank of the Volga River. The oldest forest in Eastern Europe grows here. The flora numbers 2038 species of vegetation, among which are 300-year-old trees that are long-lived. The fauna includes 2,500 species of animals. There are “Red Book” animals and plants in the reserve.
Tourists are taken along eco-trails as part of excursion groups and shown rare animals and birds.
Address: Zelenodolsk district, 52 km from the village of Sadovy.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 9.00-16.00, Saturday, 9.00-18.00.
How to get there: buses 404 – “Kazan – Kulbashi”, 406 – “Kazan – Bishnya”. Get off at the "Sadovyi" stop.
Get directions
Blue Lake
People called the waters of karst origin Blue Lakes. Large and attractive for tourists: Bolshoye, Protochnoye, Maloye. The area connecting the reservoirs is a protected natural monument and extends over 20 square meters. m.
Beginning diving enthusiasts prefer to train in the clear waters of Blue Lake.
Address: Kazan, Blue Lake village.
How to get there: by bus 35 to the stops “Golubyatnikova”, “Solnyshko”, then by bus 40 to the village of Shcherbakovo.
Get directions
Lake Kara-Kul
The name of the reservoir is translated as “black lake”. Old residents say that a powerful serpent lives in the depths of the lake. Previously, the disappearance of hunters was associated with him. The dark-water lake is fed by underground springs. The depth of the reservoir reaches 18 meters. There is plenty of fish, which attracts fishing enthusiasts.
The territory is landscaped and suitable for overnight stays of large groups of people. There is a rental of various types of boats, tents, and fishing gear.
Address: Baltasinsky district.
Rental operating hours: 7.00-18.00.
How to get there: 2 hours by car towards the village of Kinderi, then follow the signs.
Get directions
Yuryevskaya Cave
The kilometer-long cave was explored in 1953. The walls of the halls are overgrown with gypsum crystals and calcites. Through a narrow passage, tourists find themselves in a unique space with an unusual dark color of walls, floor, and ceiling - the “Hall of Horrors.” Other halls are smaller and white thanks to the limestone.
Address: 3.5 km from the village of Tenishchevo, Kamsko-Ustinsky district. Visiting is allowed during daylight hours.
How to get there: by bus 529 “Kazan-Kamskoe Ustye”, stop “PGT Tenishchevo”.
Get directions
Mount Chatyr-Tau
The height of the mountain is 320 meters, the length of the ridge is 7 km. The wide slopes and special topography of the mountain have become favorite training grounds for paragliders. Many come to see the beauty of the flora and fauna of the foothills, walk along mountain trails, and admire stunning views.
Address: Aznakaevsky district, Urazaevo village.
How to get there: by bus “Kazan-Aznakaevo”, then on foot or by taxi to the sign “Chatyr-Tau”.
Get directions
Bugulma Local Lore Museum
The old local history museum opened almost 100 years ago. The exhibitions tell the story of the emergence of Bugulma, the Pugachev uprising, and the life of past centuries. The highlight of the local history museum is considered to be the jewelry of Tatar women. Air forging, lightness of gold products surprises with the elegance of lines and the skill of old masters.
Address: Bugulma, st. Herzen, 88.
Opening hours: all days except Monday, 8.00-17.00.
How to get there: take trolleybus 5, stop “Ulitsa Vakhitova”.
Get directions
Yuryevskaya Cave
Address: Tenishevo village, Kamsko-Ustinsky district Opening hours: 24 hours a day Cost: by prior arrangement with the hike organizer
The largest cave in the Volga region and at the same time the only cave open to visitors in Tatarstan, Yuryevskaya, is located in the Bogorodsky Mountains. It is a regional natural monument. The first studies in the cave were carried out in 1953. Since that time, speleologists have been clearing away the rubble in the cave (in 1971 its length increased from 20 to 360 meters, in 2009 - to 507 meters).
