Many tourists call Kazan the third city in terms of beauty and number of attractions. The city is surrounded by greenery, pleases the eye with magnificent panoramas, delights travelers with national cuisine and friendly residents.
Kazan Kremlin
The most popular and visited attraction in Kazan is, of course, the Kazan Kremlin. It is located in the very center of the Tatar capital, on an area of approximately 150,000 square meters. On such a large territory, administrative buildings, museum complexes, a magnificent mosque, and a park area fit in. These historical buildings combined two styles - Russian and Tatar, forming a magnificent, incomparable part of the culture of Russia. In addition, in 2000, UNESCO recognized the Kazan Kremlin as a historical heritage and took it under its wing. For tourists, the sights of Kazan are of great interest.
The territory on which the complex is located began to be settled around the 14th century, when the local Bulgars founded a fortress here. However, due toKazan did not reach political weakness and internal strife at that time. But already from the middle of the fifteenth century, when the Mongol Khan Ulu-Mohammed chose this place as his residence, the town and the area began to revive and grow. A few years later, Kazan turned into a powerful political and cultural center.
During its long history, the buildings of the Kremlin have experienced many destructions. The complex was especially severely destroyed in 1773, during the assault on the fortress by Emelyan Pugachev. Then the Trinity Monastery was completely lost, and several towers were so damaged that they had to be completely dismantled.
Temple of all religions
For tourists, the sights of Kazan are of interest mainly in summer, when you can slowly examine objects on foot. But the Temple of All Religions looks great at any time of the year.
The creator of such a unique structure is Ildar Khanov. It was he who conceived and brought to life the idea of combining several major religions in one project to show that representatives of all religions in the world can coexist peacefully. The date of creation of the temple is considered to be 1994, when the first stone was laid, but, judging by historical documents, its history begins much earlier, in 1955. Then the father of the architect built a small house in the village of Old Arakchino, where he lived with his family. One of its rooms still exists today: a museum dedicated to Ildar Khanov has been made in the bowels of the temple in this room. There are photographs of his family,personal items and books. The temple of all religions is active. Concerts, thematic meetings, and divine services are held in its halls.
Blue Mosque
In winter, there are also enough sights for tourists in Kazan. For example, the Blue Mosque against the backdrop of a winter snowy sky looks magnetic, forcing you to plunge into the atmosphere of the nineteenth century.
The Blue Mosque in Kazan is located in the Old Tatar settlement and is one of the oldest monuments of temple culture. It got its name thanks to the walls painted in the appropriate color. Unfortunately, the name of the architect has not been preserved, but it is quite clear that the master adhered to the classical style in his work. The jami mosque has two halls and a three-tiered minaret. I must say that the mosque partly appeared thanks to Empress Catherine the Great. It was she who issued the decree on religious tolerance. From that moment on, the Muslim community in Kazan began to develop rapidly. In the thirties, the mosque, like most religious organizations, was closed, and the building itself was given over to revolutionary communal apartments. The minaret has been demolished. It was only restored in 1993.
Syuyumbike Tower
Everyone knows about the famous Italian "leaning" tower in the city of Pisa, and only a few know that in Russia, in the capital of Tatarstan, there is a "leaning" tower. This is the Syuyumbike watchtower, 58 meters high. Its spire deviates from the vertical by a significant 1.98 meters.
The exact date is still unknownconstruction, however, scientists believe that it was erected around the middle of the 17th century and named after the ruler Syuyuk, the only woman in power in the history of the Kazan Khanate. She was forced to lead the state after the death of her husband, until the true heir, her young son, came of age.
There are many legends associated with the tower. One of the most famous tells about the events associated with Ivan the Terrible. The king, once seeing Syuyumbike, fell in love with her very much. But she refused him. Then the tsar threatened to completely destroy the Kazan Khanate if she did not agree. In the name of her people, the queen succumbed. However, on the wedding night, unable to bear the humiliation, she threw herself from the tower and died.
Another legend says that the tower was built by Ivan the Terrible at the request of Syuyuk herself after the capture of the Kazan Khanate. The king agreed. The construction took seven days, one tier a day. After the construction was completed, the queen jumped from it and died.
But these are legends. In fact, after the capture of Kazan, the biys and murzas sold the tsarina and her son to Ivan the Terrible as compensation. They were taken away and baptized. But Syuyuk never became the wife of the Russian Tsar.
Millennium Park
In the spring, sights for tourists in Kazan play with special colors, so many people plan their trip at this time of the year. It is especially pleasant to take walks in parks and squares in the warm season.
The most famous park in Kazan is the Millennium Park. Once upon a time there was a crossroads of two main streets at this place. Kazan. The Kaban River flowed nearby, which often overflowed its banks during the period of snowmelt or heavy rains. People living nearby had to be constantly evacuated. Some houses continued to stand on the banks of the river until the beginning of the 21st century, and then the state inspection recognized all the buildings as uninhabitable. They were demolished and a new park was built on the site. Millennium Park is located almost in the center of the city, so other attractions can be easily reached on foot.
