Kazan Highlights

Kazan Kremlin is the chief historical citadel of Tatarstan, situated in the city of Kazan, which was built on behest of Ivan the Terrible on the ruins of the former castle of Kazan Khans. The Kremlin was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. The oldest building in the Kremlin is the Annunciation Cathedral (1554-62), the only 16th-century Russian church to have six piers and five apses. It is believed that it was built by the very Postnik Yakovlev, who made Cathedral of St. Basil in Moscow. The Kremlin's most conspicuous landmark is the mysterious leaning Söyembikä Tower, which probably goes back to the reign of Peter the Great. A well-known legend connects the tower with the last queen of Kazan. Rivaling this tower for the status of the most recognizable architectural feature is the Spasskaya Tower. This tower anchors the southern end of the Kremlin and serves as the main entrance to the Kremlin. Note that only specially permitted vehicles are allowed access inside Kremlin, but pedestrian access is unrestricted. Also of interest are snow-white towers and walls, erected in the 16th and 17th centuries but later renovated; the Qol-Şärif mosque, recently rebuilt inside the citadel; and the Governor's House (1843-53), designed by Konstantin Thon, now the Palace of the President of Tatarstan. The Palace is believed to be located on the site of former Khan's palace. Tucked between Presidential Palace and Söyembikä Tower is the palace church built on the foundation of medieval mosque.

Kul Sharif Mosque

Originally, it was built in Kazan Kremlin in the 16th century. It was named by Qolsharif who served there. It is believed that it included 8 minarets, both in the form of cupolas and tents. Its design was traditional for Volga Bulgaria, although elements of early Renaissance and Ottoman architecture could have been used as well. In 1552, during the storm of Kazan it was destroyed by the Russians. Tatar scholars speculate as to whether some elements of Qolşärif mosque can be seen in Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow(8 minarets, a central cupola, not typical for Russian architecture). Since 1996 the mosque has been rebuilt in Kazan Kremlin, although look is decisively modern. Its inauguration on July 24, 2005 marked the beginning of celebrations dedicated to Millennium of Kazan.

Ancient city Bolgar

Bolgar, known as North Mecca, is ex-capital of Volga-Kama Bolgaria and present centre of Islam in Russia. Every year, more and more people visit the site of the settlement of Bolgar -which vanished in the 15th century - where the Tatar state had arisen and Islam was accepted. The Bolgar complex area is 380 ha. In the latter half of the 14 - the early 15th century the Bolgar state was repeatedly ruined by the Golden Horde khans, Russian princes and river-pirates. Moscow troops under the command of Prince Fyodor the Pestroy were sent by Vasily the Second against the Bolgars. Bolgar was finally destroyed and since that time has never appeared in history and been a sacred place for orthodox Muslim pilgrims. There are the remains of monumental brick-stone structures of the latter 13-14 centuries left (the Northern and Eastern Mausoleums, the Black Chamber, the Smaller Minaret and the Khan's Tomb) and the brick-stone ruins of edifices (the Great Mosque, the Red, White and Greek Chambers, the Khan's bath and mausoleums) of public and civic purposes, remained from the former crowded Bolgar city in the period of its prosperity in the latter 13th to first half of the 14th century.  

Island of Sviyazhsk

Island of Sviyazhsk is situated in a picturesque surrounding of shoals and coves in the outfall of Sviyaga river. It is known since 13th century as a place for pagan rituals. In 16th century the Russian Tzar Ivan the Terrible built here a powerful fortress, which became a military base of the Russian army during the siege of Kazan (1552). In that period lots of churches and monasteries were founded, and the island turned into a holy place for Christian pilgrimage. After 1917 Sviyazhsk had gone through cruel repressions, later it became a prison, an affiliate of GULAG.  In a monastery on the island a mental hospital was organized.  Only in 1960 the island was declared to be a reserve of Russian history and culture.  20 years later UNESCO included it in culture and nature heritage list. The ensemble of former city building consists of the structures of Uspenskiy Monastery and Ioann-Predtechensky Nunnery (cathedrals, churches, cells, stables, monastic schools, fortifications and towers), parish churches, dwelling and public constructions.

The Raifa Virgin Monastery

Raifa Monastery is one of the most beautiful sites in the Tatar Republic. The monastery was founded in 1661 and contains one of the most revered holy things - Georgian icon of the Blessed Virgin. The history of the monastery goes 300 years back. It was brutally plundered and then closed in 1928. In 1933 they organized a colony for juvenile delinquents. Later it became a technical school and temples and fraternity buildings housed workshops, a club and dinging room. The holly dwelling regained its function in the beginning of the '90s when its prior archimandrite Vsevolod took it upon himself to restore the monastery. 9 years later all the buildings were completely restores and repaired. In the middle of the monastery there is a magnificent Trinity Cathedral built in 1904-10. It is a wonderful example of ancient Russian architecture viewed from a modern perspective. One of the oldest monastery cathedrals is located beside the southern wall of the monastery behind the graveyard. Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexi II visited the monastery of Raifa in September of 1997. Every year of Epiphany (January 19) on the frozen lake there appears an ice-made city, one of Raifa's miracles. While in Raifa, it cannot escape you eye that there are some children there busily walking in black monk's cassocks, They are orphans living in the monastery. The first boy came here in 1994. Now there are 18 on them aged from 7 to 17.