The cave consists of a cave-in grotto (entrance), two large halls and three manholes. The first one, the Grotto of Rains, is famous for its red stalagmite half a meter high. The second - Red Grotto - has picturesque streaks on the walls, a well and a steep vertical passage. The third hole is difficult to access and closed to visitors. And in general, the entire cave is not equipped for mass excursions; access here is open only in the format of speleo tours with the appropriate equipment.
The cave is located near the village of Tenishevo, 6 kilometers from Kama Ustye. You can get to the center of the area by bus from Kazan, and from there you can go directly to the cave.
Not only Kazan: 3 picturesque places in Tatarstan
10/05/2020 RUBRIC: Experiments
Author: Anna Trofimova
22224
Anna Trofimova has already told 34tavel readers many times about her adventures. Coronavirus and closed borders did not become a reason for the traveler to stay at home, and she went to explore the expanses of her native Russia. How the big trip through Tatarstan went, where to go there and what to see – Anna’s word.
I live in Cheboksary - it’s 600 kilometers from Moscow and only 120 kilometers from Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. I visit Kazan often and, it seems, I know it inside and out: from Kul-Sharif and the embankment of Lake Kaban to the Black Lake park and Profsoyuznaya with its bars.
But this summer and autumn everything changed: my friends and I discovered a different Tatarstan. We sailed on a boat to the city of Bolgar, and found a portal to an oriental fairy tale. We went to Kama Ustye, and ended up on almost the sea coast, where there are rocks, caves and abandoned adits. We left for Sviyazhsk and ended up on Buyan Island.
Start of the route
For convenience, it is better to build a route around Tatarstan from Kazan. The distance from Moscow to Kazan is approximately 800 kilometers. In time it is 10-12 hours by train or car and 1.5 hours by plane.
From Kazan to each point on the route – from 1 to 2.5 hours by car. If you didn’t come with your own car, there is car sharing in Kazan, where you can choose an hourly or daily rate. Just note that you can only complete the lease in Kazan itself.
From May to September-October, each point can also be reached along the Volga: high-speed “Meteors” - hydrofoil motor ships - go from the river port of Kazan. Look at the schedule and cost on Yandex.Schedules, and feel free to ask questions in the Kazan River Port group on VK. Tickets can only be bought at the box office, only for cash, and this must be done in advance - preferably 5 days in advance. But if this is not possible, there is a conversation in the same VK group: perhaps one of the participants who is also planning to sail on your flight, he will agree to buy you a ticket and give it to you before departure. Many people did this this year.
Although you can, like us, start your journey from Cheboksary. Time-wise – 2-3 hours by car to each point.
Bulgarian
Distance from Kazan: 190 km Walking time: 4-5 hours
Bolgar is a place where Orthodox and Muslim cultures are not just neighbors - they are intertwined, like the Volga and Kama. Here, minarets pierce the sky against the backdrop of a canonical Russian hut with carved platbands, the ruins of chambers from the times of the Golden Horde are overgrown with new buildings, and from everywhere you can hear either Russian-Tatar speech or the voice of a muezzin.
Bolgar is, first and foremost, the White Mosque. This is a memorial sign - a tiny building where the largest Koran in the world is kept. And chambers, minarets, mausoleums.
Bolgar is a place of power the size of a small Tatar city. From the 10th century, it was the capital of the Volga Bulgaria (this is an entire state in the Middle Volga region and the Kama basin, which existed from the 10th to the 13th centuries), and later - an important center of the Golden Horde, so that later, in 1431, the Russian governor Fyodor Motley destroyed it, and local residents left Bolgar forever. After all, in fact, modern Bolgar is just a town of the same name not far from the ruins of Bolgar the Ancient, which has now become a museum-reserve.
How to get there
By car from Kazan: 2.5 hours.
By Meteor along the Volga: 2.5 hours and about 370 RUB (€ 1.11).
Where to stay
Hotel Regina is an ordinary hotel with no frills. Prices: 450 RUB (€ 5) for a place in a hostel-type room, 1800 RUB (€ 20) for an economy room for two, 2600 RUB (€ 29) for a superior room for two. In the last two options breakfast is included.