Black Lake
It is better to get acquainted with the sights of Kazan in the spring. For tourists, this is the most fertile time, as parks begin to be covered with greenery, trees bloom along the banks of ponds and rivers, filling the streets of the city with fragrance. If you came to Kazan in spring, start your acquaintance with the capital of Tatarstan from parks and ponds. One of these objects is Black Lake.
It was once part of a whole complex of lakes located in the city center. In addition to Black, there were Bannoe, Poganoe and White. Gradually, the lakes began to swamp, and after a radical restructuring of the area, they were completely filled up. Now the Black Lake is included in the park complex, where residents and guests of the Tatar capital like to spend their free time.
Ekiyat Theater
Sights for tourists with children in Kazan are also available. Be sure to visit the puppet theater "Ekiyat". This is perhaps the oldest and largest puppet theater in Russia, founded in 1934. The troupe performed its first performancesin Tatar and Russian. The theater has always had a luxurious repertoire. To date, he gives about forty performances: "Geese-swans", "Fly-Tsokotuha", "Kamyr-batyr", "Pinocchio". Reviews of tourists about the sights in Kazan are distinguished by delight and admiration, but a children's theater occupies a special place among the reviews. Spectators say that this is a unique place that you should definitely visit with children, because there are not so many classical puppet theaters not only in Russia, but also in the world.
Family Center - "Kazan"
In 2013, an amazing building in its idea and implementation was opened - the Kazan Wedding Palace. It was created in the form of a real cauldron, so it is not surprising that the center received such a name. If you go up to the roof of the building, you can get to the observation deck and enjoy panoramic views of the Kremlin, the embankment, and see the whole area. It is especially beautiful here in summer. At this time of the year, tourists visit the sights of Kazan especially often. In 2016, a sculptural composition in the form of leopards with cubs and zilants, symbols of the city, was installed near the building.
Kul Sharif
The leadership of the republic and the city is doing everything possible to make the sights in Kazan amaze tourists not only with their scale, but also with a unique approach that clearly traces the history of the Tatar people. The Kul-Sharif Mosque can be safely attributed to such projects. The mosque is the main element of the architectural complexKazan Kremlin, and to the question of where to go for a tourist in Kazan, what kind of sights to see first of all, there is only one answer: Kul-Sharif. The building is unique in that it was built in modern times and has nothing to do with historical buildings. In this place in 1552 there was a mosque, which was destroyed during the capture of the city by Tsar Ivan the Terrible. But information about it, even approximate, could not be found, so from 1996 to 2005 a new modern building was erected. The opening was timed to coincide with the celebration of the millennial anniversary of Kazan.
Fuchsian garden
There is another interesting place in Kazan - Fuksovsky garden. It is named after the first rector of Kazan University, Karl Fuchs, who was not only a scientist, but also a botanist, researcher, physician and archaeologist. The garden was founded in 1896, in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Karl Fuchs. In the spring of that year, unique shrubs, trees and flowers were planted in the park. With the advent of Soviet power, the garden fell into decay, many places were destroyed. They remembered the existence of the garden only in 1996, re-ennobled it, built paths and flower beds, planted flowers and opened it to the public. Today, one of the observation platforms is located here, from which views of the city open, especially beautiful in early autumn. For tourists, the sights of Kazan, connected with nature and landscapes, will have a special charm if they have magnificent bright photographs that you definitely can’t take in winter.
Monument to the Cat of Kazan
Arriving in the capital of Tatarstan, you are probably wondering where to go. Reviews of tourists about the sights of Kazan are advised not to forget about one interesting direction that will lead you to the monument to the famous Kazan Cat. It was opened in 2009 and installed in the center of Bauman Street, which is considered the local Arbat. His name is Alabrys. According to legend, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna learned that in Kazan there is a special breed of fighting cats that are excellent at catching mice, and ordered them to be delivered to St. Petersburg. At that time, mice bred in the unfinished buildings of the Winter Palace and spoiled everything in their path. Thirty cats were delivered from Kazan, which were assigned to public service. They did an excellent job with their job, and since then the collective image of the cat has firmly entered the history of Kazan.
Palace of Farmers
The capital of Tatarstan is a very versatile city, and almost all the main architectural structures are sights for tourists in Kazan, and photos and videos against their background are vivid memories for many years. Here is the Palace of Farmers, this huge magnificent building, worthy of the status of one of the main attractions. In everyday life, the palace is the place of work of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic. Construction began in 2008, and two years later, under the strict guidance of architect Leonid Gornyak, another amazing building appeared in Kazan. It is important to note that the palace does not echo and does not draw attention fromKremlin, as the height was limited to four floors.