Kol Gali Spa Hotel is a luxury hotel in the most classic sense. Prices: from 14,000 RUB (€ 156) to 28,000 RUB (€ 312) for a double room.
Tourist base "Cossack Estate" - hotel rooms and guest houses 10 kilometers from Bolgar (village of Rzhavets). Prices: 5000 RUB (€ 55.75) for a house for six.
There are several options for apartments on Avito .
Where to eat
You can have a thorough meal in a restaurant or cafe with a summer veranda on the territory of the Bread Museum. If you’re just having a snack, there are shops and tea houses scattered throughout the complex where you can buy Tatar echpochmak: triangle pies with potatoes and meat, as well as eleshi, belyashi, chak-chak, “school” pizza, ice cream.
And be sure to try the bread near the entrance to the Bread Museum. You have to absorb it like you did in childhood: break it off with your hands and eat it all without bringing it home.
What to see
In general, there are two main tourist points in Bolgar:
White Mosque area: here is the White Mosque itself, the Academy of Islam, the Bread Museum, a festival complex, a camel farm, a restaurant, a cafe, retail shops and a large parking lot.
The historical and archaeological complex is a UNESCO site: there are ruins, mosques, churches, palaces, chambers, mausoleums, the banks of the Volga and the very Museum of Islam with the world's largest Koran.
If you got to Bolgar by water, then there is a stop right at the pier. And then there are two options. The first is to get to the historical park by a large white (and free) bus or by minibus for 30 RUB (€0.33). The second is to approach a taxi driver (there are usually a lot of them here) and for 50 RUB (€ 0.56) per person go straight to the White Mosque. It takes about 10 minutes to drive to both places.
It’s more convenient to go straight to the White Mosque, take fantastic photos, look into the Bread Museum, and devote the rest of your time to the historical complex.
White Mosque and Bread Museum
Many people compare the White Mosque to the Taj Mahal - and there is something in that. True, she does not hide any amazing stories, like those about Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal: the White Mosque was built only in 2010.
The White Mosque in Bolgar has minarets 40 meters high, 1200 tons of marble, 88 openwork columns and endless aesthetics. Such classic Muslim grace and luxury.
You can go inside if there is no prayer going on there at that time. And be sure to take a look at the backyard - everything is in bloom there in the summer, and the pears are ripening in the fall. Traditional Tatar weddings often take place near the White Mosque, and it is stunningly beautiful.
Behind the White Mosque is the Bulgarian Islamic Academy, in front there are shopping arcades and a parking lot, on the left is the Museum of Bread, and behind it is a camel farm.
The Bread Museum is a small bucolic island, a kind of village museum: a bathhouse, a miniature water mill, a small pond, a windmill, a classic Russian hut, a well, a grain barn and a bored cute dog on a leash. There is also an open terrace of a café with pancakes and a restaurant in a huge wooden house. Entrance to the museum costs 200 RUB (€ 2.23).
Historical complex
From the White Mosque we walked to the South Gate (there are also East and West Gates, but the South Gate is the closest, about 100 meters). From here the road leads to the historical and archaeological complex. Buses go there every hour - the schedule is at the gate itself. But the walk is not too far - about 2 kilometers.
The museum-reserve starts from the Eastern Chamber . This was once a city public bath; it was built back in the late 90s of the 13th century.
Next is the Doctor's House, the Khan's Palace, the Eastern and Northern Mausoleums, the Assumption Church, which fits so harmoniously into the ensemble of the Cathedral Mosque and the Great Minaret.
A little further away are the Khan’s tomb and the Small Minaret . You can even climb the Small Minaret via a spiral staircase. The passage there is very narrow, and therefore they are allowed in one by one, two or three people at a time. Price: 50 RUB (€ 0.56).
To the west are the Black and White Chambers. And all this on the banks of the Volga with islands emerald from the local flora. Perfect!
If you look closely, you can see an arrow on the right - the confluence of the Kama and Volga. You can also go down to the embankment. It begins with the slightly pompous four-story building of the Museum of Bulgarian Civilization and the river station, embedded into the mountain. If you're into history, go to the museum. Entrance ticket: 210 RUB (€ 2.34).
But, probably, the most interesting structure of the complex is the Memorial Sign . This is an octagonal building that was erected in honor of the official adoption of Islam in Volga Bulgaria as the state religion in 922. On the side of this building there is a staircase leading to the basement, to the Quran Museum . The largest Koran in the world is kept here; it was even included in the Guinness Book of Records. It weighs 800 kg, 300 of which is the malachite cover alone. The Koran itself was printed in Italy, the paper was brought from Scotland, and it was decorated with gold leaf, silver and precious stones from craftsmen from India. This is not a bad gift from Tatarstan to itself, not the 1000th anniversary. Ticket to the Quran Museum: 160 RUB (€ 1.78).
In general, in the historical complex of Bolgar, everything is done harmoniously and with care. Tables and benches under the shade of trees and overlooking the Volga, neat shopping arcades, convenient transport, paved pedestrian paths and other delights of urbanism. The trash cans are hidden in concrete, and the toilets fit seamlessly into the Russian hut and into the special ablution hall. There is unobtrusive and simple navigation and information stands everywhere, and if anything happens, there is the Bolgar website and maps.me maps - all the key points are marked there.
Kama Ustye
Distance from Kazan: 120 km Walking time: 1-2 days
Kama Ustye is simply a place of stunning beauty and energy. This is a seemingly ordinary urban village with a typical administration building and charming museums. But it is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kama, and it all looks like a sea (well, almost).
And Kama Ustye is home to sandy and pebble beaches, rocks, mountains, caves, abandoned adits, forests, and for some, fishing. Such an internal Portugal in the middle of Tatarstan.
How to get there
By car from Kazan: 1 hour 45 minutes.
By Meteor on the Volga: 1 hour 20 minutes and about 230 RUB (€ 2.56). You need to sail on the same ship that goes to Bolgar, just get off earlier.
Where to stay
The Kama Trophy is called a bedchamber, but in fact it is a very fashionable eco-hotel with stylish rooms and houses: with panoramic windows and furaco (these are Japanese fonts) on the terrace. On the territory there is also a restaurant, a panoramic sauna, an outdoor pool, a salt room and a pier. All this is coupled with an incredible sense of style, and as a bonus - a fantastic panorama of the Volga and Kama. In addition, here you can have a spa, go paddle surfing or go fishing on a boat, and in winter you can rent a snowmobile, snowmobile, tubing, skis or sled. Prices: from 7,500 RUB (€ 84) per room and up to 25,000 RUB (€ 279) per house.
A simpler option: one of the fishing recreation centers: “Kama Expanses”, “Three Banks” or “Cool Place” . A double room here will cost on average 1500-3000 RUB (€17-34).
At each recreation center you will be offered a tour of the Kama Ust. Prices start from 1200 RUB (€ 13.38) per person. Time: 4-5 hours. It’s better to get to Mount Lobach or the gypsum adits on your own to wander around, enjoy the views and simply reflect, but we highly recommend going down to Yuryevskaya Cave with a guide if you want to go deeper.
And the most romantic idea for an overnight stay is a tent. In fact, it can be installed anywhere. The most popular places: in the forest on the way to Yuryevskaya cave and adits, and also on Mount Lobach. At Lobach you can spend the sunset over the Volga, and then watch the sunrise over the Kama.
Where to eat
A proven place is “Prichal” . Delicious food, gastronomic presentation and excellent Margherita pizza - this is definitely not what you expect in the first cafe you come across somewhere in a town. The veranda is quite spartan: with wooden tables and benches, but the inside is very nice.
We only paid about 1000 RUB (€11.15) for cream of mushroom soup, farfalle with pesto sauce, a large margarita and five coffees to go.
What to see
Mount Lobach
Mount Lobach is an iconic and highest (136 meters) place in the Kama Ustye. It is here that the best views of the Volga and Kama Rivers, which merge here, merge together. At the top there is even a small lighthouse monument, the petals of which indicate where the Volga is and where the Kama is.
On Mount Lobach you get very epic photographs: at dawn, at sunset and generally always. That is why people often come here with tents.
Lobach has an interesting story. They say that in 1870, in the vicinity of Mount Lobach, Ilya Repin made sketches of his painting “Barge Haulers on the Volga”. Or this: in 1937, two complete skeletons of mammoths were found in a ravine near Lobach. And in the 90s, Lobach became a landscape reserve.
Elephant Rock
Approximately halfway from Mount Lobach to Yuryevskaya Cave (just below, near the water) there is a stone arch. She reminds me very much of an elephant drinking water near the shore. This arch appeared here relatively recently due to the fact that the rock was washed away.
This is a very meditative place: the rustling waves, stones, rocks and endless water. If you're lucky, you won't meet anyone here except the occasional silent fishermen.
True, getting here is not easy - here is a mark on the map. You can get to the pier in the village and from there walk two kilometers to the left, looking at the water. Or you can get to the Kamskoye Ustye stele at the entrance, drive onto the dirt road and leave the car in the forest as close to the water as possible, for example here. From here, go down the steep slope to the shore. The descent is not easy, but there are convenient paths with improvised steps. And then - half a kilometer along the shore to that very rock.
Yuryevskaya Cave
A must-visit for lovers of stalactites, stalagmites and dolomite fragments is Yuryevskaya Cave, also a natural monument and the longest cave in the Middle Volga region. Its volume is 13 thousand cubic meters, its length is a little over a kilometer, but only half is open to visitors. And its age is no more than 10 thousand years, and this is very little for a cave.
Yuryevskaya Cave is located between Kamsky Ustye and the village of Tenishevo. Leave your car in the parking lot near the highway or drive off-road to the left of it for about a kilometer - and then only on foot.
You need to get to the cave through the forest (be careful - there are ticks in the forest), along steep clay slopes and slippery paths for about 10-15 minutes. In some places there are steps and ropes to descend, and going down is much harder than going up. It will not be easy for children and people who are not very good at physical education. The cave has a sign, and the entrance itself is a grotto-dip measuring about seven by two meters.
Inside the Yuryevskaya Cave there are several passages and “halls” with funny names: the Silver Hall, the Hall of Baboons, the Monkey House - it’s easy to get to this place on your own. And then it’s better in the company of an experienced escort. There is also a Flounder, an Elevator, a Rhinoceros, an Arena, Organ Pipes, a Professor's House, a Grotto of Rains, a Point, a Toilet, a Castle of Terror, a Tuning Fork, a Dungeon, and a Darkroom.
The cave is cool (even in summer only +8), narrow (somewhere you will have to crawl on your stomach), dark, damp and bats - in a word, a real cave. Therefore, it is worth preparing for the trip: put on old warm clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, non-slip shoes, take a headlamp, like the miners, so that your hands are free. And if you want to go to the Grotto of Rains, it’s better to wear something waterproof.
Abandoned adits
From the cave we went down even lower, and there was a small fork: down, along a rope, to a small, almost intimate beach, up, to a small rock.
We climbed the rock, and a breathtaking view opened up to us: on one side there are the slopes of the coast, which stand like a plaster wall, on the other, the boundless and obstinate Volga, and between them - about thirty meters down.
You need to move carefully along a narrow path along a steep cliff. It's scary at first, but then you get used to it. Climbers climb the rocks here.
After a few tens of meters along the path straight and upward, our guys found the entrance to the cave. In fact, these are abandoned adits - the former Gypsy-1 mine. Since the end of the 19th century, gypsum was mined here, by the 1950s they stopped for a while, and even 5 years ago you could find old rails, sleepers, crowbars, drills and wheels from trolleys here.
By the way, gypsum is being mined here and now - the abandoned Gipsy-1 mine has two junctions with the operating Tanishevsky mine, but you cannot go there. But taking a walk around the abandoned place is quite possible.
These adits are a whole system of tunnels, 11 entrances (some of them are partially blocked), a clean spring, a well (it is near the 8th entrance) and a small artificial lake right inside. Magic!
The tunnels themselves are wide, high and long, so walking here is a sheer delight of exploration. The light from the phone flashlights was enough for us to slowly walk through the tunnels, but it was better to take normal, human flashlights, and more powerful ones. Inside: silence, darkness, and as if you are in some kind of inferno.
Syukeevo
20 kilometers south of Kamskoye Ustye is the village of Syukeevo. Before collectivization, it was a prosperous village with good-quality houses, craft workshops and mills - there were as many as 25 of them. Now all this is gone, but there is a magnificent old church - or rather, what is left of it. This is Trinity Church - brick and abandoned, with an incredible black dome, with an equally incredible black cross and fragments of stucco.
Previously, there was a wooden church on this site, but in 1813, a new one, brick, with a bell tower, was built instead. But the church did not survive Soviet times. In the 1930s, the bell tower was destroyed, and in the 90s there were warehouses and workshops in the church.
This is not the first abandoned church of the early 19th century that we have encountered in Tatarstan: two more, for example, can be seen near the village of Tonsherma in the Buinsky district. And they stand along the road so majestically and forlornly. They say that their restoration requires a lot of money, which is not available.
Sviyazhsk
Distance from Kazan: 60 km Walking time: 3-4 hours
On the one hand, Sviyazhsk is a small village with a population of 250 people. There are a couple of main streets and several side streets. On weekdays, local children go to the village school, their fathers go fishing, and at this time the seals lazily bask in the sun, lying on the steps of a small house with a rickety fence. Such a familiar Russian pastoral.
On the other hand, Sviyazhsk is a real island city on the Volga. More precisely, where the Shchuka River and the Sviyaga River flow into the Volga. This is an ancient district town with canonical ancient Russian architecture and dramatic history. It was built during the time of Ivan the Terrible, in 1551, to take Kazan. Everything went according to plan, a year later Grozny took Kazan, and Sviyazhsk began to develop as the spiritual center of the vast conquered territory. Then, during the Soviet years, Sviyazhsk became a place for executions, exile and forced labor. The monastery buildings were looted, closed and destroyed. And only in recent years has Sviyazhsk finally come to its senses.
Walking along the alleys of Sviyazhsk, I want to endlessly quote Pushkin. For example, “Ruslana and Lyudmila”: “There is a Russian spirit there, it smells of Russia there.” In Sviyazhsk, it’s true that everything is still imbued with Old Russian culture: white stone churches, archers, tea from a samovar and artisans’ workshops. Sviyazhsk is always beautiful: in summer, winter, and melancholy autumn evenings.
How to get there
By car from Kazan: 1 hour 15 minutes.
On the Meteor along the Volga: 40 minutes and about 700 RUB (€ 7.8), on a regular ship: 2 hours 10 minutes and about 130 RUB (€ 1.45).
Where to stay
You can stay overnight in Sviyazhsk, but why? Just wandering around the island and having a picnic somewhere with a beautiful view will take a couple of hours, but if you go to museums, it will take 4-5 hours.
But just in case, here is the list. Besides, spending the night at a monastery or in a merchant’s mansion is quite an experience.
The house of merchant Kamenev is a mansion that was recreated from ruins using old photographs. The furnishings are appropriate: French curtains, heavy wooden furniture on special order and merchant luxury in everything. Price: 3000-4000 RUB (€ 33.4-44.6) per night.
Hotel "Sviyaga" - seven rooms in an ancient building of a former almshouse of the late 19th century. Amenities are on the floor, but the hotel has an old stove. Double room – from 1500 RUB (€ 16.72).
“Inn” is a small one-story house with a kitchen, living room and one bedroom. River view, accommodates 4 people, price - about 6000 RUB (€ 67).
The Pilgrim's House is a monastery hotel on the territory of the former St. John the Baptist Monastery. The price here is called a donation: for a place in a hostel room: 350 RUB (€ 3.9), in a double or four-bed room: from 1100 RUB (€ 12.26).
The good old tent option is also practiced in Sviyazhsk. Most often, tents are set up on the banks of Sviyaga.
Where to eat
In Sviyazhsk there are several options where you can eat: in the restaurant "Traktir" on the Horse Dvor, in the cafe "Buyan" on Rozhdestvenskaya Square, in the Monastic refectory of the Assumption Monastery or in the art cafe "Fisherman's Compound" - the latter has a summer terrace, and traditional dishes are prepared according to recipes from a cookbook from 1902.
Everywhere there is textbook Russian cuisine. A set lunch will cost approximately 350 RUB (€ 3.9). And we especially recommend trying “Sviyazhskaya fish soup” and fish caught by local fishermen.
What to see
To get to Sviyazhsk, you must first go into the small building of the local Tourist Information Center (it is located near the parking lot, in front of the stairs), take a free ticket there and, after scanning it, go through the turnstile. You overcome a little more than a hundred steps on the stairs - and you are on the fabulous island of Buyan.
Detailed information is available on the Sviyazhsk website, and all events are announced on Instagram.
Horse yard
As soon as you go up the stairs, almost immediately on the right is the Horse Yard. It appeared here in the second half of the 16th century, at which time local artisans opened their workshops near it.
The maximum program at the Horse Yard is to ride a horse in the arena or in a carriage, and feed the handsome thoroughbreds in the stable. Then look into the Crafts Settlement (it’s right there), see how craftsmen forge iron, how they make embossing on leather, how they mint coins or how they sculpt pots on a potter’s wheel. You can also make some of this yourself at a master class from a craftsman. And then buy a whistle, fresh honey, Sviyazhsk sweets, monastic pastries from the souvenir shop and rejoice like a child, or buy sbiten and mead and rejoice like an adult.
Churches and monasteries
Churches are all Sviyazhsk. And even if you are indifferent to religion, go to the Cathedral of “Joy to All Who Sorrow.” This is a monumental red-brick temple, which somewhat resembles a multi-tiered tower, and inside it there is an incredible painted hall: from the walls to the dome.
The main complex of all Sviyazhsk is the Mother of God Assumption Monastery . It was founded back in 1555: then it was one of the richest and most influential in the Volga region, then it fell into decay, and in Soviet times there was a prison, a colony for minors and a psychiatric hospital. Now the monastery is a UNESCO heritage site. It is easy to recognize - it is a snow-white complex of churches and buildings on the main street of Sviyazhsk, opposite the Horse Yard. The monastery even has its own website. If you wish, you can book an excursion here, dine at a local refectory, or stay overnight.
Another important complex is St. John the Baptist (Nativity) Monastery . This is already a women's monastery, which was built at the end of the 16th century. On the territory there is a wooden Trinity Church, a stone Sergius Refectory Church and the Cathedral “Joy of All Who Sorrow” - the same one.
And not only churches, but also their ruins are scattered throughout the island. You sit on a bench in Sviyazhsk, eat chak-chak, snack on monastery bread, and next to you are the remains of the foundation of the Annunciation Church, or St. Sophia, or St. Nicholas Cathedral, or the Nativity Cathedral, and it’s as if you are no longer on a bench, but inside history.
Museums
The coolest museum in Sviyazhsk is the Tatarskaya Slobodka Museum of Wood Archeology (250 RUB (€ 2.8)). This is the first such museum in Russia and the third in the world: there is also “Berestye” in Brest and “Vasa” in Stockholm. The museum is located next to the river port in the lower part of Sviyazhsk and is disguised as a hill so as not to change the appearance of ancient Sviyazhsk. This place used to be Tatarskaya Street and a Tatar courtyard, and then an archaeological site. It is preserved in the center of the museum, and there is an exhibition around it.
The collection contains more than 4 thousand exhibits: from log houses, fences and pavements to tools, shoes, children's toys and even anchors. The most interesting items on display: nets made of bast, skis from the 16th century, an oak stump from the same times and a 21-meter animated panel “Sviyazhsk of the 17th century.”
Other archaeological finds such as fragments of gravestones or kitchen utensils from medieval Sviyazhsk can be seen at the Museum of the History of Sviyazhsk (200 RUB (€ 2.23)). The museum building itself is a house with history: in 1920-30 there was an orphanage here, from 1941 to 1948 - an NKVD prison, and from 1949 to 2009 - a boarding school. Here you can sit at a desk of the 19th century, see a wax Ivan the Terrible and original documents, books, icons of the 19th – 20th centuries.
There is also the Civil War Museum (120 RUB (€ 1.34)). The main exhibits include a reconstruction map of the Eastern Front of the Russian Civil War, a collection of banknotes, stamps, and weapons from 1918-20.
Old Water Tower Exhibition Hall (100 RUB (€1.11)) often hosts temporary art exhibitions. Not quite a museum, but there is also something to see - an observation deck on a former fire tower (250 RUB (€ 2.8)).
Festivals and performances
All the main movement and at the same time the atmosphere of the Middle Ages is in the Lazy Market . It is located next to Rozhdestvenskaya Square. This is a complex of historical reconstructions: here either knights in armor fight with swords, or heroes organize fights. Fights are held if there is a group. Price: from 1800 RUB (€ 20) for everyone.
Visitors can also shoot with a bow and crossbow, fight with foam swords or learn to throw axes, knives and sulitsa (ancient Russian darts) - for this there is a crossbow and bow shooting range, a throwing range and an armory. Everyone can try on chain mail, knight's armor or costumes of the royal family, and it costs only 100 RUB (€ 1.11).
There are also craft workshops in the Lazy Torzhok: a forge, a pottery shop, a tannery. Master classes are also held here. And, of course, in the middle of all this medieval surroundings there are wooden benches with interesting handmade things and treats: pancakes, buns, herbal tea from a samovar on pine cones.
In Sviyazhsk, every year (except 2020) various thematic festivals : the Gastronomic Festival “Sviyazhsk Ukha”, the Theater Laboratory “Sviyazhsk ARTel”, the Debut Documentary Film Festival “Rudnik”, “Night of Museums”. All posters are on Sviyazhsk Instagram.
Lifehacks
If you are traveling by car in the warm season, throw a tent and a couple of sleeping bags in the trunk - you may very well be captivated by the local beauty and want to stay overnight “right here.”
Take cash with you. Cards are not accepted everywhere (even in the river port of Kazan).
If you love museums, in Bolgar and Sviyazhsk there are single tickets - this is much more profitable.
Also, take your student’s card with you if you have one - tickets to museums will be cheaper.
In Tatarstan you can hear the Tatar language as often as Russian. But don’t worry, Russian is also understood everywhere.
You can combine a trip to Tatarstan with a trip to Cheboksary, Yoshkar-Ola and Nizhny Novgorod - it’s not far, and there’s also something to see there.
Photo: personal archive of the heroine of the material, Tanya Kapitonova, @sgwoman_, @lessy_vee,
Tags: Russia, Kazan
22224
Mount Chatyr-Tau
Address: Aznakaevsky district (7 kilometers from Aznakaevo) Opening hours: around the clock Cost: free
The highest point of the Republic of Tatarstan is 321.7 meters above sea level. On many maps it is marked as a ridge, but in fact the mountain is an outlier that took the form of a ridge as a result of erosion of the surrounding area, and not due to tectonic movements.
The name Chatyr-Tau is translated as “tent-mountain”, and this is logical - the remnant looks like a giant green tent. From the top of the mountain you can see a panorama of the surrounding area, as well as the settlements of neighboring Bashkortostan. In 1972, the territory of the mountain and neighboring lands became a natural monument, and in 1999 - a nature reserve. At the foot of Chatyr-Tau lives a colony of steppe bobaks and the flora of the Red Book of Tatarstan grows. The mountain is very popular among fans of hang gliders and paragliders.
Direct buses run from Kazan to Aznakaevo. From the regional center itself you will have to take a taxi (there is the option of walking or traveling as part of an excursion group).
